Choosing SDR for radio astronomy
Andrew Thornett
Nice — here’s a compact, practical comparison of the popular low-to-mid cost SDRs you named (RTL-SDR v3/v4, ADALM-PLUTO, Ettus B210, LimeSDR family) plus a few other often-used SDRs (HackRF, Airspy, SDRplay) so you can pick the right tool for your project.
Short summary / recommended use
-
Cheap general receive / hobby scanning, ADS-B, FM, NOAA etc: RTL-SDR v3 / v4. Low cost, RX only (or RX-only direct sampling on HF). (SparkFun Electronics, HamTactical)
-
Low-cost TX + RX (experimental, teaching, prototyping): ADALM-PLUTO (small, USB, 1×Tx/1×Rx, 325 MHz–3.8 GHz). (wiki.analog.com, Mouser Electronics)
-
Multi-channel MIMO / higher bandwidth + professional hobbyist: LimeSDR / LimeSDR-USB (2×2 MIMO, wide band, ~61.44 MSPS). (limemicro.com)
-
Full-featured, coherent multi-antenna, research grade (but pricier): Ettus USRP B210 (2×2, 70 MHz–6 GHz, USB3, 12-bit ADC). (Ettus Research, digilent.com)
-
Tx/Rx wideband hacker board (cheap & popular for experiments): HackRF One (1 MHz–6 GHz, half-duplex, ~20 MSPS). (greatscottgadgets.com, pysdr.org)
-
Best in dynamic range & HF performance for receive (no TX): Airspy HF+ / HF+ Discovery and SDRplay RSP series (14-bit RSP1A/RSPdx) — great when strong-signal handling and sensitivity matter. (airspy.com, SDRplay)
Side-by-side (key specs)
(Each line gives the most relevant, practical specs)
-
RTL-SDR Blog V3 / NooElec v4 (RTL2832U + R820T2 family)
-
Frequency: 500 kHz – 1.7–1.8 GHz (HF via direct sampling / diplexer on V3). ADC: 8-bit. Bandwidth: a few MHz practical. RX only (no native TX). Very low cost (£20–£60 depending on kit). (SparkFun Electronics, RTL-SDR)
-
ADALM-PLUTO (Analog Devices “PlutoSDR”)
-
Frequency (stock): ~325 MHz – 3.8 GHz (can be extended by firmware hacks). 1×TX + 1×RX, 12-bit ADC/DAC, up to ~61.44 MSPS and ~20 MHz tunable channel BW typical. USB-powered, small, cheap for a transceiver. Good for learning, SDR comms and prototypes. (wiki.analog.com, Mouser Electronics)
-
Ettus USRP B210
-
Frequency: 70 MHz – 6 GHz. 2×TX / 2×RX coherent MIMO, 12-bit ADC/DAC, up to ~56 MHz instantaneous BW, USB3 interface. Research/higher-end hobbyist (better driver/API UHD + GNU Radio support). (Ettus Research, digilent.com)
-
LimeSDR / LimeSDR-USB (LMS7002M)
-
Frequency: ~100 kHz – 3.8 GHz. 2×TX / 2×RX, up to ~61.44 MSPS (some silicon notes allow wider), 12-bit sample depth, FPGA onboard, USB3. MIMO capable and widely used for cellular/Wi-Fi experiments. (limemicro.com)
-
HackRF One
-
Frequency: 1 MHz – 6 GHz. Half-duplex transmit/receive, up to 20 MSPS, 8-bit samples. Low cost for transmit-capable board but limited dynamic range and half-duplex operation. Good for RF experiments and teaching. (greatscottgadgets.com, RTL-SDR)
-
Airspy HF+ / Airspy HF+ Discovery
-
Receive only. Excellent HF/VHF sensitivity and dynamic range, polyphase preselectors, very good strong-signal handling — targeted at high performance receive (not TX). Useful when HF performance matters. (airspy.com)
-
SDRplay RSP1A / RSPdx
-
Receive only. 14-bit ADC, continuous coverage from <1 kHz up to ~2 GHz (RSPdx 1 kHz–2 GHz), good dynamic range and software ecosystem (SDRuno). Ideal for multi-band receiving with good SNR. (SDRplay)
Pros / Cons — practical notes
-
RTL-SDR (v3/v4)
-
Pros: cheapest, huge community, great for learning and receiving many signals.
-
Cons: 8-bit ADC, limited dynamic range and selectivity; not suitable for serious HF RX without hacks; no native TX. (SparkFun Electronics, RTL-SDR)
-
PLUTO
-
Pros: TX+RX, small, inexpensive for a transceiver, decent sampling rates for many comm experiments.
