Out of more than 800 entries, the PSDR took 3rd place in the 2014 International Hack a Day Prize Competition. Of the 5 finalists it is the most 'liked' and most followed.
See what the Jack Genssle of The Ganssle Group, Limor Fried, owner of Adafruit Industries, and Ian Lesnet of Dangerous Prototypes, think of the PSDR:
The Portable Software Defined Radio, or PSDR, is an Open Source, Fully stand-alone HF/Shortwave Software Defined Transceiver. It includes a Vector Network Analyzer and Antenna Analyzer as well as GPS. It's built for rugged portable use. It is designed to be a flexible platform for development, a learning aid, and and a useful instrument for electronics enthusiasts.
I'm an avid backpacker and radio enthusiast. To me there is something exciting about making contact with others from remote locations where cell phones and the internet can't reach. I wanted an advanced radio that was ideally suited to tough environments. That meant I it needed to be very compact, integrated, and durable. As an engineer, I wanted an open platform that really takes advantage of the hardware and has the potential to grow and be used for other applications.
There are numerous, excellent radios out there, but none offered the combination I wanted. The best radios are closed source, larger, and expensive, while most open designs are very basic and lacking in flexibility.
Already the PSDR has had an enthusiastic reception in the radio and electronics communities. Many people have expressed excitement about helping improve the PSDR's hardware and software. I want to get the hardware out to everyone so that those that are willing to contribute will be able to.
The design is completely Open Source. Want to peak at the code, or examine the schematics? It's all right here. Some people have already built their own!
I designed the hardware to be capable of the following, but I can't write all the software myself. Please note that I can't guarantee when or if these functions will be added, or that they will work as desired.
The PSDR2 being offered in this campaign is an evolution of an earlier design, but is not yet complete in some important ways. Backers should be aware that the PSDR2 is a development radio, not a finished product.
The number one reason is that people want it! I want to get hardware out there so those that are interested can help improve its design and software. This will all help in the development of future hardware as well.
The only thing you need a license for is transmitting. No license is need when using the PSDR for listening in on signals, using it as a tool, or for development.
I want the PSDR to be a reliable, high quality device that will hold up well over time. For that reason, I am planning on using Automated Assembly, in Lehi, Utah to manufacture the circuit boards. Of many assembly companies I've used, I have found their work to be of the very highest quality. They cost a little more, but are worth every penny. They are local too, which means that I can work with them closely to solve any issues that arise and can save time and money on shipping.
I am also working with a local company to CNC mill the aluminum housings.
I don't have time to hand assemble more than a few of these. I would have to charge too much for them if I did. So I need help! Having the circuit boards produced is expensive, but more importantly, there are minimum quantities that need to be met. 100 units is about as low as most places seem to go, so I need to have the money to order 100 PSDRs at once! Same goes for having the housings produced.
There are development tools I need to purchase, and testing that needs to be done as well!
The development of the PSDR has been documented over at my project blog on Hackaday.io. Please take a look for more information on it's design and history, or to join the discussion.