BlueDV with Digirig Lite

,
1

Rodney N0XLP reports a successful BlueDV setup using Digirig Lite:

I had stopped working on my Digirig/BlueDV/AMBE dongle set up and have finally gotten back to it.

  1. I enabled the -20 db pad within the Digirig by cutting the trace between the pads

  2. I modified an old RadioShack Discone antenna to be resonant from 350 Mhz and up. I used the Disc elements for the cone and cut new disc elements. This is a balanced antenna - no ground plane is needed. The modem radio uses this antenna to reduce noise in the system.

The end result is the Digirig now works great into the regular USB interface on my computers. The noise is gone from my signal and I’m getting great reports on my audio using an inexpensive analog FM HT for the modem. I then tried a DMR HT for the modem and that works the same as the analog FM HT - no noise. Before this trying to use a DMR HT as the modem was so noisy (from the digital modulation) that I had a hard time understanding the audio.

So your recommendation on getting a balanced antenna is a must to reduce RF feedback within the system. Enabling the -20 db pad gives a lot more headroom and adjustment on the HT volume control setting. I’m getting great audio reports.

Your Digirig for HTs is a solid performer. With your Digirig you can take 2 cheap analog FM HTs, a Windows computer, and an AMBE dongle and create an all mode (limited only by the capabilities of BlueDV) amateur transceiver. BlueDV currently limits us to DMR, DSTAR, Fusion and NXDN. If PA7LIM expands the future capabilities of BlueDV (say to include P25) all one has to do is load the new software and you’re up and running on the new mode.

Awesome! Exactly the results I was hoping for.

Here’s the recommendation that helped resolve the initial RFI issue:

When it comes to RFI, the HTs are the worst offenders. My recommendation is for the final deployment to either use an external antenna or at least add a counterpoise to the mounted stock antenna, so the radio doesn’t use attached accessory cables as a part of the antenna system. Additionally you can find shielded/chocked USB cables in Digirig store.