Introduction
What is an SDR?
Different types of SDR
SDRs can be bought in different sizes, with different features and, of course, with different prices.
Cheapest: RTL-SDR
The cheapest option is RTL-SDR USB stick. It is based on an RTL2832 chip, which was commonly used as a DVB-T receiver. However, some smart guy found out that you can tune this receiver easily to any frequency you like,and that it delivers the I and Q samples to the computer. So it is easy to make the radio spectrum visible in software. Of course, they have a limited bandwidth and frequency range, but for simple tasks such as watching / recording a 433 MHz signal or listening to radio it is good enough.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| – Cheap – Frequency Range: 25 MHz – 1750 MHz – Bandbreite: 2.4 MHz | – Only RX (receiving) possible, no TX |
If you want to buy one, you can do it through this link and support me: Go to Amazon
Medium priced: HackRF One
The HackRF One is more expensive than the RTL-SDR, but it has many more features that are really worth the price:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| – Large frequency range: 1 MHz – 6 GHz – Bandwidth: 20 MHz – TX possible: Can also transmit signals |
If you buy one through this link, you support my work on this blog: Amazon
Expensive and professional: Ettus Research USRP
If you are a professional or just like to buy expensive equipment, the USRP is more or less the industry standard when it comes to software-defined radios. These devices were also used at my university. More details can be found on the website of Ettus Research.