NooElecHam It Up Plus v2 - Extend The Range of Your RTL-SDR, NESDR or Other Radio Down to 300Hz. HF/MF/LF/VLF/ULF Upconverter and Panadapter w/TCXO & Switchable LNA/Passthrough Options

It's always a good experience when a product is ordered, and actually does what is claimed in the ad text, so I like to give credit where it's due. Yes, this upconverter costs a bit more than some of the mystery "clones" one might find on eBay, but as the saying goes, you do get what you pay for.My main ambition was to catch radio traffic in some of the HAM bands, but also in AM broadcast, SW, and so on.As for the Ham it Up unit, it took only a few minutes to get it set up and running. It's a very simple procedure (provided you already have your RTL-SDR or similar device installed and running), but no worries, there are numerous YouTube videos which give very good step by step instructions.The main criteria to know about is setting the tuning offset of your software to -125 MHz, to compensate for the upconverter. It's purpose is to compensate for the tuning limits of your RTL-SDR device, which cannot reach below 25 MHz.If not familiar, I would strongly suggest using the HDR# software, as this has a huge user base and lots of blog sites and YT videos one can refer to. You can also use HDSDR with similar results, I have used both.Aside from setting up the tuning parameters and some other details in the software, your biggest variable will likely be antennas.It's good to have several different antennas to select from, depending on what you're tuning in on, but even more importantly is where the antennas are and how they're positioned. This you'll just have to experiment around a bit with.But as for the NooElec Ham it UP itself, no complaints, does exactly what it should do.My only suggestion is to have an extra USB power cord handy (I run my USB power from an AC powered USB extension port), as the device does not ship with one.

My five-star review is based solely on the fantastic customer support provided by Nooelec. I had initially purchased a fully assembled Ham-it-up Plus, but as with many of projects, it sat for a couple months before I actually got around to using it. Unfortunately, I discovered the item was defective (it was short-circuiting or something similar, it was drawing too much current from the USB port causing the USB controller to shut down to protect itself until the device was unplugged.) This was WELL after the return period outlined by the seller and I thought I was pretty much S.O.L., so to speak. On the off-chance that I could maybe probe the components and fix it myself, I emailed Nooelec. After sending a few photos of the device and demonstrating the odd current-draw, the support team (thank you Danielle!) sent me a brand new replacement unit by their own volition! I was blown away by this level of customer support, and will continue to use Nooelec for my RF and component needs moving forward. The replacement board arrived a few short days later and works perfectly.

The upconverter works as described - worth getting the fully enclosed version unless you are planning on adding additional modifications yourself. The enclosure is aluminum, sturdy, and could be easily disassembled if you wanted to get in there. The switch has good tactile feedback. The SMA connectors are quality.BUT... here's the thing. This little guy needs USB power from a Male USB type B cable. This cable is NOT INCLUDED with the item. As a HAM operator, I understand where NooElec is coming from - HAMs like to tinker, and supplying your own power for a device is common in the HAM world. However, in this case I strongly disagree with NooElec's decision to not include a power cable with the device - they cost pennies for companies to buy in bulk and supply with their products. It should absolutely come with a power cable because it cannot function without one. The description even says it comes "ready to use". Not true. It's like selling a car without wheels. Or getting into a canoe without a paddle. I am disgruntled. But it's a good piece of equipment otherwise.