Following on from the 49m AM broadcast example posted the other day,  we experimented some more with the new RSPduo diversity software – this time with a Boniwhip vertical and a wire dipole.  This was the layout:

As well as showing how to activate the diversity feature, the resulting video illustrates the benefits possible with a 7MHz amateur radio SSB signal example. It demonstrates how SDRuno diversity and the RSPduo can bring enhanced reception at HF using 2 antennas separated by approximately a quarter wavelength. It uses the the current version of SDRuno (V 1.32) and the dual tuner RSPduo. In this experiment we had a wire dipole with one leg approximately a quarter wavelength from a Boni-Whip vertical – both were picking up similar strength signals before going into “diversity” (max ratio combination) mode.

The benefits of diversity tuning at HF are very dependent on many variables, most notably the changing nature of the reflected signal path and the degree to which noise and unwanted signals are not as coherent as the wanted signal. We look forward to learning more about all these inter-dependencies – we encourage experimentation!  Please send us your videos and we’ll link them to the SDRplay YouTube channel.  Here is the link to the video: https://youtu.be/f47vX2btxVs

There are many people who are only allowed to put up clandestine antennas such as wires and poles peeping out the top of trees.  A compact HF active antenna like the Boni -Whip from Bonito, is ideal for the latter and if it can be placed far enough away from a wire antenna the there’s a good chance diversity will bring added gain in certain conditions.

See also how the manual use of diversity tuning for noise reduction can be very powerful: https://sdrplay.com/video-demo-showing-diversity-software-for-noise-reduction/