RSP1A Deaf on 80 meters?

[ccopeland58]

I purchased a RSP1A and noticed it is very deaf on 80 meters.

I am using a 20' wire hung outside for an antenna. The same wire antenna receives fine on 80m using a SW radio or my Kenwood TS130, but almost completely deaf on the RSP1A. The RSP1A works fine on 20m and bands above that. I've tried every setting I can think of, but can't resolve this. Any suggestions?

 

[thewraith2008]

Is the RSP1A from SDRPlay or is it a clone?
What software are you using, SDRUno or something else?

 

[ccopeland58]

It is a real RSP1A bought from HRO. I am using SDRUno.

 

[R0am3r]

This is a RSP1A on 3745. The software is SDRconnect. The antenna is a fan dipole with two legs on 80 and two legs on 160. Effectively, it works as a halfwave dipole on each band. Each leg of the 80 meter dipole is approximately 65 feet long. The 80 meter portion of the fan dipole is tuned for the lower end of the band (CW, FT8).

 

[ka3jjz]

I've read that the SDRPlays really like a longer antenna. At 20 foot, it's for all intents and purposes, about as efficient as a wet noodle on 80 meters. What is your situation - can you put up something better?

Mike

 

[ccopeland58]

No, can't put up something better as in an apartment. Maybe I need a 50 ohm to Hi-Z converter on the antenna.
I shouldn't need that, but that maybe the case. All SDRplay antenna inputs should be Hi-Z and not 50 ohm, IMO.

 

[Dirk_SDR]

... All SDRplay antenna inputs should be Hi-Z and not 50 ohm, IMO.

No, the RSP1A has a 50 Ohm impedance antenna input.

 

[tiniancrab]

That low sensitivity doesn't seem right for the RSP1A. Sure, a 130 foot end fed wire is better than a 20 foot wire, but you should have stronger signals on it. My suggestion is to make sure you have good grounding, run the wire in the clear as much as possible, and consider a 9:1 balun if you want to stay with end fed single wires.

Even without the balun, you should be able to receive regular atmospheric background noise. Have you gone through your gain and AGC settings to make sure the receiver is running at max sensitivity?

 

[ccopeland58]

That low sensitivity doesn't seem right for the RSP1A. Sure, a 130 foot end fed wire is better than a 20 foot wire, but you should have stronger signals on it. My suggestion is to make sure you have good grounding, run the wire in the clear as much as possible, and consider a 9:1 balun if you want to stay with end fed single wires.

Even without the balun, you should be able to receive regular atmospheric background noise. Have you gone through your gain and AGC settings to make sure the receiver is running at max sensitivity?

I have a 20' wire in tree and a 20' counterpoise wire for a ground. I have the gain slider set to maximum. I don't know how to check AGC settings. It is not clear how to do that.

 

[WX4JCW]

it may be an issue with the RSP1A, have you tried a different SDR just to check?
i picked up an Airspy HF Discovery today and 80M was packed tonight on a diamond discone. im thinking a solder joint bight have come loose

 

[sunwave]

I purchased a RSP1A and noticed it is very deaf on 80 meters.

I am using a 20' wire hung outside for an antenna. The same wire antenna receives fine on 80m using a SW radio or my Kenwood TS130, but almost completely deaf on the RSP1A. The RSP1A works fine on 20m and bands above that. I've tried every setting I can think of, but can't resolve this. Any suggestions?

How close is the RSP1a to a gateway/wifi router? Those get extremely noisy and will block 80m, 160 and MW. I had to install a MLA 30+ loop antenna then I got signals on mine on MW, 160, and 80. Even hear Shannon, Ireland Volmet 5505usb at night.

 

[ccopeland58]

How close is the RSP1a to a gateway/wifi router? Those get extremely noisy and will block 80m, 160 and MW. I had to install a MLA 30+ loop antenna then I got signals on mine on MW, 160, and 80. Even hear Shannon, Ireland Volmet 5505usb at night.

The same wire antenna works great with my SW radio and Kenwood TS130 transceiver on 80m so I don't think local noise is a problem. After using my RSP1A more, I' determined the RSP1A on is almost as deaf on 40m as it is on 80m while 20m and above work fine.

 

[sunwave]

The same wire antenna works great with my SW radio and Kenwood TS130 transceiver on 80m so I don't think local noise is a problem. After using my RSP1A more, I' determined the RSP1A on is almost as deaf on 40m as it is on 80m while 20m and above work fine.

what are you using for feedline from RSP1a to wire antenna? Is the wires attached directly to the sma connector or coax? Did you try MW band? Have you tried WWV on 2.5MHz and 5MHz at night?

The test for deafness is set RF Gain and IF Gain to minimum. All the way down. Tune it to your strongest FMBC signal. If even a faint signal it is not deaf. Signals from the antenna go through a switchable MW/FM/DAB filter then through Gain control circuit. 60MHz and below only uses Gain Control.

RSP1a Block diagram RSP1A - SDRplay



Look at your coax or whatever you have connected. something isn't right. The way the RSP1a is built you should hear 80m signals.

 

[sunwave]

That low sensitivity doesn't seem right for the RSP1A. Sure, a 130 foot end fed wire is better than a 20 foot wire, but you should have stronger signals on it. My suggestion is to make sure you have good grounding, run the wire in the clear as much as possible, and consider a 9:1 balun if you want to stay with end fed single wires.

Even without the balun, you should be able to receive regular atmospheric background noise. Have you gone through your gain and AGC settings to make sure the receiver is running at max sensitivity?

I hear 80m signals on 9ft of wire on a 1:9 balun and another 9ft as ground. Low SNR signals but I hear them.