Also known as: Airspy HF+ Discovery, HF+ Discovery
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The Airspy HF+ Discovery is a high-dynamic-range HF/VHF software-defined radio receiver covering 0.5 kHz–31 MHz and 60–260 MHz — a specialist shortwave, ham and weak-signal radio built around world-class strong-signal handling rather than wide capture.1 It is the compact, refreshed member of the Airspy HF+ family, and, unlike the VHF/UHF Airspy R2 and Mini, it stops below the UHF bands where most trunking lives.
Key takeaways A specialist HF/low-VHF receiver — not a trunking radio. The HF+ Discovery’s headline is world-class dynamic range and harmonic rejection for shortwave, ham and weak-signal work, but its coverage (0.5 kHz–31 MHz and 60–260 MHz) stops well below the 380–870 MHz UHF bands where most P25/DMR/NXDN/TETRA trunking lives. For GopherTrunk trunk-tracking, buy an Airspy R2/Mini, an RTL-SDR, or an SDRplay RSP1B instead. Receive-only, ~$169–199. Airspy is distributor-sold, so Amazon stock is intermittent — the button tracks live listings. Like every receiver it can’t decode AES encryption.
Overview
The HF+ Discovery is a different design from the VHF/UHF Airspy receivers. Where the R2 and Mini chase wide capture across VHF/UHF, the Discovery optimises for dynamic range and selectivity in the crowded HF spectrum, where a distant weak signal often sits beside a booming local broadcaster. Its polyphase harmonic-rejection architecture and high effective resolution let it pull weak shortwave and ham signals out from under strong neighbours that would desensitise or overload a general-purpose dongle — at the cost of a narrow visible bandwidth (up to roughly 768 kHz).2
What it is for
This is a receiver for shortwave broadcast, utility and ham HF, plus low-VHF weak-signal work (6 m, 2 m at the top of its range, and the segments in between). It is a favourite of DXers and HF listeners precisely because of its front-end quality. What it is not is a scanner-band radio: its coverage tops out at 260 MHz, so the UHF land-mobile and public-safety trunking allocations are simply out of range. If you already own one for HF, it will not double as your trunk-tracking receiver.
Relevance to GopherTrunk
GopherTrunk can drive Airspy hardware natively over USB, but band coverage decides fit, and the HF+ Discovery’s does not reach the frequencies GopherTrunk decodes on most systems. Treat it as the HF companion to a GopherTrunk setup, not the capture device: use it for shortwave and ham listening, and pair a VHF/UHF Airspy R2 or Mini, an RTL-SDR, or an SDRplay RSP1B for the actual P25/DMR/NXDN trunking. As with every SDR, it decodes clear signals only — never AES.
Where to buy
Airspy is sold through its own distributor network, so Amazon stock comes and goes — the button is a tagged search that always resolves to current listings. Buy the HF+ Discovery if HF and low-VHF weak-signal reception is your goal; for GopherTrunk trunk-tracking buy a VHF/UHF radio instead — the Airspy R2 or Mini, a cheap RTL-SDR, or an SDRplay RSP1B.
Deciding between radios? See best SDR for GopherTrunk and the wider Airspy HF+ family, then grab GopherTrunk from the downloads page.
As an Amazon Associate, GopherTrunk earns from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.
Sources
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Software-defined radio — Wikipedia, background on high-dynamic-range HF SDR receivers. ↩
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Airspy HF+ Discovery — Airspy, official page on the HF+ Discovery’s 0.5 kHz–31 MHz and 60–260 MHz coverage, dynamic range, and harmonic rejection. ↩
Frequently asked questions
Is the Airspy HF+ Discovery good for scanning trunked systems?
Not really — and that’s by design. Its coverage is 0.5 kHz–31 MHz (HF) and 60–260 MHz (low VHF), which stops well below the 380–870 MHz UHF bands where most P25/DMR/NXDN/TETRA trunking lives. It’s a specialist HF and weak-signal receiver. For trunking, use an Airspy R2/Mini, an RTL-SDR, or an SDRplay RSP1B.
What is the HF+ Discovery actually for?
Shortwave broadcast and utility listening, ham HF, low-VHF weak-signal work, and any situation where strong nearby transmitters would overload a lesser receiver. Its headline is world-class dynamic range and harmonic rejection, not wide capture — the visible span is narrow (up to ~768 kHz).
HF+ Discovery or the original HF+?
The Discovery is the smaller, refreshed HF+ with wider VHF coverage and a lower price. Both target the same HF/low-VHF high-dynamic-range niche. If you’re choosing for GopherTrunk trunking specifically, neither is the right band — pick a VHF/UHF Airspy instead.
Does the HF+ Discovery decode encrypted or trunked voice?
It’s a capable receiver, but it doesn’t reach the UHF trunking bands, and like every SDR it cannot decode AES encryption. GopherTrunk can drive Airspy hardware, but this model’s band coverage makes it the wrong tool for trunk-tracking.