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Reviews For: SDRplay RSP1 and RSP1A

Category: Receivers: General Coverage

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Review Summary For : SDRplay RSP1 and RSP1A
Reviews: 101MSRP: 100
Description:
The current production version, the RSP1A which launched in November 2017, is a 14- bit full featured SDR receiver covering 1kHz – 2GHz with 10MHz visible bandwidth. The full datasheet can be found by going to https://www.sdrplay.com/rsp1a/
Product is in production
More Info: Http://www.sdrplay.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001014.6
WB5AGF Rating: 2018-02-22
The RSP1A - An Amazing Receiver In A Nondescript Plastic Box Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I live only a few miles from the local Ham Radio Outlet (HRO) store and while there a few weeks ago I was looking in one of the display cases when I saw cardboard containers full of little gray boxes. I looked on the front of the containers and there were signs saying that the gray boxes were SDR receivers - I looked a bit more closely.

I'd been aware for several years that there were some designs for SDR receivers (mostly USB 'dongle' things) that used chipsets originally intended for the European TV market but they didn't cover the HF frequencies initially - you needed to put a upconverter on the front end to cover the shortwave bands (where my interest is).

These little gray boxes in HRO's display case were labelled as covering from a few kHz to 2 GHz (almost the "from DC to blue light" that was a joking description of wideband frequency coverage when I was in the Air Force).

The prices were .... well compared to a modern HF transceiver (you can drive that old car a few more years can't you?) ... these little gray boxes were quite reasonable (if they worked as advertised).

On closer inspection of the labels I saw that there were three different receivers ... an RSP1, RSP1A and RSP2. The RSP1 and RSP1A are in plastic boxes (which I read later have some kind of conductive coating on the inside for RF shielding) while the RSP2 is in a little metal case. The RSP1 and RSP1A have a single RF connector (a female SMA) while the RSP2 has two SMA connectors and a little greenish connector with a couple of small screws (I later learned this was a Hi-Z input for balanced antennas in the HF spectra).

What grabbed my attention was that the RSP1A was shown as having a 14 bit D/A converter (I get a bit 'fuzzy' on how much dynamic range each bit gives you but I know that 'more is better'). Presumably this meant that the RSP1 and RSP2 have fewer bits in their D/A devices (that may not quite be the case I learned later).

The price for the RSP1A was low enough to fall within my 'I want it/get it' range and so a sales immediately ensued.

Having been working on the software learning curve for the 'SDRuno' software, that is provided free by the maker of the RSP1A Receiver, so far I am VERY impressed. I have had some difficulty finding out what everything does (and where some things are 'hidden') but it is a very impressive receiver.

I do think that this is one of those pieces of equipment (sounds almost funny to say when the actual hardware is a little gray, plastic, box) where a new owner would benefit a lot from having some one-on-one tutelage from someone who knows the software well.

I've already availed myself of the excellent tech support provided by SDRplay. For some inexplicable reason my installation of SDRuno software (on my Windows 7 Pro PC) 'woke-up' with a problem that caused some very peculiar symptoms ... After some remote trouble-shooting by an SDRplay tech support guy he told me to click a 'reset to factory defaults' button (two layers down in software) and that solved the problem.

(signed)

