From slashdot: *"Don't have $1500 to drop on a USRP<https://www.ettus.com/product/category/USRP_Networked_Series>? A Linux kernel developer has discovered that a Realtek digital TV tuner chip has an undocumented mode that turns it into a software-defined radio<http://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/rtl-sdr>, with a frequency range of 64-1700MHz. The going rate for one of these USB devices can be as low as US$11. If you're unfamiliar with software-defined radio and have 20 minutes to spare, Balint Seeber has a great video introduction <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuRcaxpbYCw>."*
http://www.reddit.com/r/RTLSDR/comments/rbqfz/rtlsdr_compatibility_list_work... http://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/rtl-sdr http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6071990&url=http%3A%2F...
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Software_Radio_Peripheral
The USRP platform has been used as: - An APCO25 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_25> compatible Transmitter/Receiver and Decoder[8]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Software_Radio_Peripheral#cite_note-7> - RFID <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID> reader - testing equipment - a cellular GSM <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM> base station[9]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Software_Radio_Peripheral#cite_note-8> - a GPS <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System> receiver [10]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Software_Radio_Peripheral#cite_note-9> - an FM radio <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_radio> receiver[11]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Software_Radio_Peripheral#cite_note-10> - an FM radio transmitter[12]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Software_Radio_Peripheral#cite_note-11> - a digital television <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_television>( ATSC <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATSC_%28standards%29>) decoder[13]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Software_Radio_Peripheral#cite_note-12> - passive radar - synthetic aperture radar<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_aperture_radar> - an amateur radio[14]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Software_Radio_Peripheral#cite_note-13> - a teaching aid[15]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Software_Radio_Peripheral#cite_note-14> - Digital Audio Broadcasting<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Broadcasting>(DAB/DAB+/DMB) transmitter [16]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Software_Radio_Peripheral#cite_note-15> [17]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Software_Radio_Peripheral#cite_note-16> - Mobile WiMAX <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_WiMAX> receiver with USRP N2x0 [1<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Software_Radio_Peripheral#cite_note-17>