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Today, SDRplay, the UK-based manufacturer of affordable software defined receivers, announced a new addition<\/a> to their product line: the SDRplay RSP-1A<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n The RSP1A joins the SDRplay product line of the RSP2 ($169.95 US), and RSP2 Pro ($199.95 US). The new RSP1A will retail for $99.00 US.<\/p>\n But what of this SDR\u2019s performance? \u00a0In a nutshell: as of today, I\u2019d contend that the RSP1A will simply be the best SDR value on the market.<\/i> End of story. There is nothing<\/i> I know in the $99 price bracket that can beat it.<\/p>\n How do I know this? \u00a0I can make this statement with confidence because I have been involved with real-world testing and evaluation of the RSP1A Alpha, Beta, and production models since May. I took the RSP1A with me to Canada this past summer for field recordings with my laptop, and I\u2019ve also evaluated the RSP at my home. Like a number of other reviewers, I\u2019ve been intimately involved with putting the RSP1A through its paces. And let\u2019s just say I like what I\u2019ve seen.<\/p>\n I actually do quite a bit of Alpha and Beta testing for manufacturers. While it\u2019s time-consuming volunteer work and requires meticulous attention to minor details, it gives me an opportunity to have meaningful positive impact on an upcoming product. Manufacturers that actively involve enthusiasts in their testing phase tend to produce better-quality products on the first run. Better products, of course, mean a better radio market with options for those only now discovering the mystery\u2013\u2013and fun\u2013\u2013of radio as well as DXing.<\/p>\n Since the RSP1A is essentially iterative agility on behalf of SDRplay, the RSP1A was surprisingly solid even in its early release. And try as I might, there were very few issues I ever needed to report back to the engineering team. SDRplay took each item of feedback seriously, logged it, and followed-up. Over the course of the evaluation period, SDRplay improved their dedicated SDR application SDRuno, as well.<\/p>\n In essence, the RSP1A hardware now in production and shipping has been thoroughly tested and is ripe-and-ready for your radio adventures.<\/p>\n I have not compared the RSP and RSP1A side by side; running two instances of SDRuno on the same PC has been problematic. To my ear, when I\u2019ve tested one after the other, the RSP1A serves up slightly better sensitivity, perhaps due to a slightly lower noise floor. Also the RSP1A frequency stability is much improved over the RSP1.<\/p>\n Specifically, the following upgrades have been made per SDRplay:<\/p>\n Suffice to say, this budget SDR delivers, and users will be wooed by its stellar performance.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve spent 95% of my evaluation time on the HF and mediumwave bands and I\u2019ve been impressed with the receiver\u2019s sensitivity, selectivity, and AGC control. The audio fidelity is also highly customizable since it\u2019s pumping audio directly through your PC\u2019s system.<\/p>\n I haven\u2019t spent any time above the aviation bands (higher than 140 MHz); I have, however, tested the RSP1A thoroughly on the FM broadcast bands and found it a solid FM performer. Note, too, that SDRuno\u2019s built-in RDS decoder window provides quite a lot of data.<\/p>\n I\u2019m also pleased that I haven\u2019t noticed any front-end overloading\u2013\u2013this, despite the fact that during travel, I\u2019ve used it in the vicinity of some powerful broadcasters.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve compared the RSP1A to the Elad FDM-S2<\/a> ($500), WinRadio Excalibur<\/a> ($900) and Microtelecom Perseus ($900).<\/p>\n The WinRadio G31DDC “Excalibur”<\/p><\/div>\n But let\u2019s be clear, here: this is not an \u201capples-to-apples\u201d comparison since the RSP1A is a fraction<\/i> of the cost of the others, and is also a wideband receiver (1 kHz to 2 GHz). The only other SDR I own that has VHF coverage is the FDM-S2, which tops out at 160 MHz.<\/p>\n Pricier HF-focused SDRs have distinct hardware advantages\u2013\u2013especially in terms of filtering\u2013\u2013that give them an edge over budget wideband SDRs. Still, in my comparisons, the RSP1A holds its own quite well.<\/p>\n Compared to the WinRadio Excalibur, for example, this SDR came fairly close in terms of sensitivity. \u00a0The WinRadio\u2019s synchronous detector\u2013\u2013which I consider to be the best in the business\u2013\u2013was indeed more stable than that of the RSP1A. The RSP1A sync lock could falter a bit during a weak signal\u2019s QSB dip compared with the Excalibur.<\/p>\n But again, HF SDRs in the league of the FDM-S2, Excalibur, and Perseus have the luxury of designing receiver architecture around a much smaller portion of the spectrum. If you are a hard-core DXer looking for uncompromised performance on the HF\/MW bands, then you should invest in one of these benchmark SDRs. I have, and I\u2019d never give one of them up.