AirSpy HF+ Setup Problem

[8 tattoos]

It says to raise the gain using the slider on the right until noise floor reaches 5 db. Try to do this slider control doesn't respond. The sample rate is supposed to be 10 MSPS and the display is supposed to be 8 mhz. I have neither of those and set a frequency to a local AM radio station but I have no reception. I clicked the start triangle and it says cannot open device What am I doing wrong?

[ChrisSmolinski]

The HF+ has a sample rate of 768 kHz, not 10 MHz. I am not sure what software you are using, SDR#? Sounds like you have not actually selected the HF+ as the device to use.

[8 tattoos]

that's what it was I hadn't selected hf +

[mysticstar]

Hey man, how do you like your HF+? Is it really sensitive? What software do you use with it?

[ChrisSmolinski]

I mostly use it now to monitor 14230 for SSTV. I've used it in the past over most of HF as well as LW and MW and it seems sensitive enough. For a while I was using it on 13560 to monitor the low power 22m beacons (which typically run only a few mW) and it did a great job there.

[mysticstar]

    Thanks. I had read where it was considered more sensitive than some of the other medium to high end sdr's and I was wanting to know. The only thing I was bummed about was that it doesn't go up to a Geg or above in frequency. I think it stops at what? 260 or 360 MHz? I thought it was possible to get weather sats on 2 or 300. Not sure. Gosh, when you get older the reading comprehension goes right out the door! And also, when you bought yours, did you buy it direct from them?

[ChrisSmolinski]

It's a good radio, but not quite as sensitive as my netSDR (which is $1500). It tunes up to 31 MHz, then a gap, then 60-260 MHz. They're using a commercial tuner IC for the consumer market, hence the frequency range. It will also tune L band 1200-1650 MHz as that is used for digital radio in Europe. But not 1090 MHz for ADS-B.

I got mine direct from them.

[Josh]

 If I had an hf plus, I'd use that to listen to hf, and use the RSP2 as its wideband panadaptor. The hf plus is designed for superior hf performance for its price range.

[mysticstar]

     Thanks all. I have decided to spring for an HF+. I ordered today and I don't know where they ship from, but I'm really excited to see how it is. I bought my adapters at Amazon and everything is ready to go. I just have one antenna right now and I'll probably put more up in the spring. I figured that this would be a good radio to show me the ins and outs of SDR and maybe later on I will upgrade to something like the netSDR.

[Josh]

You will quickly learn that antennas put up in the howling winds, ice, snow, sleet, and rain will outperform those installed on a perfect day.

[mysticstar]

Yeah Man! You got that right. I'm sitting here like a kid waiting patiently for my package. It will be here tomorrow. Do ya'll use SDR# or SDR Console or something different? I'm a computer person, so eventually I want to be able to integrate everything to PC. For logging, since I no longer use paper, I got DXtreme. Are there any other good ones out there? I believe with DXtreme, that there is a way to link my SDR, but I would not be able to use SDR#. Instead I would have to use SDR Console. So.....If there is anyone out there that has a HF+, or uses DXtreme, any suggestions, pointers you have, I welcome with open arms. The SDR thing is completely new to me. I want to eventually get back into the utility side. I was laughing to myself today. If I eventually change everything over to PC, I could arrange all equipment, filters, preamps etc and in the end it would look like and be wired the same way PLC's are. I'm pretty sure a lot of this equipment can be mounted on DIN rail. I mean, basically what we all want to do is just stay seated in front of our equipment and have everything automated. (If not I guess I need therapy)

[mysticstar]

Is there any special software to use with my HF+? I did download sharp and install. Is SDR Console or HDSDR about the same thing? Is there advantages from one to the other?

[ChrisSmolinski]

I usually run SdrConsole with my HF+ although I have SDR# as well.