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Author Topic: SDR Play RSP dx  (Read 1013 times)

SWMAN

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SDR Play RSP dx
« on: September 12, 2021, 05:26:46 AM »

Hello,
 I was wanting to buy an SDRplay RSPdx receiver, the newest unit from them. After reading the eham reviews about the radio I have some mixed feelings about the radio.
Lots of people say it's a great or good radio but the software needs improvement. Does that mean it is difficult to install the program or app on the computer or just hard to operate after app is installed. I will be using a Windows 10 laptop for the control. I also noticed that the operating manual is 112 pages big, wow, maybe to big.
 I am ok on computers but my an expert at all and still have little problems with doing certain things on it.
 I hope that some of you may have this unit and can share some info with me about it weather good or bad before I buy it. It may be a bit complicated for me, what do you think if I am not a computer wiz.
 The price and the radio look good but I am just a bit skeptical of using it.
Thanks for any replies.
   
73 Jim W5JJG
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K6SDW

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Re: SDR Play RSP dx
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2021, 06:09:59 AM »

I've owned my SDR Play for 2 years: very easy to install on Windows. User interface is confusing at least to me, many different options, probably too many. I watched YouTube videos on how to configure the software.

I stopped using the SDR receiver for a while and had to relearn some steps again.....

GL/73
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VK6HP

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Re: SDR Play RSP dx
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2021, 07:08:51 AM »

I have an RSPdx and use SDR Play running under Windows 10.  It works pretty well and I use mine quite a lot on MF/LF running with WSJT-X.  To do that I use VSPE for the "CAT" control and Virtual Audio Cable for the audio routing.  That all works fine, and is quite robust.  SDR Play has some odd non-ham labeling and operating conventions but, once you get used to it, it's quite functional and relatively easy to use.  Although you can use other SDR programs (e.g. HDSDR) instead of SDR Play, you lose the ability to set some of the receiver hardware bandpass filtering below 2MHz.  Since that's important to me, I've stuck with SDR Play.

So far as the receiver is concerned, it's quite good. I would say it's the modern functional equivalent of a (very) wideband 1970s or 80s general coverage receiver, although with greatly increased capability relative to the older receivers.  I've run mine in parallel with a TS-890S in order to do some evaluations in various modes (digital and analog) and, while the RSPdx is not a patch on the 890S's overall raw performance, it's pretty good for a radio less than one-tenth the price of the Kenwood. 

Regarding the manual, my biggest complaint is that there isn't a decent succinct write-up of the system, with too much being shunted off to rather basic videos with incredibly low information density.

Overall, I think the receiver is good value for money and a few of the add-ons (like the free spectrum analyser application) would be quite useful for hams without much test gear.  It's like all such systems in that you have to be conscious of the somewhat limited raw dynamic range relative to full-fledged communications receivers, and be cautious with gain setting etc.

73, Peter.
« Last Edit: September 12, 2021, 07:11:02 AM by VK6HP »
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N6YWU

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Re: SDR Play RSP dx
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2021, 09:07:16 AM »

If you don't like SDRPlay's software, there exist several alternatives. 

I don't have a windows computer, so I installed rsp_tcp on a Raspberry Pi (but there are versions of rsp_tcp for other computers as well), and use several other SDR apps to operate my RSP2 from my Raspberry Pi.  Gqrx is one possibility.  (I also use apps I wrote for my iPhone and iPad with a very simple set of controls.)  YMMV.
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G4AON

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Re: SDR Play RSP dx
« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2021, 09:23:40 AM »

Hello,
 I was wanting to buy an SDRplay RSPdx receiver, the newest unit from them. After reading the eham reviews about the radio I have some mixed feelings about the radio.
Lots of people say it's a great or good radio but the software needs improvement. Does that mean it is difficult to install the program or app on the computer or just hard to operate after app is installed. I will be using a Windows 10 laptop for the control.
   
73 Jim W5JJG
The software is easy enough to install and use, however it isn’t written by the SDR Play people… it is a “bought in” program that spawns several windows when running, plus you can load additional 3rd party add-on programs.

The basic SDRUNO program is OK, but some of the plug-ins are poor. For example the DX Cluster looks for a specific response from a cluster that doesn’t occur with CW Skimmer or with CC Clusters. The source code for the cluster plug-in is on GitHub but it took a friend who is an experienced programmer a full day to unravel the code and edit it to work without needing a response from the cluster, which the SDR Play people couldn’t resolve!

The Navtex decode plug-in doesn’t work properly. The DAB radio plug-in is hit and miss.

The radio itself is OK but has less dynamic range by around 20 dB compared to a Microtelecom Perseus, or a QS1R, however it covers up to 2 GHz at good sensitivity and costs much less than these two.