<\/p>\n With that said, even though I have these amazing benchmark SDRs at my disposal, I still purchased the original RSP1 (then at $159 US) years ago. Why? \u00a0For one thing, it\u2019s more portable than the Excalibur or Perseus as it requires no external power supply (like the excellent FDM-S2, the RSP derives its power from the USB data cable). Additionally, I do like to play with frequencies above 50 MHz from time to time. The RSP offers up an all-in-one RF toolbox at a very affordable price. I don\u2019t hesitate to throw the RSP in my pack and take it anywhere I\u2019m travelling. If it gets damaged or lost, I\u2019m only out $99\u2013\u2013not $1,000.<\/p>\n Again, RSP1A\u2019s bang-for-buck simply blows my mind.<\/p>\n Side note: I do wish someone<\/i> would develop an accessory outboard filter box that could be implemented with budget wideband SDRs, thus providing, in a sense, a hardware \u201cupgrade.\u201d Something like the Elad SPF-08 preselector box<\/a>\u00a0designed for the FDM-S2<\/p>\n This review has been overwhelmingly positive because, frankly, the RSP1A is challenging to find fault with. Of course, if it carried a price tag of $600-900, I\u2019d be much more critical of its performance as compared with my benchmark receivers in that same price class. I\u2019d fully expect a robust preselector system, a bullet-proof front end, and performance that could match or surpass the benchmarks.<\/p>\n But for just $99? You simply can\u2019t get that kind of hardware for that cost. \u00a0So SDRplay engineering cleverly pulls every bit of performance out of their receiver by focusing on their SDRuno application, which is optimized for this receiver. \u00a0And for that reason, it\u2019s in a class by itself.<\/p>\n Admittedly, when SDRplay first introduced their application, SDRuno, I wasn\u2019t the biggest fan. I found it rather quirky and a little cumbersome to use. SDRuno has come a long way, though; SDRplay has continuously improved it, and today, I prefer it to HDSDR and SDR console. SDRuno is much less cumbersome to use than it used to be, and the default window arrangement is pleasing (though I\u2019d still like SDRuno windows to lock and act as one window as I flip through programs on my Win 10 PC). I even prefer SDRuno to Elad\u2019s application in terms of ease of use.<\/p>\n If more AF\/IQ recording features are added (virtual receivers, for example) it could even become my application of choice.<\/p>\n The great thing about the SDRplay RSP series, however, is that they\u2019re supported by so many third-party SDR apps. If you don\u2019t like the one you\u2019re using, there are numerous others to chose from. SDRplay takes an affirmative stance that their hardware should be usable on as many platforms with as many applications as possible. Kudos to them.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a question I know I\u2019ll be asked…<\/p>\n Good question! As you might guess, my answer is fairly simple and depends on your particular needs:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re happy with the RSP1 and see no real benefit in the RSP1A upgrades above, don\u2019t bother upgrading.<\/b> Seriously…enjoy what you have! The RSP1 is still a sharp, capable, versatile little SDR and fully supported by SDRplay and its community. I\u2019ve worked some incredible DX with mine over the past few years, and love it.<\/p>\n If you like the sound of the RSP1A and would appreciate the upgrades listed above, then go for it!<\/b> After all, i<\/i>t\u2019s only $99!<\/i><\/b> Consider this: the price is less than that of my recently reviewed Digitech AR-1780 portable and less than the venerable Tecsun PL-660. Even with a modest external antenna, it will perform circles around these rigs.<\/p>\n If you need an excuse to justify the upgrade to the RSP1A, consider doing what I\u2019m planning to do: give your RSP1 to a friend or someone interested in the hobby. Or, donate it to your radio club as a raffle prize. Then too, of course, you can snag a decent price for it by selling it on eBay or QTH.com.<\/p>\n While a little busy, I do enjoy the combined spectrum display option on SDRuno.<\/p><\/div>\n If you can\u2019t tell, I\u2019m most impressed with this latest offering from SDRplay. I can recommend it with confidence because you simply can\u2019t beat the performance and features for the price.<\/p>\n If you’re considering the RSP1A as your first SDR, you’ll be happy to know SDRplay\u2019s Mike Ladd has also amassed a healthy number of SDRuno instructional videos<\/a> on YouTube as well. If you start with the first video, by the end of the series you\u2019ll be adept at using SDRuno. Couldn\u2019t be easier.<\/p>\n Think of it this way: The RSP1A is the sporty-but-affordable compact car of the SDR world. It delivers performance well above its comparatively modest price and is fun to operate. In terms of DX, it gets you from point A to point B very comfortably\u2013\u2013and quite affordably!<\/p>\n With just $99, there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t join the world of SDR\u2013\u2013the RSP1A is a very accessible, very intuitive SDR start your exploration of the radio spectrum.<\/p>\n\n
Performance<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nComparing to benchmarks<\/h2>\n
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Any cons?<\/h2>\n
\u201cI just purchased the RSP1. Should I upgrade?\u201d<\/h2>\n
Summary<\/h2>\n
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