Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: SDRplay RSPdx SDR receiver

Category: Receivers: General Coverage

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : SDRplay RSPdx SDR receiver
Reviews: 14MSRP: $199.00
Description:
The SDRplay RSPdx is a single-tuner wideband full featured 14-bit SDR which covers the entire RF spectrum from 1kHz to 2GHz giving up to 10MHz of spectrum visibility. It contains three antenna ports, two of which use SMA connectors and operate across the full 1 kHz to 2 GHz range and the third uses a BNC connector which operates up to 200MHz
Product is in production
More Info: https://www.sdrplay.com/rspdx/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
14144.4
G4AON Rating: 2020-11-22
Let down by SDRuno software Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The RSPdx is better than the "USB memory stick" type of dongles, but is let down by the supplied software.

I am using SDRuno software version 1.40.2, currently the latest as at 22 Nov 2020.

There is no indication as to which front end filter is selected, you can click on a ham band button and expect it to switch that filter in, but directly enter a frequency and you are left wondering if a filter is selected or not. Also under the "HDR" button there are a number of oddly named filters, what does "LFER" mean?

There appears to be no way to auto save the spectrum scope settings, or your last used frequency, on a per band basis. It is easy enough to adjust the settings, but for example every time you click on the 2m button the display shows the whole 2m band (144 to 148) and tunes to 146.000 MHz... The band here in the UK is 144 to 146, with a few having an NOV to operate higher. Being able to tweak the settings and store them will probably be included in later software, but isn't currently.

Sometimes the software seems to get itself stuck, I've noticed "overload" displayed regardless of gain/attenuator setting. Clicking on a band button seems to cure it.

The supplied "plugins" are lacking, for instance the DX Cluster plugin looks for a text response from the cluster, such as "dxspider", or even a single space (you have to pick a response)... However, it will not readily connect to a CW Skimmer as that doesn't respond with a welcome message after sending your callsign to log on. No other logbook or cluster access client that I have seen waits for a response text match before running.

Another plugin that is lacking is the DAB broadcast one, on the face of it the plugin appears to work, however doing a full scan produces mixed results, sometimes it stores 9 stations, then 31, then 42, then 11. It appears to need careful setting of the gain control, but even then it is a hit or miss job and I've not been able to see all the stations it picks on early scans in successive ones.

The hardware is reasonably OK, bearing in mind it is 14 bit and around 20 dB less dynamic range than more expensive (HF) SDR receivers, such as the old QS1R or Perseus.

The advantage of the RSPdx is that it covers a wide frequency range and is fairly sensitive across the range, it is certainly not insensitive as you go to the upper or lower end of the range. Having 3 antenna sockets is useful too, as you can store the settings on a per channel basis and recall them in the memory panel fairly easily.

Support respond very promptly, I've had replies at all hours when trying to sort out the DX Cluster plugin, I cannot fault them for trying but they are a small team and probably cannot please everyone. There is the source code for some plugins at Github, but unless you are good at C++ programming (and I am not), editing the code and compiling a new plugin is not straightforward.

For the money it is not a bad receiver, but if you are primarily interested in the frequencies below 30 MHz, the Perseus from several years ago is better.


KD7AWG Rating: 2020-09-10
Fantastic - Good Price Too Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I Started with SDR radios about eight years ago with an RF Space SDR-IQ, and then a Nooelect SDR Nesdr smart (didn’t like it), I find the SDRPlay RSPDX a superior receiver.

I like the metal case and the three antenna inputs. One I use for HF and MW BCB and the other for VHF and UHF.

The recommended software (SDRUno) is cumbersome and not to my liking. I started using SDR Console V3 (my favorite as it is easy to view and operate) and HDSDR. ExtIO_SDRplay_RSPdx.dll is the interface to make SDR Console V3 and HDSDR work with the SDRPlayRSPDX receiver. If you have used SDR Console V3 or HDSDR with other SDR radios, there will be old files from the previous SDR radios you will have to remove. They are not all in the program’s folders. A program delete and reinstall may not remove them. Go in with Windows Explorer and search. You can start by removing the old radio’s interface DLL file, from the reinstalled programs. Also look in the user folders and delete the other radio’s configuration files.

So I wound up using all three software and using each for a specific purpose. Watch your IF and RF gain when going from one program to another.

The radio is a real winner! Well worth the money. I ordered mine from the UK to get the latest version of the radio.

Use FedEx and not the USPS for fastest delivery. Shipping packing was not the best, but the case is heavy metal and the radio arrived unscathed.
K0OD Rating: 2020-04-16
At last, an inexpensive SDR that works well on longwave too Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently acquired the new RSPdx SDR receiver by RSPlay of England. I've owned two early model RSPs and found them inadequate on longwave due to artifacts and overload from local powerhouse broadcasters. The $199.00 RSPdx which covers 1kHz to 2GHz includes many changes, but it especially improves dynamic range under 2 MHz and it includes filtering that can be switched on to remove RF from above 500 kHz and from the FM broadcast band. RSPdx adds low pass filters at 2MHZ and 500kHz.

The band button cluster adds several LW bands including 2200 and 630 meters. There are buttons to select two NDB ranges and even the Lowfer experimental band. If you're a LW/MW ham or listener, this is the RSP model for you.

In addition to a basic computer and antenna, you'll need to download SDRUno's free software Version 1.33 or beyond to use the newest features.

Based on a few days of testing, the RSPdx works as advertised in providing strong clean coverage of the longwave spectrum even at my urban QTH. Tuning through RF's basement from 1 kHz to the MW AM broadcast band, I detected no overload or spurious signals. I agree with the previous review's assessment that, "inputting frequencies is difficult as clicking on the freq box resets it to 1.0000 khz." That minor shortcoming may be correctable in a software update.

Be warned that these feature-rich RSP SDRs are complex. Here's the RSPdx datasheet with more details: https://www.sdrplay.com/resources/RSPdxDatasheet.pdf
KE7MU Rating: 2020-03-18
Great Reciever, average Software Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I didn't have any problems setting it up, but the included software SDRuno is not that great to use. While it has a hi tech look, inputting frequencies is difficult as clicking on the freq box resets it to 1.0000 khz. Not intuitive to use, not many features when compared with the the Free software developed by Simon, creator of Ham Radio Delux, Console SDR, which is easier to use, and has more features, including satellite tracking, it also tracks the doppler frequency shift.
I compared the Sensitivity of the RSPdx with some of my other radios, and was able to copy signals that couldn't be copied on the other rigs. I copied APT signals from NOAA 15 satellite with a mobile vertical, as well as wx broadcast 162.55 from 150 miles away. I am impressed review on YouTube by AB5N at https://youtu.be/v2xmhiglosk