Fobos SDR: High-Quality Radio for Hobbyists, Researchers and Professionals

The Fobos SDR, developed by Rig Expert, is a new software-defined radio (SDR) designed for hobbyists, researchers, and professionals, offering a balance between cost and performance. It operates across a frequency range of 100KHz to 6GHz, utilizing a direct sampling receiver architecture for lower frequencies and a double conversion heterodyne architecture for higher frequencies. Key components include the RFFC5072 mixer, MAX2830 transceiver, and LTC2143 14-bit ADC, which samples at 50MSPS, allowing for an output IQ sample rate of up to 50MHz. The radio features three SMA connectors for antenna interfacing and provides frequency stability of +/-0.5ppm. Software support includes popular SDR applications like SDRSharp and HDSDR, with full source code available for GNU Radio. Notably, the Fobos SDR does not include an FPGA or microcontroller; instead, it uses an Infineon CYUSB3014 USB controller to transmit complex ADC data directly to a PC, enhancing user control over digital signal processing. Currently, the Fobos SDR is not available through resellers, but it may be found at HAM Radio Outlets in the future.

- Fobos SDR covers a frequency range of 100KHz to 6GHz.

- It features a direct sampling receiver and double conversion heterodyne architecture.

- The radio supports popular SDR software and provides full source code for GNU Radio.

- It utilizes a USB controller for direct data output to a PC, enhancing processing flexibility.

- Availability is currently limited, with potential future sales through HAM Radio Outlets.