ARCHIVE: Australian Ham Radio Discussion Forum ( AHRDF )

After playing with a few different cheap 'dongle' style SDR's and a short period owning an openhpsdr HERMES board, I have chased down a SDRplay RSP2pro to try out.  The Pro version seemed a good choice as it had a metal case for shielding and durability in the shack.

First impressions of the SDRplay are all positive, it is definitely sensitive on 144 MHz as have been listening to beacons using it over a few nights and doing A - B comparisons to my usual SSB gear, so two thumbs up for that.  Also did a stint listening on 160mx with it (1/4 wave sloper and Inverted L antennas) over a few nights with no signs of any artifacts from strong broadcast stations when listing in on ham activity, selectable AGC options are a boon to dampen static crashes

So far it is all positive and glad I made the investment, what SDR's have others tried, good and the bad?

Regards,
Peter.

I'll be trialling an Elad FDM-S2 soon Peter. Will let you know what happens.

I have had an SDRplay RSP1 sitting on the bench for about a year. I had a go at setting it up but found it very confusing (terrifying really) for an old ham like me. Is there an "idiots guide" to help me?

73

Wayne VK4WDM

I have an SRDplay RSP 1 also. I tried to use their SRDuno software and could not get it to work correctly. Some folk seem to have no problems others, like me,  frustration... 

Mentioning this to another ham they suggested I try SDR Console which I did. I downloaded it , installed the software hooked up the RSP1 and I was listening in an matter of minutes. Sure there was more to learn, which I still need to do, but sounds were coming out of the speaker so that is a thumbs up from me.

Go to http://sdr-radio.com to get the software.  There is also a good step by step guide here - http://www.nn4f.com/SDR-Console-SDRPlay-...deTips.pdf

I have mine connected to a Diamond discone antenna and it works well.

Regards
Bernard

I have the SDR-Play Pro2 and as Bernard said, you have to read the manual. I found SDRuno confusing because i thought I could just jump in and start working. Once you get past the basics you can see there has been a lot of though put into the features if not bleedingly obvious ease of use. 

The idea that you can open more than once receiver in a different window and listen to two different signals in really great. This brings it into the SO2R world.

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I have the SDR-Play Pro2 and as Bernard said, you have to read the manual. I found SDRuno confusing because i thought I could just jump in and start working. Once you get past the basics you can see there has been a lot of though put into the features if not bleedingly obvious ease of use. 

The idea that you can open more than once receiver in a different window and listen to two different signals in really great. This brings it into the SO2R world.

Well,
 ran into a major road block with my SDR-play, I went to try and use it on 50MHz during October when doing some EME contacts. Connected it to a real antenna and all I see across the entire band (below 49.5 to 51 Mhz) is the local 50.315 beacon (yagi not pointed at the beacon).  Noise floor shows as being lifted by 10db from key off to key on of beacon and a comb of products across the active part of 6, which makes the SDR worse that useless at my home for 50 MHz use.
Not sure if others have experienced any strong signal effects with theirs but now not so sure this was a good choice as my Hermes board (ANAN-10) showed no sign of problems and the el-cheapo RTL dongle is not impacted in this way.

Hi, topic getting old but have returned to the OpenHPSDR fold with the purchase of a ANAN 100D, the SDR play will need to find a new home or be relegated to IF monitor on the traditional radio.

Peter