-
Cons: single RX/TX channels (no MIMO), stock range limited to 325–3800 MHz (though hackable). Good balance TX/RX vs cost. (wiki.analog.com, Mouser Electronics)
-
LimeSDR
-
Pros: 2×2 MIMO, wide freq range and good bandwidth, used for LTE/5G/Wi-Fi experiments. FPGA onboard for more advanced processing.
-
Cons: more complex to set up; higher price and steeper learning curve. (limemicro.com)
-
USRP B210
-
Pros: solid drivers (UHD), coherent 2×2 MIMO, research-grade performance and predictable behaviour.
-
Cons: more expensive, larger, needs USB3 and a reasonably capable host. (Ettus Research, digilent.com)
-
HackRF One
-
Pros: affordable TX/RX wideband board, popular for experiments and pentesting (with legal caution).
-
Cons: half-duplex, 8-bit ADC (lower dynamic range). (greatscottgadgets.com, RTL-SDR)
-
Airspy / SDRplay (receive-focused)
-
Pros: excellent RX sensitivity and linearity (Airspy HF+ particularly for HF), 14-bit ADC on SDRplay gives better SNR than cheap 8-bit dongles. Strong software ecosystems.
-
Cons: no TX (receive only). Choose these when receiving quality > bandwidth is the priority. (airspy.com, SDRplay)
Which to pick for typical projects
-
Listening to VHF/UHF broadcast, ADS-B, NOAA, satellite SO-50 etc: RTL-SDR v3/v4 or Airspy (if you want better sensitivity). (SparkFun Electronics, airspy.com)
-
Building small SDR transmitter experiments (FSK, simple LTE experiment, demos): ADALM-PLUTO (single TX) or HackRF (if you need wider frequency coverage and don’t need full duplex). Be mindful of local transmission regulations. (Mouser Electronics, greatscottgadgets.com)
-
MIMO work, LTE/5G prototyping, real-time baseband experiments: LimeSDR or Ettus USRP (Lime if budget + USB3, Ettus for robust research support and UHD). (limemicro.com, Ettus Research)
-
When HF receive performance (weak signals, contesting, shortwave listening) matters: Airspy HF+ or SDRplay RSPdx / RSP1A. (airspy.com, SDRplay)
Price bands (very approximate, retail)
-
RTL-SDR v3/v4: £20–£60 (kits more). (HamTactical, SparkFun Electronics)
-
ADALM-PLUTO: ~£80–£140 (varies). (Mouser Electronics)
-
HackRF One: ~£250–£350. (RTL-SDR)
-
LimeSDR / LimeSDR-USB: ~£250–£400 (depends on board and vendor). (limemicro.com)
-
Ettus USRP B210: ~£900+ (often more; Ettus pricing and reseller markups vary). (digilent.com)
-
Airspy HF+ / SDRplay RSP1A / RSPdx: £100–£300 depending on model. (airspy.com, SDRplay)
Important practical warnings
-
Transmit legally. Many of these devices can transmit — always obey your country’s radio regulations and only transmit on authorised frequencies / with proper licence.
-
Host/system requirements. LimeSDR and Ettus devices need USB3 and a decent host CPU for wideband streaming; Check driver / UHD / libiio compatibility for your OS. (digilent.com, limemicro.com)
If you like, I can:
-
produce a one-page printable comparison sheet (table) with the above specs, or
-
recommend a board for a specific project (e.g., 1420 MHz HI-line radio astronomy receive chain, interferometry, or a small TX testbed) and propose exact models + accessory list.
Which of those would help you next?
Absolutely, happy to put that all together for you:
1. One-Page Printable Comparison Sheet
|
SDR Model
|
Freq. Range
|
RX / TX
|
Sample Depth / BW
|
Channels / MIMO
|
Price (approx)
|
Strengths
|
Drawbacks
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RTL-SDR v3 / v4
|
~500 kHz – 1.7–1.8 GHz (with HF diplexer on v3)
|
RX only
|
8-bit, few MHz
|
1 channel
|
£20–£60
|
Ultra-cheap, huge community, ideal for general scanning and sdrplay etc.
|
Poor dynamic range, limited HF, no native TX.
|
|
ADALM-PLUTO
|
~325 MHz – 3.8 GHz (firmware‐hackable higher)
|
RX + TX
|
12-bit, ~20 MHz (61 MSPS FIFO)
|
1 RX + 1 TX
|
£80–£140
|
Inexpensive transceiver, portable, great for comm prototypes.
