My trusty 12yr old Olympus VN-5500 Audio/Voice Recorder decided that enough was enough and fell into an eternal sleep. It had been a really handy device and I've enjoyed many years of reliable service from it. So it's time to find a replacement.
Looking around, there's lots of choice but having experienced the quality and reliability of my Olympus, I decided to ignore all the obscure manufacturer's offerings and stick with big names.
The Olympus only cost me around £30 (12 years ago) and I could see from the internet that you could easily get carried away with modern recorders, so I was determined not to go overboard. I set myself a maximum budget of £60 and in all fairness, there was quite a lot to choose from. My main focus was on devices which would provide me with good built-in stereo microphones plus a LINE IN facility to permit the connection of an external mic or to record from a direct connection to another device using a 3.5mm jack to jack lead.
The very first thing I noticed in my search for a replacement was that some digital recorders had a file limit of 99 recordings. That's woefully inadequate and a definite backward step. My Olympus could hold 100 recordings in each Folder (and it had four)!
Storage capacity wasn't a massive consideration because my old recorder only had 512mb and all the new devices had far more space. Mind you, I should take into account that the modern devices were capable of recording at CD Quality and therefore produce some pretty big files.
A feature of the Olympus which I really liked was its quick startup. It was almost instant and that can sometimes be important. My iPhone has a built-in recorder of course, but by the time you've unlocked the screen with your password, found the App, loaded it and started recording, you could have missed something important.
So, after spending an hour or so mooching around the internet watching videos and reading reviews, I plumped for the SONY ICD-UX570.
It is lighter than my Olympus, just as compact and far more functional. The screen is nice and crisp and the controls are typically Sony - they fall to hand and everything's pretty intuitive.
Above that OLED crystal-clear screen is an LED indicator and on top of the device (either side) are the high-sensitivity, low-noise 'S' microphones. Depending on which mode you're in, the microphones capture the sound from the top in a directional way or from the sides too, for more of a surround/omni-directional capture mode. The external Mic and Headphone sockets on the top there too.
In addition to being able to 'just record', you can also let the Sony work in an 'Auto Music' mode where it will pause inbetween tracks and split the recordings into separate files as long as the songs have got a 2-second gap between them. That can save a whole lot of editing.
Recordings can be made in Linear PCM 16bit, 44.1kHz Stereo WAV files through to MP3's at 48kbps Mono to 192kbps Stereo. That's a much better range of options than I had before.
The SONY ICD-UX570 'only' has 4Gb of built-in memory, but that's 8x more than I previously had and it will provide up to 59 hours of STEREO MP3 recordings! You can also add a micro-SD card to provide you with an additional 64Gb of space 😮
I mentioned file-quantity limitations previously and how some devices only permit 99 files. The Sony will handle 5000 and you can place them in Folders which can be named and edited straight from the unit itself.
A great feature of the Sony Audio Recorder is the built-in USB Port which slides out from the bottom of the device. I really like that feature, since there's never any need to find an interface lead to connect to your PC (or MAC).
Yet another great feature of the Sony is the Noise Reduction. It can be found in the menu under the heading of Clear Voice and it has two levels. The first one attempts to reduce ambient noise while boosting the human voice frequencies. The second level of noise reduction further attempts to reduce ambient noise. In practise, it really is quite effective.
Of course it always a good idea to record in the right mode from the start, but if you feel that you chose the wrong method initially, you can always use the noise reduction to improve your recording.
Speaking of choosing the right mode, there are a few to choose from. They range from a close-up and personal mode where you're going to be speaking directly into the mic like you would with a dictaphone, to a wide mode where there might be lots of speakers sat around a large boardroom table or recording music in a hall. It's worthwhile practising with the modes so that you know which is best for each situation.
If you're recording your amateur radio QSO's with the Sony, you can use the recorder in the normal method of placing the device in the proximity of the radio and the operator, or you can plug the radio's headphone socket into the Sony's Mic socket and activate your radio's Monitor feature so that the audio from both operators can be heard.
There's also a sound-equaliser built-in, with some great settings... Excited : Relaxed : Vocal : Treble Boost : Bass Boost and Custom. The Custom setting lets you define sound levels in five different frequency bands.
