Like others have mentioned here, the $20-25 RTL Dongles have not worked very well for me when combined with a transmitter. The FT-857D/FUNcube DonglePro+ combo worked well for me. Not one of the two RTL dongles was suitable for regular use. I rank the RTL's as a failure for both mode B or J birds without significant additional filters. For simple receive use, they're okay.
If compactness was a desire, the FCDP+ would be my choice. However, the SDRPlay mentioned has a lot more bandwidth capability and is reasonably priced from HRO in the states.
73 Clayton W5PFG
On 1/22/2016 13:10, John Toscano wrote:
Mentioning that you are waiting for a tax refund makes me think you are planning to dive into SDR with a fairly high-end and expensive unit, You can probably get away with spending $25 or so if you have reasonably modest expectations. Noo Elec makes a whole line of SDR devices, from inexpensive dongles to the pricier (but well worth it if you have the passion) HackRF unit. Take a look here: http://www.nooelec.com/store/sdr.html
There are some dongle vendors who sell junk. the Noo Elec units are high quality. Of course, take that recommendation from someone who owns one of their dongles, plus HackRF Blue board (clone of the HackRF and virtually unobtainable now), and a Flex-1500. ;^) 73 de W0JT/5, EL09vu
On Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 1:28 AM, Franklyn A. Ballentine, Jr < art.ballentine@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi All,
I just wanted to say thank you. I was also wondering the same thing and to see that it works well using an SDR for receive is very reassuring. Tax refund going to an SDR now.
Thanks again! 73 Frank B kb1qzh FN31fa
On Thu, Jan 21, 2016 at 6:24 PM, Norm n3ykf normanlizeth@gmail.com wrote:
It gets far more interesting when there is a language barrier. One of these days I'll tell the "Documentos" story.
Use an 857d and an IC-7000 in a Pelican case for moderate worldwide indestructibility. The Icom was chosen because of it's dual ADI DSP units working at IF. Power hog on standby. 2x what the Yaesu is. Wanted the flexibility of having an analog front end, as well, though. Each has it's strong points.
Batteries are an easy commodity in the rest of the world. Most of the passes in the lands of la-la use the automobile as the power source. Surplus HP server supplies are useful and light. The bay your friend..
On Thu, Jan 21, 2016 at 5:13 PM, J. Boyd (JR2TTS) the2belo@msd.biglobe.ne.jp wrote:
On Thu, 21 Jan 2016 12:55:07 -0500, skristof@etczone.com wrote:
Anybody using a Yaesu FT 857D to work the SSB satellites? If so, what
do
you think? Can you take it outside and use it with an Arrow antenna?
This is probably overkill, but I've got two of 'em, one each for up and down. One sitting on top of the other makes for a nice compact setup that's easy to read. I took a piece of advice from KB5WIA, who does it with two FT817's in a similar fashion (http://kb5wia.blogspot.jp/2010/10/satellite-portable-station.html),
and
change the color of the display on one of the rigs so I can tell them apart.
I also have an adapter for my Heil Proset 6 headset, so I have the headphone out jack coming out of one rig, and the mic/PTT going into
the
other with a hand switch. So all I have to do is walk around the back
of
my truck with a headset on, aiming an antenna on a tripod at the sky, with one hand gripping what looks like a detonator. You'll have to excuse me, the cops are here.
-- J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B the2belo@msd.biglobe.ne.jp http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/ http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS Twitter: @Minus2_C
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Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb