Malahit DSP2 2023 2.40 beta firmware upgrade, FT8 decoding, WSJT-X comparison via USB
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- čas přidán 16. 07. 2024
- In this video I go through the firmware update process of the latest officially licenced Chinese clone of the Malahit / Malachite DSP2 SDR receiver, from the original 2.30 firmware to the recently released 2.40 beta firmware.
This latest version adds FT8 (and RTTY) decoding, and here I review this new functionnality and compare it with WSJT-X decoding, with the Malahit connected to the PC via USB.
Link to this radio on Deepelec store on Aliexpress:
fr.aliexpress.com/item/100500...
Deepelec Malahit firmwares, tools and documents:
drive.google.com/drive/folder...
WSJT-X software:
wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx.html
SDR Console software:
www.sdr-radio.com/console
00:00 - Quick overview
00:53 - Firmware upgrade process
09:39 - Restoring my settings
14:31 - FT8 decoding on the Malahit
17:30 - Connecting to WSJT-X
20:50 - Windows audio output to Malahit
21:44 - FT8 decoding comparison - Věda a technologie
Thanks for the video i have just bought a DSP2 and this video has helped me alot in setting it up 73s
Thanks for your video! I did not know how to set time in the radio. Now FT8 working well. Weakest signal decoded -19SNR. Firmware is 2.40. I use a home made little wire loop about 50cm in diameter with very sharp resonance. Get a whole lot of signals on the malahit. Yes, I also pushed the CALFT8 and then it could not decode anymore because time was put forward. Strange. Thanks for the link to the files!
Awesome video my friend! Convinced me to spend some money 😆
Thanx for doing this. 👍
Thanks for the video. I think the reason the cursor was not "centred" at 10:16 is because you were in LSB. If you select USB it similarly "offsets" to the right. Any problems or issues since updating the firmware?
You are correct for LSB/USB offset. I've been using the radio a bit sice yesterday and it's been working flawlessly so far. I had no issue in particular, at least not yet. So I'd say it looks pretty stable for a beta firmware overall.
I just got mine, and I'm really impressed with it. One minor niggle is that the FM station RDS is not working, even with strong stations and all the settings carefully checked. Have you had this problem? A few letters came though just for a second but nothing since.
I can get RDS to work, but I have to point the antenna in the best direction to peak the RDS signal. Seems like it struggles a bit with decoding it, but with a strong RDS signal it just manages it.
👍
📻 Can a software update extend the frequency range? I heard they were coming out with a radio that goes up to 6 ghz 📡 Also, any tricks to opening up that dead spot between 380 and 400mhz?
Is there a way with the SDR-2 version to get rid of the 380 - 400MHz gap?
Unfortunately no. This is still a hardware limitation of these models. Same with the latest official DSP3 as well.
Can you add DMR please thanks
Guten Tag, ich möchte Sie fragen was für Encoder dieser Empfänger hat. Ist es ein mechanischer oder ein optischer ? Vielen Dank für die Antwort. Vy 73 und 55
Definitely mechanical encoders, both are the same for the volume and frequency, with detents.
Вариант с водопадом смещающимся при настройке лучше варианта с подвижной стрелкой. Движущийся водопад однозначно изобличает сигналы являющиеся побочными каналами приема. Если весь водопад дружно движется с определенной скоростью в одну сторону, а какой то всплеск почему то побежал навстречу или с удвоенной скоростью - сразу ясно что это сигнал фантомный. А как вы это поймёте с "модной" движущейся стрелкой?
Well you're right, what you mentionned can be indeed one advantage of a centered VFO. But this is a situation I rarely encounter. Also, in my opinion there are more advantages to a fixed bandscope/waterfall compared to centered. I have a Icom IC-705, and most of the time I use the fixed bandscope showing the entire band I'm on.
The Malahit has enough bandwidth with its 192kHz to cover a big portion if not the entirety of most HF bands. So when using the fixed bandscope mode, I can clearly see what's going on on the entire band, for example on 40m, whether I'm listening at 7.060 or 7.150 I can still see the entirety of the 40m band, just like I can on SDR Console with my RSPdx on the computer. So if I see a signal, I can tune it, and keep looking down the waterfall with no confusion whatsoever. The waterfall history remains clear and useable when tuning around the band to spot signals. It gets messed up with scrolling near the edges, but that's fine.
Tuning with a centered VFO on the Malahit and most SDR softwares (except SDR Console and maybe others I don't know), the waterfall history remains where it is on the screen and new signals are painted at the top. The waterfall immediately turns into a very confusing looking thing, with signals painted sideways all over the place during and shortly after tuning. Signal history at the bottom becomes immediately useless as it does not correspond to the frequency currently being displayed. It is especially annoying to me when using slow waterfall speeds!
