Input anti-aliasing and preselector filters do indeed affect IMD-related and aliasing spurious responses. But of course so do the A/D and NCO and datapath.
Also I hear that msi001 tuner has just 85dB dynamic range, so this is the reason why MSi.SDR cannot have better dynamic range than RTLSDR. Just because dynamic range of analog frontend of MSi.SDR is limited to 85 dB. So, 12 bit cannot help here, and spurious LO makes things even worse...
For example:
RTLSDR:
8 bit ADC = 6.02 * 8 + 1.76 = 49.92 dB
Processing gain: 28.8 MHz => 3 kHz = 10*log(28800/(3*2)) = 36.8 dB
SNR = 49.92 + 36.8 = 86.72 dB
MSi.SDR
12 bit ADC = 6.02 * 12 + 1.76 = 74 dB
Processing gain: 24 MHz => 3 kHz = 10*log(24000/(3*2)) = 36 dB
SNR = 74+36 = 110 dB
But it is limited with msi001 tuner to 85 dB, so the total SNR = 85 dB
Almost the same as RTLSDR...
the better dynamic range of MSi.SDR allowed me to handle conditions which a bare RTLSDR
Here is comparison for dynamic range left is RTLSDRv3, right is MSi.SDR.
RTLSDRv3 is connected through 30 dB attenuator (because RTLSDRv3 has better sensitivity).
MSi.SDR is connected directly (with no attenuator).
Neither the RTLSDR or hackrf has dynamic range much above 60db. Which isnt very good at all. 85 db even would be a huge improvement.
As for comparing the units, I thought we were discussing about cheap commercial SDR units
I believe that comparing those with highly priced ones would be like comparing apples and oranges, otherwise we may just compare an RTL or MSi unit with an ETTUS USRP and conclude that the RTL/MSi are crap
MSi.SDR cost about 40-45 USD. This is a lot. By spending just a little more money (about 70 USD) you can build fair 12 bit SDR setup with much better performance.
The RTLSDR is definitely nothing like a high bit depth SDR. Weak signals cant be heard. This is obvious on the ham bands - any frequency really.
With the caveat that it was designed for TV with radio as an afterthought, I am petty sure that the MSI sdr is a 12 bit SDR.
The RTLSDR is definitely nothing like a high bit depth SDR.
Weak signals cant be heard. This is obvious on the ham bands - any frequency really.
Also, MSI has a web site. This is all likely explained there.
I wonder if one can clock the MSI SDR externally? It would be great if you could clock all your gear using the same GPSDO-derived oscillator signal(s)
Since my MSi unit is serving me better (at least in my experience, till now) than the RTL
it would be interesting to see what happens to the noise level (at bottom of spectrum display) when you connect the MSi SMA antenna connector ground to a good ground, I'm writing this since in some cases it made a LOT of difference
Since my MSi unit is serving me better (at least in my experience, till now) than the RTL
I think it's better to understand the root of cause why it serving you better. And I think the root of cause is because when you put very strong signal on the input RTLSDR it is overloaded much earlier than MSi.SDR. Just because RTLSDR has better sensitivity.
You can fix it just by adding some attenuator on the input of RTLSDR and you will get the same result.
it would be interesting to see what happens to the noise level (at bottom of spectrum display) when you connect the MSi SMA antenna connector ground to a good ground, I'm writing this since in some cases it made a LOT of differenceIt won't affect result. Both receiver will show you exactly the same result.
Did that (the attenuator) when I still had the RTL unit, but that didn't solve the issue and in any case didn't help with DX signals (you usually don't want to attenuate them )
And trying that would be easy, so... why not ?
Here is my test setup - both RTLSDR and MSi.SDR connected through T connector to antenna. I performed S-level calibration to keep the same signal level on both devices, so you can compare sensitivity level. And the third screenshot with disconnected antenna.
It shows receivers in realtime simultaneously.
Left part of screen is RTLSDRv3.
Right part of screen is MSi.SDR.
The first screenshot with connected antenna.
The second screenshot with disconnected antenna.
Both screenshots taken with the same settings. So, you can compare sensitivity and noise floor.
As you can see RTLSDR has a little better noise floor and a little better sensitivity than MSi.SDR.
You need to use some means of isolating the two receivers from one another. The way you have connected them is not going to be representative of either of them because you will get spurs from one SDR being presented at the input of the other.
Also the picture you show, is not showing any way of differentiating the two by dynamic range.
I have been unable to receive a bunch of weak shortwave stations using anything on my RTLSDR setup that come in clearly on other more-bit SDRs.
With a good upconverter they compete well with tabletop consumer radios with shortwave capabilities.
I would be surprised if the SDRplay had only 42 bits of dynamic range. If that was the case I think I would have heard people bitching about it!
Still, there are a lot of signals which my RTLSDRs cannot receive, even when put on a good antenna.