1. Software Defined Radio (SDR)
Tye Winkel – KC8YEJ
John Oynoian – KE8CTQ /13/2017

2. Agenda Software Defined Radio (SDR) SDR Hardware SDR Software
Specifications
SDR Radio Applications

3. What is an SDR?
Software-defined radio (SDR) is a radio communication system where components that have been typically implemented in hardware (e.g. mixers, filters, amplifiers, modulators/demodulators, detectors, etc.) are instead implemented by means of software on a personal computer or embedded system.

4. Basics of an SDR System Personal Computer equipped with a Sound Card
RF Front End (the SDR)
Software to configure/operate the SDR (Freeware)
Signal processing is managed by the computers processor, unlike a traditional radio where dedicated components perform the same functions. This methodology provides the means to operate using varying frequencies, protocols, and environments extending the life and usefulness of the system over conventional radio hardware.

5. SDR Hardware
Price = $$
Price = $$$
Price = $$$$

6. SDR Hardware RTL-SDR.COM – ROUNDUP OF SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIOS
Flex Radio – SDR based Ham Radio Transceivers Perseus – HF SDR receivers RF Space – HF SDR receivers Quicksilver QS1R – HF SDR receiver WinRadio – HF and VHF / UHF SDR receivers Alinco – HF and VHF / UHF receivers with IQ outputs Elecraft – KX3  HF Transceiver with IQ output (Coming this fall) FUNcube Dongle – Wideband VHF / UHF receiver Apache Labs – HF – 6 meter SDR Transceivers Elad – Wideband VHF / HF Receivers  and HF Transceiver AirSpy – Wideband VHF / UHF Receiver SDRPlay – Wideband VHF / UHF / HF Receiver
NooElec – Wideband VHF / UHF / HF Receiver

7. SDR Radio Kits
SDR Cube – HF SDR Transceiver GenesisRadio – HF SDR Receiver and HF Transceiver kits SoftRock – HF SDR Receivers and Transceivers

8. SDR Software
SDRuno
Power SDR
HDSDR

9. SDR Software
SDR#
SDR Console

10. SDR Software
PowerSDR – Works with SoftRock and Flex Radio hardware for Windows (custom version available for Apache Labs) Winrad – Supports several SDR radios for Windows – General purpose Linrad – SDR software for Linux and Windows – General purpose Rocky – SDR software for Windows for Softrock kits HDSDR – SDR software for Window supports many SDR Radios CubicSDR – SDR software for Macintosh Heterodyne – SDR software for Macintosh supports Apache Labs iSDR – SDR software for iPad and iPhone SDR-Console -SDR software for Windows supports many SDR Radios
SDRuno -SDR software for Windows supports SDRPlay and SDR Radios CuSDR – supports Apache Labs SDR-Sharp – supports AirSpy and others. GNURadio – Linux General Purpose

11. SDR Radio Applications
Using rtl-sdr as a spectrum analyzer.
Receiving NOAA weather satellite images.
Listening to satellites and the ISS.
Radio astronomy.
Monitoring meteor scatter.
Listening to FM radio, and decoding RDS information.
Listening to DAB broadcast radio.
Use rtl-sdr as a panadapter for your traditional hardware radio.
Decoding taxi mobile data terminal signals.
Use rtl-sdr as a high quality entropy source for random number generation.
Use rtl-sdr as a noise figure indicator.
Reverse engineering unknown protocols.
Triangulating the source of a signal.
Searching for RF noise sources.
Characterizing RF filters and measuring antenna SWR.

12. SDR Radio Applications
Listening to unencrypted Police/Ambulance/Fire/EMS conversations.
Listening to aircraft traffic control conversations.
Tracking aircraft positions like a radar with ADSB decoding.
Decoding aircraft ACARS short messages.
Scanning trunking radio conversations.
Decoding unencrypted digital voice transmissions.
Tracking maritime boat positions like a radar with AIS decoding.
Decoding POCSAG/FLEX pager traffic.
Scanning for cordless phones and baby monitors.
Tracking and receiving meteorological agency launched weather balloon data.
Tracking your own self launched high altitude balloon for payload recovery.
Receiving wireless temperature sensors and wireless power meter sensors.
Listening to VHF amateur radio.
Decoding ham radio APRS packets.
Watching analogue broadcast TV.
Sniffing GSM signals.
Using rtl-sdr on your Android device as a portable radio scanner.
Receiving GPS signals and decoding them.

13. SDR Radio Applications
With an upconverter or direct sampling mod to receive HF signals the applications are expanded to:
Listening to amateur radio hams on SSB with LSB/USB modulation.
Decoding digital amateur radio ham communications such as CW/PSK/RTTY/SSTV.
Receiving HF weatherfax.
Receiving digital radio monodial shortwave radio (DRM).
Listening to international shortwave radio.
Looking for RADAR signals like over the horizon (OTH) radar, and HAARP signals.

14. Specifications – (WIKIPEDIA LINK)
Name
Type
Frequency range
Max bandwidth
TX capable
Sampling rate
Panadapters / Receivers
Host Interface
Windows
Linux
Mac
FPGA
Base price
NooElec NESDR SMArt
Pre-built
25 MHz – 1750 MHz
USB
Yes  ?
$20.95
AirSpy
Pre-build
24 – 1750 MHz No
20 MSPS MSps ADC sampling, up to 80 MSPS for custom applications
0/1
Yes using ports
none
$199
FLEX-5000A
0.01 – 65 MHz
48-192kHz (x2)
48, 96, 192 kHz
2/2
1394a Firewire
$2,800
SDRplay: RSP2[60]
1kHz – 2 GHz
10 MHz
2 X 10 MSPS with 10 built-in preselection filters and 3 antenna ports
1/1
$169

15. Questions?