[VHFcontesting] [VHF] Funcube Dongle?

[Les Rayburn]

Richard,

Thank you for this insightful review. Exactly what I was hoping for.

I'm sure in the next few years someone will develop a VHF/UHF SDR 
transceiver, hopefully one that will cover 6 Meters thru 1296, including 222 
and 902. Such a product will have the
potential to change weak signal operation overnight. But right now, none of 
the SDR's that operate in this range are robust enough.

73,


Les Rayburn, N1LF
EM63nf
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114

6M VUCC #1712
Grid Bandit #222
Life Member Central States VHF Society


-----Original Message----- 
From: Richard Allen
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 12:35 AM
To: Les Rayburn
Cc: VHF Contesting Reflector ; <vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu>
Subject: Re: [VHF] Funcube Dongle?

Hi Les,

I have one and it does work. However, since it is so broad band, it's not 
useable in an urban location with out some kind of filter ahead of it for 
the band(s) of interest due to desensing by all big signals around.  As long 
as it Is filtered it has fair sensitivity.  But a properly filtered 
preamplifier at the antenna like one of sp7000 series from Germany is what I 
think it needs.

I've been rather disappointed, to be truthful, and since I have other ways 
to receive all of the ham bands it covers, mine has sat on the shelf since 
shortly after I bought it almost a year ago.

Regards,

Richard W5SXD

On Oct 12, 2011, at 11:30 PM, "Les Rayburn" <les at highnoonfilm.com> wrote:

> I'd like to hear some reviews from weak signal operators who may have 
> experimented with the "Funcube Pro Dongle". The Funcube Pro is a Software 
> Defined Radio (SDR) that plugs into the USB port of your computer and can 
> receive signals from about 60 MHZ to 1400 MHZ. With some firmware 
> upgrades, it can tune as low as 51 MHZ, making it not quite usable for 6 
> Meters.
>
> It's priced at under $200, and seems like it might be useful as a 
> panadapter. I'd love to hear from any weak signal ops who've tested one.
>
> 73,
>
>
> Les Rayburn, N1LF
> EM63nf
> 121 Mayfair Park
> Maylene, AL 35114
>
> 6M VUCC #1712
> Grid Bandit #222
> Life Member Central States VHF Society ------
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