| N0YXB |
Rating:      |
2016-07-14 | |
| A lot of fun. |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| I really enjoy this receiver. There is a learning curve, but there are plenty of helpful resources online. The SDRplay website and the SDRplay Facebook page are great resources that will help you get the most out of this receiver. Sensitivity is very good, those who are complaining about a lack of sensitivity probably don't fully understand how to use this receiver. Again, there is a learning curve and there are online resources available. The SDRPlay is a great way to get involved with SDR. |
|
| K2TL |
Rating:      |
2016-07-14 | |
| Works perfectly on Windows 10 |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have my SDRPlay running on a Windows 10 64 OS without any problems. So do many other owners. Join the Facebook SDRPlay group and see all the wonders of this incredible SDR. It is so simple to get up and running, I just have to laugh. |
|
| KB6IZH |
Rating:  |
2016-07-14 | |
| INFORMATION |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| UNABE TO GET IT TO WORK ON WINDOWS 10 BUT IT WORKS ON I-MAC.HOWEVER COMPARED TO I-COM 718 ,IT IS NOT VERY SENSITIVE ,ALSO THERE IS NO OPERATING PROCEDURE. |
|
| N0AN |
Rating:      |
2016-06-28 | |
| Excellent Value With Surprising Performance |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I bought this from HRO to become a Panadapter for my Kenwood TS-590SG. The SG model has an antenna splitting connection on the back of the radio, so you can share whatever antenna you are using on the main rig with the SDRPlay. The perfect combo.
How To Integrate All the Pieces: Synchronicity
I have combined this radio with several pieces of software which allow complete interoperability of SDRplay.
1. Virtual Serial Port Emulator by ertlogic
Since the 590sg has one serial port, which I have connected to COM3, and I want other software to be able to interact with the Radio, I installed VSPE, which allows me to split COM3 into two COM7's, so that two different programs can use COM3 at the same time via these virtual ports. Very easy to set up and works perfectly.
2. TRX-Manager for Rig Control.
3. Logic 9 (logging and dx spotting) > TRX-Manager > VSPE COM7 > COM3 (REAL) > TS590SG
Any change on the Rig VFO shows up on TRX Manager.Any Change in Logic 9 changes TRX, which changes the radio. At this point only 1 of two COM7's is in use.
Also have HDSDR sofware to run the SDRplay. It does rig control via Omni-Rig, which I have set to the "other" COM7.
At this point if I hit a DX Spot in Logic 9, it communicates that to TRX, which tells the radio what freq, mode, split, etc to go to.
Because HDSDR is also connected to the 590 simultaneously, these changes in freq show up in the Panadapter.
If, on the other hand, I click on the HDSDR (Panadapter Control Software for the SDRplay) waterfall or spectrum, the radio immediately goes to that freq.
In essence, everything talks to everything and it stays synchronized.
The same thing in digital mode with fldigi replacing Logic9, otherwise everything else works the same:
fldigi > trx > Virtual COM7 > COM3 (real) ts590
hdsdr > omni-rig > Virtual COM7 ts590 > COM3 "
Both Logic9 and fldigi communicate with "hooks" to TRX Manager, not a serial port. The serial port call is in TRX, just as it is in Omni-Rig for HDSDR.
Lastly, when I want to run WSJT-X for JT-65/JT9, because of the limitations of WSJT (it won't talk to TRX internally, and it won't use Omni-rig at the same time that HDSDR is using it), I have to shut down VSPE, Logic9 and TRX, and revert to COM3 by itself (which is directly connected to the TS590sg.
In this last case, I can still use the Panadapter function of SDRplay, but I no longer have frequency control of the TS590sg...the SDR continues to work fine, I just have to manually change bands, freq, modes inside SDRplay and it has no effect on the TS-590sg.
OK, the practical utility of SDRplay is fantastic, as the above descriptions establish. How well does it work as a "Radio".
Well I wasn't expecting much. The 590SG is a superior receiver. I was very surprised how well the SDRplay held up. I did not find it overloading on Field Day. It mutes when I transmit (a setting for that). The audio quality is fine. The selectivity is much better than I expected. Sensitivity is quite good...always sees the real noise floor.
Things I don't like:
AGC doesn't work as AGC should.
S-Meter constantly has to be recalibrated (easy)
Scaling of the Spectrum Display has to repeatedly be reset, as does the lower value of the scale (two different adjustments) Also easy, but annoying.
The Noise Blanker does hardly anything, but the Noise Reduction does work.
Overall as a Panadapter it works GREAT! The ability to see up to 8 Mhz of spectrum and also zoom it down to a ham band or even a portion of a ham band is just what I needed. It is such an advantage to be able to "see" an entire band, especially a quiet one like 6/10/15 these days. Signals jump off the Panadapter (HDSDR) screen.
