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TELE-audiovision International — The World‘s Leading Digital TV Industry Publication
— 01-02/2015
—
TELE-audiovision.comDR or SDR#. This is a great
starting point for neophytes
to become accustomed to and
comfortable with the intrica-
cies of software defined radio.
Be sure to plug in headphones
or ear buds and listen in as
these SDR radios sound very
similar to good quality FM re-
ceivers.
One of the powerful features
of both SDR# and HDSDR
is the RF (Radio Frequency)
spectral display and waterfall.
These visual parameters are
of immense value to the ra-
dio hobbyist; for example the
upper spectral display can be
used to determine the band-
width, signal strength, signal
fade, waveform and distor-
tion of a received signal. The
lower or “waterfall” display is
a time recording of the sig-
nal and an indicator of signal
intensity as red indicates a
very strong signal and white
indicates a weak signal. Some
of the SDR# user options are
visible to the left such as, AF
Gain (volume control), AGC,
and slider bars to adjust the
FFT. Slider bars on the right
are to zoom in on a smaller
portion of the spectrum, wa-
terfall contrast, and speed of
7. HDSDR dashboard of NJ
101.5 on the FM band. Other FM
stations peaks are at 200 KHz
intervals.
8. Two MHz scan of the
aircraft band showing peaks
at 134.2, 134.6 from pilot
communications.
the spectral/waterfall display.
Spend your first few hours
with the dongle on the FM
band and familiarize yourself
with all the plentiful features