Software Defined Radios (SDR): SDRplay RSPdx vs NOOELEC Ham It Up

The RSPdx SDR from SDRplay comes at a premium price but offers some noticeable improvements over the NOOELEC Ham It Up. Depending on bands and modes that you wish to listen to, this video should help you decide which works best for your budget.
DISCLAIMER: The following are Amazon affiliate links. If clicked, I receive a small commission if a purchase is made from a link. This is not a solicitation, but is for information only.
AMAZON LINKS for NOOELEC Ham It Up:
Canada - amazon.ca/dp/B076CYK8XZ/ref=no...
US - amazon.com/dp/B076CYK8XZ/ref=n...
UK - amazon.co.uk/dp/B076CYK8XZ/ref...
AMAZON LINKS for NOOELEC NESDR SMART dongle:
Canada - amazon.ca/dp/B01HA642SW/ref=no...
US - amazon.com/dp/B01HA642SW/ref=n...
UK - amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HA642SW/ref...

[@thegrimmer]

I should use this to fall asleep when I had coffee too late in the day

[@johnwaterman1579]

thanks for the comparison

[@worminstool]

Thanks for the comparison! I was wondering which to get...

[@russellm7530]

Which on did you get?

[@laurincavender5412]

Good video. 👍

[@tomalexander6431]

I believe you can enter the 125 MHz offset into sdrsharp and then read the HF freq directly instead of doing the math in your head.

[@radiotopics1874]

Thanks! Will try that

[@livesonjura]

You're correct, in the "radio" control screen, look for "shift" and a box to check. Enter the frequency of the upconverter I.F. in Hertz and put a minus sign in front of it to tell SDR# to subtract that frequency from the displayed frequency. You can adjust this frequency up and down using up/down arrows to get the spectrum display to agree with the actual signal's frequency.

[@gaoldias]

While it's true that the RSPdx is almost twice the price of the Nooelec sdr+upconverter, the RSPdx has the ability to connect 3 antennas. I would also prefer having 1 piece of gear rather than 2, all else being equal.

[@garyhawkins1385]

Some links to the products you are using would be most helpful so that we can go and compare specs and pricing . Thanks

[@ManuelPinner]

I have the SDR Play RSP DX and a Adalm Pluto SDR,

[@danedewaard8215]

I use an RTL-SDR V3 with the Ham It Up on HDSDR software and do not get the heterodyning effect! Thanks for the video!!!

[@radiotopics1874]

Yes - it appears that the SDR# software was causing the heterodyning. I have done a subsequent video showing that the problem virtually disappears when using SDR Console.

[@Mach7RadioIntercepts]

Using direct sampling on the RTL, or just the RSPdx is a far better configuration than using an upconverter. When on the upconverter, you have two frequency offsets to contend with: the converter's and the dongle's. They drift differently, so you get an oddly trending offset to enter into your software. At one time, you might use 125.00130 megs, and an hour later it is 125.0020 megs. Not a big deal for AM signals, but way too much for SSB, CW, or digimodes. Those spurs in the AM broadcast band, and elsewhere, are a key reason why a native lowband SDR is a better rx method than using an upconverter. You have added another oscillator and mixer, plus another front end where intermod happens. Then, on the SDR, you have the issue on sampling rates.. Higher rates should fix the problem of aliasing / fake signals.

[@waltsailing2009]

Great video, any chance you could compare the rspdx with the older rsp2?

[@radiotopics1874]

Sorry, no. I don't have the older model.

[@Apostolos_Androutsos]

Great video great job and great comparison….but I have a few questions…The comparison it’s not on same frequencies and the nooelec gain isn’t on high! So…. I would like to khew what is your opinion about these two receivers… Which is better…. what is your suggestion? Nooelec or Rsp…. So My opinion….I think that Rspdx has less mirrors and less overloading with hi gain but nooelec has a better receiver and more overload’s with hi gain! Thanks anyway!

[@radiotopics1874]

I prefer the RSPdx. Only one USB cable to the computer as opposed to an additional SMA cable plus a dongle. Also, having to deal with the 125 MHz offset on the Ham It Up is inconvenient. I also like SDRUno's interface more than any other

[@l.a.2646]

The Nooelec V.5 doesn't need the upconverter because the v.5 smart tunes down to 100 khz . My kids got me a nooelec kit ( bundle) for my birthday awhile ago. I'm going to put mine on the RX output of my Yaesu FTdx3000d and play around with it. But I'm pretty sure that the new V5 doesn't need the upconverter.

[@l.a.2646]

PS really enjoyed the video!

[@georgeluthy6512]

What antenna is he using

[@radiotopics1874]

Hustler 4BTV for HF ham bands, recognizing it's sensitivity dropoff outside of those bands. For LW/MW, probably the same antenna, but could have used an amplified loop.

[@fitybux4664]

It really annoyed me way too much how you kept trying to center the frequency tuner on your screen instead of tuning, then using an offset from center. It's commonly known these cheap RTL-SDR dongles don't perform well at the exact center tuned frequency. I don't think this has much to do with the ham-it-up, it's just the SDR dongle you're using. It was interesting that 60kHz could be heard with ham-it-up, but not really with SDRplay! Is it possible that images are present in SDRplay when signals are getting through even if bandpass filters are switching in and out? 😲

[@onthebench3606]

This video would have been better without the background music...

[@richardpriest9554]

This video would be better without background music.

[@JR-lx8nn]

Thank you for trying, but failing to use the proper software offset suggests you do not know how to set the RTL dongle system up properly. Moreover, failing to demonstrate each product on the same software platform - such as SDRConsole that runs both rigs- makes it difficult, if not impossible, to fairly and accurately compare the performance of each product. For example, using a single program for both rigs will allow us to measure and realistically compare the noise floor, signal level, Singna-to-Noise ratio, RFGain, and other products of each product. Perhaps you could pull this video, and replace it with one that is more helpful? Good luck and good DX to you. JT

[@judd_s5643]

I suspect if you want to donate a small stipend he would throw away his work for you.

[@JR-lx8nn]

Why should I pay to remove this dross. It is technically flawed and proves nothing. Good intentions and owning a video camera are insufficient qualifications for producing training videos. There is a reason for only ten comments (now 11) after 3000 views. Colossal waste of time. JT

[@bern047]

WTF can you do a video and show us what you know about SDR

[@JR-lx8nn]

Yes. Almost anyone could do better. Bottom line - you fail to answer or rebut the critics. Others and I have indicated fatal flaws invalidating your demonstration - and you have failed to correct or explain why that criticism is misplaced. In a court or formal debate that means Score 1 for the critics, and Score 0 for you, because you have failed to present a cogent defense of your work. Your reply fails to meet the objection. Resorting to cussing proves you are out of serious ideas. As a radio and antenna design engineer, I conclude your demonstration is of no value. JT