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Author Topic: Questions from a SDR rookie  (Read 476 times)

KB5SLF

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Questions from a SDR rookie
« on: December 22, 2020, 11:24:01 AM »

I have been a ham for 28 years, I'm still learning. I just recently bought a SDRPlay RSPdx. With this purchase, I have not used it yet because I want to know and learn about it. Totally new on this, so here come the stupid questions.

1) I'm thinking about using my SDR as a stand alone receiver. Is there an advantage to using it as a transceiver? I have purchased a MFJ-1708SDR just in case I change my mind and use the same antenna.

2) I would like to get as much coverage as possible, so if you had to put up 2 antennas, which 2 would you get? I am looking at a discone antenna and a long wire which would give me the best coverage.

3) What is the best 3rd party software? I'm interested in maritime/aeronautical communications, weather satellites, SWL.

I know this is beneath most, if not, all of you, but a rookie has got to ask everytime!!! I'm sure I will have followup questions. Merry Christmas to you all.

John
KB5SLF
« Last Edit: December 22, 2020, 11:27:57 AM by KB5SLF »
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G4AON

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Re: Questions from a SDR rookie
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2020, 12:03:11 PM »

The SDRuno software that is supplied with the RSPdx is probably better than any of the 3rd party offerings.

I have an RSPdx that I use with a home brew PA0RDT active antenna which is located in a corner of the garden, away from the house. The active antenna connects to the BNC socket and I have a VHF ground plane antenna on the SMA socket. I can use it with the main HF station antenna, via the RX in/out sockets on my K3, but it is more use in my situation to use the active antenna.

Incidentally, the active antenna has the power disconnected when I transmit on HF. The circuit is on my web site:
www.qsl.net/g4aon

An end fed wire is likely to pickup a lot of noise, it is better than no antenna though, but I would look to use an antenna that is less noise prone.

An RSPdx has less dynamic range than a typical ham transceiver, plus the bandpass front end filters are very wide, which can result in overload in some situations. You need to pay attention to the gain setting. For the money an RSPdx is quite good, much better than the very cheap dongles, but not up there with a more expensive SDR, such as the Microtelecom Perseus (only covers 10 KHz to 30 MHz though).

In addition, what else covers to beyond our 23 cms band for little cost and makes a good means to monitor, or record, your own transmissions?

73 Dave
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KD6VXI

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Re: Questions from a SDR rookie
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2020, 12:59:52 PM »

For my RSP1 I use both SDR-Uno as well as HDSDR. 

There are others I have used, but these two are my favorites at this time.


--Shane
KD6VXI
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N2DTS

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Re: Questions from a SDR rookie
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2020, 01:39:26 PM »

They are great for the money but not great receivers.
What you have is just a receiver.
One cool thing about sdr radios is thye often work with many different programs and its like having different radios.
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N6YWU

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Re: Questions from a SDR rookie
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2020, 02:29:56 PM »

The SDRPlay RSPdx is a fairly decent receiver for its price point. (I have an RSP2, which isn't quite as sensitive as the dx, reportedly).  With a TR switch, you can use the RSP as a pan-adapter, allowing you to see a much wider bandwidth than most transceivers offer, more than an entire band's worth.

I currently have a discone up so I can monitor a wide swath of VHF and UHF.  My local HF noise floor is pretty high, so my best SDR receive-only antenna is a loop-on-ground around my back yard, which gives me a better S/N for DX.

But except for UHF, I find I'm using an Airspy HF+ Discovery and Hermes Lite 2 more that the RSP2.
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K9IUQ

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Re: Questions from a SDR rookie
« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2020, 03:26:08 PM »

The SDRPlay RSPdx is a fairly decent receiver for its price point.

But except for UHF, I find I'm using an Airspy HF+ Discovery and Hermes Lite 2 more that the RSP2.

Well yeah, but you are biased as you write and sell software for the Hermes. Right? Full Disclosure please.

