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Using SDR# to drive the SDRplay RSP

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 11:24 am
by sdrplay
Here''s a handy guide to getting started with SDR# on a Windows 7 PC\n\nBefore connecting the device to the USB port, please make sure the windows API/driver has been installed. The windows API/driver can be downloaded from the SDRplay downloads page (http://www.sdrplay.com/downloads.html) where you select the Windows API Installer.\n\nAfter the API install has been done, then connect the RSP to the PC with a USB cable\nConnect an antenna to the antenna socket of the RSP\nDownload the SDR# software from http://www.sdrsharp.com/#download\n(we tried it with version 1324)\n\nDownload the SDRplay plugin installer from the Downloads section of the SDRplay website sdrplay.com \nThis guides you through the process\n\nRun the installer, and locate the SDRSharp.exe in the SDRSharp install\n\nPerform the installation and you are now ready to launch SDR# by double clicking on SDRSharp.exe\nOnce you have SDR# running you can go to the drop down menu at the top left hand side of the screen, under ''Source''.\nHere you can select SDRplay from the list of supported Radio Products.\nPress Play and the radio will burst into life\n\n\n\n\n

Re: Using SDR# to drive the SDRplay RSP

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 11:47 am
by sdrplay
Here are some observations when using the SDR# software with the RSP.\n\nGenerally I find the platform to be pretty stable with no crashes to date. The only issue that I have found is where the CPU maxes out, you get audio break up and for some reason, the CPU stays at 100% and will not recover. To overcome this, you have to stop playback and then restart once the CPU level has recovered. Reducing the sample rate seems to help minimize this without obviously effecting stability.\n\nI have found that the BEST way to use the RSP is exactly as the name implies: digitize a chunk of spectrum and select the signal that you want to listen to with the cursor. So for example, there seems to be no problem with the MW band with setting the filter bandwidth to 600 KHz and digitizing virtually the whole band. Similarly in the VHF band, you can set the bandwidth to 8 MHz and get almost the whole of the VHF band (although 5 MHz is probably safer). There is generally enough dynamic range to at least be able to identify what signals are present and select them. If you find you are then short of range to get the best possible reception, you can if you like, reduce the receiver bandwidth and then increase the gain. If there is a very strong unwanted signal that is close to a weak one (say 100 KHz away), you can set the bandwidth to 200 KHz (the minimum) and move the wanted signal to the edge of the filter cut off at either + or – say 80 KHz and thereby use the filter in the MSi001 to attenuate the unwanted signal. This is exactly how you might use a spectrum analyzer to identify signals.\n\nBe sure not to try swapping I and Q - it seems to mess up the frequency. With I and Q NOT swapped it works fine. \n\nAnother thing is the default operation is with zero IF. If you do go into IF mode (e.g. by selecting 450KHz) then there will be an apparent offset in Frequency - this must be because the RSP digitizes the incoming signal down to DC, so there will be an apparent offset in frequency of whatever you set the IF frequency to. So if you select 450 KHz, Radio 1 at VHF will appear to be at 99.25 MHz and not 98.8 MHz.

Re: Using SDR# to drive the SDRplay RSP

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 11:49 am
by sdrplay
What CPU chip are you using at what clock rate? \n\nWould USB3 provide an advantage?

Re: Using SDR# to drive the SDRplay RSP

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 11:50 am
by sdrplay
SDR Sharp seems quite a CPU intensive application, so I would suggest at least a core i3 CPU at 2 GHz or above. It really depends upon the efficiency of the code. The native Mirics DVB-T and DAB/FM software will run on older core2duo CPUs with clock rates at 2 GHz or below. USB3 really gives no benefit as the RSP chipset uses high speed USB2, which is adequate for 12 MS/s and 10 bit ADCs

Re: Using SDR# to drive the SDRplay RSP

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 11:52 am
by sdrplay
There is an updated version of the plugin on the <a href="/downloads.html">downloads</a> page. This new version has some bug fixes as well as an AGC loop. It also comes in an automatic installer. The installer will ask you to locate your SDRSharp install on your PC and then perform the install. This plugin is provided free of charge and there is no support for it. If you find any major issues with it, please report them here for us to look at.

Re: Using SDR# to drive the SDRplay RSP

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 11:52 am
by sdrplay
AFAIK, the mirics tuner used in sdrplay is extremely deaf and overloads easily without heavy filtering like in the funcube dongle pro (SAW filters). Do you plan using another tuner in v2?

Re: Using SDR# to drive the SDRplay RSP

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 11:53 am
by sdrplay
The MSi001 is paired with the MSi2500 within of the MSi3101 chipset and together provide both tuner and USB bridge functionality. At this stage, we are not aware of any other suitable chipsets or tuners that are designed to work with the MSi2500. We continuously monitor for alternatives and should we become aware of a better solution, it is something we will consider for future products.

Re: Using SDR# to drive the SDRplay RSP

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 11:54 am
by sdrplay
New version of the SDR# plugin is now available on the http://www.sdrplay.com/downloads.html page (V1.2) please report any bugs/issues here.

Re: Using SDR# to drive the SDRplay RSP

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 11:55 am
by sdrplay
Current known issues:\n\nSwitching from low BW to high BW without pressing stop causes a crash.

Re: Using SDR# to drive the SDRplay RSP

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 12:39 pm
by sdrplay
Great!