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SDR
Software-defined radio moves the majority of radio processing into software, facilitating relatively inexpensive wide-band hardware interfaces to the electromagnetic spectrum, especially those frequencies below 3GHz. Pairing advanced SDRs with software-defined antennas yields dynamically optimal cognitive radio. Perhaps most famously, DVB-T television tuners built around the RTL2832U chip, and available in USB form factor for less than $30 (particularly the Rafael Micro R820T2), can reliably provide 2MHz of RX bandwidth anywhere from ~30MHz to ~2GHz (still lower frequencies are supported via direct sampling). For $500, powerful units capable of tremendous bandwidth and range (as well as transmission capabilities) are available, and from there it's not that great a leap to building your own stingray--if the cops have 'em, so should you, doyouknowhatiamsayin?
On the more ballin' end of things, a tricked-out Per Vices Cyan will run you $290k before shipping.
Hardware
Device | Tuner | BW (MHz) | Samples (Msps) | ADC | Tune (MHz) | Xmit? | FPGA? | MSRP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RTL-SDRv3 | R820TR2 | 2.4 sustained 3.2 peak |
8 | 25--1750 | No | No | $20 | |
NooElec NESDR SMArt |
R820TR2 | 2.4 sustained 3.2 peak |
225--300kHz .9--2.56MHz |
8 | 25--1750 | No | No | $20 |
NooElec NESDR SMArt XTR |
E4000 | 2.4 | 8 | 65--1100 1200--2300 |
No | No | $35 | |
SDRPlay RSP2 | 10 | 12 | DC--2000 | No | No | $170 | ||
SDRPlay RSP1A | MSI001 | 6 | 14 | DC--2000 | No | No | $100 | |
HackRF One | RFFC5072 | 20 | 2--20 | 8 | 1--6000 | Half | No | $300 |
AirSpy R2 | R820TR2 | 10 | 2.5--10 | 12 | 24--1800 | No | No | $170 |
AirSpy Mini | R820TR2 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 24--1750 | No | No | $100 |
AirSpy HF+ | 0.768 | 16 | DC--31 60--260 |
No | No | $150 | ||
BladeRF 2.0 micro | AD9361 | 56 | 61.44 | 12 | 47--6000 | 2x | Cyclone V | $480 |
BladeRF x40/x115 | LMS6002D | 28 | 40 | 12 | 300--3800 | 1x | Cyclone IV | $420 |
Ettus B210 USRP | AD9361 | 56 | 61.44 | 12 | 70--6000 | 2x | Spartan 6 XC6SLX150 |
$1100 |
Ettus B200 USRP | AD9361 | 56 | 61.44 | 12 | 70--6000 | 1x | Spartan 6 XC6SLX150 |
$675 |
Per Vices Noctar | 250 | 125 | 12 / 16 | DC--4000 | 1x | Cyclone IV | $2500 |