The built-in speaker has a decent volume level but in a noisy environment, you'll probably want to use headphones/earplugs. The speaker should really be considered as something to use to quickly check recordings and not for critical listening.
Your files can be protected against accidental erasure by simply choosing the PROTECT option from the menus. These files can be played back but not deleted without UNprotecting them. It's worth noting that you can also mark any part of a recording with a 'Track Mark' so that it's easy to find it later. You cannot mark a protected file though.
Power is supplied by rechargeable battery which is recharged via the units USB port. A very brief charge can give you an hours worth of recording for emergencies.
So in conclusion, I'm very pleased with my purchase! It's such a great recorder. My one and only regret is that I couldn't find the "F" model here in the UK because that gives you an FM Radio tuner too.
The Sony comes with a nice pouch style case...
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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Whenever I find myself discussing my hobbies with other people, I have no issues declaring my interest in Photography, Art, Motorcycling, Walking, Sci-Fi or Music. But as soon as I mention Flight Simulation and HAM Radio, I find myself becoming defensive.
I always feel that it's not enough to just say "I'm into Amateur Radio". I have to follow it up with a long, wittering explanation of why I do it and explain what makes it interesting and worthwhile. It's almost as if I know, deep down, that it really IS a bit of a sad hobby.
Going back to when I was a youngster growing up, I believe that I was always a bit different to most of my peers who simply wanted to play football, climb trees and break into derelict buildings. I enjoyed some of those things, but I also had a strong interest in engines, transistor radios, tape recorders, television and generally how things worked (also known as pulling things apart).
I was also a prolific Model Kit builder. Planes, tanks, cars, ships. Anything that was a bit challenging. Needless to say, most lads my age found it all a bit 'sad' 😂
In my teens, all my mates loved the Beatles, I loved Steely Dan. My mates dreamed of having a Ford Cortina, I dreamed of having a Kawasaki Z900. My mates watched The Fonz in Happy Days and I watched Captain Kirk in Star Trek.
I was not a brainiac! I was not even the slightest bit clever. But I was curious about things and always a bit 'contrary'. Not for the sake of it - just because I liked to explore alternatives and not just accept the mundane, run of the mill stuff.
Anyway, here I am in my 60's and nothing's changed much. I'm still into Photography, Art, Motorcycling, Walking and I'm still building models, listening to Steely Dan and riding motorbikes. I added serious SWL to my hobby-list about 30 years ago and Flight/Combat Simulation about 20 years ago.
So are we a bunch of saddos?
Well no - I don't think so. In fact, I honestly feel sorry for those people who have no hobbies - and I know a few of them! Personally, I can't even imagine a life without hobbies - and not just any hobby, but hobbies which challenge you or things which provide a creative outlet.
I often find that it's those people who have no hobbies who are the ones who have the most to say about my hobbies. And it's not always 'dumbos' who cannot see the value of my hobbies - I've even heard mocking banter from some pretty intelligent acquaintances when it comes to Amateur Radio!
I find Amateur Radio quite exciting for a number of reasons and I especially love exploring the wide range of operating modes. I love to speak with people from all walks of life, from all sorts of countries, with all sorts of outlooks and attitudes. I like to look people up on QRZ as I'm talking to them and finding that they're actually an airline pilot or something similarly interesting. I love the idea of speaking with someone in space or bouncing a signal off the moon! Or just having a bit of a natter with a local friend on 2M or maybe joining in the local LockDown Net.
And I still just love to sit twiddling the dial on a ShortWave radio listening to foreign broadcast radio, as I did when I was a young boy, marvelling at the idea of radio waves travelling from China to my house through a little cheap transistor radio.
I do know that many people link Amateur Radio to CB and as soon as I mention my hobby, I get the usual "Breaker Breaker" and "Eyeball Eyeball" comments, along with "Oh yeh, I used to do that in the 80's".
But then I have a confession.
I too, can be a bit snooty about certain hobbies, so maybe I'm just as bad as my own critics. I frequently distance myself from any notion that HAMS are similar to CB operators! No, no, we're way above the Children's Band. We have an Ofcom Licence don't you know? 😂
I think Fishing is a bit sad. Having a day off work to sit on the wet bank of your local lodge waiting to catch a fish that you're going to throw back into the water 😵
And what about Train/Plane Spotters in their anoraks with notepad and pencil?
