Gnuradio with RTL2832U dongle

I got my RTL2832U dongle working with the Gnuradio SDR development environment on Ubuntu Linux.
Here is the block diagram for a FM receiver.You can by your dongle here http://www.giga.co.za

 RTL2832U dongle 

FM Receiver Gnuradio block using  RTL2832U dongle.

Application details of the above block.

1. Here is the Gnu radio block file for the FM Receiver above. (Save and Rename to fmRadio.grc)
2. Here is the compiled python FM Receiver file for the above.
3. Here is a link to info on the hardware RTL2832U USB dongle.
4. Here is a link to BorIP server config for Linux.
5. You Tube help on Gnu Radio and Gnu Radio2
6. Shop where you can get your  RTL2832U 

My WebSDR on 2M Satellite and ISS frequency

I have disabled the 2M SDR until I can fix the adjacent channel interference.
I am only running the 40m SDR for now.

My WebSDR on 2M Satellite and ISS frequency seems to be stable with some adjacent channel interference.
I will try and make some change with a different antenna to reduce the interference.(Eggbeater antenna)
Here is the link http://zr6aic.giga.co.za:8901/
Here is also a very nice link to find out what is herd from a satellite point of view (live Sat DX spot)
 http://www.dxsummit.fi/CustomFilter.aspx?customCount=50&customRange=507

Beacons http://users.iafrica.com/z/zs/zs5s/bulls/BCNQRT.TXT

Building my first SDR (Software Defined Radio)

Wow my SDR on 40m is up and running. 

(Softrock  receiver) Where can I get a receiver kit http://www.giga.co.za
Here is the details
Here is the link to to the webSDR server http://zr6aic.giga.co.za:8901/

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I am starting to build a SoftRock Lite II SDR receiver for 40m Band and will publish my experiences with the construction and testing.
I will use my default Ubuntu sound card that could only sample 96Khz but will be looking for a internal or external sound card that would be able to sample 192khz/24 to replace the 96Khz card to give me bettor bandwidth on 40m.
Here is some pictures during the construction and testing process.

Sort all your components and measure and label them before you start assembly

Check the numbers on the Capacitors carefully

I used Solder paste to put on the surface mount components before I placed them on the board

Her is the PCB with solder paste on IC Pads

Transformer wound

Softrock lite II testing the local oscillator divider on 40m.

28,22 Mhz (40m) Mixer I and Q input signals on scope.

Testing your Local oscillator as in assembly document

Testing the Oscillator

Wounding the inductors. (Keeping track of the amount of wounding is important)

Following the test on the assembly instructions

And some more test

I am still waiting for some toroid rings to complete the Softrock kit but decided to expose my Funcube on the satellite part of the 2M band in the mean time.
I now have two softrock receivers on webSDR receiver (80,40,30,20M bands)
Here is the link http://zr6aic.giga.co.za:8901/

Setting Up PSKmail on FT857

Configuration for FT857 and PSKmail on 10.148Mhz on Ubuntu 10.1

1) Set all digital offsets to zero on ft857
2) Set digital mode to LSB on ft857
3) Will add wiring diagram later Everything gets controlled via external port and cat interface from fldigi to ft857.
4) set rigcat config in fldigi to your serial port connected to ft857 back port
(4800 2stop and cat command for PTT)
5) Fldidg should now display the frequency selected on ft857
6) Set mode on fldidgi to PSK500R if you don't see this option in fldigi you have the old fldidgi version then upgrade to latest version.
7) Start the latest version of PSKmail
8) configure frequency and add server details on PSKmail. (10.148 and zs0mee in my case)
9) Listen for beacon of server and then tune your transceiver to middle of waterfall (on fldigi) my radio frequency for 10.148Mhz LSB was set to 10.146.50 for indicated middle of waterfall.(sweet spot)

There is a local PSKmail server monitoring page managed by ZS6RO

Goto PSKmail for more information