SDRplay is pleased to announce the availability of an updated Raspberry Pi3 image: This release (V0.4) is now obsolete. 

The link to the latest version can be found here: https://sdrplay.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4135

This blog was updated, April 5th 2019 to link to the latest version of the software.   

Three upcoming events in the next few weeks, where you can talk to experts about SDR and SDRplay RSPs are:

The Nevada Radio Open Day, Unit 1, Fitzherbert Spur, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 1TT UK – Sunday November 18th 10am – 4pm

where Andy from SDRplay will be running demos and answering questions

The ML&S Open Day and Hog Roast, Wessex House, Drake Avenue, Staines (Nr Heathrow), Middlesex, TW18 2AP – Saturday December 1st 8am – 4pm

where Gary will  be running demos and answering questions

The Amateur Radio Market in Dortmund, Der 48. Dortmunder Amateurfunkmarkt findet in diesem Jahr in den Westfalenhallen Dortmund, Halle 6 statt. Es stehen ca. 570 Tische zur Verfügung. Termin ist Samstag, der 8. Dezember 2018 – Christian & Matthäus from Funk24 will be demonstrating and talking about the RSP family.

USA-Satcom has just released v2.1.0.0 of the XRIT Decoder. Along with enhancements for the XRIT Decoder, a new RSP Streamer X has been released and is operable with the RSP1A, RSP2, and RSPduo – new features include operation with two streams simultaneously (provided that the PC being used has sufficient processing power and an RSPduo or more than one compatible RSP are being used). Also new is the XRIT File manager which allows for improved operation with both LRIT and HRIT files, improved LUT for excellent false color images, user-selectable automated black filling of the white background on full disk visual and false color HRIT images, and country as well as state map overlays.

The new color enhancements are excellent:

For more details on this, go to http://www.sdrplay.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2674&start=10#p12427

Many thanks to everyone who came to see us at NearFest, the RSGB Convention and at Pacificon.    It’s always good to meet customers and get face-to-face feedback on how we are doing and software priorities for the future.

Above: The rain didn’t deter NearFest enthusiasts!

As well as amateur radio use, it’s good to see the increasing number of posts out there, showing everything from VLF recordings of the 17kHz Grimeton SAQ VLF transmissions (here’s an example using GQRX – https://youtu.be/_Epg_VvRLBQ ) through to high resolution  1.7GHz satellite images made using XRIT decoding software (see https://usa-satcom.com/ ) This software works well in conjunction with any of the RSP family)

On the software front, we are working away on SDRuno release 1.3 which is progressing well – it will be worth the wait.   In parallel we are putting the finishing touches on an update to the Linux API updated needed for synchronous use of the two RSPduo tuners.  This is very close to release.  Currently only the Windows API supports the RSPduo dual tuners as described by Mike Rooke here

Here’s a reminder of the SDRuno software roadmap:

Version 1.3:
a) I/Q output via audio output for applications such as CWSkimmer
b) Frequency Scanner
c) Move all stored configuration settings from the Windows registry to a .INI file

Version 1.4:
a) A re-architectured version of SDRuno which will support 3rd party demodulator ‘plugins’ via a new plugin API
b) Dual stream signal processing for diversity/noise cancellation for the RSPduo

Version 1.41: A Remote Client version of 1.4

The above reflects changes to the short term versions of SDRuno. Our longer term goal of making SDRuno cross platform (Windows/Mac OS/Linux Desktop) remains unchanged. We are still working towards this. We will continue to include bug fixes and other feature improvements as releases are made.

Steve Andrews’  Spectrum Analyser software is getting close to beta release – there will be an announcement here as soon as that’s ready.

Our ongoing thanks to Simon Brown for SDR Console support – donations welcome at: https://www.sdr-radio.com/Software/Downloads

… and  to Mario and LC for HDSDR: http://www.hdsdr.de/

.. and Charles Cliffe for Cubic SDR: https://cubicsdr.com/

The recent RSGB Convention included a training  session by GNU Radio foundation officers Heather Lomond and Derek Kozel who ran a GNU training class at which Andy from SDRplay demonstrated a GNU radio FM receiver with the RSP2 as the hardware module. The class was aimed at people who want to create their own SDR Applications and go beyond just installing standard SDR software and hardware. All the SDRplay RSP radios are supported, including the phase coherent dual tuner “RSPduo”  – note this is currently only available in single tune mode – we plan to release the  coherent version in November 2018 –  so the noise cancelling and other diversity applications being written by the GNU radio community for multiple phase locked SDRs, will then be applicable to the RSPduo)

Above: Derek Kozel from the GNU Radio Foundation with Andy from SDRplay

GNU Radio is a free & open-source software development toolkit that provides signal processing blocks to implement software radios. It can be used with readily-available low-cost external RF hardware to create software-defined radios, or without hardware in a simulation-like environment. It is widely used in hobbyist, academic and commercial environments to support both wireless communications research and real-world radio systems.

The Linux-based GNU Radio set-up flow for SDRplay SDRs is now much simpler and is summarised here:

The above simplified flow is thanks to the excellent GNU radio source blocks created by Frank Werner-Krippendorf (HB9FXQ) for the SDRplay RSP family. 

Clicking on the document will enable links to the source blocks.

Above: An RSP2-based FM receiver using the new SDRplay source block within GNU radio

October 12th 2019 update: see the latest links and news of the new easy flow for GNU radio Companion running on Windows here: https://sdrplay.com/new-easy-sdrplay-set-up-for-gnu-radio-on-windows/

Also demonstrated at the RSGB Convention was how easy it is to put an RSP  receiver into a pi-top computer.   The pi-top is (quoting from the pi-top website www.pi-top.com )  “a modular laptop that gives you the tools to complete amazing DIY projects and bring your inventions to life. It’s the perfect tool to help you learn to code, create awesome devices, and take your knowledge to the next level”. The objective was to create a highly portable and self-contained Raspberry Pi/Linux platform capable of exploring the radio spectrum (e.g. using Cubic SDR)  and new radio architectures (e.g. using GNU Radio).

Above: The Pi-Top Laptop with RSP1A board inserted, running Cubic SDR

During October, SDRplay will be supporting channel partners Martin Lynch and Sons and Ham Radio Outlet at various events in the UK and USA this October.

We will be at the RSGB Convention in Milton Keynes, UK on Saturday 13th October, NEARFEST, Deerfield, NH, USA on 13th and 14th October and Pacificon in San Ramon, California on October 19-21.  Our Steve Brightman will be speaking at Pacificon on Saturday 20th October at 11am in room “Contra Costa” (Salon 2)

Links to these events are:

RSGB CONVENTION: https://rsgb.org/main/about-us/rsgb-convention/
NEARFEST; http://near-fest.com/
PACIFICON: http://www.pacificon.org/

Many thanks to all those who dropped by to see the UK SDRplay team at the National Hamfest in Newark on Friday/Saturday.  It’s very nice to be able to chat face to face with existing users and get their encouragement and feedback.  We were also pleased to have many new customers as well and look forward to them becoming equally enthusiastic.

Above: Andy setting up before the doors opened on Friday

Below: The SDRplay stand  (screenshot from RigSearch’s excellent walk-around  YouTube video on https://youtu.be/oesbe5toEiY )

The last picture, above, is some of the SDRplay team joined by retired BBC weather forecaster Jim Bacon, G3YLA who was an early adopter of SDR some 10 years ago starting with the  Softrock SDR developed by our friend Jan over at SDR-Kits