Ham Radio - The Malahit DSP portable SDR receiver.

A nifty little portable SDR receiver. I still have lots to explore with it, but here's an overview.
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[@SheepdogPreparedness]

Bought mine from Banggood and absolutely love it! Using it with an MLA30+ antenna and it picks up just as well as any of my other HF rigs. My Kenwood TS-870 will always be my favorite radio, but this one comes in 2nd.

[@krisraps]

This Is The Golden Age To Be An radio Amateur

[@jamienleah6465]

I sure want to thank you for posting this video, I purchased the upgraded version of this radio, I have had this a year and thanks to your demonstration I am listening to a couple fellows on 14.247.500 they are in Wisconsin, I am in Northern California it's 8:30 am Friday morning also in a rush to receive any thing I am using a 423.00 5 element yagi beam.. they sound like there in my living room lol Thanks so much WRPR-732 James Paradise California 😅😮

[@kpxoda1]

I have this one and the one made with the pcb board with the larger knobs and the 2 speakers and that one sounds quite amazing. The noise reduction is awesome and well as the rf gain and the speakers are really good. The are a bit glitchy though

[@stridermt2k]

As always thank you for you videos! These are really interesting radios. The noise reduction is impressive. I can hear speech brought from nothing a few times. -It's amazing. I picked one up but I ran into multiple issues with mine: *Bad soldering: Luckily I'm a soldering guy from way back because every single interface control needed to be re-flowed on the PCB with - leaded - solder. Check your encoder for that! *Firmware: I have not been able to upgrade the firmware on mine despite several different means available. Software neither hardware have worked. I replaced with the tuner encoder knob on mine with the one that is commonly used for the Xiegu G90 in an effort to work around the firmware issue. IMO is that is fiddly and not ready for prime time. -However as a proof of concept it shows what's possible. I'm ready for one of the "real" brands to be breakthrough with a "real" SDR SWL radio product. 73 de N2NLQ

[@brazenbull636]

Just got mine today (fully unlocked). Everything seems to work impressively. Listened to a conversation on 20m with a magmount CB antenna all the way home.

[@BC-ev4hl]

Hi..... how did you get an unlocked one? Do you have any links? Thanks

[@brazenbull636]

@@BC-ev4hl ebay. The more expensive/expanded model. Comes already unlocked..

[@normhils]

What does unlocked mean? (Sorry, newbie)

[@JennyEverywhere]

I like it, but I'm waiting for it to get a little more mature. Until then, I have a little short wave receiver built into a combination radio, MP3 player, and digital voice recorder, and the 4SQRP club Ozark Patrol regenerative receiver I built from their kit. (Of course I'm talking about receivers. I have a lot of transceivers.) I'm also hoping that QRPVer gets the Minion SDR straightened out and updated. It's reportedly not great on CW, and that's a lot of what I want it for.

[@maxxkatt]

I just received the 50KHz-2GHz Malahit DSP SDR Shortwave Radio Receiver. I am using it with three antennas: 1) MLA-30+ active loop, 2) Alpha Delta DX-SWL, 3) alpha delta DX-B. Do you think an antenna tuner would be worth the $300? Right now it the Malahit is doing great. Band conditions are good today and I am in Atlanta and amateur signals booming in from KS, OH & FL on 40 meters this afternoon. Kevin: thanks for you review of this radio. I bought it based on your review. Very happy with it for my casual SWL listening while I am working. Bought it on eBay. Took about 22 days to arrive, but worth the wait.

[@FlattyDaz]

Kevin, when you did a signal strength comparison between the 2, you had the 7300 with preamp set to preamp 1..... if you switched the preamp off on the ICOM, the signal comparison may have been a little closer..... but overall a good review, thanks mate.. VK2PDX.

[@dcolb121]

Three presses to start it? Mine takes a single push. Maybe I've got a bad one but from 1000 MHz to 2000 MHz is deaf. Someone made the brilliant observation that radios can lose sensitivity towards the edges of the band. I don't call HALF the stated bandwidth an EDGE.

[@UndernetSystems]

Pretty interesting receiver.

