MacBook Pro SDR Software advice

[questnz]

Hello, I recently replaced tired 13" Dell XPS with 13" MacBook Pro as a "traveling" PC. Some changes have to me made.
Looking for advice for best software to use on Mac with SDRplay RSP1A and RTL-SDR v3 dongle.
Any suggestion from Mac users will be most appreciated.
Regards Chris

 

[jjbond]

CubicSDR is the only one mentioned for Mac...

Downloads – SDRplay

 

[vagrant]

I use CubicSDR with my SDRplay RSP2. I’m using on a older Mac mini with 16 GB of RAM. I believe I have also used CubcSDR with the RTL-SDR. I know that Gqrx will work with the RTL-SDR dongle.
CubicSDR | Cross-Platform and Open-Source Software Defined Radio Application

Oh yeah, read the manual/docs at least once for CubicSDR. It is not that intuitive.

 

[N9JIG]

Since much of the good SDR software is written for Windows or Linux then virtualization might be right up your alley, especially if you have a decent amount of RAM. I have been using Parallels and (to a lesser extent) Fusion on my Mac's for years and that makes them into the best Windows computers I have had. Bootcamp also works but requires you to restart to change OS's so I don't use it.

While Parallels or Fusion costs from $50 to $80 and a licensed copy of Windows 10 about $100, it really is worth it. You can then run any of these OS's, all at the same time. Make a backup of your VM's and you can experiment to your heart's content, if you corrupt the VM just trash it and copy over a new one.

Now that you have a machine that is pretty much OS agnostic you can use almost any software.

 

[jjbond]

Been using Fusion for years and it works great... I'm even occasionally brave enough to use it to program my Motorola radios with CPS over USB.

 

[questnz]

Many thanks for everybody, all options will be explored. It make more and more sense to run some stuff under Windows it will open more options for me. Maybe Paralells + Win will be the way to go, I have seen on my friends Mac and I was impressed.
Thank you again for advice
Regards Chris

 

[N4DJC]

I use Parallels 13 with Windows 10 on my MBP. Works great. Parallels 13 does not require a yearly subscription like 14 does, plus it’s only $35 or so. I bought the retail Windows version, not the OEM with the bloatware.