Peter Breslin schrieb:
Hello. I need help from the group. I'm looking to purchase a semi
high end radio and have about $1000 to spend. I've heard and read
plenty about the R8B and will probably go that direction. That said,
I'm also intrigued by computer radios, ie. Winradio. They have a 313i
model that some say has a greater ability and functionality than the
Drake or any hardware based radio. Any thoughts on a best buy in my
price range - new or Ebay? And do you think that computer radios may
now rival their external brothers? Thanks in advance for the consult.
Well, what's your usage pattern? I.e.: What have you been using till
now? Are you a hard-core knob twiddler or would you get along just as
well with a PC interface? What kind of stuff do you like to receive,
classic AM and SSB or rather advanced data modes? Do you listen a lot
without a PC running? Finally, the distance and lead-in type of the
antenna would be of interest.
The strengths of PC based receivers with digitized IF out (G303i) or
programmable DSP (G313i) a
+ FLEXIBILITY, in caps. Given the right software (for the G3 series, the
"pro" demodulator may be worth an investment), you can demodulate
virtually anything, modes with higher than usual bandwidths included.
DSP IF filtering can also be applied, along with all the DSP goodies.
+ Easy band scans, to check for emerging DX and suchlike
+ No expensive front panel etc. needed, reduces cost
And their weaknesses:
- Cannot operate without a PC running. The antenna better be as far away
as possible, with shielded coax lead-in. Comfy bedside listening is
better done with something else. Also, the locations of PC and
receiver are not independent. It's kind of hard to lug an internal
receiver like this to a DXpedition.
- May not handle big antennas as well as ordinary communications
receivers.
- Software availability not equal for all platforms.
- Can virtual knobs and buttons make up for their real counterparts?
- Quite some host computing power required unless rx comes with built-in
DSP - my PIII-500E here nicely breaks into sweat when it comes to
decoding DRM via DREAM, which I happened to try today (with decent
results on my unmodified AR7030 using DATA mode, BFO 0.0 kHz, PBS
-4.2 kHz, though the SNR could have been some 10 dB higher with a
modified rx [DW on 13780 was very strong and reached some 25 dB SNR,
while a modified AR7030 can reach up to 35 dB])
Comments of the G3x3i's shielding seem to have been very positive so
far, so that does not seem to be an issue. As by the G303i's review in
Short Wave Magazine (downloadable), oscillator phase noise is pretty
good (-123 dBc @ 10 kHz), while strong signal handling is average (IP3
+3 dBm vs. +30 dBm for an AR7030 measured the same way).
Stephan
--
Meine Andere Seite:
http://stephan.win31.de/
PC#6: i440BX, 1xP3-500E, 512 MiB, 18+80 GB, R9k AGP 64 MiB, 110W
This is a SCSI-inside, Legacy-plus, TCPA-free computer
