WHAT IS SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO (SDR)?

 

 

 

In traditional hardware radios， the mathematical operations required to decode and process radio signals are performed using analogue circuitry. Recently， computers have become powerful enough to perform the required mathematical calculations in software， hence the term software defined radio. This has led to advanced radios that previously required complicated analogue hardware now being able to be implemented easily in software. This has reduced the cost of advanced radio capabilities such as wideband tuning and waterfall displays.

 

 

 

WHAT IS THE RTL-SDR?

 

 

 

The RTL-SDR is an extremely cheap software defined radio which is based on DVB-T TV (Digital HD TV) USB receiver dongles that have the RTL2832U chip in them. It was discovered by hardware hacker Eric Fry， Linux driver developer Antti Palosaari and the Osmocom team who were developing their own SDR that the RTL2832U chip had a mode which enabled SDR. Today， by using custom software drivers， a commonly used cheap RTL2832U can then be turned into a sophisticated SDR with features that would have until recently cost in the hundreds to thousands of dollars. Of course， the performance of these dongles will not match a dedicated SDR， but they perform extremely well for the price， and almost all hobbyist projects that can be done with expensive radios or SDRs can also be done with the rtl-sdr. A wideband SDR opens up many interesting possible projects and avenues to explore. Some applications of the RTL-SDR include the following， some of which will be discussed in more depth in the project tutorials chapter.

 

 

Functions

 

 

Note: The set includes

 

A test antenna，

 

---can be used to test signal receiving UV band，

 

---the resonant frequency is GSM band， to receive the effect of UV is

 

not the best. Cannot be used to receive HF signal band， signal receiving

 

HF band needs to meet the HF Antennas such as Long Wire， Random

 

Wire， Dipole etc.. To have a good effect need matching antenna.

 

A main unit

 

A USB cable

 

 

 

Specifications

 

Fully assembled and ready to use

Uses RTL2832U+R820T chip set

100KHz to 1766MHz， operating frequency

• Covers all HF amateur bands

• Covers VHF & UHF bands from 24-1766MHz

• Up to 3.2 M Sample rate. (~2.8 MHz stable)

• Receiver modes AM， NFM， FM， DSB， USB， LSB and CW

• HF Shortwave Q branch direct sampling

• Note: depends upon the SDR software used with the receiver • 8-bit ADC giving ~50 dB dynamic range

• 50 Ohm input impedance

• Double SMA golden antenna connectors

• Aluminum enclosure screened panels

• Small size board

• Freeware software

• Independent antenna inputs for Shortwave and VHF

• USB computer connection ( mini usb) Powered by common USB • All specifications subject to change without notice

 

 

 

Package Included

 

 

 

1x 100Khz-1.7GHz Full Band UV HF RTL SDR+Upconverter USB Tuner Receiver 2832U+R820T Radio

 

1x Testing Telescopic antenna

 

1x USB cable