Stan K9IUQ
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K9IUQ

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Re: Questions from a SDR rookie
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2020, 03:39:10 PM »

I have been a ham for 28 years, I'm still learning. I just recently bought a SDRPlay RSPdx. With this purchase, I have not used it yet because I want to know and learn about it.

John
KB5SLF

John, you made an excellent choice, the RSPdx is very versatile. I use one as a panadapter for my FDX101MP high dollar transceiver, no external switch or protection needed as my 101MP has both RX and IF outputs. It brings many new options for my operating convenience, especially with the advent of the  new RSPdx new plugins option.

The SDRUNO software is feature packed, forget using HDSDR or SDR console. I am not going to go into all the things the RSPdx does for me. There are a gazillion youtube videos on the RSP sdrs. Also I have never seen more support for any sdr better than what the SDR Play company provides.

There are many 3rd party software options that will increase the power of the RSPdx, check out Black Cat Systems, they support the plugins and have many Ham Apps that will interest you. I use DX ToolBox for it's many features with the RSPdx. Black Cat also has Weather FAx and SSTV apps that work with with RSPdx.

Read the SDRUNO manual and start to be amazed on how much value and fun you are going to get from your new purchase.

Stan K9IUQ
« Last Edit: December 22, 2020, 04:04:02 PM by K9IUQ »
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N6YWU

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Re: Questions from a SDR rookie
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2020, 04:28:08 PM »

Well yeah, but you are biased as you write and sell software for the Hermes. Right? Full Disclosure please.

And I am pleased to disclose that my software includes support for SDRPlay's rsp_tcp as well; most of the rsp_tcp code is on GitHub as open source.  (There's also a tcp server for the LimeSDR Mini, if you must know :-)

I am fairly radio agnostic (as long as I have a unit with which to test).  But the various SDR units do have differing strengths and weaknesses, IMO.  The RSP units are great when you need wide bandwidths or UHF receive.
« Last Edit: December 22, 2020, 04:45:05 PM by N6YWU »
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KF5LJW

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Re: Questions from a SDR rookie
« Reply #8 on: December 22, 2020, 04:31:49 PM »

I have been a ham for 28 years, I'm still learning. I just recently bought a SDRPlay RSPdx.

I have an SDRPlay myself and use it as my secondary receiver for VHF and higher, and use a HF SPY Plus because it has a better receiver for HF. You will see what I mean, the SDRPlay has birdies that like to sing especially if you do not know how to use the gain and bandwidth

For HF I use a LOOP ON GRASS antenna using a transformer and ladder line. Discones work great provided you buy one with the frequency of interest covered. Just be careful where you buy Discone antennas because most you will see are consumer grade junk you find sold at ham radio and CB shops. All depends on what frequencies interest you.  To get the most out of the SDRPlay or any of the SDR radios you really need to join another forum. Example for firmware and code use Git Hub as you will find a lot of professionals and developers there just for SDR. Another good one with professionals is Radio Reference with a SDR forum you can learn anything you want to know. They will be able to direct you where to get code and give good advice overall.

Good luck. 

Crap cannot make links work on this antiquated forum.

https://forums.radioreference.com/
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WB8LBZ

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Re: Questions from a SDR rookie
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2020, 07:35:50 PM »

Hi John,
   I have one of the first SDR Plays (pre 1) and have used it with SDR Uno and SDR Console V3 (SDR Console is my favorite). I will use the same antennas I use for communications, VHF/UHF vertical, 80/40 loop and 5 band HF yagi. There are several SDR transceivers to choose from and I have tried Flex, Anan and Hermes-Lite 2 (just got it). The power SDR program is one I used on my Flex 3000, Anan 8000 and will try it on the Hermes. The Hermes-Lite is a QRP radio and I think I will use it to drive transverters.
  You can always hook it up to the transmit antennas and use a coax switch to select the radio. Tinker with it. Go to https://rtl-sdr.com lots of stuff there , several tabs for hardware and software.
  Questions are always welcome.

73 Larry  WB8LBZ
El Paso, TX
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