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RTL-SDR - an SDR receiver from a cheap DVB-T tuner on a USB connector

Ganjor86 716083 1593
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Can I turn a cheap DVB-T USB tuner into an SDR receiver, and how can I make it receive shortwave too?

Yes: with an RTL2832U-based DVB-T dongle you can use it as an SDR receiver after replacing the stock DVB-T drivers with the prepared Zadig/libusb drivers and running SDR software like SDR Sharp or HDSDR [#11182116] In normal mode these tuners work roughly from 24 MHz up to about 1700 MHz, so VHF/UHF services, airband, CB, ADS-B, etc. are fine [#13168529] [#12073526] For shortwave below that range, do not connect the antenna straight to the RTL chip; direct sampling is possible but is considered risky and can damage the RTL28xx [#12073526] The safer and better-performing solution in the thread is an upconverter on the antenna input, e.g. based on TA7358/LA1185/LA1186, which users report can extend reception down to roughly 100 kHz–40 MHz [#13135481]
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  • #331 14297413
    mkpl
    Level 37  
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    Had a goodness multiplier so active? It should definitely improve the signal quality.
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  • #333 14301824
    methyl
    Level 16  
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    Maybe the picture shows the operation of the preselector more clearly.
    80M band. antenna LW + Un-Un 9: 1 yesterday, around 20?

    RTL-SDR - an SDR receiver from a cheap DVB-T tuner on a USB connector

    Without the preselector, the reception of the 80 would be impossible for me, except with a narrow bandpass filter.
    I don't think I need any further comment :D


    The most important thing is to power the computer from a transformer power supply !!
    Power the converter from an akku / battery or a transformer power supply !!
    Give preselector or bandpass filters!

    There are a few other "tricks" but these are the most important.

    All these things change the listening experience tremendously, especially low frequencies.
  • #334 14307160
    mkpl
    Level 37  
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    Interesting this idea with winding the air coil as a toroid.
    It works fine for you until I envy ... my receiver is breaking something (disconnects in the system) ...

    An interesting trick is to make a coupled choke for the power supply and separately for the signal lines. Then the problem of computer and power disappears :)

    I also recommend such a layout.
    RTL-SDR - an SDR receiver from a cheap DVB-T tuner on a USB connector

    It allows you to adjust the preselector bandwidth in a wide range and attenuates it practically to zero (the preselector in the passband does not attenuate the signal).
  • #335 14307271
    methyl
    Level 16  
    Posts: 183
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    What did I use to get a relatively clean signal on the HF?
    I could not get around the computer from the transformer power supply.
    I used to combine with chokes, filters, power distribution, mass distribution and it gave a lot, but the change of power supply to the computer gave more without all these filtration.

    The muck went on USB data cables and these cannot be filtered. After winding a few coils on the ferrite, the transmission failed. It muffled everything :D

    Now I fight with antennas on the roof, I test various configurations and matching and tuning systems to improve the signal strength, especially its relation to noise, which is more important.

    Aaaa, when you pack the USB dongle into one can with the converter, both sections must be shielded well. Give the signal with a concentric. Supply voltages not from USB, but externally and block HF condoms and chokes.

    Otherwise, the muck generated by the USB dongle will go to the converter and make a noise.
    In the donglu itself there is also the possibility of tuning to reduce interference.

    best regards
  • #336 14309935
    mkpl
    Level 37  
    Posts: 5637
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    Quick idea. Raspbery + TV card and all powered by a linear power supply.
    I will have a moment to check this set.
    The advantage of such a system is that we give the whole thing directly to the antenna and send the signal via wifi
  • #337 14322214
    Jezzman
    Level 21  
    Posts: 612
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    Gentlemen, I have a little question.
    I have a receiver on the R820T and a slightly strange problem, when I use an SDR connected to a laptop or stationary, a certain frequency is received without any problems on a regular telescopic antenna, and the same set is connected to the tablet via a USB OTG cable and the SDR Touch application and the same unfortunately the frequency is no longer picking up. Is there any way to improve this "gadget" so that it can receive on a tablet as on a desktop computer?
  • #338 14331881
    OK2STO
    Level 20  
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    This is how I made this receiver from the magazine, from what I found in the basement, I did it a little, the coils tuned at the input classic, almost toroids, also classic tunes are 7812 and 7805, at the UHF input they are a potenciometer as an attenuator,
    I did mix as my colleague Methyl wrote above.
    The receiver is blinking, only 0.5 - 2.0 MHz is lower sensitivity.
    Jard

