{"id":34675,"date":"2018-11-04T09:01:59","date_gmt":"2018-11-04T13:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=34675"},"modified":"2018-11-06T12:49:29","modified_gmt":"2018-11-06T16:49:29","slug":"sdr-primer-part-3-from-high-end-sdr-receivers-to-sdr-transceivers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/sdr-primer-part-3-from-high-end-sdr-receivers-to-sdr-transceivers\/","title":{"rendered":"SDR Primer Part 3: From High-End SDR Receivers to SDR Transceivers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The following article originally appeared\u00a0in the\u00a0October 2018 issue of The Spectrum Monitor magazine<\/a>:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Welcome back to the world of SDRs once again<\/h2>\n

In September we began of our three-part Primer on Software-Defined Radios (SDRs). Part One\u00a0(September)<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>focused on the nomenclature and components of a functioning SDR system; Part Two (October)<\/strong><\/a> took a look at some affordable SDR station options that will propel you into the world of SDRs for less than $200 US. This month, in Part Three<\/strong>\u2013\u2013our final installation\u2013\u2013we\u2019ll dive a little deeper into the SDR rabbit hole, and investigate higher-end SDRs as well as ham radio transceivers with embedded SDRs.<\/p>\n

Investing in SDR hardware<\/h2>\n

As we mentioned in Part 2<\/a> of our primer, gaining entry into the world of SDRs can be quite affordable. With merely $200 or less, you can fully explore the radio spectrum with an SDR that has truly excellent performance characteristics.<\/p>\n

So, why would<\/i> you pay more?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s consider this. \u00a0If, say, you happen to live in an RF-dense environment, such as a busy city, if you live near strong broadcaster(s), and\/or if you\u2019re a DXer who\u2019s seeking benchmark performance, then you might wish to devote a little more of your cash to your SDR hardware.<\/p>\n

When you pay more for an SDR, the additional cost is typically going toward the hardware <\/i>rather than the software. Indeed, my favorite SDR (software) applications are absolutely free, and pair with a number of benchmark SDRs. But good hardware is vital to performance. The lineup of SDRs\u2013\u2013that is, the receiver hardware\u2013\u2013discussed below typically has better filtering, preselectors, shielding, and receiver architecture focused on HF performance.<\/i> They also tend to offer a more robust front end, lower noise floor, and better dynamic range. All of this, of course, results in better performance overall. Some of these SDRs also offer unique specialty features, like built-in web servers.<\/p>\n

The following SDRs are carefully hand selected, and in my view, represent a balance between price and performance. And again, this is by no means a comprehensive list; it\u2019s simply a selection of what you\u2019ll find currently available on the SDR market.<\/p>\n

So, without further ado, we\u2019ll begin our discussion with \u201cblack box\u201d SDRs, then move on to \u00a0SDR transceivers and transceivers with embedded SDRs.<\/p>\n

SDRplay RSPduo<\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>

The SDRplay RSPduo<\/p><\/div>\n

In May of this year (2018), the UK-based SDR designer and manufacturer SDRplay released their latest receiver: the SDRplay RSPduo<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n

What sets this little black box apart from the competition is just what its name implies: \u00a0the duo is a dual tuner<\/i> SDR. \u00a0In other words, it\u2019s two independent SDRs rolled into one.<\/p>\n

Being the price leader in the world of SDRs, SDRplay retails the RSPduo for $279.95. And, I must add, it\u2019s a true bargain for a feature-packed 14-bit high-performance device.<\/p>\n

The RSPduo\u2019s tuners can operate individually, anywhere between 1kHz and 2GHz, with up to 10MHz of working bandwidth. You could also set up the RSPduo so that both tuners can operate simultaneously, again between 1kHz and 2GHz, with up to 2MHz of bandwidth per tuner. The RSPduo has a high-stability reference along with external clocking features which makes this SDR an affordable option for industrial, scientific, as well as educational applications. It\u2019s housed in a quality steel enclosure.<\/p>\n

SDRplay\u2019s development team is already working on new features such as true diversity reception, <\/i>which will be included as a free upgrade to their popular SDRuno proprietary application.<\/p>\n

To be clear, there is no other sub-$300 SDR on the market that currently has true dual-tuner functionality. Thus, the RSPduo is a good value, in my opinion\u2013\u2013and an inexpensive upgrade to a proper dual-receiver SDR\u2013\u2013so if this is something you\u2019d like to add to your shack, go ahead! \u00a0Bite the bullet, and acquire an RSPduo. Likely you won\u2019t regret it.<\/p>\n

Check out the RSPduo via:<\/p>\n