[amsat-bb] Best SDR for satellite reception

[Edson W. R. Pereira]

Rick's list is very good. I would also add LimeSDR as a good candidate (I
don't yet own one).

I have been using the RTL-SDR (original black one with the R820T chip),
RTL-SDR (Nooelec metal case with R820T2), RTL-SDR (blue with TCXO and
R820T2), Funcube Dongle Pro, Funcube Dongle Pro+ (FCD+) and SDRPlay RSP2.
The RTLs are "ok" for casual testing and signal hunting -- specially on the
bench. But their limited dynamic range, lack of band-pass filtering, high
noise figure and low ADC bit depth prevent using them in any serious
activity. I do however use the Nooelec for some 10 GHz experimentation
(with a LNBF). For monitoring satellites on VHF/UHF, I find the FCD+ the
best performer. The filtering, dynamic range and sensitivity is quite good.
The SDRPlay is also a very good performer, but it requires some careful
adjustments to perform as well as the FCD+.

73, Edson PY2SDR

On Mon, Aug 14, 2017 at 4:05 PM, Andrew Rich <vk4tec at internode.on.net>
wrote:

> RTL-SDR - $30 8 bits 2 MHz sample subject to overload
> HackRF $280 - birdies but can TX and RX 10 MHz to 6 GHz - good for GNU
> Radio Playing 12 bits 20 MHz
> SDR Play - $300 - Nice lots of filters a good allrounder -
> Airspy Mini - $200 Nice and compact medium perfromer
> FCD Plus - $300 a winner on 2 meters and 70 centimetres
>
> I would love to get my hands on a commercial SDR
>
> Andrew
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 15 Aug 2017, at 4:53 am, Rick Walter <wb3csy at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Great response Patrick. We all know you get what you pay for. Please
> continue telling us about your evaluations and experiences. I highly value
> your opinion and observations. I have a FCD Pro +, a SDR Play as well as
> the special dongle to receive the Outernet from the geosynchronous bird,
> and another dongle I currently use to send realtime Flight Aware data from
> my location. Keep up the good work. Please continue to share your valuable
> information, Patrick.
> > 73,
> > Rick - WB3CSY
> >
> > Sent from Rick's iPhone 6S
> > "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre
> minds" - Albert Einstein
> >
> > "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" -
> Arthur C. Clarke
> >
> > "Klaatu Barada Nikto" - The Day the Earth Stood Still
> >>
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> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
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