|
Not MIMO, limited native TX power/freq.
|
|
Ettus USRP B210
|
70 MHz – 6 GHz
|
RX + TX (2×2 MIMO)
|
12-bit, ~56 MHz BW
|
2 RX + 2 TX pair, coherent
|
£900+
|
Research-grade, good UHD support, robust multi-antenna.
|
Expensive, needs USB3 host, higher complexity.
|
|
LimeSDR / LimeSDR-USB
|
~100 kHz – 3.8 GHz
|
RX + TX (2×2 MIMO)
|
12-bit, ~61 MSPS
|
2 RX + 2 TX
|
£250–£400
|
Wideband, MIMO capable, FPGA onboard, great for LTE/Wi-Fi experiments.
|
Steeper learning curve, more setup work.
|
|
HackRF One
|
1 MHz – 6 GHz
|
RX + TX (half-duplex)
|
8-bit, ~20 MSPS
|
1 channel, half-duplex
|
£250–£350
|
Affordable TX/RX board, versatile, good for hacking/teaching.
|
Half-duplex only, low dynamic range.
|
|
Airspy HF+ / HF+ Discovery
|
HF/VHF bands (receive-only)
|
RX only
|
High performance (≥ 12-bit equiv.)
|
1 RX
|
£100–£200
|
Excellent HF sensitivity & dynamic range, strong signal handling.
|
RX only, more costly than RTL-SDR.
|
|
SDRplay RSP1A / RSPdx
|
<1 kHz – ~2 GHz (RSPdx)
|
RX only
|
14-bit, wide continuous coverage
|
1 RX
|
£100–£300
|
Superior RX dynamic range, great software support (SDRuno).
|
RX only, mid-price.
|
2. Recommendation for Amateur-Radio-Astronomy Projects
Given your practice as a general medical practitioner and your hobby in radio astronomy, you probably want:
-
Excellent weak-signal detection
-
Stability & sensitivity in the HF/VHF bands (e.g., 1420 MHz HI-line, solar bursts)
-
Maybe multi-channel/MIMO capability for interferometry or beam-forming?
Here’s how the options line up for your use case:
Best focused receiver recommendation:
-
SDRplay RSPdx or Airspy HF+ Discovery
Why?
-
The RSPdx delivers excellent sensitivity and dynamic range from near-DC up to ~2 GHz, with clean, low-noise reception—great for capturing faint radio astronomy signals like the hydrogen line at 1420 MHz. Its 14-bit ADC provides substantially better performance than 8-bit receivers.
-
The Airspy HF+ Discovery is particularly optimized for HF signals, with outstanding filtering and strong signal handling if you’re picking up lower-frequency astrophysical emissions or solar burst activity.
-
Both are reasonably priced (~£100–£300) and are much more accessible than high-end MIMO gear.
If you want to explore MIMO/interferometry or transmit (e.g., experiments in radar or beaconing):
-
LimeSDR-USB (for 2×2 RX/TX, wideband capabilities)
-
USRP B210, if budget allows—solid research-grade performance and UHD support.
These two let you run custom digital beam-forming or interferometry experiments, and even transmit—for example, for local “ping” beacon tests. However, be cautious: transmitting astronomy-like signals (outside of passive reception) may have regulatory implications; always check your local Ofcom / licensing rules.
If you want ultra-budget receiver just to get started:
-
RTL-SDR v3/v4 is cheap and ubiquitous for getting your feet wet in SDR astronomy—especially if you're starting with satellites (like NOAA weather images) or VHF hydrogen line scanning. But for serious weak-signal RX work (e.g., HI line), you’ll want something with better dynamic range (like RSPdx or Airspy HF+).
3. Proposed Path Forward
-
Primary SDR: Get an SDRplay RSPdx if your main goal is high-quality, all-band reception (especially HF/VHF/UHF).
-
Backup/portable: Keep an RTL-SDR v4 on hand for quick setup, fun satellite passes, or backup.
-
Advanced option: Add a LimeSDR-USB later if you want to experiment with MIMO or transmit-capable astronomy setups (e.g., radar reflections off the Moon; ensure legal compliance first!).
Ready-to-print?
If you'd like, I can prepare a clean PDF-style layout of that table—optimized for paper or quick reference—with headers, bolds, and spacing. I could also craft a shopping + accessories list for the RSPdx (e.g., antennas for 1420 MHz, L-band preamp, software recommendations like SDRuno or GNU Radio blocks).