And Football Fans who watch rich guys kick a ball, shouting "Come on you reds"!!
And Stamp Collectors. And Comic Collectors.
Maybe we're all a bit sad in our own way? But surely, we're all that little bit better off than those people who don't have an interest in ANYTHING?
Personally, I would never let anyone'sopinions effect my enjoyment of a hobby. Sure, it would be nice if everyone agreed with our choices, but that's never gonna happen is it?
Even though I have an Elecraft KX3, I still fancied an Icom IC-705. When I discovered the price tag, I thought it was quite ridiculous and thought I'd never buy one, but then I remembered the KX3 cost exactly the sameand the KX3 didn't have a decent speaker, a full-colour touchscreen, a Waterfall, a Bandscope, GPS, Bluetooth, VHF, UHF, DSTAR, AirBand, Broadcast Coverage (inc LW/MW), , Wireless LAN, MicroSD, QSO Recorder a built-in Li-ion battery & Charger and didn't even have - wait for it - a hand microphone!!
The most advanced portable transceiver in the world!
The 705 is like a baby 7300/9700 - it really is! But despite the size being reduced, the performance is tremendous! The receiver is fantastic even though it's very wideband, going from 0.030-440.000. Below 25MHz the 705 is all SDR, but above that, it's a regular SuperHet.
The famous Icom intuitiveness means you don't have to read the manual. You just kinda know what to do! And little things like progressive-tuning and touch-tuning make your workflow so easy and enjoyable.
The built-in speaker is a little bit toppy but is nice and clear and loud and it absolutely kills the loudspeaker in the KX3. The supplied microphone is also a speaker, so it's easy to lift it up to your ear on a windy day outdoors. The mic also has tuning buttons to help you move up and down without leaning over to the radio. They're just handy little things. Overall, the fantastic filtering of the radio and the high quality speaker, this radio is the best of any portables I've tried.
An output of 5W on the internal 2000mAh battery is enough for most circumstances but an external supply (which might be another battery) gives you a useful boost to 10W. I've ordered a BP-307 3150mAh battery to extend operations, even though I would normally use a FlightMax Zippy LifePo 13.2V battery for outdoor operations.
Talking of Outdoor Operations, you might not realise just how handy it is to have a built-in GPS. Not only is it great for positioning information, but it's also amazingly helpful for time-syncing when you're playing FT4/FT8 in the middle of nowhere with no wi-fi or phone signal. By using the GPS output (in NMEA mode) and a PC App such as BktTimeSync, you can run your digital software and maintain low time-differences. Click here for setup information.
The buttons and dials all have a solid and smooth feel to them and the whole unit feels pretty rugged. You'll always be worried about banging the screen of course, but that goes for the Elecraft too.
I'm hoping that someone (WindCamp) come up with a nice perspex slip-on cover for the front of the radio when in transit. It would just help me to relax that bit more like I do with the KX3 cover.
WINDCAMP PERSPEX COVER
BUT THERE'S NO ATU!! 😲
No, there's no built-in tuner and that seems to upset a lot of people. But then there's no built-in tuner with the Elecraft either - unless you fork out an extra £270! The fact is, most of the ATU's which are included with a radio are quite inefficient and can't handle more than a 3:1 mismatch, whereas independent ATU's are capable of matching a much wider range of imbalances. So ultimately, this gives you the opportunity of choosing your own ATU.
Thankfully, I already own a little LDG Z-100PLUS which interfaces perfectly with the 705, using a simple 3.5mm stereo jack lead. After switching the ATU menu-option on in the 705, a simple quick press of the mic's PTT initiates a quick tune on the ATU. Perfect! I might buy an Elecraft T1 ATU because of the miniature dimensions and it's incredible light weight.