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  • #339 14338250
    tepek
    Level 12  
    Posts: 115
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    Rate: 6
    This set-top box from China came to me today, SDR works, but I would like to check how it receives TV. Could someone post a link to the software?
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  • #340 14338296
    Tommy82
    Level 41  
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    It's on that little plate.
  • #341 14338450
    lysy1980
    Level 33  
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    If you didn't get the board in the set, you can use PROG DVB 6 or newer for viewing, or Splash Lite, of course after installing the drivers that are included somewhere in this thread.
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  • #345 14339923
    tepek
    Level 12  
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    Hmm the cheapest adapter with shipping 18 PLN. All in all, I am in no hurry and I ordered from China (aliexpress.com) for one dollar; Mr.

    And while waiting for the adapter ... this attached antenna is worth nothing, I thought to cut the cable and connect it to the antenna cable. Will it be an exam?
  • #346 14339947
    kriss51
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
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    tepek wrote:
    this attached antenna is worth nothing, I thought to cut the cable and connect it to the antenna cable. Will it be an exam?


    Of course, there will be a much better antenna on the roof with an amplifier than the one included in the set. Unless you live very close to the transmitter, you will pick up something there. The original antenna works like you would attach a piece of wire instead of it.
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  • #347 14340113
    lysy1980
    Level 33  
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    What you write about will do the exam. The antenna from the set is not bad, I personally used it for some time in my new home on the RG174 cable at a distance of about 20 km from the transmitter (RTCN PIASKI) with an LCD TV and received all MUXes without any problems. At work, I sometimes use this antenna with a USB tuner, it also works without problems, the distance from the transmitter is about 25 km.
  • #349 14340234
    lysy1980
    Level 33  
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    Do you know that if you have drivers for SDR reception installed, the TV will not work?
  • #351 14340425
    tepek
    Level 12  
    Posts: 115
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    Rate: 6
    lysy1980 wrote:
    Do you know that if you have drivers for SDR reception installed, the TV will not work?

    I know and I've already dealt with it. After uninstalling the drivers from sdr, disconnect the decoder before restarting the computer. After the reset, install the original drivers first, and then connect the decoder (I did the opposite, so windows 8.1 installed some own drivers that did not work.)
  • #352 14353915
    darek89a
    Level 9  
    Posts: 11
    Hello, I have a question, how to play stations in the AM band on the DVB-T LV5TDelux tuner, I installed the sdr sharp program, but I only catch FM stations there
  • #353 14354302
    lysy1980
    Level 33  
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    What do you mean when you write AM stations? The range of long and medium waves?
    AM is not a band, but a kind of modulation. It can be used, for example, on long and ultra-short wavelengths.
  • #354 14354310
    darek89a
    Level 9  
    Posts: 11
    These are commercial stations that can be caught on an ordinary radio
  • #355 14354377
    lysy1980
    Level 33  
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    It is not possible without the purchase or construction of an appropriate converter, appropriate antenna and installation of drivers and software for SDR reception.
  • #356 14354426
    darek89a
    Level 9  
    Posts: 11
    drivers and program I have a DVB-T LV5TDelux tuner for sdr and how to make such a converter and how to connect to the tuner
  • #357 14354445
    kriss51
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
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    darek89a wrote:
    and how is such a converter made and how to connect to the tuner


    Connect the converter to the power supply, its input to the antenna, and the output to the DVB-T antenna input. There are many converter diagrams in this topic and in general on the web.
  • #358 14354741
    bogi
    Level 29  
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    Here's a sample one diagram converter.
    Read this entire topic.
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion centers on using inexpensive DVB-T USB tuners, particularly those based on the RTL2832U chipset combined with various tuner modules like the R820T and E4000, as software-defined radio (SDR) receivers. These devices, originally intended for digital TV reception, can be repurposed for wideband SDR reception from approximately 25 MHz up to 1.7 GHz, covering amateur radio bands, FM broadcast, airband, ADS-B, and more. Modifications such as direct antenna connection to the RTL2832U chip pins enable reception of lower frequency bands (below 30 MHz), including shortwave, though precautions against electrostatic discharge and signal surges are necessary. Upconverter circuits based on chips like LA1186, LA1185, and TA7358AP are commonly used to extend reception down to HF and VLF bands by frequency shifting signals into the tuner's range. Various software solutions including SDR# (SDR Sharp), HDSDR, and dump1090 are recommended for Windows and Linux platforms, with driver installation often requiring tools like Zadig to replace default DVB-T drivers with RTL-SDR compatible ones. Users report challenges with driver installation, device recognition, and antenna selection, especially for frequencies outside the FM broadcast band. Amplifiers such as the FP6L and antennas like Discone or long wire are suggested to improve reception quality. Mobile and embedded platforms like Raspberry Pi and Android devices with USB OTG support are explored for portable SDR setups. The community shares detailed schematics, installation guides, and troubleshooting tips, emphasizing the cost-effectiveness and versatility of RTL-SDR dongles for radio experimentation and monitoring.
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FAQ

