AFEDRI have recently begun shipping their new software defined radio called the "LAN-IQ". The LAN-IQ is a full standalone SDR with good advertised specifications and a very decent price of only US$339. The advertised specs from the Afedri LAN-IQ website are pasted below:

• 30 kHz to 1700.00MHz continuous frequency range
• Direct sampling
• DDC - Digital Down-Conversion
• 12- bit 76.8 MSPS A/D conversion
• Stand Alone mode (AM, CW, SSB, NFM, WFM stereo, BPSK, QPSK demodulators)
• Up to 2.2MHz recording and processing bandwidth
• Waterfall display functions, when used with appropriate software
• Recording and playback, when used with appropriate software
• Sensitivity -  MDS -136 dBm at 500Hz bandwidth (0.03MHz-35MHz)
• Sensitivity -  MDS -143.5 dBm at 500Hz bandwidth (50MHz-435Mhz)
• USB 2.0 (Full Speed) interface
• LAN interface for remote access
• Compatible with: Linrad, Winrad, HDSDR, Studio1,  SDR Console (SDR-radio), CuteSDR, SdrDX, Quisk, PowerSDR_mrx
• Powered from USB or external power supply 7-10VDC
• Dimensions 120mm deep x 78mm wide x 27mm high
• Unit cost - $339

They go on to elaborate on the specs:

LAN-IQ SDR is stand-alone, direct sampling Software Defined Receiver (see picture above)  it has ability to send it's received I/Q stream in three different modes:

• Stand-Alone (Digital processing, filtering , decoding is implemented inside SDR)
• Network (LAN)
• USB

LAN-IQ SDR has the following specification:

• Frequency Coverage: 0.03MHz-35MHz & 35MHz-1700MHz
• Noise Figure: ~11dB (for 1MHz-35Mhz range and maximum RF gain 35dB)*
  *input VGA (Variable Gain Amplifier) has variable Gain from -10dB up to +35dB
• Noise Figure: ~3.5dB (for 50MHz-435Mhz range and maximum LNA/MIX gain )
• MDS: -136 dBm at 500Hz bandwidth (0.03MHz-35MHz)
• MDS: -143.5 dBm at 500Hz bandwidth (50MHz-435Mhz)

Output data format: two 16-bit I/Q channels (audio stereo stream emulation)

Maximum Receiving Bandwidth:

• BW = up to 2200kHz (for 2400kHz sample rate) -  using Network connection
• BW = up to 706kHz (for 768kHz sample rate) -  instand-alone mode
• BW = up to 230kHz (for 250k samples/s sample rate) -  using USB connection

RF ADC sampling rate: 76.800 MHz

Power Supply Voltage Requirements:

• 5V (supplied from the PC's USB bus or from external) or  from external power supply able to provide 5VDC +/-0.2V).
• 7.0-10V DC to the DC power connector.

Power Supply Current Requirements:

• up to 850mA (max. LCD brightness, network cable connected, VHF/SHF band)

The LAN-IQ SDR is designed to be used in stand-alone mode , i.e. without need to use  any additional computer and software.

In same time the SDR can be connected and used with  Personal Computer (PC) by two interfaces:

1. Ethernet Network connection.

This can now provide up to 2400 kHz sample rate

2. Full Speed USB

From PC point of view, the SDR-Net can be used alternatively as:

1. Network device using two IP protocols: TCP and UDP.

• TCP protocol is used to control the SDR parameters.
• UDP protocol is used to send received I/Q stream from SDR to PC

2. Or exactly like the  AFEDRI SDR-Net -USB Composite Device, that contains two USB functions:

• Generic USB Audio device - to transfer baseband I/Q signal, as an audio stereo stream
• USB HID device - used to control AFEDRI SDR-Net

From the Afedri Groups.io forum we've learned that by default the unit will come without the tuning knob, but a knob can be requested if preferred, although it comes with some limitations.

Ordering of the LAN-IQ is done via email only, and the email address can be obtained at the end of their ordering page. They accept PayPal, and shipping costs anywhere from $18 - $32 depending on the country. Also regarding shipping they note that deliveries may be delayed due to COVID-19 which is of course the case for every global delivery right now.

From the SWLing Post blog post we've also learned of a short demonstration video created by Fenu-Radio which is shown below. We are also awaiting his full review which will be posted on fenu-radio.ch.

In a second video Fenu-Radio compares the LAN-IQ against the Malahit-DSP which is another similar low cost standalone SDR which we posted about back in November 2019.

More videos of the LAN-IQ in action can be found on the Afredi-SDR YouTube channel.