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Entry Level SDR recommendations

 

Good Afternoon all,
?
After years of chasing MW DX with "real" hardware, I'd like to try SDR and would appreciate recommendations about what I need to get started.? In particular:
(1) Are any of the inexpensive USB dongles suitable for MW, or are they "toys" and I should look at more expensive hardware?
(2) At the entry level, whose hardware is generally accepted as being good, which should I avoid?
(3) Is a frequency upconverter required to receive MW
?
Thanks for any comments or recomm
 

sdr play duo

On Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 01:02:28 p.m. EST, JohnT via groups.io <jtstein46@...> wrote:


Good Afternoon all,
?
After years of chasing MW DX with "real" hardware, I'd like to try SDR and would appreciate recommendations about what I need to get started.? In particular:
(1) Are any of the inexpensive USB dongles suitable for MW, or are they "toys" and I should look at more expensive hardware?
(2) At the entry level, whose hardware is generally accepted as being good, which should I avoid?
(3) Is a frequency upconverter required to receive MW
?
Thanks for any comments or recomm
 

Opinions solely my own and reflect my own experience.

I started with an SDR Smart from NooElec and I used it with HDSDR. I found it frustrating and overly complicated.
I then tried an RTL-SDR dongle. A little better but still not quite there.
I moved to an AirSpy HF+ Discovery using SDR#. Solid performance but I found SDR# to not be what I wanted in terms of usage, as in too complex and not having software features I wanted
Finally I moved to an RSP1a with SDRUno. Bingo! Easy out of the box usage, solid performance and feature backed. Are both the software and hardware complex? Yes, but somehow it seemed like the learning curve was much less steep. I now own both and RSP1a and an RSP1b.

As I say -- my experience here is based on my technical background or lack thereof. I like to keep things simple and as plug and play as possible. Only the RSP1 series and associated software gave me what I wanted in the end. For others the experience may be different and may have them saying to me "whaddaya mean too complicated". C'est la vie.

Tony Pavick
Hope BC Canada
 

On Sat, Feb 8, 2025 at 10:02 AM, JohnT wrote:
After years of chasing MW DX with "real" hardware, I'd like to try SDR and would appreciate recommendations about what I need to get started.? In particular:
(1) Are any of the inexpensive USB dongles suitable for MW, or are they "toys" and I should look at more expensive hardware?
?
Save your money and don't buy a USB dongle.? You will quickly find it not suitable for MW DXing and it will go in the drawer.

?
(2) At the entry level, whose hardware is generally accepted as being good, which should I avoid?
?
AirSpy and SDRplay make low cost SDR entry products.? You will find users that prefer one over the other so it depends what features you want.??
?
(3) Is a frequency upconverter required to receive MW
?
?Not required with AirSpy or SDRplay products.
?
Roger
 

You might want to think about what is important to you and what applies to your situation.
?
Here are some things:
?
Do you want to record or just listen live? There are differences in the span that can be recorded and the ease of recording.
?
What is your RF environment? Do you have strong MW or FM stations nearby? If you do, then dynamic range/IMD performance would be important.
?
I have a WinRadio Excalibur I purchased many years ago. It has worked well for me through the years but I listen live. SO I am not in a position to recommend any particular SDR.
?
Software support. WinRadio has not made an API public, so I use their software. It has worked well for me, but other SDRs have more options for software. You should make sure the SDR and software you want to use work together and work on the OS you intend to use.
?
--
===================================================================
Mike M
 

Good afternoon Roger,
I noticed you made a comment regarding not to purchase a USB dongle because it has something to do with MW reception.? I too have the RSP -1B. The RSP-1B requires a USB cable that has a standard USB2 connector?on one end and a Printer connector on the other end.? Now if what you mentioned by a USB dongle is not the same as what I described, would you please explain what you?mean by a USB dongle?

Thanks
Fred N4cla? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??

