Monthly Archives: November 2019

Update on RSPdx availability

The RSPdx has been very well received by the first reviewers – the response has been extremely positive. However our manufacturer has been struggling to deliver the increased total order for the first production run.

Last week there was a delay caused by a last minute shortage of one of the connectors.  A replacement supply was found, and we are pleased to announce that  production has resumed. Our channel partners and resellers should have their first deliveries by early next week at the latest.  We look forward to opening up direct sales from our website once we have fulfilled all our outstanding commitments to the resellers.

The latest version of SDRuno fully supports the RSPdx: https://sdrplay.com/sdruno-v1-33-released/

We have also updated the roadmap for future SDRuno capabilities: https://sdrplay.com/updated-sdruno-roadmap/

Please remember, the RSPdx will only work with SDRuno running on Windows initially, and SDRuno is needed to unlock the full features of the RSPdx.

Check out some of the reviews by going to www.sdrplay.com/reviews/

 

Updated SDRuno Roadmap

As you may have seen, version 1.33 of SDRuno has now been released which goes some way to including the features promised in the previous roadmap update.  The remaining features along with other priority requests are now planned for the next releases as shown below:

1.4

  • Plugin API
  • Automatic LO adjustment
  • Start SDRuno with just wav file with no RSP
  • VFO Lock
  • Fix SWFM > 50% Volume audio distortion
  • Fix Known Issues

1.41

  • Improved ini file support (backup/restore)
  • Generic Scheduling Function
  • Includes upgraded recording system
  • Recording of selected signal only (either I/Q or audio) to WAV file format
  • Pause Record on squelch
  • Improved recording scheduler (multiple entries)
  • Ability to create and recall complete receiver profiles
  • More levels of zoom for close in signal identification (SP2)
  • Save VFO for each VRX

1.42

  • Remote operation
  • New TCP Server (cross-platform)
  • SDRuno client
  • Memory Panel updates (if blank use current value)
  • RF Gain
  • IF Gain/AGC enable
  • Scanner Threshold
  • Scanner updates
  • Lockouts in a separate file
  • Statistics logging
  • Use memory panel threshold

1.43

  • DX Cluster Plugin
  • SP1 Band identifier
  • Start-up tips
  • Custom controls
  • SP2 Filter bandwidth
  • Up to max available SP2 bandwidth for RX mode
  • Band buttons
  • Variable band centre
  • Bandwidth from a selectable list

2.0

  • Cross Platform (Windows, MacOS, Linux) x86
  • Add Hamlib support for non-Windows platforms
  • GUI update – ability to lock panels together

SDRuno Version 1.33 Released

We are pleased to announce the release of v1.33 of SDRuno. As well as adding many improvements and fixes, the purpose of this release is to add support for the new RSPdx.

A full list of changes can be found in the release notes, which are available here: https://sdrplay.com/docs/SDRplay_SDRuno_Release_Notes.pdf
To download this update, go to https://sdrplay.com/sdruno/  –  scroll down and click on “Download the latest version”

For anyone who experiences problems or difficulties, we recommend that you open up a support ticket at https://sdrplay.com/supportFor other comments and feedback, please simply email us at feedback@sdrplay.com. Please note that we do not usually respond to emails sent to feedback unless we have questions, but any observations are always noted.

SDRplay RSPdx put to the test for Longwave DXing

Many thanks to Mile Kokotov in Macedonia who posted this excellent demonstration video showing the power of the new RSPdx  for long wave DXing.  (You can visit Mile’s popular YouTube channel here)

Over on the Independent SDRplay Facebook group, he posted the following article:

“Amateur Radio is an interesting hobby with many different areas in which every radio tech lover can find himself and enjoy.

In addition to the already known amateur radio disciplines, many hams around the world are interested in the so-called “Broadcast DX-ing”.

They use radio receivers to “hunt” distant commercial radio stations on long waves (LW), medium waves (MW), short waves (HF) and very short waves (VHF).

In this video I will show you the “hunting” of long distance commercial radio stations on Long Waves (LW).

Every radio amateur knows that the reception of low frequencies (long wavelengths) is a particularly big challenge because there are a number of RF interference, atmospheric interference and industrial interference (man made RF-noise).

If anyone doesn’t believe it, he can try to catch some of these radio stations that I recorded on this video. Although their signals are relatively strong, try it out, and you’ll find that reception is not simplistic at all, even if you have a large external antenna and a modern radio receiver.

In this video I am using the newest model of SDR receiver from SDRplay (RSPdx model), and the antenna is home-made active mini-whip antenna with two transistors, mounted on a 6-meter high telescopic plastic mast.

The software is SDRuno from the same company, which together with the aforementioned SDR receiver make a real miracle for receiving in frequency range from 1 kHz up to 2000 MHz.

