Category Archives: New Products

The new WinRadio WR-G35DDCi will reecord 32 MHz of simultaneous bandwidth; in other words, the entire MW and HF bands.

Of course, you’ll need a Petabyte hard drive to store that data!

(Source: WinRadio Press Release)

The Australian manufacturer WiNRADiO, well known for their pioneering work in the

field of software-defined radios, will be showing their latest new product development, the WR-G35DDCi, also called “Excalibur Pro WB”, as a world’s first at this year’s Ham Radio show in Friedrichshafen, Germany. This direct-sampling shortwave
receiver with a tuning range from 9 kHz to 45 MHz boasts a real-time processing bandwidth of 32 MHz, the world’s widest for a receiver of this class. This is further matched by other excellent parameters such as high frequency stability (0.5 ppm),
superior dynamic range (107 dB), excellent sensitivity (0.10 ?V) and very high IP3 (+31 dBm). Also on offer is a 45 MHz wide real-time spectrum analyser with waterfall display.

The “Excalibur Pro WB” comes as a PCI-e card, which is fully shielded for operation inside a computer, and employs a high-grade 16-bit 100 MSPS analog-to-digital converter, together with highly integrated FPGA circuitry. This combination enables
the WR-G35DDCi receiver to perform exceptionally well across an extremely wide range of signal levels and at the same time offer an instantaneous bandwidth of 32 MHz. The user can therefore continually process, record and replay the entire
shortwave band in real-time. The receiver’s robust front-end is equipped with an ultrahigh linearity amplifier which offers exceptional strong signal performance. This is further optimized by a switchable low-noise preamplifier together with a configurable multi-band pre-selector.

By employing innovative direct-sampling digital down-converter techniques and a choice of leading-edge components and design concepts, the WR-G35DDCi introduces numerous special features that are usually not available with other
receivers, irrespective of their price, including a suite of measurement and test functions. There is also an external reference clock input and a FPGA interface bus provided, which allows this receiver to be used in advanced phase-coherent multichannel systems.

Amongst other special features, there are three demodulator channels, ranging in bandwidth from 1 Hz to 64 kHz each, which can operate concurrently within the 32 MHz wide DDC bandwidth. This allows independent and simultaneous
demodulation, recording and further digital processing within each demodulator, offering in essence three fully-fledged HF receivers within the one unit.

The WiNRADiO WR-G35DDCi will be available after the Ham Radio show, at a recommended sales price of Euro 4,197.50, plus any applicable local sales taxes.

CLICK HERE FOR SPECS

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This BBC radio adapts programming to match your environs

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Thank to SWLing Post reader Mike for passing this along. The possibilities of adaptive radio broadcasts in distance learning alone are most inspiring:

(Photo: BBC Technology; Greg Povey)

(Source: BBC Technology)

A radio that is able to change a broadcast depending on where you are and what you are doing has been demonstrated by the BBC.

The Perceptive Radio, produced by the corporation’s Future Media North Lab, is thought to be a world first.

The team produced a computer-generated radio drama where the script altered depending on factors such as weather.

The device was shown off at the Thinking Digital Conference in Gateshead.

The proof-of-concept drama, which used a computer-generated voice for one of the characters, could adapt on the fly according to data pulled from external sources.

For instance, it could make reference to local places which would differ depending on where in the world you were.

Or it would mention weather conditions that were dependent on what was happening in the real world – such as replacing the phrase “it’s sunny outside” with “it’s raining”.[…]

Continue reading on BBC Technology.

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Introducing EARL: a rugged, solar-powered GPS and Android tablet with built-in shortwave radio

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The Earl Backcountry Survival Tablet

A good friend recently introduced me to the Earl Backcountry Survival Tablet; a crowd-funded project that may very well come to fruition.

What makes this tablet really stand out are its impressive list of features which are all based on outdoor survival/adventure. Features include:

A rugged, waterproof/weatherproof body; IP67 rated!
Built-in solar panel
20 hour battery life
An E-Ink, touch sensitive display screen
An excellent GPS chipset
ANT+ and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity for devices to measure heart rate, pace and cadence
Android Beam technology
Built-in thermometer for measuring temperature, hygrometer for measuring the water density of air (humidity) with dew point, barometer for measuring air pressure and altitude and an anemometer (micro hot-wire) for measuring wind speed
A two-way radio featuring a FRS, GMRS and MURS transceiver. Earl can send secure text or voice messages via Walkie-Talkie; transmit weather, location, and route information
An eReader
A radio receiver that covers AM (medium wave), FM, LW, NOAA weather radio (North America) and Shortwave
Much more: check out the Earl project page

Of course, I’m very interested in Earl’s receiver. Not only does it cover shortwave, but it covers a very wide frequency range (2.3 – 21.85 MHz)! Most impressive.

I don’t expect Earl to be a fantastic performer on the shortwave and medium wave bands–I doubt it’ll compare to the PL-390, for example– but perhaps it will be good enough to hear the major broadcasters. An inductively coupled loop antenna may help on AM (medium-wave). A port for an external SW antenna, would be a major plus.

Better yet, with the right Android app, I bet Earl could decode VOA Radiograms on the fly. Imagine being miles away from civilization, far out of reach of 3G/4G mobile systems, yet you’d be able to receive your news on your eReader over the shortwaves.

