Re: re: Low cost hardware option, the "total GNUsolution"

Hi Marcus,

Practicality is a very important aspect of any project like this, and
it’s one that needs to be explored.
Yes, very important and I like what you are designing, you bet I will
get one if I can get it as already tuned.
Also the the SDR manufacturers are (should be) grateful that an
“stronger”
SDR is under consideration and for this price (only).

What I worry about the GNU SDR is (and I bet most are?):

  • if it is available as parts listed on a web page, the cost of test
    equipment (if you don’t have them)
    to verify I soldered everything ok exceeds an commersial USRP by far.
    There are lots of SDR examples on the web that got wasted since too few
    dare to touch these delicate pieces.
  • if I was a student then alles ok, school got the tools needed. If not,
    they will get em (hopefully)
  • if a company would try (to solder) the SDR in EU, the price would be
    around $4k/month/person

If an already tuned GNU SDR Kit was available, We for sure would found
your idea, that I a fact!

Patrik

If an already tuned GNU SDR Kit was available, We for sure would
found your idea, that I a fact!

Just to be clear–I personally have no desire/intention of building
these things and making them
available. I don’t have the resources or patience for the fiddly bits
of hardware design.

I view my roll as getting the discussion going on the topic,and throwing
out a few concrete
ideas.

On 18.01.2011 12:03, Patrik T. wrote:

Yes, very important and I like what you are designing,
you bet I will get one if I can get it as already tuned.

What is “already tuned”?

The design was just a RF/ADC board, without FPGA.
But possibly it could be attached to a cheap FPGA
development board of about $150-$250.
In sum it would be still half price compared to USRP.

What I worry about the GNU SDR is (and I bet most are?):

  • if it is available as parts listed on a web page,
    the cost of test equipment (if you don’t have them)
    to verify I soldered everything ok exceeds an commersial USRP by far.

Our local PCB manufacturer wants 50