LDG Z-100Plus
UPDATE : I bought an Elecraft T1 and reviewed it >>HERE<<
ELECRAFT T1
And just in case you weren't aware, there's no need to fork out £90 for Icom's BlueTooth Headset VS-3 when the Yaesu SSM-BT10 works perfectly well for just £25. I know, because I use the SSM-BT10 with my Yaesu FT3D and FTM-300D and I tried it with the IC-705. No issues whatsoever! And yes, the PTT works too - even VOX! 😊
I bought some other accessories for the 705 which are pretty cool. The first one is the MBF-705 stand which has a rubber-type strip on the underside to stop it moving around on your desk when you press the buttons on the radio - it works extremely well!
The image below shows the NEV RC105 antenna support, which is great for attaching telescopic whips (SO-239).
MY FAVOURITE BACKPACK is the LowePro Tahoe BP-150. It's incredibly versatile.
YOU MAY be interested in to know that the IC-705 can easily be used with Elecraft's marvellous (but super expensive) 100W amplifier. I wrote a post on it >>here<<
So, I like this radio - I like it a lot! Some people are messaging me asking me how it compares to the Elecraft KX3….
Well 99% of the time you won’t hear any difference between the two. Put the receivers in a Lab environment and the KX3 might pip the 705 at the post, but out there in the real world, I’d bet my wages you couldn’t separate the two.
Apart from its Amateur Radio uses, the IC-705 is also fabulous for AirBand & MarineBand fans and as a general SWL radio from 30kHz up. This thing just works superbly at everything. When at home, I sometimes have it connected to a quality Discone antenna and I'm constantly amazed at what it picks up and it never gets overloaded - despite the fact that I live right next to Winter Hill's tv/radio transmitter!
So when everyone's booming in, there's no real need for the KX3's sensitivity. I can hear (and usually work) everyone out there. All the IC-705 benefits (a decent speaker, a full-colour touchscreen, a waterfall, a bandscope, GPS, VHF, UHF, DSTAR, AirBand, Broadcast, Bluetooth, Wireless LAN, MicroSD, a built-in Li-ion battery and a microphone, lol) outweigh the benefits of slightly better ears.
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UPDATE 2022
The 705 has been my "go-to" radio for a couple of years now and I can't begin to tell you how happy I've been with it. I've had so many great contact on it and it's been 100% reliable.
I've used SSB, CW, DATA, DSTAR, FM and AM. I've played FT8 at the top of a hill in the middle of nowhere. I've spotted weak signal traces on the waterfall that I would otherwise have probably missed. I've benefited from the built-in GPS and WiFi to obtain perfect timing. And much, much more. It's just the COMPLETE package, offering everything you could want in a small, tough package.
I have always put Elecraft on a pedestal and yes, there's no denying that the receiver is great, but the reality of it is, the 705 is not far behind and yet it gives you so much more for so much less. in September 2022, a fully loaded KX3 is an outrageous £2800 and you still don't have a colourful touch-screen, a soundcard, a panadapter, GPS, Bluetooth, QSO Recorder, WiFi, LAN and a host of other features which make ham radio experimentation simple and fun!
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I added a HEIL HTHD-I Headset to the package. Read more about it HERE.
UPDATE : AIRPOD PRO's also work perfectly with the IC-705. Click HERE to read more about it.
The new portable HF/VHF/UHF IC-705 has many great features such as SDR platform, internal battery, GPS, Bluetooth and D-STAR, all in a compact and lightweight body. The Icom IC-705 uses the same 4.3 inch colour touch screen display as the best selling IC-7300 and IC-9700 featuring real-time spectrum scope and waterfall display.
HF/50/144/430 MHz Multimode Operation From HF to 50/144/430 MHz, you can enjoy a variety of bands in D-STAR DV, SSB, CW, AM and FM modes. The IC-705 receives continuously from 30 kHz through the 144 MHz band. You can also enjoy FM broadcast and Airband reception.
RF Direct Sampling System The IC-705 uses the RF direct sampling method* matured in the IC-7300, IC-7610, and IC-9700. This method greatly reduces distortion. The high speed /high resolution real-time spectrum scope and waterfall display are incorporated in a compact design for the first time in this class. * Down-conversion IF sampling method for 25 MHz and above
Real-Time Spectrum Scope and Waterfall Display The IC-705 inherits the performance and functions of the highly-acclaimed IC-7300 and IC-9700 scopes. You can visually figure out the band condition and check clear frequencies. It takes you to the next level beyond traditional field operation.