[@BrianKidney]

The Aliunce HD1 has a similar problem with the main encoder on the radio as your Malahit. The encoder is not being debounced correctly. I the HD1 there is a fix that involves a couple caps being soldered to the encoder pins.

[@larrybomber83]

Great information. Thank You.

[@ladyattis]

There seems to be some noise in the receiver when it was disconnected. I wonder if that's due to a compromise to fit it in the form factor.

[@krsdjdjcrs1]

Thanks for the video review, I was wondering if you were using the V4 of the software?

[@nickmoniker]

This might be an option to use as the receiver for satellite work. It would be cheaper than buying two FT-817s (one for receive, and one for transmit), which is apparently a common portable satellite setup.

[@Bombguy83]

I’m thinking same thing but have heard VHF UHF quality concerns, trying to figure it out

[@mikeryan9704]

You will notice that he had to PUT HIS HAND OVER THE SCREEN WHILE OUTSIDE TO SHIELD IT FROM THE SUN. You cannot read the screen while OUTDOORS. The unit works fine indoors. OUTSIDE...you might as well be looking at a blank screen.

[@mrbitpart]

I have the same rotary encoder skipping/double tap issue you describe here on my hackrf portapack2. Did you determine definitively whether it’s software related? I was considering sourcing a new encoder till you mentioned it may be software.

[@aaronbenns9051]

I love the huge fence antenna lol

[@jerryuhte1284]

Kevin , i just saw another Qrp rig (from the Commies ) all bands ,am fm ssbcw , $169.00 ! Amazing ! 73 ! K9UT Jerry

[@margaqrt]

Nice video. I don't know if it would be sensitive enough for tracking down interference with a small telescoping antenna.

[@rafkend1422]

I ordered one just for that purpose. I have S12 level QRM on my 20 meter band and can't for the love of God hear anything. I will use this SDR to hunt the culprit and get rid of it once and for all.

[@eddy2561]

Computer screen "reciever" is misspelled......too funny!

[@loughkb]

Hahahahaha Oh my god!!! That's absolutely hilarious!!!!!! We need to let everyone know right away! I'll call CNN.

[@PH2LB]

DFU = Device Firmware Update. Probably it's a hidden push button to be hold pressed on power up to enter firmware update mode to update the firmware with DFU software. Just like some NanoVNA's.

[@brendanhynes473]

Nice one Kev, I am looking to find a dealer here in Scotland, I look forward to you doing more with it de GM0CQV

[@gerrykavanagh]

Buy from RX9CIM, the designer. Less chance of a lemon that way

[@Ghost_Swe]

On a original Malahit from Malahit Team the noice reduction crushes my IC7300 by far! The one you show is a clone called Malachit from China

[@KA9DSL]

Could be my second receiver in the future.

[@jerryf3375]

Amazing for a little radio with a tiny speaker

[@bilbp41]

The DFU is for putting it into a mode so you can update the firmware

[@Migueldeservantes]

Really nice video, I was wondering if you recommend this for someone that don't have any other radio equipment? also I only have an amateur technician license.. very much the step in the door.. don't have any experience.. and all the good radios seem really to far out of reach price wise... would you please make a recommendation for a transmitter??

[@loughkb]

Check for a hamfest near your area. I often see great starter radios like an Icom IC-718 at those, usually affordably priced.

[@anulearntech]

I wonder How this compares to the xhdata D-808, tecsun dsp radios and other portable radios.

[@debbiramsey4603]

Thank you sir

[@aureliusprimus]

Very fine ! Thanks a lot Concerning Date and time settings, I did what it is wroten in notice but only problem I have done this but, it is impossible to save Date and time settings definitively. I have to set date and time every time I switch on the radio, this is awful. Is there really nothing to do ? 😀

[@viknumbers701]

Looks like the Malehit Rf gain was only set to 4.

[@chrisharper2658]

I've got one of those Chinese waveform generators and the optical encoded does the exact same thing. The key to good optical encoder function is to take one of the digital outputs and connect it to a hardware IRQ. Then you don't have to pole it and it just works.

[@joefish6091]

There are different types, the A before B / B before A types, then the 4 bit Gray code ones.