Paul, WB5AGF
WB0WQS Rating: 2018-02-13
Not a just toy, but very useful wide-band receiver . Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After a steep learning curve and help, from youtube videos, I have reached the point where I can successfully navigate tuning the HF ham bands with SDRuno, tuning the FM broadcast band... and listening to FM low orbit ham satellites. Have to admit, that for 100 bucks, I thought the RSP1A was gonna be a toy for some listening amusement. It is much more then that, and I have several projects in mind for this versatile little receiver, which includes a cw skimmer from the home qth for dx and contests, and working the ham Satellites with Doppler control and full duplex operation.
W7MJM Rating: 2018-02-11
Very happy with my RSP1a Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Very happy with my RSP1a. Took a little time to learn SDRuno, but worth it. The folks at SDRplay are very helpful and will answer your questions quickly. The growing community of SDRplay users provides additional support.
N2SQW Rating: 2018-01-05
Excellent SDR Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had this for only a few days and so far I am very impressed with it. I had an issue when I first set it up, but this turned out to be a problem with an intermittent SMA-BNC adaptor, and nothing to do with the RSP-1A. I did contact tech support, and they were extremely helpful. My original idea was to use this as a pan-adaptor and a 3rd receiver for contesting. After using it, it will most likely also become my main radio for AM broadcast band DXing. This is a very sensitive radio. I am currently using a 260 foot beverage antenna on this. I did put a receiver front end protector on the SDR since the receive antenna is not very far from my transmitting antennas. I'm using the SDRuno software. This is very well worth the money.
K3EY Rating: 2017-12-23
The world is changing via SDR Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I own both of these units. I use them with a 130 foot end fed all band. Amateur bands. It’s used it with my TS590SG. This little SDR Marvel hears at least as well as my Kenwood. If you familiarize yourself with its potential, it’s nothing short of amazing. I’m using SDR UNO Which is a very powerful program. After using this technology I can’t see myself going without it. They could name it DO-ALL and be appropriate. For the price it’s simply astounding.
KD4EXY Rating: 2017-12-23
I have been using for about a year Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I use it with my windom160 antenna and have enjoyed it . I can hear signals on it that my Kenwood Ts2000 does not . it works well with he laptop I use and I run sdruno most. A great way to see the signals and be able to check out the bands . for the money I don't think it can be beat. If you want a great receiver for the least money then check out this radio.
WA2SQQ Rating: 2017-12-08
Rsp1a worth upgrading to Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchased the original RSP1 and loved it. Upgraded to the 1A as soon as it was released. The added (integrated) BCB&FM traps were major improvements for anyone like me who lives near AM or FM broadcast stations. I’ve e tried various entry level SDR receivers and the 1A is the winner, hands down. It also doubles as a piece of test equipment and a great receiver for tracking down local QRM.
KC9EE Rating: 2017-12-07
Great Bang for the Buck Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just unboxed this jewel. In typical ham fashion, I hooked it up without reading any instructions or start up guide other than what's on the SDRuno download page. I'm not sure what some of the fuss is about concerning the software. There are a few things I like better about HDSDR and SDRConsole and a few things I like better about SDRuno. Everything ran as soon as I started the program.
About the only thing I would like to see added is a way to group the windows together so they could be moved to a different screen as one object, much like if you're drawing in MS WORD.
The available Notch filters were an interesting feature of the software. Adjusting bandwidth, switching modes, and tuning were intuitive. Adjusting spectrum bandwidth view was not. That took a couple of minutes of tinkering.
One big plus for me is that the receiver is powered via the usb cable which has to be used anyway. For portable operations or SWLing when travelling this is a great feature.
Subjectively, I found this receiver superior to my Ensemble RX/TX on NaP3 but not quite on par with my K3. Nor should it be. I'm looking forward to adding this receiver to the line up to be able to take advantage of the spectrum view now offered by N1MM+ logging software and CW Skimmer. A new review will be in order when everything is hooked up and running. 73, KC9EE
KA1OWC Rating: 2017-12-07
RSP1A So Far So Good! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I upgraded from the RSP-1 to the RSP1A for several reasons, but mainly the Bias-T feature...I plan on doing a lot of satellite monitoring and will need a Low Noise Amplifier at my antenna...The 5V Bias-T is just what I need...I find the RSP1A to be much less prone to intermod/interference than the RSP-1, although the RSP-1 has been great...I plan to also do some portable excursions to one of our state parks to do some electrical interference-free comparisons...Al in all, you won't be sorry with the RSP-1A and the SDRuno software!
WB4IVG Rating: 2017-10-17
Great Receiver! Software? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The SDRUno software has a SLOW learning curve, at least in my case. I own several SDR receivers and have used numerous softwares to operate them with. So it is not like I am unfamiliar with similar units, I think that the RSP hardware is a GREAT piece of equipment for the money spent, in short, it is a fantastic value. But the Software leaves a lot to be desired, in user-friendliness. It is not at all intuitive. I used HDSDR to operate the SDR-Play RSP and had wonderful results. I am still learning many of the nuances of operating this receiver. I have several SDR units of different types and brands and several Software packages. I find that most SDR boxes are about the same unless you get into units costing 3 to 4 figures at which time lots more design and hardware come into play. The software, on the other hand, is pretty much similar in all units, all being processor hungry! on your computer. I have used some of the Shareware software on the $1000.00 class hardware and it works not much different than it does on the $10 Dongle! SDR# works well on the ones it runs on, HDSDR works on almost everything out there. The high dollar software and some of the hardware is tied almost inseparably to its counterparts such as the HP, Agilent, Keysight systems which I have used and one which I own. HP or whatever they are calling themselves this week seems to want to hold you up for a "LICENSE!" for different frequency ranges even after you buy their WAY OVERPRICED packages. I for one will not ever go down that road again. At the time I bought the Agilent package, as I needed it for a contract, but since I have bought a Signal Hound for my current efforts. That said the SDR-Play does 90% of what I need in this venue and costs less than $200 U.S. and can be had for under $100 U.S. if you do some looking around. Out of the box, the SDR-Play does what every dongle claims to do without any soldering or tinkering around. I love to solder and tinker around so there is a lot of pleasure and feeling of accomplishment to be had going the Dongle path not to speak of saving a hundred dollars or so. However, the SDR-Play has one thing the Dongles are sorely lacking that is tuned frontend filters that are switched in according to what band you are operating it in, almost eliminating image issues entirely. This one thing made me buy the SDR-Play while I have built tuneable frontends for the Dongles there is a lot to be said for the ease of just changing frequency without having to retune the frontend, also if you want to spend just a little more you can get the more expensive version which also has builtin antenna switching with multiple antenna connections.
Laurin WB4IVG