Large Touch Screen Colour Display The large 4.3 inch colour TFT touch LCD is the same size as the IC-7300 and IC-9700. It offers intuitive operation of the IC-705’s functions, settings, and various operational visual aids, such as the band scope, waterfall, and audio scope functions.
Compact and Lightweight Design “Base station radio” performance and functions are packaged in a compact size of approximately 20 cm, 7.9 in (W) × 8.35 cm, 3.3 in (H) × 8.2 cm, 3.2 in (D). The weight is approximately 1.1 kg (including BP-272). Its compact and lightweight design enables you to hold it with one hand.
BP-272 Li-ion Battery Pack or 13.8 V DC External Power Supply The IC-705 utilises the high capacity Li-Ion battery from the ID-51A and ID-31A handheld radios. A 13.8 V DC external power supply can be used for operation and charging of the BP-272.
Maximum Output Power 5 W (BP-272), 10 W (13.8 V DC) In portable mode, the IC-705 has a maximum output power of 5 W from the BP-272 which can last approx. 3 hours*. This is perfect for true 5 W QRP as well as the 0.5 W QRPp operations. Once you setup with a 13.8 V DC power source, you have up to 10 W. * TX : RX : standby = 1 : 1 : 8 (The Power Save function ON, in the FM mode)
Supports Connections Using WLAN/Bluetooth® Technologies Utilises WLAN/Bluetooth® technologies for linking and remote control*. The VS-3 headset (optional) enables more comfortable operation via Bluetooth® * Those features will be available with future firmware upgrades.
GPS Functions An internal GPS receiver and antenna enhance your operations by providing location logging*, RX/TX locations via D-PRS®, “Near Me” repeater search/scan, QSO recording with metadata*, and internal clock synchronization. * Micro SD required
MicroSD Card Slot The microSD card slot enables the storage of user-profiles, QSO recording, TX voice memory keyer, RTTY logging, GPS data, screen capture, firmware upgrades, and programming. * microSD card is not supplied.
Micro USB Connector In addition to audio and rig control, the micro USB port allows charging capability, making digital modes easy with minimal cables.
D-STAR Functions Enjoy the latest G3 Gateway and DV mode features with the IC-705. Have direct access to the D-STAR network with Terminal/Access point modes. Additionally, the IC-705 has the Photo Share feature introduced with the IC-9700. Share photos, without the need of a computer with other users with an IC-705 and IC-9700.
Programmable Speaker/Microphone Enjoy portable operations with the supplied HM-243, programmable speaker/microphone. Perfect for operation with the IC-705 safely secured in the optional LC-192 backpack. User assignable buttons put functions like frequency and volume adjustments at the tip of your fingers, without removing your backpack.
UPDATE :
I just received an email from a very kind gentleman...
Hi Tom,
Firstly let me say congratulations for getting your license and achieving so much in such a short space of time running 10w or less! Very well done. You have achieved more in that time than I have and I got my license quite a few years before you did.
Your blog articles are also very well written and informative.You really have embraced the hobby with both hands.
I just read this comment of yours on the 705 FB group : “I've owned/own some of the very best radios out there including Elecraft KX3, IC-7610 and FT-DX101D and the 705 is my favourite all-rounder! I just LOVE that thing”
I recently signed up for ham alerts and have been doing some SOTA chasing. I operate my 7300 remotely and work from home so sitting at my PC it’s really easy to just jump in there and work whatever pops up either SSB or CW via the keyboard.
It’s got me interested in doing some portable ops so been doing lots of research mainly to do with antennas.
My 7300 antenna is a home brew 49:1 efhw which works incredibly well.
It the 66’ length one so I only have 4 bands.
In looking at a portable antenna I want to have access to more bands.
I am thinking of a 41’ wire vertical on 31’ Jackite mast with some radials without a 9:1 to start with running to an LDG100 tuner. I have none of this gear yet.
Thinking about getting a 705 but want to get an antennas setup working first.
Are you have with your LDG Z-100 plus?
You have owned a whole host of gear, what is it that separates the 705 from the rest making it your favorite all-rounder?
By the way having been born and raised in Rhodesia I also learned the Queen’s English.
