[VHFcontesting] [VHF] Funcube Dongle?

[ejh]

Les,
I agree with Richard.  I bought one about a month ago, it arrived from 
England in less than 2 days.  It took me awhile to get it working correctly, 
it is not plug and play, quite a few adjustments to get it working right. 
It does not compare well with ham rigs using the same antennas.  Also, I had 
a Icom R7000 for many years, similar coverage, it did not work as well as 
the R7000.
I sold the FCD about a week after I got it.  I think it is great for a SWL 
type user, but for weak signal ham use, ham gear rigs are much better. 
Hope this helps..  Emory  WM3M

-----Original Message----- 
From: Les Rayburn
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 9:15 AM
To: Richard Allen
Cc: VHF Contesting Reflector ; vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] [VHF] Funcube Dongle?

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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