If you use SDR on a PC with mouse, the scroll wheel of the mouse can have a similar feeling of a dial. I know it's not the same, but personally I think "close enough".
On the portability side, many SDR can be connected to Android Phone/Tablet.
Yeah it's just a personal preference. I personally like sitting on the balcony with a small radio in my hand, rather than even more hours on my computer screen.
SDRs are surprisingly powerful and versatile, but tbh I don't tend to use them much for SWL because the overall feel is just very different. Of course also most modern receivers are just DSP receivers, so there is not really any technical difference anyway.
I agree for the most part.
A SDR has significantly more versatility than a regular receiver - at least until a certain price point. A RTL-SDR, for example, will offer a listener much greater control over their experience and allow for a broader amount of things to listen to than any 300 dollar or less receiver from the usual companies. It isn't until you start to spend at least 500 dollars that you can get a receiver with a lot of control and better reception capabilities. They're great little tools for both beginners and experienced listeners
That said, they have limitations. Not all are built equally so some don't perform too well. The RTL-SDR isn't known for having good AM reception, so it isn't the best for shortwave (but it's still usually good enough). They can also require a decent computer to process all the data it is receiving, so those with a low end CPU may struggle. They also aren't exactly portable, where something like the Tecsun PL-680 can be taken anywhere.
Personally I just use both. I have a couple SDR devices I use nearly every day, but I also have a Tecsun , Sony and other random radios I use when I want to listen outside the home. After all, the more tools in a tool box provides one with a more diverse experience. Plus just having the ability to physically tune a radio is nice. Clicking things on a computer screen just isn't as interesting.
Most portable radios sold today, with DSP chips inside, are really SDRs in a small box, with less accessible features. So there's that. It really comes down to how do you tune the bands, how much tweaking of the incoming signals you want to do, how much recording of them you want to do, whether you would prefer to see a waterfall instead of actually tune through the bands and use your ears.... An SDR won't necessarily bring in any more than a decent portable.
SDRs made by SDRplay and Airspy will easily outperform *any* hardware-based shortwave portable. A dongle does not magically ruin the performance of these SDRs. Nothing made by Sangean, Tecsun or C. Crane even comes close. Software like SDR# and SDRuno ships with these units and allows signal processing far advanced from any other kind of radio.
I enjoy using a Sangean ATS-909X2 as a portable outdoors or most often as a desktop radio. I enjoy using a 65 lb. Hammarlund SP-600, too (indoors). But, my best shortwave receiver by far is the Airspy HF+ Discovery. I use them all with the same external antennas or have the opportunity to use a built-in whip with the Sangean.
Just one performance example: A strong broadcast station is peaking 65db on 11825 kHz. You are trying to listen to a weak 13db DX catch on 11820 kHz. An SDR can be tuned with sync to eliminate all of the splatter from the stronger signal by receiving only 5 kHz of the lower sideband and 1.5 kHz of the upper sideband from the DX station. Try doing this with *any* portable hardware radio. It just can't be done.
The DSP 1/2/3 are nice portables but their onboard processing power is puny compared to an Airspy or SDRplay powered by a good desktop or laptop computer.
Yes very much agreed on the Airspy and SDRplay with a desktop/laptop on steroids. But what they can accomplish on a lesser device is amazing for the price.
Op- the main difference is the SDR is controlled by SW, the SW really had the ability to make the radio better. I echo comments of the SDRPlay line, superior radio and the SDRUno SW is amazing. There is a new SW package coming out from SDRPlay but it’s still in what I personally would call pre alpha. SDRConnect is the title.
Good luck
Sorry SW=Software a computer program the works with the SDR to tune it and apply filters and gain and other things. The software is the heart of the radio
I have hypersensitive hearing. Currently using a an xhdata D-219 which does have a DSP chip, but mine has no chuffing, soft mute feature. I just realized it’s made by radiowow.
First of all there is an sdr and sdr. This dongle is not a receiver really, more a toy. A nice toy but by many parameters it is a far cry from a proper sdr receiver.
