Over on the official SDRplay blog, head of marketing Jon has announced that the RSP1 & RSP2 is now compatible with their dump1090 ADS-B decoders for the Raspberry Pi 2 & 3. They write:
ADS-B for both RSP1 and RSP2 now available for the Raspberry Pi 2 & 3 – you can get the software from downloads – http://www.sdrplay.com/downloads
If you are an RSP2 user, make sure you use Antenna Port B.
A new reasonably priced 5-band HF preselector has been released by the company Cross Country Wireless, and it looks perfect for use with SDRs. The price is $56.95 GBP, which right now is about $72 USD. They write:
This can be used to provide additional front end selectivity for HF and medium wave receivers protecting the receiver from strong out of band transmissions, wideband noise and other transmitters on multi-station field days.
As the sunspot cycle declines and more listening is done on the lower HF bands with long wire antennas and strong NVIS signals then the HF Preselector is an ideal accessory to aid receiver performance.
It is invaluable when using simple conventional superhet or SDR receivers such as RTL-SDR dongles with upconverters or SDRPlay with large HF antennas.
It is an ideal tool to reduce ADC overload on the Icom IC-7300 with the new second receiver socket modification kit.
It can also be used with other transceivers that have sockets for a separate receiver input and receive antenna output.
It also covers the medium wave broadcast band for MW DXers.
The Preselector is a passive high Q design that does not use an additional amplifier or require external power.
- Frequency tuning range: 0.5 to 52 MHz in five bands
- Input impedance: 50 ohms
- Output impedance: 50 ohms
- Bypass option on switch
- Galvanic isolation between input and output
- Insertion loss: 2 dB
- Selectivity: See HP network analyser plots below
- Connectors: BNC female (RF in 50 ohms), BNC female (RF out)
- Tough polycarbonate case
- CCW Z Match
Overall dimensions: 125 mm (L) x 85 mm (W) x 55 mm (H)- Weight: 192 g
Over on YouTube Jon, head of SDRplay marketing has uploaded a video showing how the SDRplay RSP2 can be used for accurate RF power measurements. In the video he shows how well calibrated the RSP2 is by comparing how well the power measurements in SDRuno match with a signal generator at various frequencies and power levels.
Later in the video he shows how RF power measurements can be used in a field situation by using the RSP2 and SDRuno to compare the performance of two different whip antennas.
Secondly, a new review of the RSP2 by the Radio Society of Great Britain’s RadCom monthly magazine has been released to the web (pdf). The review goes over the RSP2 features and design, and also explores how an external GPS-DO can be used as the clock. The review also tests how well the RSP2 is calibrated for RF power measurements, and finds that in the worst case at 434 MHz at low power levels it is only at most about 1.1 dB out.
We’re happy to announce that in conjunction with Mike, one of the leaders in the SDRplay users community, we have manufactured and released a high quality aluminum enclosure upgrade for the SDRplay RSP-1 software defined radio. The SDRplay RSP-1 is a $129 USD 12 bit SDR that can tune between 10 kHz – 2 GHz. It comes by default in a simple plastic enclosure. Upgrading to a metal case enclosure not only looks sleeker, but also shields the RSP-1 from strong RF interference directly entering the PCB.
The enclosure also comes with a bonus RTL-SDR Blog broadcast FM (BCFM) filter to help reduce overloading and images from extremely strong broadcast FM stations. This filter can be installed either inside or outside the metal enclosure.
Also included is a semi-hardshell travel case which is perfect for protecting the RSP-1 while on the move. Finally, some accessories such as a thermal pad for mounting, grounding lug with nuts, 3M rubber feet and of course the enclosure screws are also included.
The cost of the enclosure including all extras is $39.95 USD with worldwide shipping included. The case is available from our Chinese warehouse for customers anywhere in the world, and in a few days it will also be able on Amazon USA for faster local US shipments. Shipping on Amazon should also be free as the free shipping threshold on Amazon was recently reduced back down to $35 USD.
