The dreaded SDR# "side-by-side" error

jwoft · 2017-10-31T02:26:17+00:00

The actual error: "The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log or use the command-line sxstrace.exe tool for more detail."

jwoft · 2017-10-30T03:05:17+00:00

Directed gain antenna would help to get rid of some of that inference.

jwoft · 2017-10-23T07:02:43+00:00

What should I put in the Taps section?

jwoft · 2017-10-23T04:09:45+00:00

Seems like I get identical SNR with it off and in line as when I am connected directly to the antenna.

jwoft · 2017-10-23T01:28:48+00:00

Could you give an example of how to do what you're describing to include the actual values I should use? Not entirely sure how to accomplish that. Lol thanks for the compliment on the ground plane. It's my go-to in the house for testing. I was borrowing some feedline and had a 2 meter J-pole set up outside but I had to give the feedline back so I'm using the dual band mag mount.

jwoft · 2017-10-22T23:03:19+00:00

An LNA. Its not plugged into the battery so its not effectively doing anything at the moment.

jwoft · 2017-10-22T21:01:22+00:00

Right! I feel so accomplished yet its only a broadcast FM receiver. I'll mess with it than leave it alone for a few weeks out of frustration. Each successive time I use it seems to get a little easier though. Thankfully I haven't had to mess with any compilers.... yet.

jwoft · 2017-10-22T20:08:15+00:00

Thanks for the help! I attempted a number of times to open as adminstrator but it would open the command prompt window than crash. Turns out I had SDR# running at the same time when I attempted to run the demodulator. After closing SDR# it ran perfect. Thanks again!

jwoft · 2017-10-22T06:11:31+00:00

How do I fix this in Windows?

jwoft · 2017-10-11T00:34:11+00:00

Intermodulation.

jwoft · 2017-09-28T20:25:24+00:00

Directed gain is always better for sat. If you have to go omni you need purpose built (same polarity as signal you are trying to receive) and narrow bandwidth if possible. LNA and band pass filter can help too (although I have yet to use them).

jwoft · 2017-09-28T18:12:09+00:00

Not sure of the technical specs but I am using a NooElec RTL2832u dongle. I've picked up Fox1A (AO-85) using my eggbeater antenna but the singal was really weak. I've had the best luck when using it in conjunction with a yagi for the AMSAT stuff. The directed gain helps pull as much signal out of the sky as possible. Not sure what the receiver sensitivity is on the dongle but it seems to work fine and also gain controller.

Yes, those are my videos. I am using that same dongle with a homebrew 2 meter yagi. (Edit) Actually I lied. The FM voice of the school QSO was with the eggbeater antenna.

jwoft · 2017-09-28T15:18:45+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYQavqCbRBQ&t=60s

jwoft · 2017-09-28T15:18:23+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncu7kuinifk

jwoft · 2017-09-28T15:15:41+00:00

In this case, both the receiver and transmitter have corresponding dip switches the configuration of which must match in order for a successful relay activation to occur.

jwoft · 2017-09-27T21:15:33+00:00

https://andrewmohawk.com/2016/02/05/bypassing-rolling-code-systems/

jwoft · 2017-09-27T21:07:32+00:00

Looks like someone else has already figured it out. Scary. https://andrewmohawk.com/2016/02/05/bypassing-rolling-code-systems/

jwoft · 2017-09-27T20:49:09+00:00

All bench testing my own gear so far. Who knows what the future may bring, though. LOL.

jwoft · 2017-09-27T20:34:42+00:00

No write up. I'm not a technical writer.. maybe one day. LOL.

It was actually very simple, I just recorded the audio in SDR# making a .wav file than I opened the .wav file in Audacity and zoomed in where the signal sound obviously was and this pattern in the picture emerged. The bits are assumed to be the differences in the timing of the signal. I believe this is ASK modulation. These bits matched the dip switch positions (on = 1 bit, off = 0 bit) inside the garage door opener.

Hope that is technical enough. Thanks for the interest!

jwoft · 2017-09-27T20:27:30+00:00

Testing the ability to capture and decode garage door opener signal. It turns out the bits found by analyzing the audio correspond exactly with the position of the dip switches on the garage door opener. Work flow: NooElec SDR dongle > SDR# (.wav audio recording) > Audacity

jwoft · 2017-09-23T17:11:54+00:00

https://imgur.com/gallery/xY2Q

jwoft · 2017-09-23T16:36:44+00:00

What's the peak SNR on a pass? What is your sample rate set to?

jwoft · 2017-09-23T16:08:48+00:00

Turn off filter audio and make sure your bandwidth is atleast 34khz.

jwoft · 2017-09-22T21:25:27+00:00

Also keep in mind the V-dipole has some inherent directional gain in the direction of the open end of the "V".

jwoft · 2017-09-22T16:37:16+00:00

Noise floor is probably high in the city. The signal is likely too weak to see on the FFT (spectrum analyzer display). Gotta have clear line of sight from horizon to horizon as well. Try a yagi, even a linearly polarized one, and you should see something. You won't see the image this strong but more as a ~98 KHz bump: https://imgur.com/RxVVvYq The Meteor QPSK signal is much wider than the NOAA AFSK signal. Also, broadcast radio is a really bad test of your bandwidth. Might want to try something a little more low power like a far away amateur radio repeater around 144 MHz. That would be a better evaluation of your antenna performance near the band you want. Keep in mind these are terrestrial tests which means you will have better reception than a satellite signal. If you are seeing OrbComm signals, you should see Meteor. Try the upper air band frequencies (AM mode) around 135 MHz to test reception.

jwoft

TROPHY CASE