[@kevinkc3onohelijeepworld953]

I need to use af gain to 35-40% to get signals. Using the demo firmware.

[@ak5sd]

I bought an early Chinese clone in June of 2020. I opened the box, fired it up, and regretted my decision immediately. The one I have is definitely not ready for prime time. It's a great form factor and has potential, but needs more time in the oven. I'm not sure how much difference there is between the original Russian version and the Chinese clones. That could be a factor.

[@zaperfan]

Hi Kevin would it be possible to use the malahit with a Kenwood ts950 I F 8.83 not sure if you can, would be cool if this was possible. Great Video thanks

[@loughkb]

It covers that range of frequency, so I don't see why not.

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Interesting video as ever, did you mention paying the licence fee to be able to listen up to 2 gig? I may have missed it. I've ordered the Russian version from the original developers and it will be interesting to compare. Thanks again.

[@matthewdavies2057]

That's why the majority of folks buy the Chinese clones at $75. Same radio at less than half the price. FYI, don't believe the Russian hype. Lots of that out there.

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

@@matthewdavies2057 And are you able to listen up to 2 gigs without buying a licence from the Russians please?

[@zeez9053]

How Can I order a Russian one ❔

[@alancordwell9759]

Hi Kevin, been looking at the ads for these on eBay and elsewhere and I notice that the ads all state that LSB is a demodulation mode but not USB. This might sound a really silly question, but am I right to assume that they just missed that off the list, or does it only do USB if you upgrade the firmware? Cheers, Alan

[@loughkb]

It's all-mode. AM, FM (wide and narrow), USB, LSB, CW.

[@OldF1000]

Go old school. Back in the day you would save you penny's and buy a receiver and then build a transmitter to go with it ; )

[@AliReza-zx8km]

Nice........

[@unklewink]

"Where were you in the video when receiving WWV?" -- "At the perimeter fence of WWV." LOL

[@davidsradioroom9678]

How good of an antenna was that fence? I believe fences make good antennas.

[@unklewink]

@@davidsradioroom9678 Under the right conditions? Yes. Some do.

[@timsmith428]

Kevin...you gotta try the fence for listening on 630m, medium wave and 160 at night...

[@den5zxz757]

Whistlers !

[@loughkb]

Here in the Kingman area, there's a ridiculous noise source down low. From about half way down the AM broadcast band, all the way down to VLF, it's nothing but hash noise. Probably bad insulators on the power lines. It completely obliterates everything.

[@joefish6091]

@@loughkb Maybe one of those mag loops might be able to null out the unwanted.

[@minkorrh]

DFU will put it into boot mode so you can update the firmware with a flash.

[@AD4C]

I have same receiver also from same company yours is. You have to calibrate the S meter trough the HARD key and go to Sm correct, then there move up or down until you read same level as your 705 or in my case I injected a -73dbm(50 microvolts) on 14.100 Mhz and calibrated to read S9. Its a great receiver,my NR works much better than my 7300 NR. I payed only 180 bucks on ebay for it.

[@Kw1161]

The noise reduction in some Malichite units is very good.

[@bermudezhg]

Is that Malahit fully loaded with the latest firmware from the russian designers or is it just a demo version as typically sold by the chinese ?? The fact that the CW decoder is disabled is a Hint but I can be wrong.

[@loughkb]

I haven't upgraded it. The CW decoder works, you just tap the screen button to enable it.

[@keithd.glasgow809]

Can you put the display on a PC monitor?

[@nvrumi]

When you did the A/B switch from the Icon to the SDR on WWV, I thought I noticed a pitch shift, which means that one of them is not on frequency by a small amount. I'd bet it is the SDR. Did you notice the shift or am I out in the weeds somewhere??? Is this radio a clone of a Russian radio? I seem to remember there being something similar to this unit.

[@loughkb]

It's probably still a bit off, the receiver.

[@adrianoragazzo1321]

Yes, Kevin said already that's a Chinese version . The original has frontal knobs instead of sides. You CAN also upgrade the firmare but you need to dig for it..for some reasons i won't tell .

