FunCube Dongle + HF converter kit = DC to 1.7GHz all-mode receiver
FunCube Dongle & HF converter
Thanks to RW3AH’s blog I learned that the FunCube Dongle is once again available for sale.
Finally!
For those who may not know, the “FCD” is a small, USB thumb drive sized SDR receiver that covers 64-1700 MHz. An add-on kit developed by CT1FFU and CT2IRW extends the range of the FCD down to HF.
A combined price of around $225 results in a tiny receiver capable of any mode supported by SDR software – ie, all of them (FWIW, just the FCD together with shipping from the UK is 112GBP, which amounts to $178).
A stroll around the internet shows them being used to successfully receive a variety of FM and digital hamsats, demodulated weather sat maps, HF CW and on and on…
Amazing, and in such a tiny package.
I now have a FCD on its way to me but, unfortunately, the HF converter kits are out of stock at the moment. No matter – that will give me a chance to get up to speed on the receiver itself, maybe listening to a few sats or monitoring the local cops or 2m (yawn) repeaters.
Several columns previously left unread in my Monitoring Times magazines will now take on new interest as a new bit of spectrum will be open for my eavesdropping pleasure.
Of course the real value (and fun) of an instrument like this is not necessarily in using it strictly for what it was designed but in all the other imaginative schemes, particularly as a panadapter. The FT-817 and FT-857 (and other brands/models of common rigs) have compatible IF’s for panadapter use as well as conversion to lower freqs in the event you don’t want (or can’t obtain) the HF converter kit mentioned previously.
For example, from Mike N1JEZ:
I thought I’d share a bit of work here. I have tapped the 68.33 MHz common IF in
my FT-817 that I use for weak signal microwave work.It was tapped just before the crystal filter and isolated/buffered with a MAR6
and then brought out to an SMA mounted on the rear.I used an Opto isolator paralleled off the front panel RX LED to shut off the
MAR6 when in transmit.The 68.33 MHz signal is fed to my FCD. In my SDR software, I set the tuning to
68.33 MHz, then wherever I tune the FT-817, I’m able to see +/- 40 kHz around
that frequency. A nice Panadapter.Since it’s the common IF, I can use it with the FT-817 on 6M, or 2 or 432 for my
microwave gear. Initials test show the SDR software can see 10 dB or more better
than what I can hear on the FT-817.Fun project!
OZ9AEC has uploaded numerous videos showing the FCD’s broad capabilities across the spectrum. Here’s one, at HF. CW, of course:
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Radio
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FunCubeDongle, kits, SDR
Themocracy
I’m gnashing my teeth a bit over this having just bought an HF-only SDR. I tried a couple of times to get a FunCube but was never quick enough off the mark. I thought about using one with an up-converter. But I wondered how something that small could really be a serious receiver.
Regarding the size of the FunCube, I had the same thoughts but convinced myself of its merits based on various reviews & YouTube videos…hopefully not in error.
FunCube received in today’s mail – 2 days from the UK to Texas!
From CT2IRW on the status of HF converter kits:
“We are currently waiting for pcbs and components for another round. Once we have news we will let you know. The estimate date I would say, January, but considering the season we are, that could delay things up 1, 2 weeks…”
An article published today:
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/emerging-tech/2012/01/04/radio-amateurs-prep-launch-of-tiny-funcube-satellite-40094737/
And here’s a homebrewed HF converter from M1GEO:
http://www.george-smart.co.uk/wiki/FunCube_Upconverter