See some images below for an overview of what you get in the package:
Over on the official SDRplay blog, head of marketing Jon has announced that the RSP1 & RSP2 is now compatible with their dump1090 ADS-B decoders for the Raspberry Pi 2 & 3. They write:
ADS-B for both RSP1 and RSP2 now available for the Raspberry Pi 2 & 3 – you can get the software from downloads – http://www.sdrplay.com/downloads
If you are an RSP2 user, make sure you use Antenna Port B.
A new reasonably priced 5-band HF preselector has been released by the company Cross Country Wireless, and it looks perfect for use with SDRs. The price is $56.95 GBP, which right now is about $72 USD. They write:
This can be used to provide additional front end selectivity for HF and medium wave receivers protecting the receiver from strong out of band transmissions, wideband noise and other transmitters on multi-station field days.
As the sunspot cycle declines and more listening is done on the lower HF bands with long wire antennas and strong NVIS signals then the HF Preselector is an ideal accessory to aid receiver performance.
It is invaluable when using simple conventional superhet or SDR receivers such as RTL-SDR dongles with upconverters or SDRPlay with large HF antennas.
It is an ideal tool to reduce ADC overload on the Icom IC-7300 with the new second receiver socket modification kit.
It can also be used with other transceivers that have sockets for a separate receiver input and receive antenna output.
It also covers the medium wave broadcast band for MW DXers.
The Preselector is a passive high Q design that does not use an additional amplifier or require external power.
- Frequency tuning range: 0.5 to 52 MHz in five bands
- Input impedance: 50 ohms
- Output impedance: 50 ohms
- Bypass option on switch
- Galvanic isolation between input and output
- Insertion loss: 2 dB
- Selectivity: See HP network analyser plots below
- Connectors: BNC female (RF in 50 ohms), BNC female (RF out)
- Tough polycarbonate case
- CCW Z Match
Overall dimensions: 125 mm (L) x 85 mm (W) x 55 mm (H)- Weight: 192 g
Over on YouTube Jon, head of SDRplay marketing has uploaded a video showing how the SDRplay RSP2 can be used for accurate RF power measurements. In the video he shows how well calibrated the RSP2 is by comparing how well the power measurements in SDRuno match with a signal generator at various frequencies and power levels.
Later in the video he shows how RF power measurements can be used in a field situation by using the RSP2 and SDRuno to compare the performance of two different whip antennas.
Secondly, a new review of the RSP2 by the Radio Society of Great Britain’s RadCom monthly magazine has been released to the web (pdf). The review goes over the RSP2 features and design, and also explores how an external GPS-DO can be used as the clock. The review also tests how well the RSP2 is calibrated for RF power measurements, and finds that in the worst case at 434 MHz at low power levels it is only at most about 1.1 dB out.
We’re happy to announce that in conjunction with Mike, one of the leaders in the SDRplay users community, we have manufactured and released a high quality aluminum enclosure upgrade for the SDRplay RSP-1 software defined radio. The SDRplay RSP-1 is a $129 USD 12 bit SDR that can tune between 10 kHz – 2 GHz. It comes by default in a simple plastic enclosure. Upgrading to a metal case enclosure not only looks sleeker, but also shields the RSP-1 from strong RF interference directly entering the PCB.
The enclosure also comes with a bonus RTL-SDR Blog broadcast FM (BCFM) filter to help reduce overloading and images from extremely strong broadcast FM stations. This filter can be installed either inside or outside the metal enclosure.
Also included is a semi-hardshell travel case which is perfect for protecting the RSP-1 while on the move. Finally, some accessories such as a thermal pad for mounting, grounding lug with nuts, 3M rubber feet and of course the enclosure screws are also included.
The cost of the enclosure including all extras is $39.95 USD with worldwide shipping included. The case is available from our Chinese warehouse for customers anywhere in the world, and in a few days it will also be able on Amazon USA for faster local US shipments. Shipping on Amazon should also be free as the free shipping threshold on Amazon was recently reduced back down to $35 USD.