On Sat, Feb 8, 2025 at 2:25?PM Mike M via <groups=[email protected]> wrote:
You might want to think about what is important to you and what applies to your situation.
?
Here are some things:
?
Do you want to record or just listen live? There are differences in the span that can be recorded and the ease of recording.
?
What is your RF environment? Do you have strong MW or FM stations nearby? If you do, then dynamic range/IMD performance would be important.
?
I have a WinRadio Excalibur I purchased many years ago. It has worked well for me through the years but I listen live. SO I am not in a position to recommend any particular SDR.
?
Software support. WinRadio has not made an API public, so I use their software. It has worked well for me, but other SDRs have more options for software. You should make sure the SDR and software you want to use work together and work on the OS you intend to use.
?
--
===================================================================
Mike M
 

I started with the dongles.? They're "OK" but there is better.? However, there is a problem with those and most of the more expensive SDRs in that they do not cover HF at all.? You need to buy an up-converter.? Those offered like the "Ham-it-Up" really are not very good and highly prone to intermodulation distortion (IMD) and mixing of strong signals.? I should also comment the dongles including those which are more expensive ALL should be graced with an FM stopband filter (FMSBF) installed between the coax from the antenna and the SDR input.??

The SDRPlay units are the least expensive.? I have several of their earlier offerings and they are severely prone to IMD and interference from the FM band.? Mine sit on a shelf collecting dust.? They have come a ways from their early units, but I have not been moved to invest in their more expensive and newer options as I feel burned by their early offerings and the highly imature SDRUNO.? In addition, I absolutely and vehemently dislike their SDRUNO for its on screen clutter!

I have been impressed by the AirSpy offerings from day one!? They originally had a problem with ESD damage, but that has been rectified long ago with their product development.? They as well require an up-converter to cover HF, and an FMSBF is good, but they perform FAR better than SDRPlay units.? At least for me (casual listening, radio astronomy, ionospheric sleuthing, and lightning "research" - not typical uses) I have spent my $$ with the AirSpy offerings.? I have plenty of other receivers that cover HF that don't tie up a PC or laptop.

I am presently rationalizing spending a bit of my retirement "non"-disposable income on the RX888 MK2.? I have yet to order, but getting close. ? REASON:? Any and all of the present (affordable) SDRs offer only an 8 MHz slice of on-screen real time spectrum.? I'm fatigued at capturing solar flares (and a few other deep space emissions) with only an 8 MHz on-screen bandwidth.??

Just remember, I am not a typical user of the SDRs.? I do very little casual listening and am more scientifically oriented.?

Dave - W?LEV

Virus-free.


On Sat, Feb 8, 2025 at 8:03?PM Fred Moore via <n40cla=[email protected]> wrote:
Good afternoon Roger,
I noticed you made a comment regarding not to purchase a USB dongle because it has something to do with MW reception.? I too have the RSP -1B. The RSP-1B requires a USB cable that has a standard USB2 connector?on one end and a Printer connector on the other end.? Now if what you mentioned by a USB dongle is not the same as what I described, would you please explain what you?mean by a USB dongle?

Thanks
Fred N4cla? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??

On Sat, Feb 8, 2025 at 2:25?PM Mike M via <groups=[email protected]> wrote:
You might want to think about what is important to you and what applies to your situation.
?
Here are some things:
?
Do you want to record or just listen live? There are differences in the span that can be recorded and the ease of recording.
?
What is your RF environment? Do you have strong MW or FM stations nearby? If you do, then dynamic range/IMD performance would be important.
?
I have a WinRadio Excalibur I purchased many years ago. It has worked well for me through the years but I listen live. SO I am not in a position to recommend any particular SDR.
?
Software support. WinRadio has not made an API public, so I use their software. It has worked well for me, but other SDRs have more options for software. You should make sure the SDR and software you want to use work together and work on the OS you intend to use.
?
--
===================================================================
Mike M



--
Dave - W?LEV
 

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? Hello Mike
?
? Are you not aware that you can use Simon Brown's SDR Console with your Winradio Excalibur?
?
? 73s Tracey G5VU
?

