Some notes on getting started in software defined radio (SDR)…

Resources

Clark & Clark, “Practical SDR — seems like a nice book to start with
RTL-SDR is kind of the right place to start. $30, well documented and engineered. RX only.
HackRF Pro – $400. RX/TX. Again, well supported and documented
PicoRX — use a raspberry pi pico to build a minimalistic SDR. Appeals to my sensibilities.

Backstory: Radio

As a kid, I thought ham radio was cool, but didn’t have enough money to play around. I may have built a crystal radio though.
As a college student, in the late 1990s when internet was metered, I thought packet radio was cool (free internet!), but basically read about it vicariously.
As a graduate student,in the early 200s, I got a ham license (KG6WPP), which has since expired. I remember taking the test in Oakland one sunday morning. Afterwards got a VHF handy talky, and would listen to the repeaters, but never had much of an interest in broadcasting.
As a grad student/postdoc, used to read the ARRL magazine (among others) in the Berkeley public library on saturday afternoons, after going typing on the laptop at Caffe Strada in the morning and then going to the farmer’s market.
Generally thought the idea of VHF to satellites was cool. I still think the idea of an “orbital hunting club” (sort of like duck hunt, but with radios and satellites) would be amusing.
My buddy, Bob the Chemist, got into ham radio in the past few years, reawakening interest.