About Jon

http://www.sdrplay.com

Posts by Jon Hudson:

RSGB offers RFI workshop, using SDRplay at this year’s Convention

There’s a new, members-only “Finding Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)”  workshop added to the RSGB Convention programme!
If you want practical advice on identifying the sources and mitigating the effects of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI), then this five-and-a-half-hour part tutorial, part hands-on workshop on Friday 9 October 2026 in Milton Kenes, UK is for you!
In the morning you will cover sources and effects of RFI with examples of radiated and conducted emissions. In the afternoon, you’ll be exploring radiated emissions by constructing a small loop antenna. Attendees will also see how to use SDR to identify signals and measure their strength.
SDRplay is pleased to be providing RSP1B SDRs for each participant to use during the workshop
Photo by kind permission of the RSGB
For more information about joining the Radio Society of Great Britain, wherever you live in the world, see https://rsgb.org/main/join-the-rsgb/
More about the SDRplay RSP1B can be found here: https://www.sdrplay.com/rsp1b/

The only UK Longwave broadcast station transmissions end on June30th

This Tuesday and it’s the end of an era.  The massive 500kW BBC Radio 4 longwave transmissions from Droitwich in central England will end.  Actual broadcast content ended on June 27th and for 3 days there is only a closedown message every minute. The audio stops altogether for a few seconds in between these messages.  198kHz  (and before that 200kHz) has been a fantastic beacon signal from northern Europe for LW DXers further afield but now it is dead.  BBC broadcasts began 100 years ago and the Droitwich station started in 1934. So it’s a last chance to look for the signal before Tuesday. Click on the picture to hear the current closedown message.

 

Short Youtube video of the final messaging from BBC Radio 4 Longwave

The RSGB have done an excellent article about the shutdown on their website: https://rsgb.org/main/radio-sport/rsgb-contest-club/bbc-long-wave-shutdown/

Good luck to those DXers who can receive the signal at this late stage! Please contact me on jon dot hudson at sdrplay dot com if you have a report or YouTube clip to share.  In the sample video I was using the networked nRSP-ST built-in web server running SDRconnect, and accessing it on an iPhone over the network. The antenna was a wire dipole (a G5RV) designed for HF,  but I’m only 80 miles away here in Bedfordshire. More about all our products here: https://www.sdrplay.com/products/

In other news, we are close to releasing a brand new website so some urls may change. Where possible redirects will guide you to the new location.

Note added June 30th: See the detailed RSGB article (link above) which mentions the Scottish low power 198kHz transmitters who no longer broadcast the BBC content  ( some say these may continue to transmit some signalling data for a longer time)

SDRplay are at Ham Radio, Friedrichshafen June 26-28 2026

Andy (M6TMU) and Carol (M7PCN) from SDRplay, will be demonstrating SDRplay hardware and the latest software at Ham Radio, Friedrichshafen this coming weekend, starting this Friday. It runs from June26 to June 28th 2026.

You can find SDRplay on the Funk24.net Stand No. A1-240. Funk24 are kindly hosting us.   We look forward to meeting you and getting your feedback on the use of our products and it’s a great opportunity to ask questions. Come and see what else is on offer from all our participating resellers which include our friends at Bonito and Funktechnik-Dathe. Bonito are on stand A1-527 and Funtechnik Dathe are on stand A1-641. Both Bonito and Funktechnik-Dathe have excellent knowledge of our products as well – Dennis from Bonito often has his own demonstration running at the show.

SDRplay will be demonstrating the power of the new WebSocket API as well as other new software features close to release. We’re on the Funk24.com stand immediately inside the main Hall A1, coming from the main entrance side.

We’re looking forward to meeting old friends and new customers 🙂

Footnote: As an extra feature, Andy’s son, Liam Carpenter, (popular creator of the “In Germany, we don’t say…” comic language videos for Brits and Germany)  will be around to help and entertain anyone struggling with our lack of German fluency!

June 26th update – Click here for a short video showing the SDRplay demo in action on Day 1:  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TKavOyzs27k

 

 

More about SDRconnect networking in this HRO interview with Andy M6TMU

At Dayton Hamvention 2026, Julian Frost from HRO interviewed Andy from SDRplay. Andy talks about the power of the new WebSocket API for SDRconnect which makes creating your own apps a whole lot easier. Combined with multi-platform SDRconnect’s networking capabilities this is a popular step forward for customers old and new:

See the latest SDRplay software in action at Dayton Hamvention 2026

Andy (M6TMU) and Carol (M7PCN) from SDRplay UK, will be demonstrating SDRplay hardware and the latest software at Hamvention, Dayton, Ohio the weekend of May 15-17 2026.  They will be on the Ham Radio Outlet booth in Building 3. If you’re there – come and say hi. If you’re not there, tell your friends to drop by and say hi from you! It’s a great opportunity for SDRplay to get face-to-face feedback from customers, old and new. We also love to answer your questions. SDRplay will be demonstrating the power of the new WebSocket interface as well as other new software features close to release. Not only that, but HRO usually have some great discount offers for anyone attending the show.

Above, video clip of the SDRplay stand on the HRO booth

For more about Hamvention 2026, click here.