----- Original Message -----
From: Mike M <groups@...>
Reply-To: <[email protected]>
Sent: 08/02/2025 19:25:52
Subject: Re: [loopantennas] Entry Level SDR recommendations
You might want to think about what is important to you and what applies to your situation.
?
Here are some things:
?
Do you want to record or just listen live? There are differences in the span that can be recorded and the ease of recording.
?
What is your RF environment? Do you have strong MW or FM stations nearby? If you do, then dynamic range/IMD performance would be important.
?
I have a WinRadio Excalibur I purchased many years ago. It has worked well for me through the years but I listen live. SO I am not in a position to recommend any particular SDR.
?
Software support. WinRadio has not made an API public, so I use their software. It has worked well for me, but other SDRs have more options for software. You should make sure the SDR and software you want to use work together and work on the OS you intend to use.
?
--
===================================================================
Mike M
 

I was not aware of that. Thanks for letting me know. I have downloaded SDR Console and it looks interesting.
--
===================================================================
Mike M
 

Thanks to all who offered suggestions and thought-provoking questions.? Based on those comments it seems like AirSpy or SDR_Play would be good bets, mainly due to their not needing an upconverter for MW.? I will focus on these two manufacturers.
?
JohnT
 

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? Hello Mike
?
? SDR Console offers lots of facilities such as timed recordings that the standard G31 Excalibur software doesn't.
? Are you also aware that there was an "under the table"?dll (that's the best way that I can describe it) that gave the G31 a lot of the software functions that are available in the G33 software?
? Perhaps you should PM me if you want more details as this isn't pertinent to the loop antennas group?
?
? 73s Tracey G5VU
?

----- Original Message -----
From: Mike M <groups@...>
Reply-To: <[email protected]>
Sent: 08/02/2025 20:51:41
Subject: Re: [loopantennas] Entry Level SDR recommendations
I was not aware of that. Thanks for letting me know. I have downloaded SDR Console and it looks interesting.
--
===================================================================
Mike M
 

I like my Airspy HF+ Discovery very much. It covers the HF ham bands, except 6m, which is fine by me, at least for now.
?
Software... SDR#, SDR++, SDR Console, SDR-uno, HDSDR, each have their strengths and weaknesses.
?
SDR-uno I like the least of all, but lots of folks swear by it... too cluttered, not intuitive. I don't have a later model SDRplay to try out their latest SDR software; I'll not likely get one either.
?
SDR# and SDR++ are a lot alike visually, to me; straight-forward, much easier to decipher than Uno.
?
HDSDR is just okay, but I haven't used it much; it's probably more capable than I've discovered in my limited experience with it.
?
SDR Console took me a while to figure out, but it's very capable, lots of features, very clean and glitzy. I like it a lot. I just downloaded the most recent version, but I haven't checked it out yet.
--
Phil, K0TWA
 

Good evening

I would recommend Airspy HF+ Discovery which has a good performance/price ratio.

For SDR software try SDR++. It is a multi-platform project (Windows, Linux and more) that supports a lot of SDR hardwares, including Airspy, Perseus and many more.

???

An upconverter is not needed for MW. The SDR hardware mentioned above works well all the way down to VLF.

Johan


JohnT wrote:

Good Afternoon all,
After years of chasing MW DX with "real" hardware, I'd like to try SDR and would appreciate recommendations about what I need to get started.? In particular:
(1) Are any of the inexpensive USB dongles suitable for MW, or are they "toys" and I should look at more expensive hardware?
(2) At the entry level, whose hardware is generally accepted as being good, which should I avoid?
(3) Is a frequency upconverter required to receive MW
Thanks for any comments or recomm
 

On Sun, Feb 9, 2025 at 05:58 AM, Johan Bodin wrote:
I would recommend Airspy HF+ Discovery which has a good performance/price ratio.
I fully agree. Very sensitive, amazingly good large signal performance at low cost. Best bang for the buck.
New Airspy Ranger with extended receiving range from VLF to 1.75 GHz coming soon.
?
I do not consider Winradio excalibur or Elad FDM-S3 or Perseus-22 SDR as enty level SDR. These devices are excellent receivers, but rather expensive.
?
regards
Fred
 

On Sun, Feb 9, 2025 at 05:58 AM, Johan Bodin wrote:
I would recommend Airspy HF+ Discovery which has a good performance/price ratio.
Likewise - paired with SDRConsole or SDR#. I personally prefer SDRC.
?
Noel.
 

