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SW Recommendation(s) for Newbie

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2015 4:41 pm
by PeteL22151
I'm getting ready to fire up a new SDRplay, and wonder which software is best for a newbie? I guess it's mostly a matter of individual preference, but I wonder if there is a system that is easiest to implement with the hardware and to get started exploring its operation. I'm running Windows 10 Pro 64-bit. Any advice will be appreciated.
~Pete~ (N4PJL)

Re: SW Recommendation(s) for Newbie

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2015 4:55 pm
by n8me
If you are running Windows, I really like HDSDR. I also have it running under Wine on Linux and suspect that it would work under Wine on OS/X (Mac).

Re: SW Recommendation(s) for Newbie

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2015 6:21 pm
by jschall
Hey, I used to be a newbie. In fact, I still am.

For me, the easiest SDR program to use is still SDR Sharp v1361, with the SDRPlay EXTIO library. You will find it by searching these forums. Later versions of SDR Sharp have been crippled by the developer.

To me, the user interfaces of HDSDR and SDR Console are cluttered and confusing by comparison.

One of the features I love with SDR Sharp is the ease with which you can save stations in its Frequency Manager.

Let us know what you think, @PeteL2215.

Re: SW Recommendation(s) for Newbie

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 7:46 pm
by ronkpa
Any new thoughts comparing:
SDRuno v1.13
HDSDR v2.76
SDRconsole v2.3 or 3.0
Why would you choose to use one instead another?
Thanks.

Re: SW Recommendation(s) for Newbie

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 6:50 am
by g4enz
I use all of them.

HDSDR has some excellent tools for measuring signal strength and saving the values to a file for subsequent study.
SDRuno has the best AM and FM audio, I use it for all my "listening" work.
SDR Console has the best control of frequency / waterfall / bandwidth, I use it as my panadapter. It is the only one to preserve the waterfall on a frequency change which is fantastic when chasing up and down a band looking for DX.

Why choose?

73 Martin - G4ENZ

Re: SW Recommendation(s) for Newbie

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 2:25 pm
by kc6ete
Mine arrives today, and I'm also very anxious to get started.

My main interest is in the 600 meter band, with very narrow bandwidth CW, trying to dig below the noise floor.
Is there a particular package that does better in that sort of application?

I don't care much about FM broadcast, or indeed much of anything above the broadcast band.

Re: SW Recommendation(s) for Newbie

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 4:17 pm
by ronkpa
Thanks, g4enz. That gives me a new perspective. I played around with SDRuno and HDSDR but not SDRconsole. I am trying to get POTHOS to work with RSP2 on the Hi-Z port to analyze low frequency (less than 1 MHz) signals. Maybe I'll retry HDSDR to collect the data instead and analyze them offline. Thanks, again.

Re: SW Recommendation(s) for Newbie

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 5:44 pm
by W2DLC
Martin makes a good point. They don't use up much resources, so download and try them all. Some take a little more playing around with to get the results you want and some do some things better than others, but experimenting is part of this technical hobby. - Daniel, W2DLC

Re: SW Recommendation(s) for Newbie

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 10:19 am
by dhughes248
ronkpa wrote:Any new thoughts comparing:
SDRuno v1.13
HDSDR v2.76
SDRconsole v2.3 or 3.0
Why would you choose to use one instead another?
Thanks.
I REALLY like Console V3. Once you get over the learning curve it is very easy to use and understand. I am 69 years of age and been in radio listening of all types since I was a teenager back in the 60s. My only frustration is trying to find the best way to get audio to MULTIPSK since the whole shebang is on computer. I use a custom built computer with an I-7, 32 megs of memory and windows 10.


I have wanted an SDR radio for years, but could not afford it until now and I am overjoyed at the quality, sensitivity and usefulness of the hardware and software.