Has anyone got the Ali Express Libre SDR working with the Portsdown on Tx?
I'm using F5OEO's firmware for the Libre, can be found here: https://github.com/F5OEO/tezuka_fw?tab=readme-ov-file.
Results are good using DATV-EASY, very impressive Tx MER, I'm seeing 35+ dB MER into GB3JV, vs 30dB for the same field strength using the Lime. Works fine with Portsdown Band Viewer. Also has Ethernet, flash storage and Micro SD Card, so you don't have to flash when testing.
For Portsdown Tx the firmware reports as not compatible, though it des try to Tx. so perhaps this is just a Portsdown. Experiments so far are with USB, not tried Ethernet.
Has excellent frequency stability, 2 x Tx and 2 x Rx, so full duplex ok + external reference input, solid aluminium case.
47.5MHz - 6GHz, 16MHz BW all for £150 delivered, tax paid.
Libre SDR
Re: Libre SDR
I suggest you stick to the standard firmware, then it behaves like a Pluto and anyone considering building a PD4, stick to the standard supported hardware. Don't be cheap, unless you can afford it.
As you have discovered, with tezuka the LibreSDR will work with SDR Console and SDR Television but that won't help with the PD4. You can't install the Pluto 0303 on the LibreSDR, at least I don't think you can, and I don't know if Evariste plans to migrate that over, but I suspect not.
If you want Dave to support the LibreSDR, which will be a long shot given all the work required, he will need to have one to test with.
The performance I have seen on SDR TV is OK and it is a good price. I think there may be several variants of it.
Mike
As you have discovered, with tezuka the LibreSDR will work with SDR Console and SDR Television but that won't help with the PD4. You can't install the Pluto 0303 on the LibreSDR, at least I don't think you can, and I don't know if Evariste plans to migrate that over, but I suspect not.
If you want Dave to support the LibreSDR, which will be a long shot given all the work required, he will need to have one to test with.
The performance I have seen on SDR TV is OK and it is a good price. I think there may be several variants of it.
Mike
Re: Libre SDR
Hello,
I've also ordered one and think it will support the SDR console and upcoming DATV implementations in the future.
Simon is already testing it, see here and the following blog posts: https://www.sdr-radio.com/libresdr
73 Thomas DL5BCA
I've also ordered one and think it will support the SDR console and upcoming DATV implementations in the future.
Simon is already testing it, see here and the following blog posts: https://www.sdr-radio.com/libresdr
73 Thomas DL5BCA
I always have crazy ideas.
Please don't be surprised.
Please don't be surprised.
-
radiogareth
- Posts: 1350
- Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 9:46 am
Re: Libre SDR
So with reports of them working and of being good quality I bought myself one. Took a couple of weeks to arrive (slower than usual) and I was refunded a £1 voucher for late delivery without asking.
It arrived well packed with a network cable, two USB-C leads, a short USB C extension (save W.A.T. on the resident USB-C) and 4 identical (probably 2.45GHz wifi) antenna.
It had a SD card in it but I chose to keep that 'in case' and uses a spare.
1. It needs to be formatted as FAT32 so you can't use a card bigger than 32GB. Its not large software so almost any car will do although older slower cards may well impact on bot time).
2. Download the required version from here: https://github.com/F5OEO/tezuka_fw/releases
3. I used the LibreSDR.zip
4. Unzip it somewhere suitable
5. Open the directory, then go down one layer into the folder with a file labelled sdimg (and others)
6. Copy those files onto the freshly formatted SD card.
7.Place card in LibreSDR and power up using the OTG USB-C socket (not the debug one).
8. After a brief pause of some 10 seconds its contents will appear in your windows drive viewer.
9. I loaded OBS and DATVEasy 2.17, chose the standard Pluto as device and it worked.
Looking forward to the extra opportunities this unit offers such as dual RX&TX and coverage to below 50MHz with a saving of around £100 on a Pluto. What they might be I have no idea.....plus you get a nice alloy box.
I hope this saves others a lot of messing about, several hours worth in my case....
Gareth
It arrived well packed with a network cable, two USB-C leads, a short USB C extension (save W.A.T. on the resident USB-C) and 4 identical (probably 2.45GHz wifi) antenna.
It had a SD card in it but I chose to keep that 'in case' and uses a spare.
1. It needs to be formatted as FAT32 so you can't use a card bigger than 32GB. Its not large software so almost any car will do although older slower cards may well impact on bot time).
2. Download the required version from here: https://github.com/F5OEO/tezuka_fw/releases
3. I used the LibreSDR.zip
4. Unzip it somewhere suitable
5. Open the directory, then go down one layer into the folder with a file labelled sdimg (and others)
6. Copy those files onto the freshly formatted SD card.
7.Place card in LibreSDR and power up using the OTG USB-C socket (not the debug one).
8. After a brief pause of some 10 seconds its contents will appear in your windows drive viewer.
9. I loaded OBS and DATVEasy 2.17, chose the standard Pluto as device and it worked.
Looking forward to the extra opportunities this unit offers such as dual RX&TX and coverage to below 50MHz with a saving of around £100 on a Pluto. What they might be I have no idea.....plus you get a nice alloy box.
I hope this saves others a lot of messing about, several hours worth in my case....
Gareth