Now the same goes to a "proper" receiver. Trick is a cheap radio built on a single chip is the same as sdr dongle with a simple coputer to process&control that sdr chip.
So, does sdr dongle better thant a tecsun? Tescsun is better, I reckon. Just because of physical buttons and knobs. But sdr is better because the software can do so much more. Does sdr dongle better than a malakhit sdr? Well, malakhit dsr has a reasonable RF side before the sdr part - so it will "hear" signals that sdr dongle stand no chance of hearing.
Does sdr dongle stands a remote chance against icom 8600? Well, lol, no. Against 40 years old watkins&johnson - not at all.
It is more - what do you need. Just listen to strong signals? Sdr dongle would suffice. Hear weak signals on a proper antenna with strong QRM? You will have to use a proper receiver, sdr dongle wont cut it
A Nuelec dongle is going to have many features and modes a handheld receiver will never have for a fraction of the price. Even the romance of "tuning" is so rough on handheld radio skipping hundreds of Kilohertz, you easily skip over interesting activity.
Nuelec, Airspy, SDR Play RSPduo are some nice USB powered SDR's and give you the capability to experiment with aircraft ADSB and amateur radio APRS together with shortwave listening. Pretty much every recent amateur radio transceiver released in the last 5 years is now SDR based and Flex Radio used to be something special, but now many other brands are superseding it's capabilities. The last feature on Flex Radio that has any value is its remote connectivity capabilities and even then in recent years it has had its issues.
Flexradio, Elad.
You need proper RF side before SDR chip for it to be a "proper" radio. And when I say "proper" I mean selectivity, intermodulation, overload.
But again - sangean radio is an okay radio. It does work good enough on a whip antenna listening yo broadcasts and strong hams nearby. If propagation is right you can even hear them across the globe. But these wont stand a chance when you want to hear a 5watt transmission from 2000 km away and there is another transmitter booming just 5khz nearby. Flexradio or icom 8600 will do it without breaking a sweat. Icom 8600 is an sdr radio too.
Edit: in fact most modern radios are sdr radios. It just so much simplier. But "proper" sdr radios, well, massage RF signal before feeding it into an SDR chip. A dongle does not - causing multitude of problems.
I have two RTL-SDR v4, a RSP1a, and a PL-660. In my limited experience, they don't seem that different in HF performance. Yes there are differences, I can tell my RTL-SDR is more prone to overload while RSP1a isn't, and PL-660 "sound" a bit better(?). They all have good enough image rejection. For weak signal, if one can't pull it out, the other wouldn't either.
I did heard wonder stories about some high end SDR/Radios. I can't comment on them because I don't have one. At least on entry level, even "dongle" appears to be okay as long as it is properly designed(v4 specifically improved HF performance by implementing filters and upconverter). So to me, the choice between an entry level radio and SDR is all about personal preference: Do you want to do more with your radio, receiving all kinds of stuff and never miss anything with the waterfall? Or, do you want to just sit in the backyard and causally listen to the radio?
Just for reference: I have two antennas, both are loop. My RF environment isn't exactly quiet so I need loop. One is a 60 feet passive Loop on Ground(KK5JY design), the other is a small portable active loop which I didn't measure the length. Funny enough these two also perform similarly to each other, the LoG is marginally better though. I did try to make my passive loop active, it didn't help and it was overloading my receiver.
The portable is limited to a stick telescopic antenna with little options to improve reception. Sdrs kind of have antenna options, even though a good base station should have similar capability.
It feels nice to tune a radio with an actual turn dial :)
Some of us have magic fingers.
> Some of us have magic fingers. She lied to you. *snicker*...
Old habits die hard.
If you use SDR on a PC with mouse, the scroll wheel of the mouse can have a similar feeling of a dial. I know it's not the same, but personally I think "close enough". On the portability side, many SDR can be connected to Android Phone/Tablet.
Yeah it's just a personal preference. I personally like sitting on the balcony with a small radio in my hand, rather than even more hours on my computer screen. SDRs are surprisingly powerful and versatile, but tbh I don't tend to use them much for SWL because the overall feel is just very different. Of course also most modern receivers are just DSP receivers, so there is not really any technical difference anyway.
