Poor PPM resolution

Discussion of the RTL-SDR type of radios suct as Noo-Elec etc.
Alezis
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2022 4:43 am

Poor PPM resolution

#1

Unread post by Alezis »

Hi everyone !

I was wondering why the resolution is so poor in the "home", "calibration" menu with my RTL-SDR v4 ?

SDR Console gives very precise resolution but when I change the PPM value from 0 to 2, nothing happend, then from 3 to 7 nothing happend and so on...

Also the +/- 0.1, 0.01 and 0.001 buttons have absolutely no effect either.

The vfo frequency resolution is also pretty poor. I hear changes about every 20Hz so let's say from 7.120.000 to 7.120.020 nothing happend.

Is that a limitation of the RTL-SDR device ?

Thanks !

jdow
Posts: 803
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2020 8:17 pm

Re: Poor PPM resolution

#2

Unread post by jdow »

rtldr ppm settings are not likely to mean anything at HF due to the way the chip is designed. It is a nice starter tool. But, you do want to move on to more serious toys if you want more serious performance. As I recall you are sort of lucky to get approximately 7 Hz resolution on the IF chain, which is what is being used for rtlsdr HF. The front end chip is out of the picture. But, that doesn't matter as the sampling chip (the IF chain if you will) resolution is what allows higher apparent PPM resolution at VHF.

{o.o} Joanne (Has many - dumps on them frequently.)

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