A dream? Perhaps, but one that’s well within grasp.

Pre-ordering/Backing

At time of posting, Earl is 90% funded. You can pre-order Earl for $249 US–a 30% discount from projected retail. (A price that is only $100 more than a Sony ICF-SW7600GR.)

I just pre-ordered an Earl. I will plan to give a full review here on the SWLing Post. They expect to ship production units in August 2013. If they don’t receive funding, all pre-sales purchases will be refunded in full.

If you would like to back this project, check out Earl’s full list of features and pre-order on their website: http://www.meetearl.com/

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The 2013 Dayton Hamvention

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WinRadio’s booth in the East Hall.

Whew! Back from the 2013 Dayton Hamvention. You may have noticed the lack of posts over the past week–this is just a hint of how incredibly busy I’ve been following this annual event. Every year that I go to the Dayton Hamvention, I come back exhausted…yet somehow energized about the lasting power and utility of radio.

As I’ve mentioned, one of the main reasons I go to the Hamvention is to build awareness about my non-profit, Ears To Our World (ETOW). The Hamvention donates an inside exhibitor table (worth $550+!) to ETOW each year, and our volunteers (myself among them) man it all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Hamvention. My voice was nearly gone by Sunday; I’d estimate we spoke with several hundred people. But the great news is, we received a record number of donations this year–and on behalf of ETOW, I just want to say, Thank you! to all who support our mission of providing self-powered world band radios to classrooms and communities throughout the developing world.

I spotted this Hallicrafters Super Skyrider in the flea market. She would look quite good in my radio room!

At the Hamvention, I also get a chance to network with friends, meet fellow radio amateurs/shortwave radio listeners, and check out both vintage radios in the outdoor flea market, and new radio innovations inside. One of the great things about representing ETOW is hearing the stories of others who share our belief that shortwave radio has a place on this planet. It’s very encouraging and cathartic.

Moreover, I’m fortunate that once more this year several SWLing Post readers sought out our booth: it was terrific meeting each and every one of you! This blog provides me with a sense of radio community that lasts throughout the year; I hope it does the same for you.

My Regency MR-10 Monitoradio. (click to enlarge)

Typically, when I go to Dayton, I bring back a few purchases. This year, I did not find a bargain like my BC-348-Q from 2012, but I did come back with much-needed supplies in the form of connectors, adapters, cables, and one $6 Regency MR-10 Monitoradio (see photo).

I was thoroughly impressed by the number of innovations I saw at Dayton this year, especially the Software Defined Radios (SDRs) that are new to the market.

CommRadio’s president, Don Moore, working with a customer at the Universal Radio booth.

One SDR that received a lot of attention, according to Fred Osterman at Universal Radio, was the CommRadio CR-1; it is an SDR in stand-alone tabletop-receiver form (see current sale). Universal sold all of the units they brought to the Hamvention in very short order. We mentioned the CR-1 in an earlier post, and received mixed reactions: many readers noted that it was very robust, but didn’t have the feature set to make it particularly marketable at the price point. This doesn’t seem to have mattered.

Fortunately, at the Hamvention, I met with Don Moore, president and founder of CommRadio, who most kindly gave me a loaner radio for review. He’s well aware that my review will be frank, and I’m grateful to have this little receiver in my possession. I have only had it on the air for perhaps an hour so far. Just long enough to tell that it plays well, has a tidy footprint, is built like a tank and…well, that it’s frankly cute. I will pit it against my WinRadio Excalibur, Alinco DX-R8T, and Elecraft KX3, and include audio samples in a forthcoming review. Stay tuned!

WinRadio also had a booth in the East Hall that seemed to have a constant stream of visitors. I found Dennis Walter with Bonito in Hara Arena showing off the RadioJet receiver we reviewed last year. I also saw many other shortwave receiver manufacturers and retailers including C.Crane, Palstar, TAPR, Ten-Tec and Alinco. Indeed, Alinco hinted that an updated version of the tabletop DX-R8T is on the way, the DX-R9(T). It will have the same form factor of the DX-R8T, but the receiver will be built around Collins mechanical filters, which will be much easier to replace than the current ones in the DX-R8T. I’ll post an announcement when the DX-R9 is in production.

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CommRadio offering sale on CR-1 for a limited time

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The CommRadio CR-1 is on my test bench, ready for review. (Click to enlarge)

The CommRadio CR-1 sitting on my test bench, ready for review. (Click to enlarge)

Gary writes:

There is a limited time sale on the CommRadio CR-1 communications receiver. I received this offer via email today.

CommRadio is offering a SPECIAL SALE through Sunday, May 26th, 2013

Purchase a CR-1 Communications Receiver, with the battery included for free, PLUS take an additional $20 dollars off.

This is a one time DEAL – $480 Dollar Special

The CR-1 will then go back up to $500 until June 4th. Starting June 5th it will go up to $599.

This is your chance now to save with the promotional price.

Terms and Conditions:
One coupon per customer
You may only use it once.
This offer is only for US and Canada shipments.

Expiration day: May 26th 2013

COUPON CODE: CR1SPECIAL
(Enter at check out)

http://www.commradio.com/