Tagged: fdm-duo

HamRadioScience Reviews the Elad FDM-DUO Software Defined Transceiver

The Elad FDM-DUO is a high end $1149 USD Italian made software defined radio transceiver (transmit and receiver) with a frequency range of 10 kHz – 54 MHz, a 16-bit ADC, a bandwidth of up to 6 MHz and can transmit with up to 5 – 8 watts. It is a product targeted at ham radio enthusiasts who want a gradual transition into software defined radios. It can work in two modes: either as a standalone computer-less radio just like a regular hardware radio, or as a fully functional computer based SDR.

The front of the FDM-DUO.
The front of the FDM-DUO.

Recently the admin of hamradioscience.com rather comprehensively reviewed the Elad FDM-DUO. His thoughts are that it is the perfect radio for those wanting to be slowly eased into the SDR world due to it’s dual mode operation. He writes:

The Italian made FDM-DUO has to be the most versatile, well designed, and well thought out SDR system currently on the market.

The review by hamradioscience goes over several points such as explaining what all the connectors on the radio are for, reviewing the ergonomics, reviewing the radio in standalone mode and in PC based SDR mode and he also reviews the companion software package. The reviewer is especially impressed with the included software, basically making the point that this system is a full SDR transceiver package (all you need in terms of hardware AND software).

Generally we recommend more general purpose and lower cost wideband VHF/UHF SDR’s like the Airspy, SDRplay RSP or HackRF (see our review on those SDRs here), but if you are not limited by budget and want to use an SDR mostly for HF amateur radio purposes then the Elad FDM-DUO looks like a winner. The author concludes with the following comment.

Elad got so many things right with the FDM-DUO that it is hard find much to criticize. Unlike so many SDR systems available today, the FDM-DUO SDR system feels like less of a “science project” and more of a finished consumer product. For those who wants a SDR radio system that “just works” and easy to use, the FDM-DUO is a great choice. Also, kudos to Elad for providing such a well done SDR program. The program was very stable over the review period. No, crashing at just the wrong time say during a contest. Heck even if it did, it wouldn’t matter much since you could just continue on using the FDM-DUO as a standalone rig. With some of the larger radio manufacturers dipping their toes in the SDR area, they should take note of what Elad has done with the FDM-DUO. Elad has truly created a very flexible multi-use system with the FDM-DUO and a darn fine SDR radio system at a very good value.

FDMDuo_SW
The Elad FDM software package.