NooElec brand RTL-SDR dongle

[K5KNT]

I'm new to SDR and I recently ordered a NooElec brand RTL-SDR dongle from amazon.com. It is advertised as having a "RTL2832U and R820T tuner ICs on the USB deviceRTL2832U" with "an approximate tuning range of 25MHz-1700MHz for software defined radio (SDR)".

What types of transmissions can I expect to receive with this and what would be a good antenna to use?

Thanks.

Kent

[ChrisSmolinski]

It will pick up VHF and UHF transmissions, not shortwave.

You can hear ham radio, aircraft, public service (police, fire, etc) and so on. Basically anything a scanner picks up (except to my knowledge there's no software for monitoring trunked services)

I did a write up about the RTL dongles here: http://www.radiohobbyist.org/blog/?p=1220

[K5KNT]

Thanks Chris. I actually found your review very informative. I was happy to find you using a Mac. 

[IQ_imbalance]

The lower frequency cutoff on the dongles is usually around 60MHz or so.  However....lookee what I found:

http://george-smart.co.uk/wiki/FunCube_Upconverter

And it even looks achievable by my (questionable) soldiering skills.

[voidxar]

Hi kent,

if you do have a PC around give sdrsharp a try for your dongle its what most people seem to use you can get it at sdrsharp.com, also give the rtlsdr yahoo GRP a try its pretty active.

Kelvin

[Token]

The lower frequency cutoff on the dongles is usually around 60MHz or so.  However....lookee what I found:

http://george-smart.co.uk/wiki/FunCube_Upconverter

And it even looks achievable by my (questionable) soldiering skills.

The E4000 dongle cuts off just below 60 MHz, the R820T cuts off just below 25 MHz.  The R820T is also more stable and has tighter phase tracking across the two I/Q channels.

T!

[K5KNT]

Hi kent,

if you do have a PC around give sdrsharp a try for your dongle its what most people seem to use you can get it at sdrsharp.com, also give the rtlsdr yahoo GRP a try its pretty active.

Kelvin

Hi Kelvin,

I have a iMac but I do have Windows XP and 7 running in VMs. I also just recovered a netbook currently running Ubuntu Linux.

[corq]

I've successfully gotten this up on Ubuntu 12.10 with the Ghpsdr3-alex project (which then lets you use and Android app as a remote) - it's not perfect for controlling the tuner in its proper range yet, but I'm compiling gqrx, tonight.

 If successful, I'll go for a port to the Raspberry Pi. I don't expect awesomeness with the small cpu of the Pi, but I'm going for a proof-of-concept. And maybe just for listening to the local ham repeater. We'll see.

[ChrisSmolinski]

If successful, I'll go for a port to the Raspberry Pi. I don't expect awesomeness with the small cpu of the Pi, but I'm going for a proof-of-concept. And maybe just for listening to the local ham repeater. We'll see.

Sounds interesting, keep us informed!

[corq]

Interesting, while googling for parts when I discovered NooElec makes an HF Upconverter for the RTL-SDR: http://www.nooelec.com/store/ham-it-up-v1-0-rf-upconverter-for-software-defined-radio.html#.UYmRH6D_6b4

I just dropped some change on the Beagleboard Black for testing on the SDR-IQ, else I'd give this a try, but maybe next paycheck.

[cmradio]

I just got mine the other day

Works decent and the new version goes to 2.2GHz.

Installing SDR# on an ancient Vista lappy was a job and a half, though

Peace!

[rdla4]

I have been running the NooElec Stick in an Ubuntu 12.4 box. (Running on an OLD laptop with a cracked case, no screen anymore....external monitor) <Side note dont put a lot of money into buying your daughter's first laptop....>

I got gqrx running a few weeks ago with the usb stick. It works pretty well, although gqrx is not what I would call a full feature SDR app right now, but it does work well for casual listening. I have not had much time to check its freq range due to my other "hobby" of broadcast engineering.

I find that it likes to pickup intermod, images etc, but for 20 bucks---no complaint from me.

[cmradio]

I have an Ubuntu USB keychain boot ... works phenomenal on the laptop.

Alas, not my machine, or I'd install.

Peace!

[corq]

CMRadio, Am intrigued, new version? Is there a model # variation to ask for when ordering?


 

[cmradio]

I assume it's a new version because of the extended coverage

The Amazon listing says "Provides an approximate tuning range of 25MHz-1700MHz". During tuning I found a "hiccup" after 1.7GHz and it picked up again to 2.2GHz, confirmed by a sig gen that goes up that high.

Peace!