Soundcard for a newbie
Yesterday I tried in my computer a Winradio Excalibur that had been storaged for few years, it works fine with the PC's built-in soundcard, it really would help to use a more upmarket card.
It would get lower noise, more dynamic range, better stability and simply a more intelligible sound,which should translate into more DX. The same, of course, is true when using any SDR.
My question is that somebody can recommend a good internal or external soundcard since I am quite lost in this aspect. I do not mind to spend some extra money for this excellent receiver.
Any help and advice are greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Yesterday I tried in my computer a Winradio Excalibur that had been storaged for few years, it works fine with the PC's built-in soundcardAFAIK (unless there's something about this radio I have not understood) soundcard is nothing at all to do with performance of this radio if connected to SDR Console (this is the group for users of SDR Console software).
It has USB 2.0 connector I believe (if it's the Excalibur G31DDC) so it's just delivering data to the PC via USB. Just connect to USB then install and run SDR Console. During the "Select Radio" dialogue, see attached picture to find the G31DDC dialogue to add the radio.
https://www.sdr-radio.com/download#Release
For guidance on actually using SDR Console, go to main website and hover above the top menu items for a catalogue of information on the features:
https://www.sdr-radio.com/
Come back here if further guidance needed.
Max
Soundcard.
Behringer UMC202HD, rock solid drivers and cheap.
Luxury more expensive choice is the MOTU M4, nice metering, super low latency and rock solid drivers. Both work well as master outputs for Voice Meter Potato virtual sound (like VAC but better), which may be important.
73
Conrad PA5Y
Sent: 09 January 2023 22:57
To: main@SDR-Radio.groups.io
Subject: [SDR-Radio] Soundcard for a newbie
Hello,
Yesterday I tried in my computer a Winradio Excalibur that had been storaged for few years, it works fine with the PC's built-in soundcard, it really would help to use a more upmarket card.
It would get lower noise, more dynamic range, better stability and simply a more intelligible sound,which should translate into more DX. The same, of course, is true when using any SDR.
My question is that somebody can recommend a good internal or external soundcard since I am quite lost in this aspect. I do not mind to spend some extra money for this excellent receiver.
Any help and advice are greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Soundcard.
Behringer UMC202HD, rock solid drivers and cheap.
Luxury more expensive choice is the MOTU M4, nice metering, super low latency and rock solid drivers. Both work well as master outputs for Voice Meter Potato virtual sound (like VAC but better), which may be important.
73
Conrad PA5Y
From: main@SDR-Radio.groups.io <main@SDR-Radio.groups.io> On Behalf Of enriqueeeeee2001 via groups.io
Sent: 09 January 2023 22:57
To: main@SDR-Radio.groups.io
Subject: [SDR-Radio] Soundcard for a newbie
Hello,
Yesterday I tried in my computer a Winradio Excalibur that had been storaged for few years, it works fine with the PC's built-in soundcard, it really would help to use a more upmarket card.
It would get lower noise, more dynamic range, better stability and simply a more intelligible sound,which should translate into more DX. The same, of course, is true when using any SDR.
My question is that somebody can recommend a good internal or external soundcard since I am quite lost in this aspect. I do not mind to spend some extra money for this excellent receiver.
Any help and advice are greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
It is a Winradio Excalibur G33DDCC the radio I ma using. Last night I could heard the same weak stations, on my old analog receivers than with the Winradio, so I am a bit dissapointed. It is supposed to be the SDR much better in pulling out weak signals.
On the other hand I do not like the Winradio's interface at all I will have a try the sdr console instead.
I wish I had purchased an Airspy Discovery firstly. I will have a look at those external souncards, maybe an internal should be better I do not know.
Thnks for the help.
Sent: 10 January 2023 13:37
To: main@SDR-Radio.groups.io <main@SDR-Radio.groups.io>
Subject: Re: [SDR-Radio] Soundcard for a newbie
It is a Winradio Excalibur G33DDCC the radio I ma using. Last night I could heard the same weak stations, on my old analog receivers than with the Winradio, so I am a bit dissapointed. It is supposed to be the SDR much better in pulling out weak signals.
On the other hand I do not like the Winradio's interface at all I will have a try the sdr console instead.
I wish I had purchased an Airspy Discovery firstly. I will have a look at those external souncards, maybe an internal should be better I do not know.
Thnks for the help.
