What is the suggested SDR equipment and software that is favored to monitor HF frequencies.
Monitoring HF Short Wave Frequencies
- Thread starter shirsch101
- Start date
Airspy hf+ discovery & sdr#
Or
Rsp1b & sdruno
Or
Rsp1b & sdruno
Depends on your budget.
Also depends on if you want computer controlled, handheld or desktop. Plenty of threads here on different setups. Me, I have a Lan IQ and a Malahit DSP2. I like having a handheld with a waterfall display to help hunt down frequencies. What is your budget?
I've got the Nesdr SMArt sdr using a Raddy wire loop antenna (an alligator clip you clip onto the telescopic one that comes with the kit), either SDR ++ or SDR sharp, they both tune different shortwave frequencies equally well (I'll get a good signal with one, but not the other).
I have a good end fed antenna just deciding on a sdr dongle and software. Like to stay around $200
Token
Member
In that price range, plus or minus, there are a few good options, three that I can recommend, and yes, I have used all three side-by-side, and either currently own or have owned all three. I have owned and used many of the other options on the market, from very low cost (sub $10) to quite expensive. But holding to the ~$200 price point:
Airspy HF+ Discovery is a pretty good HF radio. Arguably the best HF radio in this price range, but #3 on my recommendation list. Why not my top recommendation? While really good at HF, it is somewhat limited in frequency, outside the HF and a bit of VHF. And I am not a fan of SDR# (not bad mouthing the software or plug-ins, but the GUI just does not set well with me), but you can run the SDR with other software, SDR-Console is a good option.
Another good SDR (my second favorite in this price range) is the SDRPlay RSPdx or RSPdx-R2. While it might be slightly behind the HF+ in specifications, in reality that is going to be hard to detect during operation. Most people are not in a quiet enough location or with a good enough antenna, to actually see a performance difference between them. I have measured the difference using test equipment, but running the HF+ and the RSPdx side-by-side I really cannot tell a difference during on-air testing, and yes, I am in a fairly quite location, with good antennas. I personally like SDRUno better than SDR#, and again, SDR-Console is an option.
My personal favorite in this price range, the SDRPlay RSPduo. Technically not as good as either the RSPdx or the HF+ Discovery when talking about HF performance, but still quite good (and most people are not going to be able to detect the difference), and so much more potential. The dual tuner capability opens doors in experimentation (passive radar anyone?) and things like diversity reception. Along with the ability to watch 2 pieces of spectrum any place in the SDRs tuning range, not just two VFOs, but completely separate pieces of spectrum with different antenna inputs for each. It really is like having 2 SDRs in one case (although doing so limits IBW). Same comment here about my preference for SDRUno over SDR#, and consider SDR-Console.
However, if you have can swing a bigger budget, and are really interested in HF only, there are some outstanding options out there. But you really are not going to do a whole lot better (than one of the three I mentioned above) until you get into the $800+ range, and really on the far side of $1000.
T!
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AB5ID
Member
Are SDRplay products compatible with trunking programs? I remember a time when people complained that SDRplay receivers didn’t work well with programs like SDRTrunk, it was like pulling teeth. But is that still the case, or has compatibility improved?
Not sure on this point - but this post was for HF Monitoring and trunking is not really (per sa) used there.
I have the RSP1a and the RSP1b from SDRPlay. They work in SDRTrunk. I don't understand why some are having issues. It is just a matter of ppm, RF Gain, IF Gain, IF AGC and tuner bandwidth. RSP's have a max sample rate of 10msps with 8msps useable. If your local trunking system exceeds the 8MHz useable range then all you need is another SDR to fill in the gap.
In the same price range and with a deeper resolution is the Airspy Mini, $99usd, which will cover the trunking systems at 10, 6 and 3 msps.
The R2 has a 10msps IQ output. With custom firmware it can go up to 80msps. Both have 16bit at narrow based channels.
I own a Airspy HF+ which is also supported in SDRTrunk. As long as the trunking system is within 64-300MHz. It has no problem receiving 60khz WWVB in a noisy indoor environment.
Here is one of my videos using SDRPlay RSP1b in SDRTrunk. I had no problem setting it up.