Would you like me to draft that printable layout next? Or help with antenna suggestions and software setup for the 1420 MHz HI-line?
Dr. Rich Russel
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fasleitung3
I asked ChatGPT to compare SDRs for me and it came up with following. What do members here (Wolfgang, Alex, Rich, Ted, Jason, Wende and everyone else) think of ChatGPT's thoughts. Which SDR would you recommend for radio astronomy and for which project and why?
Andy
Nice — here’s a compact, practical comparison of the popular low-to-mid cost SDRs you named (RTL-SDR v3/v4, ADALM-PLUTO, Ettus B210, LimeSDR family) plus a few other often-used SDRs (HackRF, Airspy, SDRplay) so you can pick the right tool for your project.
Short summary / recommended use
Cheap general receive / hobby scanning, ADS-B, FM, NOAA etc: RTL-SDR v3 / v4. Low cost, RX only (or RX-only direct sampling on HF). (SparkFun Electronics, HamTactical)
Low-cost TX + RX (experimental, teaching, prototyping): ADALM-PLUTO (small, USB, 1×Tx/1×Rx, 325 MHz–3.8 GHz). (wiki.analog.com, Mouser Electronics)
Multi-channel MIMO / higher bandwidth + professional hobbyist: LimeSDR / LimeSDR-USB (2×2 MIMO, wide band, ~61.44 MSPS). (limemicro.com)
Full-featured, coherent multi-antenna, research grade (but pricier): Ettus USRP B210 (2×2, 70 MHz–6 GHz, USB3, 12-bit ADC). (Ettus Research, digilent.com)
Tx/Rx wideband hacker board (cheap & popular for experiments): HackRF One (1 MHz–6 GHz, half-duplex, ~20 MSPS). (greatscottgadgets.com, pysdr.org)
Best in dynamic range & HF performance for receive (no TX): Airspy HF+ / HF+ Discovery and SDRplay RSP series (14-bit RSP1A/RSPdx) — great when strong-signal handling and sensitivity matter. (airspy.com, SDRplay)
Side-by-side (key specs)
(Each line gives the most relevant, practical specs)
RTL-SDR Blog V3 / NooElec v4 (RTL2832U + R820T2 family)
Frequency: 500 kHz – 1.7–1.8 GHz (HF via direct sampling / diplexer on V3). ADC: 8-bit. Bandwidth: a few MHz practical. RX only (no native TX). Very low cost (£20–£60 depending on kit). (SparkFun Electronics, RTL-SDR)
ADALM-PLUTO (Analog Devices “PlutoSDR”)
Frequency (stock): ~325 MHz – 3.8 GHz (can be extended by firmware hacks). 1×TX + 1×RX, 12-bit ADC/DAC, up to ~61.44 MSPS and ~20 MHz tunable channel BW typical. USB-powered, small, cheap for a transceiver. Good for learning, SDR comms and prototypes. (wiki.analog.com, Mouser Electronics)
Ettus USRP B210
Frequency: 70 MHz – 6 GHz. 2×TX / 2×RX coherent MIMO, 12-bit ADC/DAC, up to ~56 MHz instantaneous BW, USB3 interface. Research/higher-end hobbyist (better driver/API UHD + GNU Radio support). (Ettus Research, digilent.com)
LimeSDR / LimeSDR-USB (LMS7002M)
Frequency: ~100 kHz – 3.8 GHz. 2×TX / 2×RX, up to ~61.44 MSPS (some silicon notes allow wider), 12-bit sample depth, FPGA onboard, USB3. MIMO capable and widely used for cellular/Wi-Fi experiments. (limemicro.com)
HackRF One
Frequency: 1 MHz – 6 GHz. Half-duplex transmit/receive, up to 20 MSPS, 8-bit samples. Low cost for transmit-capable board but limited dynamic range and half-duplex operation. Good for RF experiments and teaching. (greatscottgadgets.com, RTL-SDR)
Airspy HF+ / Airspy HF+ Discovery
Receive only. Excellent HF/VHF sensitivity and dynamic range, polyphase preselectors, very good strong-signal handling — targeted at high performance receive (not TX). Useful when HF performance matters. (airspy.com)
SDRplay RSP1A / RSPdx
Receive only. 14-bit ADC, continuous coverage from <1 kHz up to ~2 GHz (RSPdx 1 kHz–2 GHz), good dynamic range and software ecosystem (SDRuno). Ideal for multi-band receiving with good SNR. (SDRplay)
Pros / Cons — practical notes
RTL-SDR (v3/v4)
Pros: cheapest, huge community, great for learning and receiving many signals.
