In this video YouTube user feri67000 shows reception of a 10 GHz amateur beacon over 26km using the RTL-SDR, and an ‘Avenger LNBF‘, which we believe is this one which only costs $11. The LNB within the Avenger antenna converts the 10 GHz signal into a frequency that is receivable by the R820T RTL-SDR.
Also, in this video by YouTube user EA5KGD reception of a voice signal is shown using the RTL-SDR and Avenger LNBF.
For people already with expensive ham radios, the RTL-SDR can be used as a cheap panadapter. A panadapter is device that allows you to visually see the RF spectrum and waterfall being received by the ham radio. There are multiple (expensive) commercial panadapters available, but combined with a PC or laptop, the RTL-SDR will work just as well.
In this video YouTube user akdude47 shows a tutorial on setting up the RTL-SDR as a panadapter for a Yaesu FT-857. The setup involves connecting the IF output of the radio to the RTL-SDR, and putting in some settings into HDSDR.
In this video YouTube user Roland Zurmely (PY4ZBZ) shows communications with the FO-29 amateur satellite using his RTL-SDR and a 6 element UHF Yagi antenna. The Fuji-OSCAR-29 (FO-29 a.k.a JAS-2) is an amateur radio satellite that allows voice communication via single side band, and has a voice downlink frequency of 435.8 MHz and uplink frequency of 145.9 MHz.
In this video, the RTL-SDR was used as the satellite receiver, and a conventional FT857 radio with 4 element VHF Yagi was used to transmit to the satellite uplink.
Update: KN0CKs products are now available at http://www.kn0ck.com/HF_SDR/.
Yesterday Marty (KN0CK), developer of the miniature integrated HF upconverter for the RTL-SDR that was recently posted wrote into us with some updates.
The version we posted about recently was his “Production 3” version. He writes to tell us that along with his “Production 3” release he created a 15mm x 15mm “Small Form Factor” radio enclosed in one of the smaller RTL2832 tuner dongles, which is the “Worlds Smallest HF Receiver”. Marty writes
This is a non-preamplified model receiver but has EXCELLENT performance for what you get. It has become my most favorite receiver to use here in the shack because of its size and performance – not that I don’t like the preamplified models of my receiver line. I just like how well it performs for such a small receiver – it’s truly unique.
This Small Form Factor Radio has an operating frequency of 100kHz to 54 MHz allowing the 6m band coverage that everyone was so rabid about. The entire design is predicated on using 0402 SMT parts except for what can’t be squeezed down (the crystal oscillator and the SA612 mixer). I have built 6 of these radios and have 3 on hand now for sale now. They retail out at $70.00 because they are HARD to manufacture and are hand-assembled and tested.
If you are interested you can contact Marty at martywittrock_AT_gmail_DOT_com.
Below are some images. The first image shows the size of the worlds smallest HF receiver, the second shows an example of expected HF performance in HDSDR, and the third image shows the upconverter circuit layout.
In addition to creating the worlds smallest HF receiver, KN0CK has also been working on his “Production 4” model, which has the same performance as his “Production 3” model posted earlier, but is capable of being installed into any RTL2832 DVB-T radio.
This model is now released and will be available for sale at easy-kits.com when “Production 3” is sold out.
Marty writes
The latest production I have is termed as ‘Production 4’ and became a hybrid of my ‘Small Form Factor Radio’ and the existing ‘Production 3’ design. I took the best of both worlds and then modified the low pass filter to operate into 6m like I did on the Small Form Factor Radio, too.
[The ability to install into any RTL2832 DVB-T radio] was the reason for this final [Production 4] spin – so it could go into the DVB-T radios that incorporated the goofy through-hole capacitors they used in their power supply design (and also cheaper to sell).
I’ve incorporated this new HF upconverter design into the RTL2832/820T model radios, too, and while the performance of the DVB-T stick is not wonderful, it works pretty well with the HF Upconverter I have designed and installed in it.
I must tell you that the RTL2832/820T model radios are the cheapest out there and have 3 goofy through-hole caps in there that made it impossible to install my ‘Production 3’ model HF Upconverter into that radio….Until Production 4 came along… 🙂
The three images below show the circuit layout, upconverter and RTL-SDR dongle together, and upconverter circuit by itself.
For the future plans of his worlds smallest HF receiver Marty writes
At this time, I’m going to respin my ‘Small Form Factor’ board to solder the crystal oscillator directly on the board like the Production 4 models do (for awhile, I didn’t have a circuit pads for that oscillator and had to hand wire those on the back of the ‘Production 3’ boards. Production 4 cleared that issue and now I’ll clean up the Small Form Factor radio the same way.
Finally, Marty talks about his plans to create a transmit (TX) modification to the dongle. He writes
[I] am working toward a transmit side app for this stick – – target is December to make that happen. I would keep the ‘Production 3’ form factor and then put the TX stuff on the back side of the board.
We look forward to Marty KN0CKs future work, which is likely to be posted about first by KF7LZE, a friend of Marty’s on KF7LZE’s popular blog.
On the FUNcube Dongle blog/store amateur radio enthusiast DK80K (a.k.a Nils) has sent in a link to a 16 page pdf file showing a comprehensive tour on the FUNcube Dongle Pro+’s capabilities on the HF spectrum.
He gives an overview of many digital ham and HF utility modes including DRM, WSPR, RTTY, Olivia, MFSK16, PSK31, Pactor, Packet, Hellschreiben, ROS, SSTV, HF ACARS, SSB, CW, DSC/GMDSS, SITOR-A/B, Globe Wireless, Time Signals, ALE, Baudot, FAX and Stanag 4285.
The FUNcube is a software defined radio similar to the RTL-SDR, but with better sensitivity and noise performance, but at a higher price (around $200 USD). These modes can also be received with the RTL-SDR and an upconverter such as the Nooelec Ham-It-Up upconverter.
YouTube user Wolfgang Bleher shows in this video his reception and decoding of Morse code using an R820T RTL-SDR stick, HDSDR and CWSkimmer. He used a 2m Yagi as the antenna.
Over on the Radio Antics blog fellow RTL-SDR enthusiast Andrew has been using the RTL-SDR to receive Slow Scan Television (SSTV) amateur signals. SSTV is a method ham radio enthusiasts use to send small images to one another. The images often contain their ham call sign overlaid on the image.
Andrew was able to receive several SSTV images using an R820T dongle tuned to the 27 MHz (11 meter) band. He also used a Funcube Dongle+ and got similar results.
Check out his post for some of the images he received, and his video below for an example of the receiving process.
In this video YouTube user Superphish shows decoding of the French Navy STANAG 4285 test signal. He used an rtl-sdr, Ham-it-up upconverter, SDRSharp and a decoding program called Sorcerer. Watch in HD to read the text, though the text basically just repeats the French equivalent to the quick brown fox, “VOYEZ VOUS LE BRICK GEANT QUE J EXAMINE PRES DU GRAND WHARF” and some test symbols over and over.
Fair warning with the Sorcerer download: Some people report that their virus scanner detects a trojan on some Sorcerer download links. The Sorcerer link above seems to be clean though, as far as my virus scanner reports. An alternative decoder is Sigmira.
STANAG 4285 is the NATO standard for HF communication, and signals can be found all over the HF spectrum.
