A fake SDRplay RSP1A on Walmart.com
SDRplay recently posted this article which focuses on counterfeit products. It’s a worthy read.
They’ve seen an uptick of people contacting them believing they’ve purchased a genuine SDRplay SDR only to discover it’s a counterfeit and will not work with new SDR Uno releases.
As I’ve mentioned before: I’m not a fan of counterfeits and will not knowingly link to them on this site.
The problem with fake products is that they’re not supported by the original manufacturer and often don’t perform up to the same specifications. The price difference is negligible–sometimes fakes are even higher than the genuine article (see the ad at the top of the page as a case in point). I feel like any money saved is a moot point when counterfeit product can’t take advantage of firmware upgrades and RF performance isn’t tested and verified.
It’s best to purchase either directly from the manufacturer or their authorized dealers.
Also, when you purchase the genuine item, you’re supporting the innovators in our radio world. Companies like SDRplay, AirSpy, and ELAD–original SDR manufacturers–are always seeking a means to get the best performance and functionality out of their products. They do meaningful research and development and implement customer feedback in each product iteration. Fake products do not: they merely copy and sell. They have no R&D department. Their quality control is all over the place.
When purchasing a new SDR–or any product for that matter–I encourage you to buy the real deal, Not only will you have product support in the long run, but you’ll also be investing in the innovators of our radio world.
Also sometimes, it is difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake, so I will shy away from that platform. Was taken by bogus NiMH aa cells sold on Amazon They were listed at 3000mah and only turned out to be 350mah
It works both ways. I know a few people who have bought inexpensive (maybe even fake) Chinese SDR gear as newbies, caught the radio “bug”, run up against the shortcomings of the cheap product and gone out and bought the real deal from AirSpy or SDRplay etc.
This obviously doesn’t work when the product in question is completely non-functional or the site is a scam, but the presence of knock offs doesn’t necessarily mean fewer sales of the real product. It’s well known that certain software companies “tolerate” pirate use of their products by personal home users and learners, because that user may well then request a real copy of that software at work once they’re used to it.
I hate to be “that” guy.
A LOT of these so-called counterfeit cases are not a case of a consumer being wronged but someone who was hoping that the counterfeit was made close enough to sponge off the original creator of the product.
There’s no way in heck that anyone is going to convince me that someone buying a device reliant on computer control didn’t use that computer or any computer to briefly research the product they were buying.
I’m really tired of the idea floating around in society today that saving a buck and buying counterfeit stuff is okay. It isn’t. You want something compatible with “whatever”? Buy it from an official source. Pay what they’re asking and be happy that the product even exists.
So many cheats and liars these days over a few bucks.