PC as a radio reciever?

[bloodhound31]

Is there any way I can use my pc to directly recieve from an external antenna? I am using 50 ohm coax and a variety of antennae, looking at about 15 to 31mHz HF.

Can I plug antenna directly into my pc? Is there software that can turn ur PC into a reciever or is that a specialty hardware requirement only?:shrug:

[Astroman]

Try here..

http://www.winradio.com.au/

[bloodhound31]

AstroMan, thanks mate, it's a start! I am looking for alternatives to buying an expensive receiver. As I obviously already have a PC, then maybe it is already capable somehow, or can be made capable easily.:D

[Dennis]

Hello, Bloodhound

I've got a DVICO dual digital TV tuner card (http://www.fusionhdtv.co.kr/ENG/Products/DualDigital.aspx)in my PC which also gives me radio. The only connection I have is to a rabbit ears indoor Arial sitting on top of the curtain rail, although that window looks out directly to the TV transmitter masts.

When I installed the HW/SW it went into auto scan mode and found a few radio channels.

Cheers

Dennis

[bloodhound31]

Thanks Dennis. I wonder if that tuner would pick up The frequencies I am interested in. I am doing a spot of radio astronomy just to have a crack at it, and thought I would start with simple targets like Jupiter. Its at about 21.09 mHz HF. I have built an antenna for it, but need some sort of reciever.:D

[Dennis]

Here is a screen print of the scanning dialogue. It doesn't look promising as I cannot find any option to add frequencies other than those picked up by the auto scan.

Cheers

Dennis

[Astroman]

havent seen a setup like that before, is it a grounded loop dipole or something?

[bloodhound31]

I have to join the outer braid of the coax to some chicken mesh stretched across the back to act as a reflector. I thought that square bird avairy wire mesh would do the same job, but look neater and more proffessional.

Here's another blokes one that I got the idea from.:thumbsup:

[bloodhound31]

Here's the finished antenna mounted above the observatory. Just need a cheapo shortwave radio now to try her out!:D

[Doug]

Boodhound, What is the Antenna you have constructed? It looks as though it could be a co-axial loop with a director, but your images only really show a high standard of construction:thumbsup: but little of the coax termination etc.

cheers,
Doug

[bloodhound31]

mate, heres another pic. I will take a close-up tomorrow and post that, but basically I have soldered the braid to the mesh, and the centre wire to the copper ring.

[bloodhound31]

There is a new page on my website titled "radio astronomy that details the whole construction for those interested.

Either google search "barrys home made observatory" or go to http://members.iinet.net.au/~armstead and look for the "radio astronomy" page in the hyperlinks list.

Hope this helps.

Baz:D

[netwolf]

bloodhound, be sure to ground it properly

Basically as i understand it you need to create a short path of least resitance to the ground and drive a stake in. This way any hit you get will go down that path rather than down to your receiving equipment.

Regards

[bloodhound31]

Very good tip mate! ty!:thumbsup:

Baz:D