What SDR Console does instead when going up and down in frequency, is to move the entire waterfall history side to side with the bandscope! Where there is no history, the waterfall just starts blank. So after moving up in frequency, you can have a look down the waterfall immediately, and it still makes perfect sense. It looks natural, all the signals history are still showing up right where they should from top to bottom, and if you want to have a look to tune to a signal, it is not confusing at all.
That said, this probably requires much more processing power, as the entire waterfall gets repainted and moves during tuning. Perfectly doable on a PC, but probably not on a Malahit. It would be really great to have though.
So to me the fixed bandscope that allows tuning across the screen is not just for looks, it's a real advantage! You can have a fully useable signal history and see almost the entire ham band, independently from the frequency you're listening to on that band.
I just got one exactly like this and I think it would do a lot better with FT8 with a high Z antenna. I already figured out a lot about this little rig. I watched the whole video and never once did he have either the NR or the NB on!! And with no high Z and no NB or NR on, getting FT8 would be difficult I think. Most SDRs do better with high impedance antennas, this is an SDR, just one that is standalone like a portable radio and not hooked up through your PC. The High Z connection is a lot quieter and in HF, with both NB and NR turned on, it should do better getting FT8 pulled in. I have tried both 50 ohm and High Z ants on this and also bought the two little "Donut" antennas specifically designed for Malahits. The Donuts are high Z and work quite well. One is for the AM broadcast MW band and the SW one covers most of the HF bands. But it starts at 4000KHz so it omits the 80 meter ham band. The little donut antennas are only about $20 so well worth it, I recommend them.
Interesting radio but Deepelec is selling it with the v.2.30 firmware. Don't understand where the Beta 2.40 comes from. Maybe from their webpage or so?
Firmware 2.40 being a beta, I don't think they will ever sell it with this version already installed. Maybe later when it's out of the testing phase. But that said, Deepelec themselves provided the update files on their Facebook page below.
facebook.com/groups/malahitsdr/posts/300104336099925/
I put a link to the files in the description of the video. I assume they will keep posting newer versions as it becomes available.
@@Slay3rOne Just received mine that I ordered during the 11-11 sale, v2.40 already installed 😎
@@dskentfield does it say Beta as shown in this video? Mine is on its way, but still a few weeks out…thanks
@@RoyGNH nope, just 2.40....
Hey I have a original DSP 2 can I use that upgrade u did if not where can I find a video to upgrade original DSP 2 can you help me thanks
The tutorial video I was watching to follow the update process was from the Malahit Team themselves. It is the same procedure for the original and for these clones (maybe not all clones though!), but the firmware file itself is not the same.
The links I provided here are for the clones shown in the video. But for the original SDRs, you can find the latest firmwares files on the Malahit website down below. You will see links for DSP1, 2 and 3.
malahiteam.com/en/documentation/
Here is the link to the original firmware update tutorial video as well. Check their manuals from the link above for further instructions if needed.
czcams.com/video/3RMuSRu4kuA/video.html
Bonsoir j'ai acheté ce malahit dsp2
Je suis nouveau dans cette pratique du short wave
Quelle antenne faut il pour obtenir le meilleur rendement et quels sont les meilleurs réglages
J'ai actuellement l'antenne fournie et j'ai aussi une antenne filaire Xdata AN 80 qui s'enroule
Peut on brancher 2 antennes en même temps sur les connecteurs
le SNR c'est quoi ?
Merci d'avance pour votre réponse
Je suis dans le Var
Cordialement
Bonsoir, alors pour vous répondre dans l'ordre :
─ Vous pouvez sans problème commencer avec un long fil, qui devrait aller très bien sur l'entrée High-Z, et qui reste le plus simple à mettre en place pour commencer à écouter. N'oubliez pas de jouer avec les options RF GAIN (gain en réception), PREAMP (préampli) et ATT (attenuation, au besoin) pour tenter d'améliorer la réception. Quand j'ai commencé l'écoute shortwave il y a quelques années, j'ai commencé avec les moyens du bord et un long fil enroulé autour de l'antenne d'un vieux poste shortwave.
Désormais j'utilise une antenne de type Active Loop qui a de loin amélioré ma réception HF. Vous pouvez regarder du côté d'un autre modèle d'Active Loop très populaire ces derniers temps et à un très bon prix, le MLA-30+ (disponible chez Passion-Radio.fr par exemple). Je ne l'ai pas encore testée personnellement, mais il y a pas mal de reviews si vous voulez vous faire une idée. C'est une antenne pour la réception HF uniquement, d'environ 500kHz à 30MHz, son format est très compact et l'antenne peut être installée assez facilement. Ce modèle a l'air de permettre une très bonne réception en particulier sur les bandes basses
@@Slay3rOne merci beaucoup pour vos excellents conseils éclairés 👍👌
@@Slay3rOne Comment réinitialiser le récepteur parceque je crois avoir mélangé les réglages
@@oyarzun8871 Après avoir quitté tous les menus, il faut laisser appuyé les boutons de volume et de fréquence, jusqu'à entendre un bip, si je ne me trompe pas.
