Cheap SDR boards lose Mirics tuner chips

The cheap software-defined radio is facing parts shortages as television tuner chips, such as Rafael Micro's R828D and Mirics' MSi-series components, are discontinued. Originally built as hacks of mass-produced television hardware, these affordable radio components are reaching their end of life just as spectrum monitoring and electronic warfare have driven high demand for SDR technology. While higher-end transceivers designed for telecom remain available, they carry significantly higher costs and complexity for hobbyists and small developers. Open article →