Adding an SDR Receiver to home station--Hardware Questions
I’m currently using an Icon IC-910H for satellite work at my home station. I’d like to substitute an SDR receiver for the downlink side of things, but am struggling to figure out the best way to handle the hardware side of things.
If you look in my signature file, you’ll see that I’ve used SDR receivers for a number of years and very comfortable with them. But I do have concerned about antennas, feed lines, pre-amps, etc.
Right now, there are a nearly equal number of V/U and U/V birds, so switching cables isn’t trivial. My current configuration uses 1/2” hardline coming out of the IC-910H, running first to SWR meters, then out to antenna mounted SSB Electronics pre-amps, then finally to fixed elevation Yagis.
Lots of Google searches have revealed the hardware configurations of many operators, but almost always for portable operations. I’m curious how other operators have tackled this with their home stations.
Any advice appreciated!
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders, Korner 9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
“Nothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody else’s favorite song…”
Hey Les!
I also have 2 dual-band radios and a variety of SDRs that are used in various combinations with the different antennas coming into the house.
Perhaps my approach is simplistic, but I have female BNC adapters on the end of each run of LMR-400. There are short jumpers available from each radio & SDR terminated in male BNC's. I just connect each radio or SDR to the appropriate antenna depending on the needs of a particular satellite. (or combination of satellites when they are clustered close together)
-Scott, K4KDR
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On Sat, Dec 22, 2018 at 3:21 PM Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
I’m currently using an Icon IC-910H for satellite work at my home station. I’d like to substitute an SDR receiver for the downlink side of things, but am struggling to figure out the best way to handle the hardware side of things.
If you look in my signature file, you’ll see that I’ve used SDR receivers for a number of years and very comfortable with them. But I do have concerned about antennas, feed lines, pre-amps, etc.
Right now, there are a nearly equal number of V/U and U/V birds, so switching cables isn’t trivial. My current configuration uses 1/2” hardline coming out of the IC-910H, running first to SWR meters, then out to antenna mounted SSB Electronics pre-amps, then finally to fixed elevation Yagis.
Lots of Google searches have revealed the hardware configurations of many operators, but almost always for portable operations. I’m curious how other operators have tackled this with their home stations.
Any advice appreciated!
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders, Korner 9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
“Nothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody else’s favorite song…”
participants (2)
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Les Rayburn -
Scott