See some images below for an overview of what you get in the package:
Over on the Utility DXers file section at udxf.nl/ute-info.html, Mr. D.B. Gain has uploaded his latest review of the SDRplay RSP2 (pdf). The SDRplay RSP2 is the successor to the RSP1, and is a 12-bit SDR with tuning range from 10 kHz – 2 GHz. It currently costs $169.95 USD.
DB Gain’s review first covers the features of the RSP2, and some basic SDR vs Analogue theory. He talks a bit about what criteria makes a good SDR and discusses why SDRs are so good for digital work. The review then goes on to talk about the SDRuno software, sensitivity settings, and voice mode work. The review mostly concerns the RSP2’s use on HF, and in this respect DB Gain appears appears to be extremely impressed with the results that the RSP2 gives him.
Previously DB Gain has also reviewed our RTL-SDR V3 dongle (pdf).
Over on the SDRplay blog and forums OH2BUA has been sharing how he has set up ‘propagation triggered recording’ by continuously monitoring JT65/JT9 signals with his SDRplay. The idea is that you leave the radio on receiving all night, and set it to automatically start recording IQ files if good propagation conditions occur as determined by the locations received from the JT65/JT9 signal. This may yield some interesting far off stations that can be listened to in the morning, whilst weeding out hours where nothing but commonplace local stations are heard. The software is a simple Windows batch file that works together to coordinate HDSDR and JTDX. It should work with any HF capable SDR.
JT65/JT9 are weak signal propagation HF modes (also known as WSJT modes) that can be decoded all around the world, even with very weak reception thanks to strong digital error correction. They can often be used to determine propagation conditions by determining where successfully decoded messages are being sent from.
OH2BUA writes:
I have made a set of scripts and other files which can be used to build a system which monitors JT65/JT9 (digital modes) amateur radio traffic on 160m/1.8MHz band, and if nice propagation to area you are interested in exists, a MW-BC-band recording is started. When the conditions fall off, the recording is stopped.
There is an attached zip-file containing all the necessary stuff. Sorry this is a windows thing – but easily portable also for linux. Create C:\bat\ and drop all there. Have a look, starting from README.
The default example is to start a MW-band I/Q-recording, if North American ham signals are heard – but it is fully modifiable according to your target when in comes to areas, bands, schedules etc.
The files are available as an attachment to the forum post.
Over on our new YouTube channel we’ve uploaded a video comparing the SDRplay RSP1 and RSP2 on reception of Non-Directional Beacons at around 350 kHz. Both radios had their gains adjusted for the best possible SNR and reception. They were connected through a splitter to a Wellbrook Magnetic Loop antenna. The Hi-Z port on the RSP2 was used as Port A and Port B don’t have good reception below about 1 MHz.
In all tests the RSP2 appears to have the better SNR, a lower noise floor and thus better audio, though from the spectrum view the RSP1 seems to have a little less spurs.
Subscribe and keep an eye on our new YouTube channel as soon we’ll be uploading more RSP1 vs RSP2 comparisons, Airspy vs RSP2 comparisons and other SDR related videos as well.
Recently Jon from the SDRplay team wrote in to let us know that SDR-Console V3 (preview version) has just been updated and it now supports the RSP2. The RSP2 is the successor to the popular RSP1 software defined radio. It has improved filtering, more input ports, improved LNA, and just overall improved performance. See our initial RSP2 review here. They write:
Many thanks to Simon Brown for updating SDR-Console V3 Preview to fully support both the RSP1 and the RSP2- you can download the software from http://sdr-radio.com/v3_preview_downloads (be sure to click on the software link under where it says ‘Downloads’ unless you want to download the software from the advertisers who support Simon’s work!)
As new YouTube demo videos of SDR-Console V3 in action become available, we will add them to the playlists on our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/SDRplayRSP
The RSP2 now supports its native SDRUno software, HDSDR through an extIO module, CubicSDR and now SDR-Console V3.