Cons: 8-bit ADC, limited dynamic range and selectivity; not suitable for serious HF RX without hacks; no native TX. (SparkFun Electronics, RTL-SDR)
PLUTO
Pros: TX+RX, small, inexpensive for a transceiver, decent sampling rates for many comm experiments.
Cons: single RX/TX channels (no MIMO), stock range limited to 325–3800 MHz (though hackable). Good balance TX/RX vs cost. (wiki.analog.com, Mouser Electronics)
LimeSDR
Pros: 2×2 MIMO, wide freq range and good bandwidth, used for LTE/5G/Wi-Fi experiments. FPGA onboard for more advanced processing.
Cons: more complex to set up; higher price and steeper learning curve. (limemicro.com)
USRP B210
Pros: solid drivers (UHD), coherent 2×2 MIMO, research-grade performance and predictable behaviour.
Cons: more expensive, larger, needs USB3 and a reasonably capable host. (Ettus Research, digilent.com)
HackRF One
Pros: affordable TX/RX wideband board, popular for experiments and pentesting (with legal caution).
Cons: half-duplex, 8-bit ADC (lower dynamic range). (greatscottgadgets.com, RTL-SDR)
Airspy / SDRplay (receive-focused)
Pros: excellent RX sensitivity and linearity (Airspy HF+ particularly for HF), 14-bit ADC on SDRplay gives better SNR than cheap 8-bit dongles. Strong software ecosystems.
Cons: no TX (receive only). Choose these when receiving quality > bandwidth is the priority. (airspy.com, SDRplay)
Which to pick for typical projects
Listening to VHF/UHF broadcast, ADS-B, NOAA, satellite SO-50 etc: RTL-SDR v3/v4 or Airspy (if you want better sensitivity). (SparkFun Electronics, airspy.com)
Building small SDR transmitter experiments (FSK, simple LTE experiment, demos): ADALM-PLUTO (single TX) or HackRF (if you need wider frequency coverage and don’t need full duplex). Be mindful of local transmission regulations. (Mouser Electronics, greatscottgadgets.com)
MIMO work, LTE/5G prototyping, real-time baseband experiments: LimeSDR or Ettus USRP (Lime if budget + USB3, Ettus for robust research support and UHD). (limemicro.com, Ettus Research)
When HF receive performance (weak signals, contesting, shortwave listening) matters: Airspy HF+ or SDRplay RSPdx / RSP1A. (airspy.com, SDRplay)
Price bands (very approximate, retail)
RTL-SDR v3/v4: £20–£60 (kits more). (HamTactical, SparkFun Electronics)
ADALM-PLUTO: ~£80–£140 (varies). (Mouser Electronics)
HackRF One: ~£250–£350. (RTL-SDR)
LimeSDR / LimeSDR-USB: ~£250–£400 (depends on board and vendor). (limemicro.com)
Ettus USRP B210: ~£900+ (often more; Ettus pricing and reseller markups vary). (digilent.com)
Airspy HF+ / SDRplay RSP1A / RSPdx: £100–£300 depending on model. (airspy.com, SDRplay)
Important practical warnings
Transmit legally. Many of these devices can transmit — always obey your country’s radio regulations and only transmit on authorised frequencies / with proper licence.
Host/system requirements. LimeSDR and Ettus devices need USB3 and a decent host CPU for wideband streaming; Check driver / UHD / libiio compatibility for your OS. (digilent.com, limemicro.com)
If you like, I can:
produce a one-page printable comparison sheet (table) with the above specs, or
recommend a board for a specific project (e.g., 1420 MHz HI-line radio astronomy receive chain, interferometry, or a small TX testbed) and propose exact models + accessory list.
Which of those would help you next?
Absolutely, happy to put that all together for you:
1. One-Page Printable Comparison Sheet
2. Recommendation for Amateur-Radio-Astronomy Projects
Given your practice as a general medical practitioner and your hobby in radio astronomy, you probably want:
Excellent weak-signal detection
Stability & sensitivity in the HF/VHF bands (e.g., 1420 MHz HI-line, solar bursts)
Maybe multi-channel/MIMO capability for interferometry or beam-forming?
Here’s how the options line up for your use case:
Best focused receiver recommendation:
SDRplay RSPdx or Airspy HF+ Discovery
Why?
