CR-1 Communications Receiver

Introducing the New CR-1 Communications Receiver. (Updated April 25, 2013)

The CR-1 is a small, low-power, ruggedly constructed radio receiver that is finding a niche in the world of SWL’s (short wave listeners) and amateur radio enthusiasts alike.

The CR-1 is a NEW Software Defined Radio (SDR) from the designers of miniature wideband signal intelligence receivers, developed for special-operations units, and rugged business-jet data-link transceivers.

The CR-1 SDR is independent of a host PC, using embedded digital signal processing technology providing a degree of portability and performance previously unavailable to the radio enthusiast.

As one potential customer noted: “It’s an SDR with knobs, keys, and a display!”

Frequency Coverage and Modes:

MW-HF: General Coverage: 500 kHz - 30.000 MHz

• MW-HF: MDS:  nominal -132 dBm in 500 Hz Bandwidth
• User Configurable Band Key:
  • Amateur Band Selections:        160 m – 10 m
  • International Broadcast Bands: 120 m – 11 m
• AM-SSB-CW  manual or auto-mode selection (based on tuned frequency)
• International Broadcasting: manual or auto-selection: AM - 5 kHz steps
• Auto-Filter Width select with override: AM: 5, 7.5 kHz, 15 kHz - SSB: 1.8, 2.6 kHz - CW: 1 kHz - 500 Hz
• Tuning Resolution (cursor control): 1 MHz  / 100 -10 - 1 kHz  / 100  - 10 Hz
• LW: 150 - 500 kHz is included for experimental purposes.  See Hardware Limitations below.

VHF-UHF General Frequency Coverage and Performance:

• VHF: Continuous Coverage:   64.0 - 260.0 MHz
• UHF: Continuous Coverage: 437.0 - 468.0 MHz
• FM Broadcast: nominal -88 dBm in 200 kHz bandwidth
• VHF Sensitivity  108.0 - 150.0 MHz: nominal - 98 dBm (or better) for 12 dB SINAD, 15 kHz filter bandwidth (5 kHz deviation)
• UHF Sensitivity: nominal -86  to-98 dBm for 12 dB SINAD, 15 kHz filter bandwidth (5 kHz deviation)
• Standard frequency steps for each band
• SCAN blocked to comply with FCC Part 15 rules (Declaration of Conformance)

VHF-UHF Band Plan:

• FM Broadcast: 87.7 - 107.9 - Monaural - 5 kHz audio bandwidth
• Aircraft Band: 108.000 - 136.975 MHz, AM auto-select -25 kHz channel steps
• Amateur: 2 m, 1.25 m, 70 cm (upper portion starting @ 437.0 MHz). 
• NBFM mode default with SSB-CW mode selects.
• Marine & NOAA Weather Radio
• Public Service: 137.0 - 225.0: 12.5 and 25 kHz steps.
• FRS-GMRS 462 – 467 MHz ,  25 kHz Steps
• Note: 6 m (54 MHz) is not available.

Receiver Architecture

• HF: Dual conversion (VHF-UHF: single conversion) with low -IF , I-Q digital sampling, 32-bit DSP with digital audio CODEC
• DSP demodulation algorithms: DSB-AM, SSB, CW, WBFM, NBFM
• User Selectable, DSP fixed bandwidth channel filtering selections

Audio System –  (Digital CODEC) 

• Speaker Driver: 0.8 W into 8 Ohm load
• Internal 2.5” diameter, mylar-cone communications grade speaker
• External monaural speaker jack (3.5 mm stereo jack - back panel)
• Headset Driver: 40 mW into 16 Ohms. (3.5 mm stereo jack - front panel)

Antenna Inputs

• LW-MW-HF Port: 1000 Ohm – 3.5 mm jack (auto-detection)
• LW-MW-HF Port: 50 Ohm – BNC (female)
• VHF-UHF Port:    50 Ohm – BNC (female)

Display

• 1.5" diagonal - 64 x 128 OLED Display with EMI-filtered lens
• Readable outdoors (not in direct sunlight) and manually dimmable

Power Supplies

• Power Jacks: Powered-USB and 6-18 VDC (2.1mm diameter-center pin (+) x 5 mm diameter barrel)
• Optional Internal Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery 6-8 hour capacity with full speaker volume. 10-12 hours for headset and normal speaker volume.
• Both supply inputs automatically charge the optional internal battery with the CR-1 powerered On and OFF.

Power Consumption

• < 1.0 Watt Headset and normal speaker volume
• < 1.6 Watt maximum - full speaker volume

USB Mini-B 2.0 Jack

• Automatically charges internal battery while maintaining maxium USB power use < 2.5 Watts
• Software updates via  'Dropbox' from CommRadio

Mechanical

• Overall Size: 5.64” W x 2.43” H x 6.10” D (including knobs, jacks , feet)
• Weight: 1 lb – 12 oz
• Knobs: Machined Aluminum – Black Anodized
• Front Panel: Machined Aluminum – Powder Coated – Black semi-gloss
• Case: 20 Gauge Steel, Powder Coated – Black Crackle.

ESD Protection:  ESD Diodes: Antenna ports - Power Jacks - USB Port-Keys – Knobs

Hardware Design Limitations:

• The CR-1 is not controllable over USB.
• Analog or digital IQ or IF signals are not ported to any connector at this time.
• LW (150 kHz - 480 kHz): The CR-1 was designed to tune down to 500 kHz.  The tuner is programmed to provide tuning to 150 kHz. However, there is no dedicated pre-selector in this range.  The IF is also in this range and signals from other bands can be heard. The CR-1 performance is not guaranteed in this range and is provided for experimental purposes. Good performance has been reported from one CR-1 owner who uses an external LW preselector.

Free: Planned Software Upgrades:

• SW revisions and upgrades (improvements) via Dropbox as they occur
• European Band Plans:  including 9 KHz frequency steps LW-AM and FM broadcast (150 kHz channels)

Potential New Software Applications (provided free if/when they occur, but not included in purchase price):

• Spectral Display (across individual bands) – fast detect of band openings
• CW reader ported to display and over USB
• PSK-31 decoder ported to display and over USB.

Origin & Warranty & Satisfaction Guarantee

• Designed and manufactured in USA
• Limited 1 year warranty on parts – labor – workmanship
• 30 day Return for 100% Refund (excluding shipping).  Email for Return Authorization.  You Pay Return Postage and insure for $500.00.

Training Videos

CR-1 Video 2 Training Acadamy

CR-1 Video 3 Training Acadamy