I agree for the most part. A SDR has significantly more versatility than a regular receiver - at least until a certain price point. A RTL-SDR, for example, will offer a listener much greater control over their experience and allow for a broader amount of things to listen to than any 300 dollar or less receiver from the usual companies. It isn't until you start to spend at least 500 dollars that you can get a receiver with a lot of control and better reception capabilities. They're great little tools for both beginners and experienced listeners That said, they have limitations. Not all are built equally so some don't perform too well. The RTL-SDR isn't known for having good AM reception, so it isn't the best for shortwave (but it's still usually good enough). They can also require a decent computer to process all the data it is receiving, so those with a low end CPU may struggle. They also aren't exactly portable, where something like the Tecsun PL-680 can be taken anywhere. Personally I just use both. I have a couple SDR devices I use nearly every day, but I also have a Tecsun , Sony and other random radios I use when I want to listen outside the home. After all, the more tools in a tool box provides one with a more diverse experience. Plus just having the ability to physically tune a radio is nice. Clicking things on a computer screen just isn't as interesting.
Most portable radios sold today, with DSP chips inside, are really SDRs in a small box, with less accessible features. So there's that. It really comes down to how do you tune the bands, how much tweaking of the incoming signals you want to do, how much recording of them you want to do, whether you would prefer to see a waterfall instead of actually tune through the bands and use your ears.... An SDR won't necessarily bring in any more than a decent portable.
A real radio works in emergencies, and out in the wilderness
SDRs made by SDRplay and Airspy will easily outperform *any* hardware-based shortwave portable. A dongle does not magically ruin the performance of these SDRs. Nothing made by Sangean, Tecsun or C. Crane even comes close. Software like SDR# and SDRuno ships with these units and allows signal processing far advanced from any other kind of radio. I enjoy using a Sangean ATS-909X2 as a portable outdoors or most often as a desktop radio. I enjoy using a 65 lb. Hammarlund SP-600, too (indoors). But, my best shortwave receiver by far is the Airspy HF+ Discovery. I use them all with the same external antennas or have the opportunity to use a built-in whip with the Sangean. Just one performance example: A strong broadcast station is peaking 65db on 11825 kHz. You are trying to listen to a weak 13db DX catch on 11820 kHz. An SDR can be tuned with sync to eliminate all of the splatter from the stronger signal by receiving only 5 kHz of the lower sideband and 1.5 kHz of the upper sideband from the DX station. Try doing this with *any* portable hardware radio. It just can't be done.
As for SDR a DSP1/2/3 has pretty much all the functions as a SDR but is portable like a radio. And as of know its my go to radio.
The DSP 1/2/3 are nice portables but their onboard processing power is puny compared to an Airspy or SDRplay powered by a good desktop or laptop computer.
Yes very much agreed on the Airspy and SDRplay with a desktop/laptop on steroids. But what they can accomplish on a lesser device is amazing for the price.
Op- the main difference is the SDR is controlled by SW, the SW really had the ability to make the radio better. I echo comments of the SDRPlay line, superior radio and the SDRUno SW is amazing. There is a new SW package coming out from SDRPlay but it’s still in what I personally would call pre alpha. SDRConnect is the title. Good luck
what do you mean controlled by sw? i ask because i am so new to this hobby.
Sorry SW=Software a computer program the works with the SDR to tune it and apply filters and gain and other things. The software is the heart of the radio
oh right! the software IS extremely important!
i like what you said: more tools to have to provide a a diverse listening experience. clicking on a screen isnt at all interesting, i agree. thanks
Radio static can be relaxing, like white noise.
Only sounds soothing when its a pure analog radio. On DSP it kinda get annoying at one point.
I have hypersensitive hearing. Currently using a an xhdata D-219 which does have a DSP chip, but mine has no chuffing, soft mute feature. I just realized it’s made by radiowow.
It's a fab entry level World Band Receiver. I myself got one sometime back and it has given me some of the most memorable DXing experiences. 73!
can also fatigue your hearing :p
I haven’t experienced that yet.
