$899? The bladeRF 2.0 micro xA9 has identical or even better specs -- for $860. Aren't crowdfunded projects supposed to be a bit cheaper to make the gamble on a new product of unknown quality and performance worth it?
The bladeRF 61.44MHz sampling rate can be effectively doubled (although they both use the AD9361, so it principle also possible on the SignalSDR) and the FPGA on board has 301KLE, versus the SignalSDR 85KLE.
The comparison matrix is also being a bit dishonest by not mentioning that the bladeRF also supports USB 3.0 and can fully saturate the 5Gbps link -- no such information about the SignalSDR.
It also states the PlutoSDR frequency range as 325MHz-3.8GHz and RF bandwidth as being 20MHz, but it can easily be increased to 70MHz-6GHz and 56MHz RF bandwidth by running two commands on the device. This process is approved by the manufacturer, and is actually outlined on AD's official wiki for the PlutoSDR.
The crying shame is that none of this potential can be utilised due to the limitations of the USB 2.0 port. The oscillator precision is also lacking, but modifications are possible.
But what I'm trying to say is, the PlutoSDR is $200, sometimes on sale for $99. If you added USB 3.0 and improved the oscillator precision, it would be practically on par with the SignalSDR, and that wouldn't cost $700 extra to do.
In early crowdfunding, $899. Interesting if you're into that sort of thing I guess, but I'd rather see a completed product first.
bradfa 16 days ago [-]
85kHz bandwidth must be a typo for >$700, right?
16 days ago [-]
rpcope1 16 days ago [-]
The underlying AD radio supposedly does 200 kHz to 56 MHz, so presumably a typo. I wish they would say more about the front end of the radio and filtering, for that kind of money.
bradfa 16 days ago [-]
Crowd Supply page says 56MHz bandwidth which seems much more in line with my expectations.
The bladeRF 61.44MHz sampling rate can be effectively doubled (although they both use the AD9361, so it principle also possible on the SignalSDR) and the FPGA on board has 301KLE, versus the SignalSDR 85KLE.
The comparison matrix is also being a bit dishonest by not mentioning that the bladeRF also supports USB 3.0 and can fully saturate the 5Gbps link -- no such information about the SignalSDR.
It also states the PlutoSDR frequency range as 325MHz-3.8GHz and RF bandwidth as being 20MHz, but it can easily be increased to 70MHz-6GHz and 56MHz RF bandwidth by running two commands on the device. This process is approved by the manufacturer, and is actually outlined on AD's official wiki for the PlutoSDR.
The crying shame is that none of this potential can be utilised due to the limitations of the USB 2.0 port. The oscillator precision is also lacking, but modifications are possible.
But what I'm trying to say is, the PlutoSDR is $200, sometimes on sale for $99. If you added USB 3.0 and improved the oscillator precision, it would be practically on par with the SignalSDR, and that wouldn't cost $700 extra to do.