1. posterid:381175
  2. Performance of the new RSPdx

Re: Performance of the new RSPdx

Dale Elshoff WB8CJW <dale.elshoff@...>
 

I used SDR Console at first but now I find SDRUno is more stable on my old I5, 8GB, 2.4GHz. laptop.  My pc is under powered for SDRC running the RSPdx even though cpu usage is lower it would often crash or lock-up often requiring a complete reboot to recover then it would run for a while and randomly lock-up, especially listening to FM broadcast or if some change were made to a menu item - gain, etc.  I would prefer to use SDRC but I need to upgrade my computer at some point before I can.

Yes, SDRUno is a bit intimidating at first.  Sort of like the control panel scene in the movie Airplane! but hey, a lot of control is visible and at hand without having to hunt through menus.  I tend to have programs run full screen anyway so I don't have to squint as much to see things.  I like having easy access to the memory panel that automatically sorts by frequency and just a Ctrl+S saves the current VFO frequency.

I was playing with the scanner last night for the first time and it is really quite outstanding.  Set a start and stop frequency, step amount, hold time, threshold and even scan to the memory panel and save as a separate file.  If there is some frequency in the list you don't want then a "lockout" can be inserted to skip it.

Since the RSPdx has three antenna input connectors any external antenna switching isn't a problem now - it's automatic.  Each stored memory item retains which antenna was set to use, A, B or C.  Antenna 'A' (SMA) selects my attic 2M beam which is good for the aircraft bands that start at about 118 MHz. thru the weather radio broadcast at 162.55.  'B' (SMA) is my 70cm ATV antenna with a switched 1200 MHz. loop Yagi beam and 'C' (BNC <200 MHz.) is my G5RV which surprisingly I can hear WWV-Boulder on 60 kHz. quite well with this rig and several beacons in the 200 to 400 kHz. area.

The filters are very good, adjustable squelch for all modes and the RSPdx has a myriad of controls available for the user to tweak 'til their heart is content.  Obviously I like this little metal box I got for Christmas!

73, Dale WB8CJW



On 1/26/2020 1:57 AM, Bill Walch wrote:

Thanks for your comments. I was hoping for more response given all the buzz when the RSPdx was released, and it's compatibility and usability with SDR Console, for example, it's not clear what functions are and are not available in the latest SDRC 3.0.19 version. It does appear that the HDR mode is supported, but unclear what else. Like all other radios, these features would not be visible unless the specific radio was attached to SDRC.

As for SDRuno, while it has good intentions, I've found it to one of the least user friendly SDR programs out there, with it's poor tuning control and general ease of use lacking, which is surprising given that it's hardware is very good.

I've also looked at the Airspy HF+ for the same price, and on paper, the RSPdx offers considerably more performance, not to mention the HF+'s very limited band coverage. However, I'd entertain any discussion comparing both these radios.

Thanks,
Bill

On 1/22/2020 2:30 AM, Roger Need via Groups.Io wrote:
I own a RSP1a and a RSPdx.  If you are interested in operation below 2 MHz the RSPdx is a big improvement over the RSP1a especially below 500 kHz. due to the additional filter and HDR mode..  The number and signal level of spurious signals  from MW stations and other high powered broadcasters in the LF/VLF region is much lower than the RSP1A.

Above 2 MHz. I think you will find that there is not much improvement with the RSPdx over the RSP1a and RSPduo because they use similar circuitry. 

One suggestion if you have trouble with local FM stations is to purchase an external FM rejection filter from NooElec on Amazon for around $10 USD.  It is much sharper at the band edges than the one in the RSP1A and does not attenuate the airband above 115 MHz. like the RSP1A built-in filter.

Another nice feature is that the RF gain control has more attenuation steps and they are smaller in size which allows you more granularity when reducing RF gain due to strong signals.

I also suggest you use SDRuno when operating in HDR mode since it had extensive software modification in order to effectively achieve a high level of performance.

Roger

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