Just today I was looking for 6m stuff, and I looked at the screen and saw 3 cw beacons and one cw station...all well away from where I was listening with the TS-590sg. I would have missed them.
I like the SDRplay so much, that I now do my "hunting" for signals with the Panadapter and then listen to them on the 590sg. I can have audio coming out from both SDRplay and the 590sg, but of course they are out of sync. There are times where I just "look/listen" with HDSDR running the SDRplay and don't even turn the audio up on the TS-590sg.
SDRplay is an outstanding value and a surprisingly good receiver in its own right, but it is as a Panadapter that it really shines.
Highly recommended. |
|
| K6KWX |
Rating:      |
2016-06-03 | |
| Discovering SDR at its best |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
SDRPlay is a marvel of engineering, ergonomic and economics. Works flawlessly, and is to me the best start - and keep - tool for SDRs
I have it working either directly off a test wire antenna I set up, as a panadapter for DX hunting, as well as splitting off my OMNI-VII RF input, as a bandscope, allowing me to visually gauge what my radio is receiving within my current band of operation.
For SDR and Rig control software I use HDSDR + HRD, but have had it running on several other panadpters software and rig control programs as well. For hardware I use inexpensive adapter plugs (to BNC and to SO-239), and I use DX Engineering RTR-1 for safely splitting off the RF (though will next route my OMNI-VII internally to do the same).
For me SDRPlay really 'hit the sweet spot' for SDRs, and for quality and customer care too. And at -3dB off the nearest price, and at up to -10dB to -15dB off the of price - and size - at the top of the line, you just can't beat SDRPlay. If only every HAM gizmo was like it... Two connectors and go...
|
|
| KC9NRN |
Rating:      |
2016-06-03 | |
| Very good value |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I received my RSP on 5/28, I dedicated a 20m dipole in the attic for it and the reception is amazing.
I'm working on using it as a panadapter which I hope to have completed within the next week or so. As an SWL its awesome!
It would be nice if they had a few options such as a nice metal box and antenna connection options. Both are easily handled DIY or online but I figure I'd mention them. |
|
| G6EXF |
Rating:      |
2016-05-20 | |
| Impressive |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I bought this unit for an Air Cadet Unit, well that is happening and I will set it up on their lap tops using the one of the Face book group gave me. I am so impressed that I am buying one for myself and my colleague who is an instructor at another squadron will be ordering one this weekend. What did it for me was the QSO on 20 mtrs I was listening to between two stations, one a Saudi and the other in South Carolina. On the same antenna, using my TS520SE, I could here the Saudi but no trace of the American station. I had also forgotten the pleasure of SWLing for DX AM stations.... Radio PRC in Shanghai at 40db over 9.
Great stuff, impressed... Now I have it calibrated properly I can use it the way I intended, to hunt out Dx ham stations the switch to the 520 to see if I can work them.
|
|
| KJ6BBS |
Rating:     |
2016-05-18 | |
| High in quality, low in price |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I was very skeptical at first, because of the price, but I was way off in my judgement of this radio. I pulled the trigger on it because it was under $200, but coming in at half the price of what I paid for an Afedri SDR, but with way more features. I am an HF listener, but having a wide spectrum of frequencies is a bonus. The SDRPlay support is exceedingly great. I was up and running within 10 minutes on my Macbook.
The only complaint I have is the plastic chassis. It's sturdy, but would have preferred an aluminum one. I know it probably keeps the price point down.
tl;dr GREAT RADIO! |
|
| W4IA |
Rating:      |
2016-04-15 | |
| Great Panadapter |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Ordered from HRO as an HF panadapter for my TS-590SG. It connects to the 590sg through the drv/ant connector. The software was easy to install after I carefully read about what sub-directory was used. Using HSDR software. The RSP works well even with the 3db reduction in sensitivity from the 590sg splitter. The splitter provides 20db isolation from the transmit signal protecting the SDR input. The little SDR is easy on PC usage and works fine with Windows 10.
It does just what I want...happy camper! |
|
| KC9CS |
Rating:      |
2016-04-05 | |
| Remember what sparked your interest in radio? |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| For me, it was the thrill of those far away radio signals. Now, after 40 years as a licensed ham this SDRplay is rekindling all the excitement of those far away sounds. Except now, I can visualize them as well as just hear them! My interest in hunting down those elusive signals is back strong. I purchased mine from HRO, it came in a couple days. Dowloaded a couple of different SDR programs to try, set up was complete in 15 minutes tops. I've had mine over a couple of months now, ZERO regrets and I'm having a ton of fun. This little receiver is sensitive and being able to 'see' the signal on your computer really helps. I do a lot of SWL stuff, but will also tune the ham freqs often. I love this receiver. |
|