--
I wish I had purchased an Airspy Discovery firstly. I will have a look at those external souncards, maybe an internal should be better I do not know.It's not the case that all SDRs will always be superior to a good quality analogue receiver. It's more the utility and usability that SDR gives you. For example, you cannot view a large section of HF spectrum in one go with an analogue receiver. Also(probaly most importantly) an SDR gives you access to superb digital filters in the software.
The soundcard makes no difference in this case. IMO, don't waste your money on that.
Regarding Airspy HF+, it only has a bandwidth of 768kHz so you can monitor more of the spectrum in one with the Winradio as I think the Winradio allows 2.5MHz? Also (more importantly) the Winradio is a direct sampling SDR whereas the HF+ has an analogue front end and mixer, which although excellent, is still susceptible to the vagaries of an analogue receiver.
I would personally stick with what you have as by all accounts (as Simon has said) it is an excellent radio (most likely better than the HF+). Just instal SDR Console as the software. You will not be disappointed.
73
Max
I also am using a WiNRADiO (but mine is a G31DDC) with SDR Console. I can attest that the WiNRADiO is an EXCELLENT receiver and works very with SDR Console. I also do not like the WiNRADiO software and much prefer SDR Console.
I also have several Airspy radios, HF+, HF+ Discovery among them. They are good, but I think the WiNRADiO is a bit better. I don't think you should be disappointed with your WiNRADiO.
I'm curious... what are you using for an antenna?
I also am using a WiNRADiO (but mine is a G31DDC) with SDR Console. I can attest that the WiNRADiO is an EXCELLENT receiver and works very with SDR Console. I also do not like the WiNRADiO software and much prefer SDR Console.
I also have several Airspy radios, HF+, HF+ Discovery among them. They are good, but I think the WiNRADiO is a bit better. I don't think you should be disappointed with your WiNRADiO.
I'm curious... what are you using for an antennaThanks for the useful advices and recommendations!
I have already decided that I will purchase an external USB soundcard I need it to give the extra output power for a 600 Ohms headphones.
Last night tested the Winradio against a combo Lowe HF-150 /Datong FL-3 filter. Much easier with the Lowe and the excellent Datong, signals clearer and the noise floor is lower; not tested with the AOR 7030 but I will.
Maybe I have to learn how the audio filter passband works, I spent almost two hours trying to listen a weak signal , however with Lowe in a minute could easily solve the situation.
As a main antenna I use a Wellbrook ALA100M with an small rotator, I have a MFJ-1026 and several chokes/ferites across the coax line.
At HF you are limited by natural noise your antenna picks up in almost every case. (A small loop antenna with no preamp might be the exception. But a better front end noise figure would make small changes, again in most cases.
The sound card output can make huge differences if your psychology leans towards painting the outside rim of CDROMs with a green felt tip pen to get better sound quality. Otherwise it will make no practical difference.
SDRC used to listen to one frequency with no regard for its spectrum and waterfall display is a basic HF receiver with somewhat better filters and flexibility. Once you want to bring more of its features, multiple receivers for example, to the fore you can see some improvements. The digital noise reduction tools are also pretty good to amazing if you play with them and learn how to use them intelligently. But for basic sensitivity it's not going to change compared to a cheap receiver IF the receiver noise increases when you plug in the antenna. That is basic physics.
{^_^}
Thanks for the avices,
It is a Winradio Excalibur G33DDCC the radio I ma using. Last night I could heard the same weak stations, on my old analog receivers than with the Winradio, so I am a bit dissapointed. It is supposed to be the SDR much better in pulling out weak signals.
On the other hand I do not like the Winradio's interface at all I will have a try the sdr console instead.
I wish I had purchased an Airspy Discovery firstly. I will have a look at those external souncards, maybe an internal should be better I do not know.
Thnks for the help.
Max
At HF you are limited by natural noise your antenna picks up in almost every case. (A small loop antenna with no preamp might be the exception. But a better front end noise figure would make small changes, again in most cases.
The sound card output can make huge differences if your psychology leans towards painting the outside rim of CDROMs with a green felt tip pen to get better sound quality. Otherwise it will make no practical difference.
SDRC used to listen to one frequency with no regard for its spectrum and waterfall display is a basic HF receiver with somewhat better filters and flexibility. Once you want to bring more of its features, multiple receivers for example, to the fore you can see some improvements. The digital noise reduction tools are also pretty good to amazing if you play with them and learn how to use them intelligently. But for basic sensitivity it's not going to change compared to a cheap receiver IF the receiver noise increases when you plug in the antenna. That is basic physics.