SDRplay RSP1A

[rocky28965]

I have one of these on order.
They recommend using a A-B cable with 2 ferrite chokes.
How critical is this ?
Would a standard printer cable be sufficient ?

 

[prcguy]

What frequency range will you be using on the new receiver? The ferrite should be targeted to the frequency range you are using and this is to keep broad band RFI generated in the host computer from getting into the receiver. Some computer/SDR setups work fine with no ferrite and some have RFI all over the place and you actually have to treat all cables exiting the computer.

For just the USB cable and VHF/UHF reception, three snap on #43 mix ferrites is good and place them 3 in a row at the radio end or better yet at both the radio and computer end. For HF you can wrap about 6 turns through a large #31 mix snap on or about 9 turns through an FT-240-31 mix ferrite toroid. To cover all scenarios get an extra long USB cable and place three #43 mix ferrites at each USB connector then right behind that do the 6 turns through a #31 mix snap on.

The ferrites that come factory attached to computer cables do basically nothing, you need at least several in series or multiple wraps of cable through them to be effective.

I have one of these on order.
They recommend using a A-B cable with 2 ferrite chokes.
How critical is this ?
Would a standard printer cable be sufficient ?

 

[rocky28965]

I will be on HF mainly but would also like to explore up to 1300.
I'm about to order a discone antenna.
Those snap on ferrites sound interesting, might have to get some.

 

[prcguy]

Here is a lifetime supply for a good price and this particular version works very well VHF through UHF. Their marketed by Laird and its their mix #28.

55 LAIRD 28A0350-0B2 Ferrite CLAMP-ON CORE FILTER 240ohms 100MHz Hinged Snap--on | eBay

These were bought from Heiland Electronics from a project that fell through. Never Used. See Picture For datasheet from manufacturer for size and operation. Hinged (Snap On) Free Hanging Ferrite Core 240Ohm @ 100MHz ID 0.138" Dia (3.50mm) OD 0.512" W x 0.460" H (13.00mm x 11.70mm) Length 1.004"...

www.ebay.com

I will be on HF mainly but would also like to explore up to 1300.
I'm about to order a discone antenna.
Those snap on ferrites sound interesting, might have to get some.

 

[rocky28965]

Crikey! I don't think I'll live long enough to use half of those.

 

[prcguy]

I'm on my second bag.

Crikey! I don't think I'll live long enough to use half of those.

 

[rocky28965]

Just looking at your third option, to cover all scenarios.
So that's 6x #43's & 2x #31's
The #31's will have to be large enough to allow 6 turns of the cable through.
Have I got that correct ?

 

[prcguy]

Yes on the quantities. Here is about the smallest 31 mix that will give results and this is similar to what is used on HF screwdriver antennas to decouple the motor leads. 2x31-4181p2

Just looking at your third option, to cover all scenarios.
So that's 6x #43's & 2x #31's
The #31's will have to be large enough to allow 6 turns of the cable through.
Have I got that correct ?

 

[Ubbe]

I will be on HF mainly but would also like to explore up to 1300.

Almost any box I have that includes a processor emits RFI. My VHF band are full of it and some in UHF but HF are the worst. I use ring cores on same cables and snap on's on others and helps a lot on VHF/UHF but HF seems like a lost cause for me as neighbours RFI sources are as close as mine to the wire antenna.

/Ubbe

 

[rocky28965]

While I am waiting for my RSP1A I have been using my RTL SDR V3.
Would like to get it running portable on my laptop so I can try it outdoors on my loop antenna
Don't think the lappy has enough grunt, keeps locking up.
It's a fairly early Toshiba Satellite. It's on win10, so thought it should work.
I've tried reducing the display resolution & turning off the waterfall but it doesn't help.
I've got another hard drive with Linux but not sure if it will support the software.

 

[ka3jjz]

How much memory and processor type and speed? From what I've been reading, those 2 seem to be very important factors. The hotter the processor, the more memory you can throw at an app, the better....Mike

 

[rocky28965]

It's only a Celeron 550 @ 2 GHz with 2 GHz Ram

 

[rocky28965]

I have the RSP1a running on SDRuno.
Still getting familiar with the software.
I notice if I scan the memory panel it auto mutes.
What am I doing wrong here ?

 

[iMONITOR]

While I am waiting for my RSP1A I have been using my RTL SDR V3.
Would like to get it running portable on my laptop so I can try it outdoors on my loop antenna
Don't think the lappy has enough grunt, keeps locking up.
It's a fairly early Toshiba Satellite. It's on win10, so thought it should work.
I've tried reducing the display resolution & turning off the waterfall but it doesn't help.
I've got another hard drive with Linux but not sure if it will support the software.

Windows 10 has a lot of unnecessary crap running in the background. Remove any unneeded apps from launching at startup. If you're using any third party antivirus/anti-malware utilities, try shutting them down or considering uninstalling them. Windows 10 Security does a respectable job protecting your PC.

 

[AM909]

What exactly locks up? I have a recent (~2.5 year old gaming laptop) on Win10, SDR# 1807, and RTL-SDR.com and NooElec RTL SDRs. SDR# hangs if you start and stop a dongle, or if you try to exit it while running. I've just gotten used to having to kill it, and have a startup script that copies in a last-know-good config that I always want to start with anyway.

 

[rocky28965]

I have changed to Skywave Linux on the laptop, started another thread re this.

Skywave Linux | RadioReference.com Forums

 

[avery_k]

One thing I have noticed is that, especially on laptops because they move around more, is that SDR's and the NooElec in particular don't seem to like the USB cable moving while they are running. Mine NooElec locks up if I jostle the cable too much and have to shut down the software, unplug/plug the cable again to get it going. There's an insane amount of data going through that cable and it doesn't take much to upset it. It might be better or worse depending on what cables you use and how tight the connection is. I never noticed much of a difference with mine and just try to keep the setup still while it's running. YMMV.

 

[rocky28965]

Main issue I have is getting my RSP1A to run on Skywave Linux.
My RTL-SDR runs fine.
I've watched several youtube videos but its too complicated for my old brain