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Author Topic: Pocket Sdr and thoughts  (Read 311 times)

KC6RWI

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Pocket Sdr and thoughts
« on: May 29, 2021, 08:27:20 AM »

I was inline to buy the original malachite sdr, the price creeped up and I was given a vague way to pay and even more conditions that I just won't abide by.
I was told that a website would be created in a few weeks and maybe that will be slightly better buying experience, but not forgetting I am halfway round the world and things happen, if I have a problem I have few solutions.
I don't have money in pocket buying a hole, these radios have already crept up from very affordable to too much cost.
Here is my favorite problem with buying Chinese, there are, lets say 100 models of clones and there is no way to tell what you will get, and forget prices they are all over the map.
I saw Steve Ellington (utuber) and he had one that had no reception with the whip, it only worked with his outdoor antenna system.
Just wondering if anyone has found any of these clones that work good even if you had to mod it.
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N2DTS

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Re: Pocket Sdr and thoughts
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2021, 09:18:02 AM »

That is not a very good receiver, and most of the ones from China stop working in short order.
It would be much better to get an Airspy HF+. Or even an sdrplay.

With all the hackers and so on, I would not buy anything from Russia.
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K7LZR

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Re: Pocket Sdr and thoughts
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2021, 09:50:44 AM »

Not exactly as portable as the malachite, but likely better to spend your money on an SDRPlay RSP1A + a small - perhaps a 7-inch model - tablet computer or laptop.....
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KC6RWI

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Re: Pocket Sdr and thoughts
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2021, 10:15:44 AM »

Seems like that would be a better path, now I got to find a tablet thats reliable, some of them have heating issues, well, the cheap ones.
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N6YWU

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Re: Pocket Sdr and thoughts
« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2021, 11:38:37 AM »

You can make your own pocket SDR with a SDRPlay (same tuner chip as the Malachite) plus a Raspberry Pi 3B with a small (2.8") touchscreen.  I use an iPhone for the touchscreen.  And one can likely find far better (and better documented) SDR software for the Pi.  But (except for UHF) I would use an Airspy HF+ Discovery instead of an RSPdx to reduce the total size and cost.

I might try out a Radioberry SDR hat on top of my Pi 4 to add mW QRPp Tx capability as well as Rx (which is based on the Hermes Lite 2 Rx design).  Amazon claims they will be in stock soon.
« Last Edit: May 29, 2021, 11:42:15 AM by N6YWU »
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N2DTS

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Re: Pocket Sdr and thoughts
« Reply #5 on: May 29, 2021, 03:59:13 PM »

Wall Mart sells a cheap laptop, I5 ssd under the brand ONN that works surprisingly well for about $300.00.
Also used refurbished laptops can be got cheap, it does not take much to run the typical sdr.
The airspy is so much better in performance then the sdr play receivers, its worth getting!

You want a nice screen on an sdr, but for portable use for little money the airspy into something cheap might work.
The mcHF rigs like the 978 series have very nice receivers and the display is great.
The 978 has a built in battery and is hend held, 1.8 to 30 MHz if that is good enough.
The market really calls for a GOOD hand held sdr with a nice screen, think a tablet with an airspy built in.

The Malachite clone is really garbage. Even if it kept working its super hard to use.
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KC6RWI

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Re: Pocket Sdr and thoughts
« Reply #6 on: May 29, 2021, 08:58:08 PM »

Thanks dts, I did find the mcHF on utube, really interesting, kit form is still pretty costly and there is alot to wind and assemble. I watched one vid, the guy had to cut a shield a bit and had to trim the sockets for the display to fit. But its doable.
The top of the mchf site says don't copy or commercially sell, and as you know the big Chinese co are having their way with it.
In fact.  mcHF does not provide metal cases for the radio, there is a link to alibaba and the cases are sold with the text markings on the metal.
I also saw the clone model 978 on eBay,, with fantastically hi prices or $600 to $700. wow. for that price I'll shop with the big three.
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N6YWU

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Re: Pocket Sdr and thoughts
« Reply #7 on: May 29, 2021, 10:24:40 PM »

I had my mcHF built in the U.S. by WD8BXS (he has a nice page on qrz).  It seems well done.  Chuck also does warranty repairs on his kit builds.  My mcHF does seem to have a few Tx spurs (likely inherent in m0nka's design) at full power on some bands, but I operate QRP, and don't plan to connect it to an amp. 

So far my favorite hardware for lightweight Rx only is an Airspy HF+ Discovery connected to a Raspberry Pi, or for a full transceiver, a Hermes Lite 2.  I use an iPad Mini as my SDR, display, and front panel for both.

Not quite pocket size, but any of the above fits in a lightweight picnic basket or go kit.
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N2DTS

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Re: Pocket Sdr and thoughts
« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2021, 05:25:48 AM »

Well, the only thing that comes close to the mcHF rigs is the Icom 705 for twice the price and half the power.
Depends on if you want a receiver (malachite) or a rig.
The market is missing an inexpensive but decent easy to use hand held sdr receiver.
For a hand held SDR, you have the mcHF and the KX2/KX3 without any band scope.

Consider, the RS978 is a 10 to 15 watt all mode rig with a big built in battery for around $500.00.
The 705 is $1300.00.
The KX2/KX3 are close to the same.

You should be able to get a nice RX only package for around $250.00.
The mcHF radios really are a joy to use though, all the right buttons and the screen is good.
 
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