Oil Tankers Going Nowhere?
We’ve been reading news of oil tankers stranded in various places around the world on account of the Coronavirus pandemic which has been affecting the price of oil. The most …
So… How Do I Get Started With Radio Frequency (RF)?
Exploring the different options available for learning about RF Almost all the 7.5 Billion people around the world rely on RF in some way, whether it be through their cell …
Best Antennas for ADS-B Reception
Automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS-B) is wireless technology that enables aircraft to determine their position via satellite and periodically broadcast this location information. An ADS-B receiver can be used to decode this broadcast …
What is a DC Block?
A DC block is a passive device that’s used to prevent DC from crossing across the points between which it is connected while allowing the flow of RF signals. It …
How to fix a broken HackRF
One of the most common reported issues is a significant drop in signal level both in the receiver as well as the transmitter of the HackRF. In this post we …
Chaining Software-defined Radio accessories with a Bias Tee
Introduction The use of a bias tee was discussed in a couple of blog posts previously. The primary use of a bias tee in an SDR is to power a …
A Primer on RF Filters for Software-defined Radio
An RF filter is a hardware device that is used to limit signals in certain frequency bands while allowing signals of interest at other frequencies to pass through. Filters are …
Software-defined Radios and Bias Tees
We wrote about Bias Tees and their applications within the context of Software-defined Radios in a previous post. The primary use of a bias tee in SDR is to enable …
How Not to Break your Software-defined Radio (SDR) Hardware – Part 2
In Part 1 of this article, we covered RF-related precautions on the transmit and receive sections of a Software-defined Radio. In this article we will cover other precautions including Mechanical …
How Not to Break your Software-defined Radio (SDR) Hardware – Part 1
Software-defined radio (SDR) can be easily damaged if proper care is not taken during use. In part one of this article series, let’s take a look at the most important …