So, any new news on whether this is ever going to be released in the near future or has the project/idea been dumped?
This will be the shortest thread since the last time this question was asked.
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Yep. thought Iād just poke at the bear and see if anything else comes to the surface.
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I think FA owes the community some kind of answer. They put it out here.
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No company has come out with major new SDR hardware recently. To me, this speaks strongly of the limited production of SDR components. Designing hardware has become much more difficult with the constraints of power, size, capability, reliability, cost, reproducibility, and availability.
Do I want a new kick-ass RTL-SDR? Absolutely!!! Since most of the production of these parts seems to be isolated to Taiwan and main-land China, things get much more complicated. The above constraints are just some of the factors designers have to contend with. Imagine seeing a spec-sheet on a perfect component for your new design, spending time to understand all the aspects of this new amazing part, to learn sadly, the company has decided NOT to build it because some rare-earth metal is in short supply and your part has a critical need for that element. Yea, It happens.
So, we all work with the components we can source, knowing they are not perfect, have some limitations, and subject to availability. We do the best we can every day. Someday, a new set of hardware will be available, though never when we want it available. I suspect Flightaware will never give up making a better RTL-SDR we all desire. I would love like all of us to be in the test groups, but reality is, most of us will be waiting a bit longer. When the FA community put the idea out there, the world was a bit different place, and they are doing what they can to improve their hardware, just as you and I do so on on our own systems.
We will hang in there, waiting and wondering, hopefully improving our systems, configurations, and especially antennas. Sure, I would love a 100 ft high tower, with the best antenna available, lightning protection, high speed internet connections, and low power consumption. I guess we all have to settle for a bit less here and there and do the best we can. Have fun out there, learn a little bit every day, and definitely get out and vote to protect your country.
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