How much, as a minimum, can I expect to have to spend for a software
controllable receiver? I already have a fast, up to date windows box with
usb 2.0.

Need more info! Are you talking about a HF receiver, VHF/UHF scanner, or
wide band?

Bill Crocker


"Cyber-Hun" wrote in message
news:qHIBd.674277$%k.288818@pd7tw2no...
How much, as a minimum, can I expect to have to spend for a software
controllable receiver? I already have a fast, up to date windows box with
usb 2.0.

"Cyber-Hun" wrote in news:qHIBd.674277$%k.288818@pd7tw2no:

How much, as a minimum, can I expect to have to spend for a software
controllable receiver? I already have a fast, up to date windows box with
usb 2.0.




Partly depend on what you want to do with it. What frquencies interest you
etc. You can buy a brand new Ten Tec R320D for about $320.00 US or a Winradio
for thousands depending on options. YOu can also find most of these for sale
on EBay if you are patient I have seen Icom PCr-1000's go for 250$US. In
fact there is one at $150 or so as I type

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=57415838 18
&rd=1

--
Panzer

If I just want to recieve and not transmit, isn't there a one-size-fits-all
kind of receiver that picks up basically the whole range from low frequency
am all the way up to the Ghz bands?
Another question --- without breaking the bank, what kind of rig will enable
me to get the most use out of my PC for stuff like decoding satellite
pictures, and experimenting with the reception of digital signals?

"Bill Crocker" wrote in message
...
Need more info! Are you talking about a HF receiver, VHF/UHF scanner, or
wide band?

Bill Crocker


"Cyber-Hun" wrote in message
news:qHIBd.674277$%k.288818@pd7tw2no...
How much, as a minimum, can I expect to have to spend for a software
controllable receiver? I already have a fast, up to date windows box
with usb 2.0.

Yeah, I'm a little leery of buying a pig in a poke, so to speak. It's
caveat emptor, so I like to give merchandise a once-over BEFORE paying for
it, but, this is a whole different issue. I guess this kind of gear either
works perfectly or not at all, as a rule.


"Panzer240" wrote in message
...
"Cyber-Hun" wrote in
news:qHIBd.674277$%k.288818@pd7tw2no:

How much, as a minimum, can I expect to have to spend for a software
controllable receiver? I already have a fast, up to date windows box
with
usb 2.0.




Partly depend on what you want to do with it. What frquencies interest you
etc. You can buy a brand new Ten Tec R320D for about $320.00 US or a
Winradio
for thousands depending on options. YOu can also find most of these for
sale
on EBay if you are patient I have seen Icom PCr-1000's go for 250$US. In
fact there is one at $150 or so as I type

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=57415838 18
&rd=1

--
Panzer

"Cyber-Hun" wrote in message
news:hSPBd.678144$%k.627445@pd7tw2no...
If I just want to recieve and not transmit, isn't there a
one-size-fits-all kind of receiver that picks up basically the whole range
from low frequency am all the way up to the Ghz bands?
Another question --- without breaking the bank, what kind of rig will
enable me to get the most use out of my PC for stuff like decoding
satellite pictures, and experimenting with the reception of digital
signals?


Yes, there are several one-size-fits-all answers to this question. None of
them really cheap, but a couple are quite resonibly priced when you thin
what even a few years ago such capability would have cost. But, like a
one-size-fits-all jacket, they do not really fit all that well.

By this I mean all of them are a compromise of some type. All levels of
workmanship and design being equal, something that covers DC to light will
not work as well as something designed for a narrower specific application.
A unit designed specifically for HF SW reception will general outperform the
same money spent on a single unit designed to cover HF, VHF-Lo, VHF-Hi, UHF,
and SHF.

With these shortcomings in mind there are a few options.

Don't get hung up on USB or USB 2.0 for a communications protical. A simple
serial port is plenty fast for the data needed to control a radio. The
audio is not transfered through the data stream in most cases. If your PC
does not have a serial port (many these days donot) a simple USB to serial
adapter can be bought for a very low cost these days, often around $20 USD.

There are several radios with full up front ends capable of being PC
controlled, I mean they look like normal radios but can be PC controlled. I
will address a couple here that are meant ONLY to be controlled via PC.

The WinRadio WR-1550e. It covers something like 150 kHz to 1500 MHz. All
mode. Works very well from about 50 MHz up. Is acceptable for most
applications below 50 MHz. Has a fairly fast scan rate.

Icom PCR-1000. It covers something like 100 kHz to 1300 MHz. All mode.
Works better than the WR-1550e below 50 MHz. Works slightly less well above
50 MHz (when compared to the WR-1550e). Scan rate with some software is not
as fast as the WR-1550e. Better image rejection than the WR-1550e.

In my opinion (some may disagree) the WR-1550e is the better of the two
choices for scanner uses. I have 2 WR-1550e's, one WR-1000i, and two
PCR-1000's. If I was looking primarily for a SW (HF, 30 MHz and down) radio
with the ability to work up above 1 GHz I would opt for the PCR-1000. If I
was looking only for HF (and NOTHING higher than 30 MHz) coverage I would
opt for one of the WinRadio G3xx series. But for general type stuff with
the ability to do it all I would go for the WR-1550e understanding that it
has limitations. Unless you have the funds for the WR-3xxx series. and then
I would say one of the internal DSP equiped models would be the ticket.

C

Cyber-Hun schrieb:

Yeah, I'm a little leery of buying a pig in a poke, so to speak. It's
caveat emptor, so I like to give merchandise a once-over BEFORE paying for
it, but, this is a whole different issue. I guess this kind of gear either
works perfectly or not at all, as a rule.


The PCR-1000 is a good value for the money.
It can compete with a Sony 2010 on shortwave and works fine on VHF/UHF.

For sure it can not compete with designatet SW-tabletops. My NRD-525
runs circles around my PCR-1000. I have a fairly good handheld scanner
and the PCR-1000 is remarkably better. Also tracking on weather
satellits is fine with the PCR-1000.
There is already some software available, allowing trunk-tracking with
the PCR-1000. Although this is useless in Germany and most -if not all-
of Europe.