Airspy HF+ Discovery Review 2026
The Airspy HF+ Discovery is the best SDR for shortwave and ham HF under $250. It's also useless for police scanners, ADS-B, and anything above 260 MHz. Read the frequency limits before ordering.
If shortwave listening, HF ham radio, or weak-signal digital modes are what you want, the HF+ Discovery is the answer. Its 16-bit effective ADC and dedicated pre-selection filters put it in a different class from RTL-SDR dongles on crowded HF bands. But it covers a narrow slice of spectrum — and if you need UHF coverage for police, ADS-B, or GMRS, it cannot help you. Pair it with an RTL-SDR V4 or Airspy Mini if you need both.
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Frequency Coverage: The Most Important Thing to Know
The HF+ Discovery is a purpose-built radio. It doesn't try to cover the full spectrum — it covers two specific ranges exceptionally well. Before anything else, check whether what you want to receive is in those ranges.
| Frequency Range | What's Here | HF+ Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kHz – 31 MHz | Shortwave, AM broadcast, ham HF bands (160m–10m), WSPR, medium wave, NDB | Covered |
| 60 – 260 MHz | FM broadcast, NOAA weather satellites (137 MHz), VHF airband (118–136 MHz), VHF public safety, weather radio | Covered |
| 260 MHz – 1.7 GHz | UHF public safety (400–512 MHz), GMRS/FRS (462–467 MHz), 700/800 MHz police, ADS-B (1090 MHz), cellular | Not Covered |
| 1090 MHz | ADS-B aircraft transponders | Not Covered |
| 430 – 450 MHz | 70 cm ham radio | Not Covered |
The Gap That Catches Buyers Off Guard
The HF+ has no coverage between 31 MHz and 60 MHz (a portion of HF/VHF), and nothing above 260 MHz. This is a deliberate design decision — those two bands are where the hardware achieves its exceptional performance. But it means no UHF, no 700/800 MHz, and no ADS-B.
Who Is This For?
Perfect choice if you want:
- Shortwave broadcasting (3–30 MHz) — international stations, news, religious programming
- HF ham radio — 160m, 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m bands
- WSPR and FT8 weak-signal digital modes — the HF+'s noise floor is exceptional
- Medium wave DXing (AM broadcast, 540 kHz–1.7 MHz)
- VHF airband (118–136 MHz) — civilian aircraft voice, IS covered
- NOAA weather satellites (137 MHz) — covered
- NDB and longwave beacons (below 500 kHz with some limitations)
Wrong tool if you need:
- Police scanner — UHF digital P25, 700/800 MHz systems are not covered
- ADS-B aircraft tracking (1090 MHz) — not covered
- GMRS/FRS (462–467 MHz) — not covered
- 70 cm ham radio (430–450 MHz) — not covered
- Single SDR for everything — the HF+ cannot do it all
Spec Comparison: HF+ Discovery vs. Airspy Mini vs. RTL-SDR V4
| Specification | Airspy HF+ Discovery | Airspy Mini | RTL-SDR Blog V4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADC effective bits | 16-bit | 12-bit | 8-bit |
| Frequency range | 500 kHz–31 MHz & 60–260 MHz | 24–1800 MHz | ~500 kHz–1.75 GHz |
| UHF coverage | No | Yes | Yes |
| Usable bandwidth | 660 kHz | 6 MHz | 2.4 MHz |
| HF performance | Excellent | Good | Fair |
| Pre-selection filters | Yes (per-band) | No | No |
| Price | $169–219 | $99–129 | $35–45 |
The ADC bit depth difference is significant in practice. On a crowded 40m band at night, when multiple strong broadcast stations are active, the RTL-SDR produces intermodulation artifacts — false signals caused by two strong stations mixing in the tuner. The HF+ Discovery's 16-bit ADC path with pre-selection filters handles this cleanly, producing a spectrum that actually looks like the band rather than a noise floor covered in phantom signals.
HF and Shortwave Performance
This is where the HF+ Discovery earns its price. The shortwave bands (3–30 MHz) are competitive and congested — especially in the evening when propagation opens up and dozens of international broadcasters overlap on adjacent frequencies. Cheaper SDRs with 8-bit ADCs struggle with this environment, producing a smeared noise floor from strong-signal intermodulation.
The HF+ solves this through two mechanisms. First, the 16-bit effective ADC provides far more dynamic range — the gap between the noise floor and the point of overload is much wider, so strong and weak signals can coexist without the strong ones drowning everything else out. Second, the per-band pre-selection filters attenuate out-of-band signals before they reach the ADC, preventing the strongest signals from using up dynamic range they shouldn't.
In practice: on 40 meters (7 MHz) at night, the HF+ shows each signal distinctly in the waterfall. With an RTL-SDR in the same location and on the same antenna, the same bands show obvious intermodulation products — false signals that aren't actually there. For casual listening this is a nuisance; for weak-signal work like WSPR monitoring it's the difference between copying a signal and missing it entirely.
Medium Wave DXing
The AM broadcast band (540 kHz–1.7 MHz) is another strength. With a good magnetic loop or long wire, the HF+ Discovery pulls in stations that an RTL-SDR misses entirely — the lower noise figure matters more at lower frequencies where broadcast band noise dominates. Medium wave DXers who used to require dedicated receivers can get comparable performance from the HF+ at a fraction of the cost.