The large number of DSP plus HDR features and predefined filters, which can be manually adjusted to the specific reception conditions, allow high quality reception of distant radio signals that will impress even the most demanding DX-ers.

Watch the video and see for yourself. 73!”

SDRplay on the road – Philippines, London and Dortmund

This Saturday November 23rd, Marcelino Cabrera from SDR RF Radio Parts & Accessories, will be at the 87th Anniversary of the Philippines Amateur Radio Association, demonstrating SDRplay  – they are setting up to become an authorised SDRplay reseller in the Philippines.

We were unable to provide them with the new RSPdx in time for the event, but wish them every success for the future.

Last Sunday Andy, Carol and Jon took the RSPdx on the road for the first time here in the UK when we were at the combined Nevada and Waters and Stanton open day in Portsmouth:

I had the opportunity to chat with Peter Waters about the new RSPdx in this video they put out after the show:  https://youtu.be/9p6bNGfaHok

Next Saturday 30th November,  Andy and Jon will be at Martin Lynch and Sons, where once again Martin & his merry band put on the biggest Hog Roast Ham Radio event for customers at their Staines upon Thames HQ – Bacon butties for early arrivals, (the doors open at 8am) with the Hog Roast available around midday.  As well as checking out the newly announced RSPdx, this is a great opportunity to give feedback to SDRplay if you already have an RSP, and to learn about the new capabilities of SDRuno which have been added in the last year (e.g. Diversity tuning for dual tuner RSPduo, the fully integrated scanning function).  For those of you suffering from Broadband VDSL interference, come and see just how good the wideband noise blanker is at pulling signals from the noise!

November 27th update: We are pleased to confirm that Dennis from Bonito  will be demonstrating the new RSPdx at the Dortmund Amateur Radio Market also on Saturday 30th November – Westfalen Halle: https://www.facebook.com/events/2505008469722480/

SWLing Post reviews the new SDRplay RSPdx

Over on the SWLing Post Blog, Thomas Witherspoon has published a detailed review of the RSPdx in action up against several far more expensive SDRs.

Thomas summarises by saying  “The RSPdx is now in the league of some of the finest HF receivers in my arsenal.”

You can read his full review here

 

 

RSPdx – update on availability

New update, 26th November: https://sdrplay.com/update-on-rspdx-availability/

Meanwhile,  Clint from the Oxford Shortwave Log YouTube channel has posted four more videos showing the benefits of HDR mode on the RSPdx – In all cases, the first half of the recording is with the new HDR mode engaged, the second half with it off. You get tell the switch-over point from the appearance of the LO frequency with HDR off.

This fourth video  of a longwave signal – from Nador, Morocco on 171 kHz, is probably the best example thus far of how the reception of weak signals can be enhanced through the use of HDR mode. In this recording, the audio from Nador is quiet, but clear. Once HDR mode is toggled off, the audio basically disappears.  Clint encourages you to add comments to hid videos.

Oxford Shortwave tests out the SDRplay RSPdx

As we get closer to being able to ship the first RSPdx production units, YouTuber Clint from “Oxford Shortwave”  tries out this latest addition to the SDRplay family of RSPs.

Clint spends much of the year travelling the world and uses the opportunity to hunt Medium wave DX signals. He also writes articles for magazines  including Radio User here in the UK.

Take a look at these recordings he made from here in the UK:

 

November RSPdx demos in the UK at Nevada, Waters and Stanton and ML&S

Here in the UK, this Sunday 18th November, Andy, Carol and Jon from SDRplay will be demonstrating the new RSPdx in Portsmouth where SDRplay resellers Nevada, in partnership with Waters & Stanton, are having their first ever, combined open day,  from 10am to 4pm.

Then 2 weeks later, on Saturday 30th November,  Andy and Jon will be at Martin Lynch and Sons, where once again Martin & his merry band put on the biggest Hog Roast Ham Radio event for customers at their Staines upon Thames HQ – Bacon butties for early arrivals, (the doors open at 8am) with the Hog Roast available around midday.

 

As well as checking out the newly announced RSPdx (available late November), these are great opportunities to give feedback to SDRplay if you already have an RSP, and to learn about the new capabilities of SDRuno which have been added in the last year (e.g. Diversity tuning for dual tuner RSPduo, the fully integrated scanning function).  For those of you suffering from Broadband VDSL interference, come and see just how amazing the wideband noise blanker is at pulling signals from the noise!

YouTuber 741 introduces the RSPdx and shows it in action

Over on Youtube, Rob aka “SevenFortyOne” has released a very nice video talking through some of the features of the RSPdx which will be on sale later in November 2019. He includes some demonstrations of it in action, picking up some longwave broadcast stations from across the Atlantic:

 

Load More

Translate »