Bonjour, je possède ce récepteur depuis quelques jours....pour les antennes j'utilise pour ma part une mini whip RAOSMS.. ça marche très bien et ne demande aucun réglage pour une couverture de 10khz à 30mhz... j'utilise en portable diverses antenne de chez SV2CZF... très bonnes antennes vraiment efficaces....73
bricked my radio, though the programmer said all ok, now can't enter even a DFU mode
Did you try holding both push buttons down for 15 seconds? May reset the radio to defaults. It did for me. Also, it seems that removing the battery will reset in a different way.
Hi Can you update earlier firmware versions
If you are asking if this firmware can be installed on the DSP1, no unfortunately. This is a DSP2/DSP3 only firmware.
Does the tuning mute or chuff when turning the tuning knob?
Not at all on the Malahit receivers!
@@Slay3rOne How is fine-tuning achieved? Automatic, or you don't need to do it?
@@r0tekz I didn't need to align anything. It is perfectly on frequency from the factory. But there is a "F correct" option under the "RADIO" tab, if required.
I did use this option for QO-100 reception, as I use a GPS locked LNB, but it remains around 110Hz off frequency on any receiver I tried it on (Pluto, RSPdx, Malahit).
Do it can decode DRM broadcast stations?
with a computer yes
Question de newbie mais à quoi ça sert ce genre de gadget ? Merci.
Il s'agit d'un récepteur radio permettant l'écoute en portable de stations radio sur les ondes courtes, les bandes de fréquences radioamateur, la bande aviation, bande broadcast FM, entre autres... que ce soit des transmissions locales ou du monde entier, ou même satellites avec l'équipement et antennes appropriées. Ce modèle en particulier couvre une très vaste portion - pour ne pas dire toutes - les fréquences utiles, et est un des meilleurs modèles conçu à l'origine par des radioamateurs, pour des radioamateurs et pour les écouteurs. Avec un affichage clair et une interface très bien conçue permettant de bien visualiser les signaux que l'on souhaite écouter. Voilà, en espérant avoir pu répondre à ta question sans trop rentrer dans des détails trop techniques !
Is this really worth USD 360, your honest answer please.
Sorry for the late answer. Quite frankly, I didn't own any of the previous Malahit receivers, original or clones. I wanted to get one since the very first models, but even though the clones were cheaper than that, the quality wasn't really there at the beginning, so I wasn't interested and decided to wait further to see improvements. I saw a lot of reviews of the more recent clones, and I have to say there are some really good ones nowadays that can cost a bit less than this one, like the V3 and/or V5, if I remember correctly. Again, I didn't test these so I can't compare here.
But all the other models out there are clones of the DSP1 and not DSP2 (better hardware, smaller frequency gap, more spectrum scope bandwidth, more recent firmware version with newer upcoming releases adding functionnalities like the decoders here,...). If I'm not mistaken, there are only two DSP2 clones out there now.
This particular model is the first chinese clone with really really good build quality, fully CNC machined aluminium case, shielding on all modules, good quality speaker, plus it's the more recent DSP2 and it does in fact have a licenced Malahiteam firmware that can be upgraded without issues later down the line. All that adds extra cost unfortunately.
So is it worth the extra cost? I don't know, I would say if you want to try out a really good Malahit receiver you can get the cheaper priced models like the V3 or V5 and I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed and have most of the functionnalities and specs. But I went for this one for what I consider to be a much better build quality and more recent design, with fully unlocked and upgradable firmware.
You probably will get more bang for your buck going for let's say a V3 or V5 (do your own research on the other clones), but considering the quality of this one, I am not disappointed at all buying it. It's the first Malahit that really looks and feels like a professionnally made piece of equipment to me, with a lot of thought that went into the design. Once again, my own opinion on it.
Put it this way my Mala came in another case than this one but it cost me $75. So no, this is a rip.
Firmware is pronounced like the word Fern but with a M at the end. Your pronunciation sounds like "fineware" would be pronounced if it were an English word. Thanks for the video and the detailed instructions.
His English sounds good to me and I'm English.
Can you tell me how you know this is a Chinese copy ? Of the original
The Malahit receivers are designed and built by Russian amateur radio operators and engineeers, as explained on their own website Malahiteam. They are the only sellers of the original model. Anything else is a copy. That said, there are now licenced copies, with future upgradeability of the firmware. This is one of those.
Is there a way with the SDR-3 version to get rid of the 250 - 400MHz gap???
Unfortunately no. This is still a hardware limitation of these models. Same thing with this one and the DSP3 as well.