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Using on a Mac

Page history last edited by Richard Langley 11 years, 3 months ago Saved with comment

I received a FUNcube Dongle Pro+ (FCD+) on New Year's Eve day and have been experimenting with it using my MacBook Pro with Mac OS 10.6.8 and Windows 7 Enterprise (via Boot Camp). I initially tried using the FDP+ with Mac OS but did not (yet) succeed. More on that later.

Switching to Windows, I installed FCD+ Control V2.002 (FCHid2.002) and SDR# V1.0.0.1000. Both installed without difficulties and without the need to install any other software. Question: Is FCHid2.002 needed for frequency setting? It seems that SDR# (at least with version 2.002) has the capability to control the FCD+. According to FCHid2.002, my FDP+ has the version 20.03 firmware.

Plugging in the FCD+ using a short USB extender cable, it was immediately recognized by Windows, again without the need to install anything. FCHid2.002 recognized and reported the successful connection of the FCD+. I connected about 20 feet of wire to the FCD+ antenna input (no ground wire) strewn on the floor of my first-floor family room and launched SDR#. I had good performance considering the antenna and the amount of spurious RF from computers, etc. in my house.

Some reception examples:
1) A local FM radio station came in with excellent audio with the signal level about 70 dB over the noise floor.
2) Weather radio station on 162.475 MHz, peaking about 20-30 dB above the noise floor. I used this station to determine the frequency correction of +3.3 ppm in SDR#.
3) A local AM radio station, CKHJ, on 1260 kHz (the only AM station left in Fredericton), 30 dB over noise floor. This despite the fact that my location is near a null in the transmitter antenna pattern. Reception was better using LSB or USB rather than AM demodulation.
4) CHU time signal station on 7850 kHz. About 30 dB above the noise floor. Noise floor was about -70 dB. Reception best in USB (the transmitted signal has a suppressed lower sideband). Nice waterfall display. Can see the DUT1 correction double pips. SW reception seemed comparable to that of my Sony ICF-7600D portable with its whip antenna.
5) CHU on 3330 kHz was about 30 dB above the -80 dB noise floor.
6) Good signals also from China Radio International on 9690 kHz and Radio Tamazuj (a Sudanese/Arabic station) on 7315 kHz (reportedly using a transmitter of Vatican Radio) among others.

I haven't tested the FCD+ on satellite signals but intend to do that once I reassemble my discone antenna or bring a VHF/UHF cross-yagi home from my office.

Another note concerning noise: Plugging the charger into the MacBook Plus raised the noise level on SW from -70 dB to -40 dB. Also some spurious signals / noise when touching the Mac's trackpad.

Now, getting back to trying out the FCD+ under Mac OS 10.6.8. I had installed Qthid 4.1. It recognized the FCD+ and allowed frequency changes. I also installed DSP Radio, version 1.3.7, which is supposed to work with OS 10.6 up. It launched with no problem. I followed the instructions on setting it up for the FCD+ but ran into a problem with Audio Midi Setup. When creating the aggregate device, I get the error "Sample rate mismatch." Also, cannot change the clock source to FUNcube Dongle V2.0 and there is seemingly no "Drift Correction" option in this version of Audio Midi Setup. Any suggestions?

Overall, I am pleased with the FCD+ but would be even more so if I can get it to work under Mac OS 10.6.8.

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