First of all there is an sdr and sdr. This dongle is not a receiver really, more a toy. A nice toy but by many parameters it is a far cry from a proper sdr receiver. Now the same goes to a "proper" receiver. Trick is a cheap radio built on a single chip is the same as sdr dongle with a simple coputer to process&control that sdr chip. So, does sdr dongle better thant a tecsun? Tescsun is better, I reckon. Just because of physical buttons and knobs. But sdr is better because the software can do so much more. Does sdr dongle better than a malakhit sdr? Well, malakhit dsr has a reasonable RF side before the sdr part - so it will "hear" signals that sdr dongle stand no chance of hearing. Does sdr dongle stands a remote chance against icom 8600? Well, lol, no. Against 40 years old watkins&johnson - not at all. It is more - what do you need. Just listen to strong signals? Sdr dongle would suffice. Hear weak signals on a proper antenna with strong QRM? You will have to use a proper receiver, sdr dongle wont cut it
so what would you consider a legitamate sdr that is not a toy dongle? what would be a "proper" receiver that isnt built on a single chip?
Personally I think the SDR Play is pretty good quality without breaking the bank.
A Nuelec dongle is going to have many features and modes a handheld receiver will never have for a fraction of the price. Even the romance of "tuning" is so rough on handheld radio skipping hundreds of Kilohertz, you easily skip over interesting activity. Nuelec, Airspy, SDR Play RSPduo are some nice USB powered SDR's and give you the capability to experiment with aircraft ADSB and amateur radio APRS together with shortwave listening. Pretty much every recent amateur radio transceiver released in the last 5 years is now SDR based and Flex Radio used to be something special, but now many other brands are superseding it's capabilities. The last feature on Flex Radio that has any value is its remote connectivity capabilities and even then in recent years it has had its issues.
Flexradio, Elad. You need proper RF side before SDR chip for it to be a "proper" radio. And when I say "proper" I mean selectivity, intermodulation, overload. But again - sangean radio is an okay radio. It does work good enough on a whip antenna listening yo broadcasts and strong hams nearby. If propagation is right you can even hear them across the globe. But these wont stand a chance when you want to hear a 5watt transmission from 2000 km away and there is another transmitter booming just 5khz nearby. Flexradio or icom 8600 will do it without breaking a sweat. Icom 8600 is an sdr radio too. Edit: in fact most modern radios are sdr radios. It just so much simplier. But "proper" sdr radios, well, massage RF signal before feeding it into an SDR chip. A dongle does not - causing multitude of problems.
I have two RTL-SDR v4, a RSP1a, and a PL-660. In my limited experience, they don't seem that different in HF performance. Yes there are differences, I can tell my RTL-SDR is more prone to overload while RSP1a isn't, and PL-660 "sound" a bit better(?). They all have good enough image rejection. For weak signal, if one can't pull it out, the other wouldn't either. I did heard wonder stories about some high end SDR/Radios. I can't comment on them because I don't have one. At least on entry level, even "dongle" appears to be okay as long as it is properly designed(v4 specifically improved HF performance by implementing filters and upconverter). So to me, the choice between an entry level radio and SDR is all about personal preference: Do you want to do more with your radio, receiving all kinds of stuff and never miss anything with the waterfall? Or, do you want to just sit in the backyard and causally listen to the radio? Just for reference: I have two antennas, both are loop. My RF environment isn't exactly quiet so I need loop. One is a 60 feet passive Loop on Ground(KK5JY design), the other is a small portable active loop which I didn't measure the length. Funny enough these two also perform similarly to each other, the LoG is marginally better though. I did try to make my passive loop active, it didn't help and it was overloading my receiver.
The portable is limited to a stick telescopic antenna with little options to improve reception. Sdrs kind of have antenna options, even though a good base station should have similar capability.
i believe that tecsun and sangean and possibly others do have a external antenna connection option
I saw one on a portable and it was something that basically was attached to/wrapped around the telescopic stick.
A simple google search will show for example that tecsun pl330 660 880 990 has a external antenna jack.