The RSPdx delivers excellent sensitivity and dynamic range from near-DC up to ~2 GHz, with clean, low-noise reception—great for capturing faint radio astronomy signals like the hydrogen line at 1420 MHz. Its 14-bit ADC provides substantially better performance than 8-bit receivers.
The Airspy HF+ Discovery is particularly optimized for HF signals, with outstanding filtering and strong signal handling if you’re picking up lower-frequency astrophysical emissions or solar burst activity.
Both are reasonably priced (~£100–£300) and are much more accessible than high-end MIMO gear.
If you want to explore MIMO/interferometry or transmit (e.g., experiments in radar or beaconing):
LimeSDR-USB (for 2×2 RX/TX, wideband capabilities)
USRP B210, if budget allows—solid research-grade performance and UHD support.
These two let you run custom digital beam-forming or interferometry experiments, and even transmit—for example, for local “ping” beacon tests. However, be cautious: transmitting astronomy-like signals (outside of passive reception) may have regulatory implications; always check your local Ofcom / licensing rules.
If you want ultra-budget receiver just to get started:
RTL-SDR v3/v4 is cheap and ubiquitous for getting your feet wet in SDR astronomy—especially if you're starting with satellites (like NOAA weather images) or VHF hydrogen line scanning. But for serious weak-signal RX work (e.g., HI line), you’ll want something with better dynamic range (like RSPdx or Airspy HF+).
3. Proposed Path Forward
Primary SDR: Get an SDRplay RSPdx if your main goal is high-quality, all-band reception (especially HF/VHF/UHF).
Backup/portable: Keep an RTL-SDR v4 on hand for quick setup, fun satellite passes, or backup.
Advanced option: Add a LimeSDR-USB later if you want to experiment with MIMO or transmit-capable astronomy setups (e.g., radar reflections off the Moon; ensure legal compliance first!).
Ready-to-print?
If you'd like, I can prepare a clean PDF-style layout of that table—optimized for paper or quick reference—with headers, bolds, and spacing. I could also craft a shopping + accessories list for the RSPdx (e.g., antennas for 1420 MHz, L-band preamp, software recommendations like SDRuno or GNU Radio blocks).
Would you like me to draft that printable layout next? Or help with antenna suggestions and software setup for the 1420 MHz HI-line?
Jim Brown
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sara-list/2bd92df258c73f79d87fa1bc62b2bc78f54367ab.camel%40googlemail.com.
-- Hawk's Nest Radio Astronomy Observatory http://hnrao.weebly.com/
fasleitung3
Jon Abel
-------------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------
Frequency Range | 70 MHz – 6 GHz | 50 MHz – 6 GHz
Channels | 2 TX / 2 RX (2x2 MIMO) | 2 TX / 2 RX (2x2 MIMO)
Sampling Rate | 61.44 MS/s | 61.44 MS/s
ADC/DAC Resolution | 12 bits | 12 bits
FPGA | Xilinx Spartan-6 XC6SLX150 | Xilinx Artix-7 XC7A200T
USB Interface | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0
Clock Source | Integrated PLL, supports external 10 MHz & 1PPS | Integrated VCTCXO with GPS simulation
Software Compatibility | GNU Radio, UHD, OpenBTS | GNU Radio, UHD, OpenBTS
GPIO Support | Yes | Yes
Dimensions | 155 x 97 x 15 mm | 89.5 x 63 mm
Weight | ~350 g | ~50 g
Price Range | ~$2,165 | ~$300–$400
🔍 Key Differences
-
FPGA Architecture: The B210 utilizes a Spartan-6 FPGA, while the B220 Mini is equipped with a more modern Artix-7 FPGA. The Artix-7 offers higher performance and more resources, which can be beneficial for complex signal processing tasks.
-
Clock Source: The B220 Mini features an integrated VCTCXO, allowing for GPS signal simulation and 4G/5G base station experiments without the need for expensive GPSDO clock sources.
-
Size and Portability: The B220 Mini is significantly smaller and lighter, making it more suitable for portable applications and embedded systems.
-
Software Compatibility: Both devices support GNU Radio and UHD, but the B210 has a longer track record with these tools, ensuring a more stable and mature development environment.
🧠 Which One Should You Choose?
-
Ettus USRP B210: Ideal for those who need a proven, reliable platform with extensive community support. Its mature ecosystem and compatibility with various software tools make it a solid choice for research and development.
-
HamGeek B220 Mini: Perfect for applications where size, weight, and power consumption are critical. Its modern FPGA and integrated clock source make it suitable for advanced SDR experiments, especially in mobile or embedded scenarios.