Announcing the new SDRplay RSPdx-R2 software defined radio!

Many thanks to SWLing Post sponsor and supporter, SDRplay, who shares the following announcement:

SDRplay announces the RSPdx-R2

SDRplay Limited is announcing the launch of the RSPdx-R2 which is an enhanced version of its highly popular multi antenna port SDR, the RSPdx.

Jon Hudson, SDRplay Sales and Marketing Director said “Global supply chain support issues have prompted some redesign of existing products to ensure continued supply for our UK manufacturing partners. With each new member of the RSP family, SDRplay tries to include improvements. This has given us the opportunity to offer performance enhancements at the same time as assuring supply”.

The RSPdx-R2 provides up to 10MHz spectrum visibility anywhere from 1kHZ to 2GHz with no gaps. It features:

Improvements to the RSPdx for MF frequencies and below:
Improved noise performance below 1MHz
Improved dynamic range below 2MHz both in tuner mode and HDR mode
3 Software selectable inputs, including a BNC input for up to 200MHz
A 500kHz LPF for LF/VLF
HDR mode for enhanced performance under 2MHz
Notch filters on all inputs
A rugged steel case

More details on https://www.sdrplay.com/rspdxR2/

The suggested retail price is £188.00 GBP (excluding VAT), $235.00 USD (excluding tax) or €225.60 EUR (excluding tax).

SDRplay recently launched their free multiplatform SDRconnect software which as well as running on Windows, will also run on MacOS and Linux/Raspberry Pi. As with their SDRuno windows software, the emphasis is on “plug and play” making the SDRplay receivers an easy-to-use and low-cost way to discover (or rediscover) the radio hobby for anyone who already uses a computer.

The UK manufactured RSP family of SDR receivers are available directly from SDRplay Ltd. or from authorised resellers worldwide. More details on https://www.sdrplay.com/purchasehome/

For more information visit the SDRplay website on www.sdrplay.com

About SDRplay:

SDRplay limited is a registered UK company, with registered offices in the UK and Ireland. UK: SDRplay Limited, 21 Lenten Street, ALTON, Hampshire, GU34 1HG, UK, Registered Number: 09035244 Ireland: The Black Church, St Mary’s Place, Co. Dublin, D07 P4AX, Ireland, Registered Number: 3591295EH Correspondence Address: PO Box 1180, Princes Risborough, HP22 9TD, United Kingdom

Video

Click here to view on YouTube.

Data Sheet

Click here to download the RSPdx-R2 Data Sheet. (PDF)

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Name that theme and more test car classics

W9IMS: 2024 Checkered Flag Award!

2024 Checkered Flag Award: Time to Get Racy!

By Brian D. Smith, W9IND

You can’t go 3 for 3 if you haven’t gone 1 for 1. And if you want to add the 2024 Checkered Flag Award to your collection, you’ll have to bag the first W9IMS special event of the year sometime between now and 11:59 p.m. Saturday (Eastern Time)/0359 Sunday UTC.

Besides the currently running IndyCar Grand Prix event, hams and SWLs will need to work or tune in W9IMS two more times this year to take the Checkered Flag. After this week, W9IMS will return to the airwaves for the Indianapolis 500 (May 20-26) and the NASCAR 200 at the Brickyard (July 15-21).

The prime time to find W9IMS is from 6 to 10 p.m. Eastern (2200-0200 UTC) on weekdays, sometimes extending to midnight (0400 GMT), and the prime bands are 40 and 20 meters (generally around 7.245 and 14.245 MHz). However, frequencies can change as a result of QRM and other factors.

You can save time by checking W9IMS spots, which are posted frequently on DX Summit (www.dxsummit.fi).

Also, while W9IMS can appear at any time of day before the final signoff on Saturday night, you’ll have a better chance of finding the station by going to the W9IMS QRZ page (www.w9ims.com) and clicking the Grand Prix link under the heading “2024 Operating Schedule” – which displays the shifts that operators have already signed up for. The same page contains answers to a great many questions pertaining to the W9IMS QSL cards and certificate.

If you still haven’t worked W9IMS by Saturday, remember that at the end of the week, operators often start requesting calls only from stations that haven’t yet worked the current special event.

Another tip is to hang around for happy hour – the last blast on Race Day (May 11 for the 2024 Grand Prix) – which usually starts around 11 p.m. Indy time (0300 UTC). That’s when W9IMS ops traditionally switch to contest-style QSOs and exchange only signal reports so they can put as many stations in the logs as possible. But keep in mind that W9IMS special events can also end early if the station encounters sparse QSOs or adverse solar or weather conditions.

