Looking to upgrade my moonbounce setup and debating between the SDRplay RSPdx and the new RTL-SDR Blog v4 for 144/432 MHz EME work. Currently using an ancient RTL-SDR v3 with GQRX but the phase noise is limiting my ability to copy weak CW signals.

The RSPdx specs look impressive (HDR mode, better ADC resolution) but I'm wondering about real-world performance for weak signal work. Anyone doing EME with either of these units? My preamp chain is already optimized (0.3 dB NF at 144 MHz) so I need the SDR to not add significant degradation.

Software preference is GQRX or CubicSDR for simplicity, though I could learn GNU Radio if there's a compelling reason.

For EME work, the RSPdx is definitely worth the extra cost. The improved dynamic range and lower phase noise make a real difference when you're trying to pull -30 dBm signals out of the noise. I've worked several new grids on 2m EME since upgrading from my old RTL dongle.

I use the RTL-SDR v4 for my 432 MHz EME station and it works fine, but you need to be careful about USB3 port selection - some ports introduce more noise than others. Also consider that CubicSDR has better waterfall persistence which helps a lot for tracking weak signals through libration fading.

Don't overlook the Airspy Mini which performed well in the recent SatNOGS lab comparison - might be worth considering as a middle ground option. For EME I'd actually recommend GNU Radio with a custom flowgraph optimized for your specific signal processing needs rather than general-purpose software.