Advice Needed SDR USB receivers with KU/C Band and DVB-T ?

[ozumo]

Did you use any thermally conductive tape/paste/glue between the heatsinks & SDR?

 

[zorrin]

Did you use any thermally conductive tape/paste/glue between the heatsinks & SDR?

Exactly, I will order thermal tape

 

[Terryl]

I'd use some good silver bearing thermal paste, like you would on a CPU, and I like the use of the heat-sink and metal can, if the can is tin plated you could solder some copper braid between the case of the can and the top, this would increase the isolation,(bonding all pieces together) and don't forget to ground the can.

 

[zorrin]

I'd use some good silver bearing thermal paste, like you would on a CPU, and I like the use of the heat-sink and metal can, if the can is tin plated you could solder some copper braid between the case of the can and the top, this would increase the isolation,(bonding all pieces together) and don't forget to ground the can.

I want to be able to upgrade the installation with other components such as RF amplifiers. So I want to keep the components removable, no soldering. I will add ventilation with a 5V fan outside the box. at the same time I will add feet, an attachment point for the switch and the ground.

 

[Terryl]

I was thinking about small short pieces (3 to 4 about 1 to 2 inches long) one end soldered to the top and one end soldered to the box, this done right at the hinge, the box can still be opened.

You can get USB powered fans, the connector goes in-between the SDR dongle and the USB plug.

 

[zorrin]

I was thinking about small short pieces (3 to 4 about 1 to 2 inches long) one end soldered to the top and one end soldered to the box, this done right at the hinge, the box can still be opened.

You can get USB powered fans, the connector goes in-between the SDR dongle and the USB plug.

No, I think to avoid sources of interference inside the box as much as possible.
The fan, amp and power source.

 

[Terryl]

The fan should not cause problems. The amp might, but you could partition the box, put the amp in it's own compartment.

If you want total isolation you could build what is called a Faraday cage, this is a box within a box, the inner one totally isolated from the other except for one common ground point, I've used them on sensitive super high gain amplifiers.

Also put some ferrite beads on the USB cable and any DC power cords, this will cut down of the stray gunk from the cable it's self, I used one of those that clip onto an AC power cord.