Yup - HF+ & SDRC combo is very nice.?
?
I bought my Airspy HF+ used for $100 but they do go on sale during the year, especially Black Friday.
If you go the HF+ route, note there is a fairly recent F/W update.? It is very simple to do.
?
73 Bob
 

New Airspy Ranger with extended receiving range from VLF to 1.75 GHz coming soon.
A very odd stopping point, wondering why it didn't go to the Amateur/ISDM band at 2.4 GHz, and at least cover one more band that's a pretty big deal in both the consumer, and amateur world? 1.75 is like the old 2m radios that had an oddball "extended" receive range "feature" of something like 142-151 MHz, making that whole idea pointless.

Why stop at 1.75 GHz? 2.5, or 6 GHz would have been a reasonable stopping point for hobbyist level stuff, or roll it back to the 1980's, and stop at 900 MHz. Go super old-school and offer UHF to 470 MHz, but at triple the cost...

Kurt
 

Of all the SDR FW apps, I like SDR# and SDR Console the best.? As I've recently stated, I have a MAJOR aversion to the screen clutter of SDRUNO!!? SDR Console is a bit kinder to your processor.?

Dave - W?LEV

Virus-free.


On Sun, Feb 9, 2025 at 3:53?AM Phil via <k0twa=[email protected]> wrote:
I like my Airspy HF+ Discovery very much. It covers the HF ham bands, except 6m, which is fine by me, at least for now.
?
Software... SDR#, SDR++, SDR Console, SDR-uno, HDSDR, each have their strengths and weaknesses.
?
SDR-uno I like the least of all, but lots of folks swear by it... too cluttered, not intuitive. I don't have a later model SDRplay to try out their latest SDR software; I'll not likely get one either.
?
SDR# and SDR++ are a lot alike visually, to me; straight-forward, much easier to decipher than Uno.
?
HDSDR is just okay, but I haven't used it much; it's probably more capable than I've discovered in my limited experience with it.
?
SDR Console took me a while to figure out, but it's very capable, lots of features, very clean and glitzy. I like it a lot. I just downloaded the most recent version, but I haven't checked it out yet.
--
Phil, K0TWA



--
Dave - W?LEV
 

On Sun, Feb 9, 2025 at 01:02 AM, Fred M wrote:
New Airspy Ranger with extended receiving range from VLF to 1.75 GHz coming soon.
Don't hold your breath on this product.? AirSpy announced a while ago that their current manufacturer would not be making the Ranger and they were looking for someone new.??
?
?

Update: As of 2024/12/24, the Ranger project is moving forward with a new team. The PCB size has shrinked by a whooping 40% and the performance of the UHF path has improved.

Update: As of 2024/08/24, we are encountering some problems with the manufacturing logistics, as our main manufacturer Itead studio unilaterally decided NOT to support this project. There are multiple reasons, most notably the complexity of such project in terms of testing and production management. The good news is that the project is not cancelled and we are working on many improvements to facilitate its manufacturing. If you are an OEM who are not afraid of black magic RF, contact our engineering team.

?

?
 

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Do you have a link to the F/W update you mention. I don't see it on the Airspy site.

Thanks

Doug WA6VYN



On 2/9/2025 3:56 AM, Bob W8RMV via groups.io wrote:
Yup - HF+ & SDRC combo is very nice.?
?
I bought my Airspy HF+ used for $100 but they do go on sale during the year, especially Black Friday.
If you go the HF+ route, note there is a fairly recent F/W update.? It is very simple to do.
?
73 Bob
--



Doug

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