VHF Airband: 118–136 MHz
Aircraft voice communications operate in the 118–136 MHz band using AM modulation — and this falls inside the HF+ Discovery's 60–260 MHz coverage. So yes, you can use the HF+ as an airband receiver. Performance is good; the pre-selection filters help reject FM broadcast interference that can otherwise intermodulate with the weaker aviation signals.
Worth noting: the VHF airband above 136 MHz (ACARS at 129–136.9 MHz is fine, but some military aviation uses 225–400 MHz) is not covered. The HF+ will not receive ADS-B at 1090 MHz regardless. If airband monitoring that also includes ADS-B tracking is the goal, the Airspy Mini or a dedicated ADS-B dongle handles that better.
Digital Modes: WSPR, FT8, and Weak-Signal Work
The HF+ Discovery has a genuine following in the WSPR monitoring community for good reason. WSPR (Weak Signal Propagation Reporter) uses extremely narrow bandwidth signals transmitted at very low power levels — receiving them is a noise floor exercise. The HF+'s low phase noise and 16-bit dynamic range make it one of the most capable SDR options for WSPR at any price.
FT8 — the digital mode that has largely replaced phone (voice) contacts for casual HF DXing — also benefits from the HF+'s clean noise floor. While a well-set-up RTL-SDR V4 can decode FT8 contacts, the HF+ typically copies more stations and decodes weaker signals, especially on bands where strong nearby signals would otherwise cause intermodulation in a lower dynamic range receiver.
Software Compatibility
The HF+ Discovery is well-supported across all major SDR software. SDR# (Windows) and SDR++ (cross-platform) both support it natively. GQRX on Linux and macOS works after installing Airspy's libairspyhf library. SpyServer supports remote HF+ streaming over a network. WSJT-X (FT8/WSPR) integrates via audio pipe from any of these front-end applications.
What to Buy Instead — and When
The HF+ Discovery's narrow frequency coverage makes it the wrong first SDR for most beginners who don't yet know what they want to receive. A few alternatives to consider:
24–1800 MHz coverage. Misses the lowest HF (below 24 MHz) and isn't as clean as the HF+ on shortwave, but covers police radio, ADS-B, airband, GMRS, and essentially everything else. If you need one SDR that does most things, start here.
~500 kHz–1.75 GHz with direct-sampling mode for HF. The 8-bit ADC shows more intermodulation on crowded HF bands than the HF+ Discovery, but for casual shortwave listening and everything from FM up through UHF, it covers it all for $35–45. The right first SDR for most people.
Two-SDR Setup
A popular configuration among serious listeners: RTL-SDR V4 for VHF/UHF monitoring (police, ADS-B, weather satellites), plus Airspy HF+ Discovery dedicated to the HF/shortwave bands. Total cost is around $200–260 for two genuinely capable radios covering the full spectrum better than a single mid-range SDR could.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Airspy HF+ Discovery receive police frequencies?
Partially. The HF+ covers 500 kHz–31 MHz and 60–260 MHz. VHF low-band police (30–50 MHz) and VHF high-band (150–174 MHz) fall within its range. But the vast majority of modern public safety radio — UHF (400–512 MHz), 700 MHz, and 800 MHz digital P25 — is completely outside its coverage. If police monitoring is your goal, the Airspy Mini (24–1800 MHz) or RTL-SDR V4 are more appropriate choices.
What's the difference between the HF+ Discovery and the original Airspy HF+?
The Discovery is the current production model and supersedes the original HF+, which is discontinued. The Discovery adds improved pre-selection filters for better image rejection, a USB-C connector replacing the older micro-USB, and refined firmware. Performance is somewhat improved over the original. If you see the original HF+ listed used, the Discovery is the better buy new.
Is the Airspy Mini a better buy than the HF+ Discovery?
It depends on what you want to receive. The Airspy Mini (24–1800 MHz) is clearly better if you need VHF/UHF coverage for police, ADS-B, GMRS, or airband above 136 MHz. The HF+ Discovery wins decisively on HF and shortwave performance — its 16-bit effective ADC and pre-selection filters produce a noticeably cleaner signal on crowded HF bands where the Mini's 12-bit ADC shows more intermodulation. For HF-only use, get the HF+. For general monitoring including UHF, get the Mini.
Will I hear shortwave broadcasts with the HF+ Discovery?
Yes — shortwave broadcasting occupies 3–30 MHz, directly in the HF+'s sweet spot. International broadcasters like BBC World Service, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Romania International come in clearly with even a modest wire antenna. The HF+ handles the crowded shortwave bands at night with far less intermodulation distortion than an RTL-SDR, which struggles when multiple strong stations are present simultaneously.
What antenna should I use with the Airspy HF+ Discovery?
For HF (shortwave and ham bands): a random wire antenna 20–50 feet long works well, suspended as high and clear of obstructions as possible. A magnetic loop antenna is a good option for indoor use or limited space, with better noise rejection than a wire. For the VHF range (60–260 MHz): the included SMA whip handles FM and VHF aircraft. The HF+ is sensitive enough that antenna placement usually becomes the limiting factor before the radio itself does.
Does the Airspy HF+ Discovery work with SDR++ and GQRX?
Yes. Both SDR++ and GQRX support Airspy HF+ natively. SDR# (Windows) also works well and is the most common choice. On Linux and macOS, install Airspy's libairspyhf library, and GQRX will detect the device automatically. No additional drivers are needed beyond libairspyhf — the installation is straightforward compared to some SDR hardware.