Literally a black box
In my “toybox”, I have some SDR. Assume the lack of an “s” is because, like the SDR, much of what you is virtual. Anyhow, the newest is the RSP1A, which I believe to be the best I can afford to own. Hardware wise, this is a black box. Literally. Forget the dials and such; you get an antenna connector, a USB port and that’s it.
The magic is in the software. And, for a change, there are a myriad of versions available, all at a cost that would drive an accountant crazy. (Hint: zero is a number). I’ve been trying several, under both Windows and Linux. So far, the Windows versions are easy street. Under Linux? Wait until I watch a few more videos. And read a few more accounts from those that have climbed the hill and seen the view. Yes, I’ll get there, soon.
What I really want to see is if I can listen to frequencies in the VHF and UHF ranges. The spec sheet says yes. The software feature lists say yes. Until I actually spot some intelligent data (for example, the identification of a passing satellite, or the data burst from a passing ship), my skepticism will remain high.
So, what else is new? Well, we had a helicopter outside today. Now I didn’t actually see it, but from the report, you could actually see the pilot as he hovered near our deck. Who could it be? Is this a precursor of an uptick in windmill construction? I guess the mystery will unfold in due time.