I use mine daily with a home made active antenna to monitor Navtex decoded via a KAM Plus.

73 Dave
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K7LZR

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Re: SDR Play RSP dx
« Reply #5 on: September 12, 2021, 09:38:39 AM »

I've been using various SDRPlay receivers for years and find them all to be very good receivers.

Don't be discouraged. The official software - SDRUno - from SDRPlay isn't hard to learn at all. If you can operate a basic communications receiver or transceiver then you can use SDRUno. And there are alternate programs available as well. All are easy to install. The folks at SDRPlay have put great effort into ease of installation.

But everything changes if you are using Linux or Mac rather than Windows. For those systems, software installation is generally much more difficult, and the available programs are often somewhat behind their Windows counterparts in terms of up-to-date features.

I say go for it. I have an RSPDx here and it is a very good performer. I think you'll be pleased.
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SWMAN

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Re: SDR Play RSP dx
« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2021, 01:19:16 PM »

 Thank you everyone for the good and honest replies. I am going to think about it a little more before I buy one. For me not being a computer wiz it may be a challenge for me to operate one of these little units. But I am still a bit skeptical about it. But in a day or two I may change my mind and drive over to HRO in Plano and pick one up. I guess if I can't figure it out I can always sell it.
Thanks again for your time in writing here.

73. Jim. W5JJG
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SWMAN

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Re: SDR Play RSP dx
« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2021, 06:55:24 PM »

 I hope if I buy one I will be able to figure it out. I am not reall acoustom to Windows 10. I prefer the older versions, I guess it was Windows 8. But most of all I like to use my iPad which I am using right now. Just going to think about it for a few days.
 
Thanks again. Jim W5JJG
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VK6HP

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Re: SDR Play RSP dx
« Reply #8 on: September 12, 2021, 07:42:34 PM »

Jim,

For what it's worth I recently recommended the RSPdx to a SWL friend, with most of the caveats in my earlier post, and he's very happy with it as a general listening receiver.  His Windows 10 installation was straightforward, with no issues.

My previous message was written too late at night and I of course meant to refer to "SDRuno" as the SDRplay supported software.  If I was using the radio for general listening rather than for JT-mode reception on LF/MF I'd be inclined to go with HDSDR rather SDRuno but it's a personal choice.

73, Peter.

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SWMAN

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Re: SDR Play RSP dx
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2021, 08:03:30 PM »

 Thanks Peter for the added info. That is good to know. I will probably buy one just to try it out soon. It is really amazing how they can put that much of a receiver into that small of a package.

Thanks, Jim. W5JJG
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G4AON

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Re: SDR Play RSP dx
« Reply #10 on: September 13, 2021, 01:00:07 AM »

I hope if I buy one I will be able to figure it out. I am not reall acoustom to Windows 10.
The driver software and SDRUNO are straightforward to install under Windows 10. My RSP DX didn’t come with a USB lead, if you need one don’t buy/use a long thin one as the ‘DX draws quite some current and won’t run correctly with flimsy USB leads.

Regarding running the radio, the manufacturer makes a lot of being able to add plug-ins to SDRUNO, just don’t expect those plug-ins to be polished software… those I’ve tried aren’t.

73 Dave

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SWMAN

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Re: SDR Play RSP dx
« Reply #11 on: September 13, 2021, 05:06:50 AM »

 Thanks Dave for some more good and useful information.
Also thanks again to everyone else who took time to write.

73. Jim W5JJG
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KG4RUL

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Re: SDR Play RSP dx
« Reply #12 on: September 14, 2021, 05:33:26 AM »

Just downloaded the newest version of SDRUno for my RSPdx.  No problems installing or running BUT, it still is the MOST NON-INTUITIVE piece of software that I have ever seen.  For casual listening, we need an SDRuno Lite version.   It should include:
  • Antenna Selection
  • Mode Selection
  • Volume Control
  • Direct Frequency Setting - Virtual keypad

Beyond that?
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W9WQA

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Re: SDR Play RSP dx
« Reply #13 on: September 14, 2021, 08:37:04 AM »

id love to have that to start.  ive been away from it for 2 years and when i look at section 11, panels, i get quessey.
i never mastered them all

btw,id like to see whats inside the box. how do you open it?  !
« Last Edit: September 14, 2021, 08:41:05 AM by W9WQA »
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SWMAN

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Re: SDR Play RSP dx
« Reply #14 on: September 15, 2021, 08:41:38 AM »

 I think I am going to "chicken out" for right now. My skepticism has won this time, at least for now.
 Thanks for all of the good replies.

73. Jim. W5JJG
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