Software Defined Radio

Are you interested in getting started in ham radio without spending much money? Software Defined Radio (SDR) may be the perfect solution for you.

For about $40, you'll be able to listen to ham radio (as well as commercial radio, public service, aviation, and other services). These SDR receivers can be connected to most home computer systems via USB and turn your computer into a receiver capable of receiving these various types of radio transmissions instantly.

However, if you're interested in both transmitting and receiving, you'll need to invest in an SDR Transceiver and while there are several excellent transceivers on the market to choose from, it seems that the two most popular are the ICOM 7300 and the Yaesu 991A.

If you want to learn more about SDR, be sure to check out http://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr, and/or we encourage you to contact Kenneth Herring, W0HLK with any questions.

Page last updated/reviewed: 8/9/2021