Receiver and Software Defined Radio (SDR)

FUNcube SDR Receiver as USB stick (Software Defined Radio)

FUNcube SDR

The FUNcube SDR USB dongle is an SDR (Software defined radio) receiver built as a USB stick. The receiver covers a frequency range of 64 to 1700 MHz and can display/receive a spectrum of up to 80 kHz.

The FUNcube SDR receiver was developed to support the FUNcube satellite project of AMSAT-UK. This project is intended fo schools and pupils, who have the requirement for a very cost effective receiver. So Howard, G6LVB set out and developed the FUNcube SDR USB dongle!

FUNcube SDR receiver can be used to receive practically any signals on VHF and UHF: NFM, AM, SSB, CW, Data - whatever the software supports. And suitable software is available in many forms, most of them freely available on the internet: Linrad, Moetronix SpectraVue, Rocky, M0KGK and many others. The FUNcube SDR stick behaves like a soundcard towards the computer. The required drivers are already available with most operating systems like Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit), but Linux and Mac OS X is also possible.

To start using the FUNcube SDR dongle, the firmware (the software on the dongle itself) must be updated. This requires the download of the appropiate Windows software from the developers website and installation of the latest firmware. So, a little bit of computer work is required before the FUNcube SDR can be operated. Further a coarse frequency alignment is recommended. How this is done is described in detail in this english document (funcube_setup.pdf) (PDF, EN, 2.8MB).

The FUNcube SDR USB dongle has a female SMA connector for the antenna and works on any computer with a USB 2.0 interface, operating system see above. The sensitivity on 2m and 70cm is approx. 0.15µV. It is recommended to use an USB extension cable to get away from noise from the computer.

HF Converter Kit for FUNcube Dongle SDR

CT1FFU HF-Konverter

The FUNcube Dongle SDR Receiver has been a huge success so far and enjoys wide acceptance with many radio amateurs for receiving satellites and other VHF/UHF communications. The only drawback so far was reception of shortwave.

With the HF converter the reception of a frequency range from 0 to 52MHz now becomes possible. The converter is simply inserted in front of the FUNcube Dongle to the antenna connector. The power supply is done by USB, only the power lines are used. Alternativly any other +5V DC power supply can be used.

HF Converter + FCD on USB Hub

The converter transfers the received signals to a frequency which is 106.25MHz higher. This makes the converter useable with any kind of software for the FCD. Some programs (like HDSDR) allow to set a constant offset, making the use even more simple by showing the correct frequency even when using this converter.

For a good large signal handling the converter has a low pass at the input, plus a band pass filter for the 3m broadcast band and a high pass at the output.

The HF converter comes without an enclosure and partially assembled. All components except the SMA connectors are all ready installed, the coaxial connectors need to soldered to the board. The converter is shipped without connecting cable, best to order one 40310.SM-SM together with the converter.

Of course the HF converter can not only be used with the FUNcube Dongle, but with any VHF other receiver as well.