Check out all the SDRplay products here: https://www.sdrplay.com/products/

Moonraker reviews SDRplay SDRconnect 1.0.6 – “WebSocket API as ham‑hacking fuel”

This review by Moonraker shows the power and potential of the way SDRconnect is heading with its new WebSocket API:

“SDRplay SDRconnect 1.0.6 – WebSocket API as ham‑hacking fuel

SDRplay’s SDRconnect 1.0.6 quietly flips the script on what a “simple SDR app” can be. With the new WebSocket API, it stops being just a GUI waterfall and turns into a controllable RF engine you can script, automate, and bolt into the rest of your shack.

Instead of treating SDRconnect as an isolated program, you can now drive it like a service. External tools can connect over WebSocket, send JSON commands, and react to live status updates. That means you’re no longer limited to clicking around the interface: you can auto‑tune, start and stop recordings, switch modes or bandwidths, and trigger workflows the moment something interesting appears on the spectrum.

For anyone into automation, this is pure ham‑hacking fuel. You can:

Tie SDRconnect into logging software, contest tools, or digital‑mode decoders.

Build small scripts or dashboards that track specific frequencies, squelch events, or band activity.

Drop a thin bridge in front of the WebSocket and let platforms like make.com talk to it via HTTP, turning RF events into webhooks and JSON flows.

In practical terms, SDRconnect 1.0.6 gives you a programmable RF front end you can bend to your will. If you like the idea of your station responding automatically to the bands—rather than you babysitting the dial—this release is the moment SDRconnect becomes part of your automation toolkit, not just another SDR viewer.”

Moonraker are an execellent UK supplier of  radio equipment, including the SDRplay line-up of products –  see their website on https://www.moonrakeronline.com

SDRplay will be at Hamcation, Florida February 13-15 2026

Andy from SDRplay will be on the Ham Radio Outlet stand at Hamcation in Florida, February 13th-15th. He will be there to show the latest software features and to answer your questions. It’s a great opportunity for existing customers to give feedback.  See the nRSP networked radio in action.  As usual HRO is likely to be offering some RSPs at  discounted pricing, for the show.

Andy will also be giving a talk on  Saturday 14th morning at 9.15am: see Forums and Speakers

Andy’s talk will focus on the software capabilities of the SDRplay product family. It’s perfect for newcomers and seasoned users alike.

Much of what Andy talks about also feature in the demos on the Ham Radio Outlet stand.

Andy and Carol on the Friday morning ready to welcome customers

The SDRplay demo area on the Ham Radio Outlet booth

 

 

 

 

 

SDRplay will be at the Martin Lynch and Sons Open day 29th November

It’s that time of year again when Martin Lynch and Sons throw open their doors.  Their store at Staines (near Heathrow Airpost) is a great location for easy road access for many in the south of the UK.  Andy from SDRplay will be there demonstrating the latest software updates and answering questions.

It’s a great opportunity to talk to Andy anbout the latest SDRconnect developments such as rig control and the powerful control options for the nRSP-ST networked receiver which is ideal for small groups of people to share.

More details of the Martin Lynch and Sons open day here

ML&S offers at the UK RSGB convention this weekend (October 11-12)

 

Above: From the archives: GNU radio champion Derek with Andy from SDRplay at the RSGB Convention back in 2017!

Unfortunately due to illness and supporting Pacificon in the USA, SDRplay is unable to be at the RSGB Convention here in the UK this weekend of October 11th and 12th.  But not to worry, Martin Lynch and sons will be there to answer questions and if you mention this blog, they have some special offer pricing available.

Even if you can’t be at the show but have friends there, get them to buy on your behalf!  The budget-friendly RSP1B is the perfect Christmas gift for encouraging retired hams back into the hobby and at the other end of the spectrum, the youngsters are discovering the magic and freedom offered by radio communications. Don’t let them get put off by the limitations of a cheap dongle or Chinese ripoff!

If you have a club who needs reliable access to a decent receiver, club together to get an nRSP-ST, now with new administrator software to make it easy to safely share a unit located in a noise free location with a good antenna and an internet connection.

For those of you at the convention,  go to the Norfolk nRSP link on this page to try out Chris Danby’s superb setup. Click on the URL under Norfolk UK on this nRSP-ST demo page: https://www.sdrplay.com/try-accessing-an-nrsp-st-networked-receiver-today-2/

It will work on your iPhone or Android device.  I think Chris Danby (RSGB publicty/events man) would enjoy you going up to him to tell him what you think of his setup!!!

Enjoy the event in Milton Keynes, UK. Details here:  https://rsgb.org/main/rsgb-convention-2025/

SDRplay at Pacificon this weekend October 10-12

Andy from SDRplay will be joining Ham Radio Outlet at Pacificon, Friday, October 10 – Sunday, October 12, 2025 at San Ramon Marriott, 2600 Bishop Drive, San Ramon, CA  94583, USA. A great opportunity to see the latest demos and ask questions. HRO have special Pacificon pricing on all RSP devices.  Check them out – if you have friends at the show, be sure to ask them to get one for you!

 

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