I think that you, me a Kiwi and an Ausie need to get on at the same time so that the locals can hear firsthand that we actually do have very different accents!!
All the best from sunny San Diego.
Joel
W6TC ex ZS6CBA
I replied with....
Well Joel, it sure is great to hear from you and THANK YOU for your very complimentary comments!
Yes, I've had all sorts of radios and enjoyed all the buying and swapping and experimenting. My wife is much less enthusiastic about it
Currently, I have an IC-7300, an IC-705, an FTM-300D, an FTM-7250D, an FT3D and an FT-DX101D. If lovely wife said I had to sell them all apart from ONE radio, I would keep the 705!
Why?? Well it is just a joy to play with. On Tuesday night I had a chat with YU1XA in Serbia on my 705 connected to a VERY poorly sited half-size G5RV. It was a good chat and we could hear each other perfectly well. On Thursday I chatted with him again on my FT-DX101D connected to an elevated EFHW and we had another good chat. There was little or no difference between the two conversations. The very biggest difference was one radio cost £2,000 more than the other!!
The 705 is (in my opinion) every bit as good as the 7300 on receive! But it also has VHF & UHF. It's also every bit as good as the Elecraft KX3 I had. It cost me exactly the same as a KX3 but came with superb filtering, a FAR better screen (full colour, touch), VHF & UHF, Scope & Waterfall, a loudspeaker that works(!), BlueTooth (that works with AirPod Pros and even with Yaesu's cheap BlueTooth earpiece), Wireless LAN for super simple remote work, built-in battery and a FABULOUS speaker-mic! The KX3 didn't even have a microphone!!
I recently did a side-by-side comparison (using an antenna switch) between the IC-7610 and the 705. Tuning into weak signals on the 7610 and then switching over to the 705, I was staggered by how close the two were and I couldn't find a signal weak enough that the 7610 heard but the 705 couldn't. Amazing!
The 705 is tough too! When I had my KX3 I was always worried about how fragile it felt. Another thing I like about the 705 is the wideband RX coverage - coming from an SWL background, there's lots of other things to listen to when the bands are quiet or if you just fancy monitoring the Broadcast stations, the AirBand or Marine Band in the background. It's the most versatile radio out there. And we've not even mentioned the DSTAR capability yet!
The 705 is also very easy to program frequencies into memory - without even reading the manual. Like the 7300, it's just very intuitive.
When outdoors, I have a 20/40M Linked Dipole in my little rucksack and it works magnificently. I was recently on holiday on the North-Eastern coast of England and with just 2.5W I was talking to KE5EE and WD4NGB in America. Great antenna purchased from SotaBeams here in the UK. I also have one of their EFHW which I use with a little Elecraft T1 ATU. www.sotabeams.co.uk
With regard to the Z-100PLUS, yes, it's a fabulous tuner and interfaces PERFECTLY with the 705 using nothing more than a simple stereo lead with 3.5mm jackplugs on either end. It's cheap and can be used with your higher power rigs too. I only bought an Elecraft T1 to save a little bit of weight when doing long hill walks.
Well I hope that's been of some use to you Joel. Like I said, it's real nice to hear from you and I wish you the very best.
When it comes to low-cost SDR's, there's an amazing choice out there and ShortWave Listeners have never had it so good. The quality and feature set available for just a few pounds (or dollars) is a dream come true, so let's just thank our lucky stars that technology has moved on so rapidly in the last few years.
Personally, I've used the SDRPLAY RSP1A for a few years now and it's provided everything I've needed. Since getting an ICOM IC-7300, it has been permanently assigned to the shack acting as a big-screen panadapter and waterfall, using the RadioAnalog PTRX-7300 interface module.
My old RSP1A was fitted with a plastic case which I quickly discarded and replaced with a dedicated metal case from a Chinese eBay seller. It was a very high quality bit of kit and represented great value for money.
With the RSP1A permanently attached to the IC-7300, it was time to look at buying another one for general Shortwave Listening duties elsewhere in the house. When I started looking on the SDRPLAY website, I noticed that they had a brand new model out called the RSPDX so I decided to take a closer look at it.
