Tag Archives: RTLSDR

Video: Review of the DX Patrol SDR dongle

WideSDR2-001

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, John, for sharing this video review of the DX Patrol SDR receiver.

The reviewer gives the DX Patrol high marks on shortwave performance, but admits that there is a significant learning curve in terms of software installation and tweaking settings for performance.

At 79 € ($110 US) the DX Patrol is certainly an inexpensive wide band SDR. Unlike the $20 RTL-SDR dongles, the DX PAtrol requires no external up-convertor.  

Click here to purchase the DX Patrol online, but keep in mind that the reviewer above noted a 6 week turn-around time for shipment. 

If you have experience with the DX Patrol SDR, please comment!

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Cross Country Wireless introduces an HF Upconverter

The CCW HF Upconverter (Photo: Cross Country Wireless)

The CCW HF Upconverter (Photo: Cross Country Wireless)

(Source: Southgate ARC)

Cross Country Wireless have just released a HF Upconverter. This will allow HF or VHF SDR receivers such as the RTLSDR dongles, Funcube or our own SDR-4+ receiver to work on HF, LF and VLF.

Unlike other upconverters currently available we have added the RF protection features from our SDR-4+ receiver including an antenna isolation transformer and RF over-power protection. This protects the SDR receiver or dongle and the attached PC from damage caused by static electricity charges on the antenna or nearby high power transmitters.

There are two versions of the Upconverter. One has a 125 MHz local oscillator and the frequency range is 12 kHz to 45 MHz. This is intended for use with the RTLSDR and Funcube dongles.

The other version has a 10 MHz local oscillator and is designed for use with the SDR-4+. This has a frequency range of 12 kHz to 1.6 MHz.

Here are some of the specifications Cross Country Wireless  has published for the HF Upconverter:

Technical data – 125 MHz version for RTLSDR and Funcube dongles

  • Frequency range: 12 kHz to 45 MHz
  • Input impedance: 50 ohms
  • IF rejection: > 60 dB
  • Local oscillator frequency: 125 MHz
  • Local oscillator level at antenna socket: < -50 dBm
  • Gain: -6 dB
  • RF connectors: SMA female
  • Power connector: USB B

Technical data – 10 MHz version for SDR-4+ receiver

  • Frequency range: 12 kHz to 1.6 MHz
  • Input impedance: 50 ohms
  • IF rejection: >100 dB
  • Local oscillator frequency: 10 MHz
  • Local oscillator level at antenna socket: < -60 dBm
  • >Gain: -6 dB
  • RF connectors: SMA female
  • Power connector: USB B

Also, from CCW on YouTube:

“This is a video of a Cross Country Wireless HF Upconverter used with a CCW SDR-4+ receiver to listen to VLF and LF transmissions using a half wave dipole cut for the 80m amateur band.”

(Click here if you are unable to view the video above.)

There are 20 second samples of the following stations:

  • BBC Radio 5 Live on 693 kHz AM
  • BBC Radio 4 on 198 kHz AM
  • GYN2 Skelton on 81 kHz FSK
  • MSF Anthorn on 60 kHz time signal
  • GQD Anthorn on 22.1 kHz Anthorn
  • GQD Anthorn on 19.6 kHz

This version of the Upcoverter uses a 10 MHz local oscillator so the frequency displayed is 10 MHz higher than that received i.e. 10.693 MHz = 0.693 MHz = 693 kHz.

Click here for more information on CCW’s website.

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