Airspy HF+ Discovery Review 2026
The Airspy HF+ Discovery is an HF-focused SDR with band pre-selection filters; Airspy quotes 110 dB of blocking dynamic range on HF. It covers 64–260 MHz on VHF, but nothing above 260 MHz: no UHF or 700/800 MHz public safety, and no ADS-B, so it is the wrong receiver for most police monitoring. 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. It has high-dynamic-range sigma-delta ADCs and dedicated pre-selection filters; Airspy quotes 110 dB of blocking dynamic range on HF. 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 Blog V3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 kHz – 31 MHz | Shortwave, AM broadcast, ham HF bands (160m–10m), WSPR, medium wave, NDB | Covered |
| 64 – 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 64 MHz (a portion of HF/VHF), and nothing above 260 MHz. 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 Blog V3
Updated October 11, 2026: the RTL-SDR column was the V4 until RTL-SDR Blog announced its end-of-line on May 14, 2026. It now shows the V3, which remains in production. The V3's direct-sampling HF performs worse than the V4's built-in upconverter did, so the HF gap to the HF+ Discovery is wider than it was.
| Specification | Airspy HF+ Discovery | Airspy Mini | RTL-SDR Blog V3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADC | Sigma-delta ADCs, 18-bit DDC | 12-bit | 8-bit |
| Frequency range | 0.5 kHz–31 MHz & 64–260 MHz | 24–1700 MHz | 24 MHz–1.766 GHz (+ HF via direct sampling) |
| UHF coverage | No | Yes | Yes |
| Spectrum view | Up to 660 kHz alias/image-free | Up to 6 MHz panoramic | — |
| HF performance | Excellent | Good | Basic (direct sampling) |
| Pre-selection filters | Yes (per-band) | No | No |
| Price | $169 (list $199) at airspy.us, Oct 2026 | $99 (list $119) at airspy.us, Oct 2026 | $37.95 |
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, its high-dynamic-range ADCs (Airspy quotes 110 dB blocking dynamic range on HF) provide high 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 64–260 MHz coverage. So yes, you can use the HF+ as an airband receiver. Airspy lists a dedicated VHF pre-selector for the air band and quotes -141.0 dBm MDS in the 118–260 MHz aviation band.
Worth noting: coverage stops at 260 MHz, so most of the 225–400 MHz military aviation band is out of range. 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
WSPR (Weak Signal Propagation Reporter) uses extremely narrow bandwidth signals transmitted at very low power levels — receiving them is a noise floor exercise, which plays to the HF+'s dynamic range on HF.
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 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:
24–1700 MHz coverage. Misses HF entirely unless you add the SpyVerter option, but covers police radio, ADS-B, airband, GMRS, and essentially everything else. If you need one SDR that does most things, start here.
24 MHz–1.766 GHz, with a direct-sampling mode covering about 500 kHz to 28.8 MHz (RTL-SDR Blog V3 user guide). We used to list the V4 here; it was discontinued in May 2026, and the V3 is the RTL-SDR Blog model that stays in production. If you want better HF on an RTL-SDR, RTL-SDR Blog's V4L "Lite" (August 2026) keeps the V4 architecture with its HF upconverter. On HF it is well behind the HF+ Discovery, but from FM up through UHF — police, ADS-B, weather satellites — it covers what most people need. The right first SDR for most people.
Two-SDR Setup
One configuration: an RTL-SDR (the V3 now that the V4 is discontinued) for VHF/UHF monitoring (police, ADS-B, weather satellites), plus Airspy HF+ Discovery dedicated to the HF/shortwave bands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Airspy HF+ Discovery receive police frequencies?
Partially. The HF+ covers 0.5 kHz–31 MHz and 64–260 MHz. VHF high-band (150–174 MHz) falls within its range; VHF low-band (30–50 MHz) mostly does not, because coverage stops at 31 MHz and resumes at 64 MHz. But 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 (24–1700 MHz) or an RTL-SDR Blog V3 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 (24–1700 MHz) is clearly better if you need VHF/UHF coverage for police, ADS-B, GMRS, or military airband above 260 MHz. For HF and shortwave the HF+ Discovery is the one to get: the Mini receives no HF at all without the SpyVerter option, while the HF+ has band pre-selection filters and Airspy quotes 110 dB of blocking dynamic range on HF. 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 (64–260 MHz) you will need a VHF antenna: airspy.us lists the receiver and a USB cable in the box, and no antenna.
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.