[@AudiophileTubes]

Is this good for monitoring 6 meter band openings on 50.125 MHz USB?

[@loughkb]

Sure.

[@krisraps]

I Want One !!!

[@JohnUsp]

are you reviewing the DSP sensitivity or the speaker quality? why not plug into the headset/line? why not test all the range?

[@loughkb]

As I recall, I used the USB connection to directly record the audio from the radio.

[@JT-py9lv]

Where are you ? That's not Quartzsite AZ. Are you in Kingman now ?

[@loughkb]

Yep.

[@don_n5skt]

I want one of these. Kevin, do you know if this one had the "demo" firmware or the paid version? The Malahit is a design that the Russians put out in spec format in order for the clones to make it to market. The firmware the Chinese are allowed to offer is a Demo version. The full featured costs an additional $60 US from the original Russian designers which is how they make their money on the device. I don't think that is a bad model. Tech Minds on KZbin explained the whole thing in his review and it is possible that your radio only has the demo version. There is a way to tell but I can't remember.

[@loughkb]

I never updated it, so it probably has the 'demo' firmware. Seems completely functional though.

[@don_n5skt]

@@loughkb Kevin. Thanks. I have one on the way and look forward to giving this radio a run.

[@morejelloplease]

these are now $300 as of march 2022

[@zelloToiletTalks]

How do you tune 1294.5 MHZ or 1.294.5 GHZ

[@paulbaker9277]

This idea may sound a little out their, but I have a small behringer mixer and I would run it through it as they a not bad equaliser and filters that may help in cleaning up the sound, it's just s thought. 73 s

[@laurentsetzer7094]

Bonjour y a t'il un mode scanner ou recherche automatique

[@debbiramsey4603]

Sir. Is this one just turn on and it's up and. Running.. the reason I ask is because I spend tensss of hours on my last SDR to even show a screen and it wouldn't. I don't want to do that big zero game again

[@loughkb]

Yes, it came assembled and ready to use.

[@thomasstandley6309]

Wonder if there's a firmware update out there?

[@adrianoragazzo1321]

On the original (russian) yes. On the clones you have to play with a "cracked" version..

[@Bombguy83]

How is it on VHF/UHF? It could be an affordable way onto linear satellites

[@loughkb]

I've used it to listen to the local emergency services on VHF. Seems to work just fine.

[@RobB_VK6ES]

SDRPlay really ought to introduce a standalone RX like this.

[@rotos1950]

La recinzione come antenna. Buona idea! Io uso la rete del mio letto.

[@matthewdavies2057]

Malahit is the Russian name of the firmware. Malachite is the name of the Chinese radio.

[@KA4UPW]

The Russian version is very impressive and the DSP is the best ive ever encountered, makes me say WTF icom !

[@Machria23]

Where did you get the little clip on antenna?

[@loughkb]

SMA to BNC adapter and then a BNC to binding post plug adapter.

[@Machria23]

@@loughkb Gotcha, thanks. ;-)

[@SCzxjk]

I seen a lot of videos about the Chinese clones but where is the original??

[@RandoWisLuL]

can this be used as a spectrum analyzer? Like the Tiny SA?

[@loughkb]

Maybe sort of. And as much as you can view parts of the spectrum. It can't be very much, and you have no measurement of decibels or other usable data.

[@RandoWisLuL]

@@loughkb Thank you. makes sense.

[@SailProMarina]

Pretty sure that is the Russian version if it has the hex lugs instead of screws

[@mohinderkaur6671]

contact bounce on mechanical encoder.

[@jimmyboomsemtex9735]

now we can call santa on the moon. ask neil lol. i like the big screen. side buttons look delicate. is it rain/waterproof?

[@loughkb]

No, not waterproof, nor resistant. Lots of gaps around the case.

[@jimmyboomsemtex9735]

@@loughkb really? an over sight of the designers. i think it would be easy to waterproof it on rain. oh well.

[@kensmith5694]

Its a shame it stops at 2GHz. Looking for stuff on the WiFi band of 2.4GHz would be another use for a thing like that if it went that high.

