ELAD FDM-DUO
$$$$·
| Frequency | RX: 9 kHz - 54 MHz (all HF + 6m), TX: 1.8 - 54 MHz (all amateur HF + 6m) |
| Bands | 160m, 80m, 60m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m, 6m |
| TX power | 5 W (5W QRP output. Alternative HF output jack at 0 dBm for external PA.) |
| Modes | SSB (LSB/USB), CW/CWR, AM (with Sync-AM on PC), FM narrow, WFM (stereo+RDS on PC), RTTY (on PC), DRM (on PC) |
| Weight | 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) - 1.2 kg per ELAD specs. Dimensions: 180x155x70 mm (130 mm enclosure only). Italian made. |
| Connector | SO-239 (two configurable antenna jacks: RX/TX same or separate) |
| Year | 2014 |
| antenna 1 | SO-239 (configurable RX/TX or RX-only) |
| antenna 2 | SO-239 (configurable TX-only or unused) |
| usb 1 | USB 2.0 (CAT control) |
| usb 2 | USB 2.0 (digital IQ data for waterfall) |
| usb 3 | USB 2.0 (sound card, CMedia chipset) |
| ext clock | 10 MHz external clock input |
| dc in | DC 13.8V |
| power req | DC 13.8V (not included). |
An SDR transceiver that operates like a traditional radio. It runs standalone without a PC (unusual among SDRs), with 16-bit direct sampling (no mixer), CW filters down to 20 Hz, and three USB ports for CAT, IQ, and a sound card. It has a TX equalizer, VOX, and compressor, CW Skimmer integration, a 10 MHz external clock input, and the FDM-SW2 software, with Italian build quality.
$1100-1300 (premium; the IC-7300 is similar money with 100 W). Only 5 W QRP (an external PA is needed for serious transmit). No VHF/UHF. USB 2.0 (not 3.0). FDM-SW2 is Windows-only. A niche product with a smaller user community than Icom/Yaesu/Kenwood.
An SDR transceiver with a traditional radio feel. The FDM-DUO suits operators who want SDR performance without giving up a conventional radio's controls. Standalone mode works without a computer; PC mode enables full SDR capabilities. The 16-bit direct sampling, 20 Hz CW filter, and TX equalizer/compressor deliver performance that rivals much larger rigs. The 5 W QRP limit is the main caveat.
The ELAD FDM-DUO is an unusual hybrid: an Italian-made HF and 6-meter SDR transceiver that works either as a standalone radio with its own front panel and display, or connected to a computer for a full software-defined panadapter experience. Unlike the receive-only SDRs, it transmits (about 5 watts across the amateur bands from 160 through 6 meters) so it is a complete QRP station, and using it on the air requires an amateur radio license.
On receive it is a direct-sampling design with a 16-bit converter, covering down to around 9 kHz, and it can run multiple independent receivers when paired with ELAD's software. The standalone mode gives it real knobs, memories, and a CW keyer; the computer mode adds the wide spectrum display and digital-mode flexibility. It is a premium product, priced accordingly, and in recent times has been sold mostly on a pre-order basis.
It occupies a different niche from the open-source SDR transceivers: it is a polished, self-contained radio rather than a build-it-yourself board. For a low-cost open-source alternative, the Hermes-Lite 2 covers the HF bands at a fraction of the price, and the Red Pitaya turns an instrument platform into a transceiver for experimenters.