John wrote:

Hi,

I'm considering purchasing a WR-305e or a WR-315e. I want to use it
for monitoring some VHF/UHF digital communications.

I've read a lot of bad things about Winradio, but most of what was
written is old. I'm wondering if people still don't like the Winradio
receivers or if they've finally earned some respect.

I must have a receiver that can provide a digital stream via USB to a
computer. This can be digital audio, I/Q samples out of an ADC, or a
digitized IF. I can not use the computer's sound card for
digitization. What other receivers should I consider? I can't find
anything that competes with the WR-3x5e.

The WR-305e is around $750 and I think the WR-315e is around $2500.
I'm not sure if I need the better receiver for my application.

Thank you very much for any information or advice you might provide.

John

WinRadio had a bunch of offerings prior to their SDRs. They generally
weren't good unless working under ideal circumstances, which never
happens.

The SDRs, on the other hand, are a different story. Now, I don't know
the specifics of the 305 series, but there are two SDR types of
different price ranges and designs, but with similar capabilities.

If the 305 uses the computer to do the final detection and filtering
and requires you to use the sound card, that's probably not a bad way
to go. (There's then a corresponding 315 series, right, that can work
without the sound card?) These radios aren't perfect. But they are
damned flexible and capable with some weaknesses.

Don't expect them to be as good as the cream of the crop. But they
are a lot of fun.

I have an early, HF only 303i.

--
Eric F. Richards

"Nature abhors a vacuum tube." -- Myron Glass,
often attributed to J. R. Pierce, Bell Labs, c. 1940