[@ElvisAnderson]

👏👏👏 🇧🇷

[@GeigerCheck]

I just got a similar one for $105 on Ali Express.

[@muddy32456]

i'll stick with my radio shack DX394 it works just fine.

[@kennynvake4hve584]

You should have tried it with the whip antenna...I hear you pick up zero from it with that antenna...

[@loughkb]

I tried it with many antennas and got expected results.

[@bartrosenberg]

The Earth in your intro video is rotating the wrong way, isn't it?

[@loughkb]

Yes. And you're the fifth person in 4 years to comment. I expected more actually. :-)

[@ericdreizen1463]

No AC adapter? (I just bought an IC R8600 for $2550 & today I see THIS!! $211!!! Tearing my hair out!)

[@brianmadonna2873]

All the Malahit's I see are 50khz to 200mhz only.

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

Hey, your Earth is rotating backwards. I feel gyped. I want my money back. :)

[@kevinshumaker3753]

It took YEARS before NBC News fixed theirs...

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

@@kevinshumaker3753 Ha!

[@joefish6091]

@@kevinshumaker3753 Read up on the BBC's animated globe, decades.

[@keekdachoseone7]

Icom definitely sounds better but its still pretty nice to have

[@billcooperpatriot1059]

I hear CW!

[@sapentiae]

Weather SAT for e.g.

[@debbiramsey4603]

I just want a prebuilt On and it's up and going now unit

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Maybe a firmware update will solve the problem you have.

[@skideric]

Like Comparing a Beetle Bug & a Rolls Royce..... Totally Diff Price Levels...LOL!

[@TiVlaGr]

Тhere is a huge gap between original Malahit and Chinees replica.

[@gabrielsansar6187]

u realize every one of us threw something at the screen when u didn`t show the one thing we needed to see.............................begins with `waterfall`

[@loughkb]

No idea what you're referring to. The waterfall was plainly visible.

[@tincanblower]

Didn't you see the waterfall...? It looks like a waterfall.

[@gabrielsansar6187]

@@tincanblower rephrase - waterfall--options........ various visuals

[@steve732]

Personally I found all these radios that are chinese knockoffs from the original russian made receiver appear to be a bit deaf as compared to other receivers. And many of them are defective in some way usually the touch screen. I bought 2 total from different sellers and had issues with both but mainly they lack sensitivity and selectivity. I'm an extra class ham anc receiver transceiver collector and I would not recommend these for any serious listener. Cute as a novelty item but too pricey to buy just for a novelty. Just putting it out there. My antenna is a carolina 160 up 75 ft and a 40m vertical. The radio and that loooong wire fence should have pulled in WWV on 10mhz at least an s-10 instead of a paltry S6

[@MrKalach]

Use original one ;)

[@marrkparkes3775]

It's as good as the icom you did not trun nr on the malachite icom 20 times the MONEY???????$$$$$$

[@SP-nt4sr]

I think you just embarrassed the crap out of icom. Comparing $100 Chinese piece of kit against a $1,500 HF rig. Granted the SDR is Rx only.

[@XPFTP]

way over priced. clones 250 to 300... thats nuts.

[@thenextlevel3567]

It's a chinese clone of Malachite DSP.

[@loughkb]

Yes, that's what I said in the video.

[@gianlucavirdis_guitarist]

very very bad receiver

[@gregoryaisemberg2037]

The new Russian version coming out is superior.

[@colinmartin3210]

235 htz offset error ! well what do you expect, its chinese crap... unlike a nanovna that is worth the risk at 50 euros, these radios are much more expensive.. its never going to be a reliable radio, built as cheaply as possible its going to DIE on you at some point..the vol and tune knobs with their push functions will crack the cb eventually, its not built well enough to not do that at some point.. touch screen is not that sensetive enough. it is what it is, a cheap ( not that cheap) chinese knockoff radio.. you wouldnt use it as a station radio on a trip to the moon. if your life might depend on it...like chinese torches, ok for looking in the barn for something but going 600 meters underground in a labrinth you would be mad to use a chinese torch... just remember, QUALITY CONTROL doesnt translate into chinese...