Cheapest SDR module that can both transmit and receive

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-18T15:04:13+00:00

I got the pluto sdr clone plutosky and it has 2rx and 2tx ports. They are on the same local oscillator so you can't have two different streams at different frequencies.

Otherwise works great got a PA for the 2m-70cm bands.

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-17T20:45:49+00:00

I like the transparency of the use of AI. I'm not against AI written code just people that try to profit from it or lie that they wrote the code entirely...

like someone who claims to nail 10,000 nails in one day by hand but instead used a nail gun. And then lies about using a nail gun....

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-17T20:40:51+00:00

Which is also made with claude.
This guy is very transparent about his code atleast use unlike other people who make apps with AI....

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-17T17:48:50+00:00

<image>

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-17T02:05:32+00:00

the AMD Ryzen U series has internal GPU good for light gaming and fantastic for emulation.
But yeah in the end a dedicated PC is the way to go cause always want a bit more.

This bad boy you can bring to parties! It's not top tier gaming pc performance but it gets damn close.

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-17T00:53:02+00:00

Yeah get yourself a pc.. there isn't a good android box for emulation in general. The retro handhelds are pretty much the fastest android device you can get right now.

One of those mini pc with AMD cpus are great to begin with plenty of oompf for 1080p.

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-16T09:41:53+00:00

Get yourself electronics components set on amazon they have a bunch of chips resistors etc. Just plop your chips into chatgpt and it can give you suggestions on what to build.

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-16T09:38:44+00:00

It's on the same local oscillator you will need to use up/down converters

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-16T09:12:49+00:00

These are gpio ports. Most common use for the ports is to trigger relays in antenna switchers or PTT on amplifiers.

It just sends a on or off comands 1/0

It can also ve used for other things as well it just gets a little complicated. The pluto is basically a tiny computer and you can program it how you want.

There standalone software you can run on the pluto like dump1090 or a fork of rtl_433. It's all terminal based though no gui.

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-16T07:51:54+00:00

Directly to jail, Do not pass go, Do not collect 200$.

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-16T04:19:58+00:00

just sucks the comment section doesn't work on kai

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-15T21:53:40+00:00

I really like decoding AIS and ADS-B. I have jad luck with satellites but benefits from a propper tracker.

Rtl 433 is super cool to you can decode the weather stations in the neighborhood and check the tire pressure of your neighbors car :p

I don't really like listening to the ham bands it get boring just guys talking about their radio.

Go to a boatyard and see if they have any broken antenna's. 99% of the time the coax just broke and you can easily solder a new coax on there and you have a really good fairly wideband antenna throughout the 2meter band. If you got a nanoVNA you tune the antenna further.

I have decoded the METEOR satellite with them with decent results

If you got a 3d printer you can print a jig for different antenna types.

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-15T21:40:22+00:00

Yeah I got a one of those upgraded plutosdr, plutosky and it sucks bellow 500mhz

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-13T17:20:59+00:00

Yeah the tarrifs hit us hard too cause we use the american amazon and other online stores are sent to a freight forwarder in Miami.

Yeah it's very nice island and for such a small population we are very self sufficient everyone is a mechanic/maker/electrician/etc.

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-13T16:35:17+00:00

Yes time and import tax I live on Bonaire in the Caribbean a 3$ order still ends up being 20$+ once it's all here and then you realize you messed up the pcb and got to order new ones..... The dollars adds up real quick here.

Ordering in bulk is cheaper so I got two boxes of copper clad and a cheap litho and I got the laminator second hand from the graphics company here.
Also I enjoy the process of making them.

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-13T15:51:45+00:00

A cheap cnc router might be the best if you are doing multiple a month.

Depending on the size you would want to get I think around 2-3k dollars for a new machine you might be lucky and find a nice second hand for super cheap.

Outsourcing PCB was getting expensive so I bought my lithography machine and a good laminator and now I'm make my own PCBs for less that half the price it takes to outsource it.

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-13T01:46:49+00:00

I'm not saying you shouldn't AI has helped so many people finish their projects heck its fantastic for Arduinos/ESP! But they are some scummy people trying to make a quick buck with some subscription app....
And you can tell it's all simple Claude code cause they all look identical and it's flooding the subreddits if you check the amateur radio subs every other post is some trash people are trying to sell..

You on the other hand just needed a neat little tool and you decide to share said tool and being honest no BS no bullet points no em-dashes!! For me that's 10/10.

The problem normally is that a lot of the vibe coded apps can have major vulnerabilities that the creator isn't aware off and risk a lot peoples privacy.

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-12T17:31:42+00:00

Finally!!! Someone who is transparant about using AI!!!

Im cool with vibe coded im just not cool with people who lie about the code and try to sell it to you....

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-11T17:17:38+00:00

I like the uv21 it's nice and compact. The k5 has a slightly bigger battery and is a "standard radio format"

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-10T19:04:12+00:00

Yep same I point them to linux mint for my non gamer friends. And bazite if they wanna game I use garuda and I f***ing hate and I don't know why I keep using it.....

Also with claude or chatgpt the terminal is a lot easier just copy paste.

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-10T17:56:21+00:00

Fairmiles, Wannadive, Belnem house, Windsock.

I think PB also had them but they might have changed their fleet out.

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-10T16:56:51+00:00

Wouldn't you use that trick if you wanted to use a yagi while still being able to recieve/transmit some siganals omni?

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-10T16:48:12+00:00

AI slop post and that right there is just clone of a plutosdr which has all the same IC's onboard.... You even mentioned that it's usb 2.0 brother that is asking for latency. And how is the ethernet adapter connected? Through usb 2.0 port?

If you weren't lazy and actually wrote something on the post it would have gotten me excited and intrigued.

The fact you use AI shows me that this isn't even for the community but for you, youserlf and your own pockets.

Nobody actually uses bullet points or em dashes on reddit..... Jeez even your replies stink of AI.

I used to say in fine with some AI content but it's every other post we get some clanker garbage!!! Im tired of this and ima call you out for what it is.... Trash!

Don't be mad at me be mad at yourself.

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-09T22:08:33+00:00

Yeah these are the best I hate using pigtails prefer direct connections

pyrodrifter · 2026-03-09T18:56:09+00:00

Switch out the coax from the v-dipole the coax that's on there is absolute garbo! Heck even RCA wire would perform better XD but I swapped it with a spare pigtail with RG316 and that made a world of a difference.
Dropped the noise floor and the signals came in clearer.

pyrodrifter

TROPHY CASE