SDR recommendation......

[East Troy Don]

....for an SDR compatible with MAC BOOK AIR running MAC OS HIGH SIERRA Version 10.13.6.  Just doing a little research there seems to be an extraordinary amount of problems with SDR/MAC capability.  I'm looking in the $200-$300 Range.
Thanks.

[Matt285]

I'm certain Chris will have an answer to this.

[JCMaxwell]

https://airspy.com/airspy-hf-discovery

https://blackcatsystems.com/software/airspyhf_macos_server.html

https://fyngyrz.com/?page_id=995

This combination will work for you.

[ChrisSmolinski]

I would strongly suggest getting an AFEDRI SDR, as it will work native with SdrDx on the Mac, and no need for special server software, even stuff I write 

I have an AFE822x, and it is a solid performer. It has dual RF inputs, and you can do phasing of MW stations right inside SdrDx.  Plus it is a direct sampling SDR, so no wonky issues with images due to a tuner IC and AGC.  Note it is a 0-30 MHz SDR, and does not do VHF/UHF.  I would say it is my most sensitive SDR, it picks up the weak pirate on 1620 AM, located a few miles away, when others won't.

[East Troy Don]

Thanks for the input guys, its greatly appreciated.   
Chris, which antenna does you recommend for this SDR ?

[JCMaxwell]

Chris may disagree, but if you don’t want to add another antenna, it should work well with your swl sloper.

[ChrisSmolinski]

Chris, which antenna does you recommend for this SDR ?

Your choice of antenna is more about what you have the space/ability to install vs the radio/SDR type. Maybe describe what environment (size of land, tree's (height and spacing), etc) you have and what you're most interested in listening to?

[East Troy Don]

5 acres of Southern Wisconsin farmland.   Nearest city of any size is 15 miles away.  Very tall trees about 30 yards away, thickly spaced and VERY malleable under even light to moderate winds. Although I try to stay active I'm 69 years old and I'm not climbing them suckers.  I DO have a Whistler WS 1098  scanner than i run off of an old TV directional antenna up in the attic (it was here when I bought the house) than works beautifully picking up the 5 surrounding counties due, in no small part because the house is on top of a hill.  Since that works so well I was toying with the idea of running the SDR through a 100' bare wire antenna kit I bought a year ago and have not done anything with.  I figured as long as I don't double back over the wire layout this may work.  My shack is in an exposed ,finished  basement.  Is this a viable possibility?
Thanks.

[Josh]

5 acres of Southern Wisconsin farmland?!?







I'd head straight for the rhombic rosette and/or a wullenweber!
https://www.hilomast.com/antenna-systems/hf-antennas/rhombic-antenna/
https://ece.illinois.edu/about/history/wullenweber.asp


If afraid of heights one might consider a rosette of beverages.
https://www.w8ji.com/beverages.htm

[nickcarr3151]

5 acres of Southern Wisconsin farmland.   Nearest city of any size is 15 miles away.  I was toying with the idea of running the SDR through a 100' bare wire antenna kit.  Is this a viable possibility?

For receive just about anything is possible.  With that kind of land I'd strongly suggest a 1m amplified loop (or your own custom loop) into the Afedri. You should get mega-signals with that setup.  The random wire antenna would still work for a cheap, temporary solution.  The nice thing about the loop is that it just needs space.  It doesn't require height.  The cost is modest.  There's one from China that is like $50 online.  There's a USA-made model called W6LVP Loop and it's around $250.  Then there's Wellbrook but they're a tad more expensive.

W6LVP:  https://www.w6lvp.com/product/amplified-receive-only-mag-loop-antenna-with-power-inserter/

[ChrisSmolinski]

I'm a big fan of passive antennas over active. For general purpose receive, a sky loop is hard to beat. That's my primary HF antenna. I'll let my logs speak for themselves

You have plenty of room. It doesn't need to be very high anything from 20 to 50 ft is fine. Exact dimensions are not critical.  So you don't need to climb trees, just launch some ropes over branches in various locations. Feed with a 4:1 balun and coax antenna. Done.

[nickcarr3151]

I'm a big fan of passive antennas over active. For general purpose receive, a sky loop is hard to beat.

If it's so good then why do you have 17 antennas? 

I have two HF antennas. One is for Rx and the other is for Tx.  My Rx loop is about 60m but hey no one is perfect.

[ChrisSmolinski]

I'm a big fan of passive antennas over active. For general purpose receive, a sky loop is hard to beat.

If it's so good then why do you have 17 antennas? 

Band specific antennas always work best. But the sky loop is an excellent performer overall.

Plus I've also got about 17 receivers 

[NJQA]

I'm a big fan of passive antennas over active. For general purpose receive, a sky loop is hard to beat.

If it's so good then why do you have 17 antennas? 

I have two HF antennas. One is for Rx and the other is for Tx.  My Rx loop is about 60m but hey no one is perfect.

All practical antennas have nulls and lobes.  The DX is always in a null on the antenna you are using.  Having choices means another one might have the DX in a lobe.

You can never have enough antennas.

[East Troy Don]

Lots to digest and research here - Wonderful stuff guys and thanks again.

Don