SDR Fun

[Kayos]

I know a few are into radio so thought I would post this here.

During lockdown I rekindled my interest in scanning and bought a couple of SDR dongles. I had some fun and even built a Raspberry Pi based desktop receiver, complete with a touch screen and nice headphone amp, the limitation of course was the coax, which I had run into my office.

Then I got a job and had to join the real world, and I actually used the office as an office, so didn't want to spend my free time in there.

I have setup a raspberry pi 4 with a very basic operating system and what is needed to run the SDR dongles, I have also installed spyserver, which is a slightly more user friendly version of rtl_tcp, it also does some of the processing, meaning I can use my mini laptop as it only has a basic cpu

Sdr# has also had a recent update, and is a lot more user friendly, plus the scanner plugin now actually works

All I do is tell SDR# to look for my pi and it works, means I can sit anywhere with a laptop or tablet and do some scanning

Still to do is move the pi closer to the antenna, probably powered with power over ethernet, and work out how to use 2 dongles and switch between them

 

[Parm]

You know what. The last time I read one of your posts I actually went and bought an SDR based “thing”

it’s been over a year now. Still sat in the box

 

[Kayos]

Couple of shots of it in use, on my normal laptop and on my mini laptop

 

[Kayos]

You know what. The last time I read one of your posts I actually went and bought an SDR based “thing”

it’s been over a year now. Still sat in the box

I will have a look next time I call in

 

[frank horton]

are u looking for Aliens....?.......this is for ???
hahaha

 

[northwest]

The last time I read one of your posts I actually went and bought an SDR based “thing”

This place can be a right dear do. I had absolutely no idea I needed an adjustable, made in Japan.*





*counts as one of my best purchases of 2020

 

[Hog-Rider]

About 5 years ago I bought a Dongle and downloaded SDR on my PC but could never get them to talk to each other.. Probably about time I bought an up to date Dongle and give it another go. I have have a R/P 3 and I use it as Hot Spot for my TYT hand transceiver that I leave that on T/G 91.........I will give it another go as I have had Radio Scanners now for about 40 years Starting with an American Bearcat lol. However over the last 10 years + since digital has taken over from Analogue I have lost a bit of interest in scanning.

 

[Kayos]

About 5 years ago I bought a Dongle and downloaded SDR on my PC but could never get them to talk to each other.. Probably about time I bought an up to date Dongle and give it another go. I have have a R/P 3 and I use it as Hot Spot for my TYT hand transceiver that I leave that on T/G 91.........I will give it another go as I have had Radio Scanners now for about 40 years Starting with an American Bearcat lol. However over the last 10 years + since digital has taken over from Analogue I have lost a bit of interest in scanning.

I agree digital has ruined a lot, however running a dedicated antenna I can easily pick up plenty of marine traffic

I have been experimenting with DMR and found some guides to Tetra, doubt you will be listening to uk police any time soon though

 

[500e]

Soon to move, They hope

 

[Kayos]

Spent a bit of time trying to get 2 dongles to work, I didnt succeed

So I came up with a very pragmatic solution

I will be replacing both cases with passive heatsinks