The RSPdx is a replacement for the RSP2 range. The first thing which struck me was that it was twice the price of an RSP1A so I was intrigued to know why! Maybe it has 2 tuners inside like the DUO model??
Well it turns out that it's only a single-tuner device but it is has higher specs than all the other models. In particular, the front-end has been totally redesigned with new filters and special attention has been paid to the frequencies below 2MHz!
This change to the RSP range is significant because it's the weakest area of the SDRPLAY products. Having an extremely wideband receiver (1kHz to 2GHz) means that compromises must be made somewhere and it seemed to hit hardest (to me at least) in the lowest part of the spectrum where all the broadcast DX stations live. Even strong, relatively local station like BBC R4 198 sounded quite poor.
Well that's all behind us now that SDRPLAY have redesigned the receiver and added a new "HDR" mode which makes a dramatic improvement on MW/LW. But the HF frequencies benefit greatly from the improvements too!
Is it twice the radio that the RSP1A is?? No, but if you want the best performance from something with huge frequency coverage, then the RSPdx is the one to consider. Before the RSPdx came out, narrower-band SDR dongles like the AirSpy Discovery were more sensitive than SDRPLAY's offerings, but then you lost all that 30MHz-2GHz. Now you don't have to compromise at all.
Another thing I like about the RSPdx (apart from it coming from the factory in a nice steel case) is the fact that it has THREE antenna ports. This is perfect for me because I have a G5RV, a Discone and an AOR SA-7000. Switching between the three is an absolute doddle and it frequently surprises me how much the signal is improved by switching (even when it sometimes doesn't even make sense)!
In order to take advantage of the RSPdx's features, you need to run the company's own software, SDR UNO. At the time of writing, it's up to V1.4 and it provides access to the receiver's HDR mode.
I know that some of my friends don't like the UNO software because it requires some investment of time to learn it and properly understand it. But if you do get to grips with it, there's nothing quite like it for what is essentially free software.
I bought the device from Martin Lynch & Sons in the UK and it arrived two days later. I must admit, I was disappointed to see that it arrived in a pretty flimsy Jiffy-Bag which could afford little protection against the usual rough handling dished out by couriers. The £200 device itself is in a very thin, non-padded box, so as far as I'm concerned it needed to be slightly better packed for the 200 mile journey.
The package also contained a couple of patch leads (ordered separately) which could easily have caused damage to the thin packaging. Anyway, I guess I'd better stop moaning about resellers - it never makes any difference to the way they operate.
Before connecting to my laptop, I decided to open up the box to marvel at all the internal goodies that made up this 200 quid receiver. Hmmm, I guess you're paying for the development that goes into them, not the components 😂😂 There are cheaper SDR receiver manufacturers out there, for sure, but none (IMHO) who provide as much support to the community. I think it's important to repay the efforts of companies like this. It makes them stronger, which in turn results in newer and better products for us.
With everything connected up, I pressed UNO's play button and delved into the MW/LW sectors to see how much better it was than my trusty RSP1A. And yes, in HDR mode, it was much better! It made Broadcast dxing far more enjoyable.
And even above 2MHz everything HF seemed that bit better on the ears and easier to pick out weaker stations. And the Notch Filters work superbly for me, making a dramatic difference.
I'm quite happy with this purchase. Would I have been better off buying the £100 RSP1A and spending the remaining £100 on an additional antenna? I don't think so. I've spent about £400 on the three antennas already and I can't invest in any beams because of housing/planning restrictions.
So overall, I think I made the right choice. It's the very latest incarnation from SDRplay and the hardware will be future-proof for a good while. The UNO software improves month on month and those improvements will only get better with V1.4's addition of a "Plug-In" which gives 3rd Party software writers the ability to add more features like the new ones included in the latest release (eg DAB).
In order to make it a much more pleasurable experience working with the RSPdx, I bought an ELAD TM-2 (Tmate) for £130. It totally transforms the receiver by adding a beautiful rotary encoder (VFO), a range of programmable push-buttons and an LCD information display. You can read more about it HERE.
I'll edit this page later when I've done more testing and gathered more data/pix.
HERE is a comprehensive review of the RSPDX by Mike Richards in the RadCom magazine January 2020. Bear in mind though, that this review was done with a pre-1.4 version of SDRuno.
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