In playing with my SW radio's, researching stuff on the web, I've discovered something that really has me fascinated. Something I had no idea that it even existed.
It's called SDR or software defined radio. Search websdr and you'll find quite a few hams that are supporting this on the web from around the world.
You simply visit the individual site and you have full access to their setup. You'll see and hear the radio spectrum from their antennas point of view. Some sites have pretty much what would be the full active spectrum, others maybe just the most active like 80/40meter bands. But regardless, it's really a cool toy that lets you see what is on. The Websdr tool is neat in that it is fully interactive, and allows you full control and filtering just like on a higher end desktop unit. It's easy to use, and you'll pretty much be able to figure out all the functionality pretty quick. The beauty is you can actually see the spectrum, learning what voice communication looks like and searching those frequencies. The site usually will also describe what equipment they are using.
I'm using it now to take a look at what is on and where before I turn a vintage radio on. Sometimes things are very active, other times quiet to the point I won't bother. Last night 20m (14.300 or so) was really open, so I spent some time there on my radios. There was a guy in Italy calling out CQ to North America, and I heard a clear reply all the way from west Texas.
But anyway, if you're on CP, you probably spend a fair bit of time on the computer, so if at all interested in SW listening, this is a neat way to listen...and you are all but a mouse click away from trying it.
My next thing will probably be my own SDR. SDRplay is a neat little receiver that is only about a couple hundred bucks and has a ton of features. Just hook up a simple wire antenna from outside, a USB cord to your PC, download the free desktop dashboard and you have your own SDR system. You can get even a simple receiver dongle for as low as $50 to get started. It's amazing technology. And you can play with better antennas later as time and budget allow.
Here's the link to the SDR station I listen to in Ormocto NB. (link corrected). Todd, this location should be somewhat representative of what you could receive at any given time.
Just checked out the NB SDR. Awesome! There was another station in Pa that I tried. Quite a few of the stations I heard on these I could hear on my radios. Surprisingly my DX440 seemed to pull the stations in better than the vintage Westinghouse.
It is only recently I learned about SDR, good link, thanks. My SWL is done now on a Kenwood R-600, previous radios were Realistic DX-302 and DX-160 ? and Hallicrafter. I have had my ham license since 1995 but do more listening than talking.
-- Edited by Brendan on Saturday 10th of February 2018 08:49:18 PM
Went a little nuts and bought what is really considered a SDR Transceiver. A Icom IC 7300.
Incredible little radio. Being able to see the full spectrum is fantastic. The filtering on this thing is such that it can pull most anything out of the noise. So much to learn. Options and adjustability seem endless.
Still make the rounds through all my radios, if just to keep them up. It's a cool little place to sit with the lights turned down. Now need to work on a licence.
I guess you did go nuts about 1500 times,lol. Nice radio, I was in a friend's ham shack today and I should've taken some pics for this thread, he's been into radios since the 60s and never sold any. He takes part in contests all over the world and is now into the digital modes. It is an interesting hobby, I got my callsign in 1995 but was into swl and cb in the 60s. I drifted away from it about 10 years ago and this winter I've been getting back into it, mostly on vhf, 2 meters and echolink on computer.
