Presented by John Staples
Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 1:30-2:30 PM- Meet and greet starts at 1:00 PM
California Historical Radio Society – Radio Central
Join the California Historical Radio Society for an in-depth technical presentation on Software-Defined Radio (SDR)with John Staples.
Software-defined radio represents a fundamental shift in how radio signals can be received, processed, and analyzed, replacing many functions traditionally performed by dedicated analog hardware with flexible digital processing.
In this technical presentation, John will take us inside the circuitry and technology that make SDR receivers work. He will analyze receiver circuits, explore the mathematics behind their operation, and demonstrate how signals move from the antenna through the receiver and into the digital domain.
The program will include live demonstrations of at least four different SDR hardware and software configurations, using real RF signals received through CHRS’s antenna system. Attendees will have an opportunity to see and compare different approaches to software-defined radio in real time.
Topics will include:
- SDR receiver architecture and signal flow
- The circuitry behind SDR receivers
- Analog-to-digital conversion and digital signal processing
- The mathematics underlying SDR operation
- SDR hardware and software configurations
- Live reception and analysis of radio signals
- Advantages, limitations, and capabilities of software-defined receivers
This presentation is designed for a technically oriented audience and will go beyond a basic introduction to SDR. Radio amateurs, engineers, electronics enthusiasts, experimenters, and anyone interested in understanding how modern radio receivers actually work are especially encouraged to attend.
John Staples: W6BM, received his first phone and extra class licenses in 1958. He is a semi-retired scientist who worked at the Lawrence Berkeley Radiation Lab.
