VP’s Corner
Jeff Fuller
WB6UIE
This month we’ll explore what has become one of amateur radio’s hottest high tech topics – Software Defined Radio, or SDR.
![](http://w4ovh.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/VP_Corner_SDR-.jpg)
SDR works by sampling the radio frequency spectrum and turning those samples into a stream of bits. Sounds simple, but it takes quite a bit of computing horsepower to do so in real time. Seems like just a few years ago in grad school when this was a computer exercise (submitted on punched cards) and actual SDR was just a pipe dream.
Today, with the addition of a digitizer and software, you can have your own SDR running on a PC. Here’s a short You Tube video covering SDR basics
You can listen to a variety of SDRs from around the world via http://websdr.org/ Cascade your sound card’s output to Fldigi to demodulate digital modes. Or see how your own signal sounds on various bands at some of your favorite DX spots.
![](http://w4ovh.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/VP_Corner_waterfall-for-SDR.jpg)
Want to log some hands on time with one of the popular SDRs? Join us at the January meeting for a presentation by Al, KB4BHB. Look forward to seeing you there!
73,
Jeff WB6UIE
Just a little typo – ham radio is an exciting hobby …. not exiting (I hope).
Good catch. Thanks Art !