TL;DR: A US$13 RTL-SDR dongle with an R820T tuner covers 24-1762 MHz “Band 24-1762 MHz (no holes)” [Elektroda, zabex, post #12073526] and can be pushed to ≈100 kHz with a 50 MHz up-converter [Elektroda, sb8gapi, post #13074101]

Why it matters: One stick lets hobbyists scan HF, VHF, UHF and ADS-B without big radios.

Quick Facts

• R820T native span: 24–1762 MHz [Elektroda, zabex, post #12073526] • Direct-Sampling mod: ≈0.1–28 MHz [Elektroda, methyl, post #13657048] • Typical dongle cost: US$13–15 incl. whip [Elektroda, Ganjor86, post #12076142] • PC spec: USB 2.0 + ≥1.2 GHz CPU [Elektroda, Serwis1, post #13206155] • TA7358 up-converter parts ≈ PLN 15 [Elektroda, sb8gapi, post #13074101]

What frequencies can an un-modified RTL-SDR with R820T cover?

About 24 MHz to 1.76 GHz without gaps [Elektroda, zabex, post #12073526] That spans airband, AIS, ACARS, ADS-B, VHF FM, UHF trunked, LTE and more.

How do I install drivers on Windows XP?

  1. Plug dongle, let Windows load Realtek driver.
  2. Run Zadig v2.1 XP, Menu → Options → List All Devices, choose "Bulk-In Interface 0".
  3. Click Install WINUSB driver. After 5 s SDR# sees “RTL-SDR/USB”. [Elektroda, lysy1980, post #13511327]

I get no DVB-T after installing SDR drivers—normal?

Yes. WINUSB replaces Realtek’s TV driver. Switch USB port or reinstall OEM driver when you need DVB-T reception [Elektroda, lysy1980, post #13511327]

What’s the simplest way to receive 0–30 MHz?

Add a 50 MHz HF up-converter using TA7358 or LA1185. It mixes HF to 50–80 MHz, cost under PLN 15 and sensitivity beats direct sampling [Elektroda, sb8gapi, #13074101; Elektroda, zabex, #12073526].

Can overheating freeze the dongle?

Yes. R820T can reach >60 °C and USB disconnects appear. Resoldering the USB plug and adding small heatsinks stopped lock-ups [Elektroda, mkpl, post #13635115]

Which antenna works best for wideband scans?

An outdoor TV log-periodic or discone on 50 Ω feed covers 50–1300 MHz. For HF add Mini-Whip or 20 m long-wire plus the up-converter [Elektroda, methyl, post #13657048]

Edge case: why does FM broadcast appear at 30 MHz?

Strong local FM images alias into 26–40 MHz when the front-end overloads. Use 88–108 MHz notch or reduce RF gain [Elektroda, mkpl, post #13583266]

Can I scan automatically like a hardware scanner?

Yes. Install the ‘Frequency Manager Scanner’ plug-in for SDR#; it hops user lists at 20 channels /s and logs activity [SDRSharpPlugins].

Is spectrum-analysis possible?

RTL-SDR plus ‘RTL-Power’ or ‘Spektrum’ sweeps 24 MHz–1.7 GHz, 2 MHz steps, ~30 dB dynamic range—handy for EMC checks [majek, 2013].

How do I add HF direct sampling without removing the tuner?

On R820T boards, wire a 1:10 transformer to RTL pins 4-5, select “Direct Sampling Q” in SDR#. This keeps VHF/UHF intact [Elektroda, BOOM i ZONK, post #13914702]
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