If you just can’t complete a QSO, you can always create an SWL report by copying down details of other W9IMS contacts – including frequency, UTC, and a few of the stations you heard W9IMS working. This can count as a credit for a Grand Prix QSL card and/or one of three credits toward a certificate. SWL certificates feature names instead of callsigns, but are otherwise indistinguishable from awards issued to amateur radio operators.

Whether or not you catch all three W9IMS events in 2024, you’ll qualify for a new and unique QSL card for each race that you log. But why not try for the trifecta? Stay on your toes, though – the Indy 500 special event begins only 9 days after the end of the Grand Prix!

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Spaceweather.com: Sunspot “visually rivals Carrington’s famous sunspot”

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, who shares the following news via Spaceweather.com:

Above: Carrington’s sunspot (to scale) compared to today’s giant sunspot AR3664.

HUGE SUNSPOT HURLS CME TOWARD EARTH: A sunspot so large it visually rivals Carrington’s famous sunspot of 1859 hurled a CME toward Earth today. Don’t worry! A new Carrington Event is not in the offing. The incoming CME isn’t potent enough. However, this huge sunspot merits watching while Earth is in its strike zone. Full story @ Spaceweather.com.

CME impact alerts: Sign up for Space Weather Alerts to receive an instant text message when the CME arrives.

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Texas Radio Shortwave returns to Channel 292 monthly

TRSW returns to Channel 292 monthly

TRSW returns to Channel 292, Rohrbach, Germany, on each month’s first consecutive Saturday and Sunday. (In September, that’s the 7th and 8th.)

Programs air the first Saturday on 3955 kHz at 1900 UTC and the first Sunday on 9670 kHz at 1200 UTC.

Tentative programs for the next few months:

June – Lead Belly & Lemon Jefferson (Black blues musicians)
July – Texas Music A to Z #1 (Cities)
August – Texas Music A to Z #2 (Artists).

TRSW continues to verify correct, detailed reception reports with a newly designed electronic QSL every month. Reports from listeners — especially from outside Europe — using remote SDRs are welcome. Reports should be sent to [email protected].

73.

trsw

Texas Radio Shortwave
Returning to our roots on Channel 292

www.facebook.com/texasradiosw
www.channel292.de

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2024 Editions of NDB Handbooks and CDs are now available

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Michael, who shares the following announcement:

The 2024 editions of my NDB handbooks and CDs are available now.

As always I’ve incorporated the latest changes and monitoring results.

The new GNDBH contains the details of more than 17400 NDBs worldwide.
It is the perfect listening companion for radio listeners who use the
extensive and ever-growing network of WebSDRs.

The updated ENDBH features the data of more than 8400 NDBs, and the new
NANDBH more than 5900 NDBs.

Please find all relevant details at the following URL: https://ndblist.info/index_htm_files/NDBpublications2024.pdf

Once again, I’d like to thank all fellow DXers for your continued
support! Please keep up the good work, I do appreciate your direct
input to keep the handbooks up to date!

—
vy 73 + gd DX,

Michael

ENDBH, GNDBH & NANDBH editor

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Raddy RF-919: First New Portable to Feature Recording?

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who writes:

SWLing Post readers have no doubt seen the appearance of the Raddy RF-919, which is manufactured by Hanrongda in China. I have generally not been impressed by some receivers from this company, notably the HRD-747/757 and the reviews seem to support this.

However, from first appearances the RF-919 may be an exception. I am expecting a RF-919 soon, but one of the more recent reviews was by the very popular YouTuber NotaRubicon, and I was surprised to see that according to this review, the RF-919 actually is capable of recording to microSD.

Indeed, when checking the manual available online (Section 8.3) this feature is confirmed. This is an extraordinary development in the portable receiver market and it makes one wonder again why other manufacturers chose not to add this feature. Though we are lacking information about production decisions, it does seem like Tecsun in particular, with its otherwise excellent 990/501 portables, could have implemented recording to microSD.

As of the time I am writing this, there seems to have been surprisingly little discussion by those who have obtained a RF-919 about the recording feature, but I expect there to be more about this when users discover it. As for performance, I hope to have my 919 in hand in coming days and will review it for SWLing. From observing initial user videos, this radio is packed with some impressive features and coverage.

Thank you, Dan! I look forward to checking out the recording function. It would, indeed, be wonderful to finally have a capable portable with proper built-in recording.

Radioddity Discount: In the spirit of full transparency, Radioddity is a sponsor of the SWLing Post and they also offer us an affiliate code and link that will save you $15 off the purchase of an RF-919. Click here to save $15 off your purchase at Radioditty.

In addition, the RF-919 is also available on Amazon.com (affiliate link).

If you’ve purchased an RF-919 and would like to share your review, please let us know in the comments!

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