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How to use RTL-SDR on a cheap USB DVB-T tuner for HF and 64–1700 MHz?

Ganjor86 722746 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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  • #811 15516071
    lysy1980
    Level 33  
    Posts: 2228
    Help: 205
    Rate: 319
    Lublin - only digital. I tested it and of course it works. How to set the program is described in this topic and generally on this forum.
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  • #812 15520171
    mariusz9787
    Level 2  
    Posts: 3
    Rate: 1
    Hello, could anyone describe the step-by-step procedure for installing the DSD + program for decoding mototrbo. I already have a Zadig installed and I receive aircraft positions from ADS - B. I have a problem with SDR to listen to, it shows me that it does not detect the device.

    As for searching the forum, I did it, but I found nothing that would describe the installation process step by step.
    Below I post a screnn with an error.



    How to use RTL-SDR on a cheap USB DVB-T tuner for HF and 64–1700 MHz?
  • #813 15528824
    Arek_v1
    Level 15  
    Posts: 124
    Help: 7
    Rate: 25
    Hello, I have a problem.
    I bought a decoder with the latest chip and installed the original firmware from the board ...
    now I have a problem with installing sdr sharp, is the problem due to the fact that I have the original driver installed?
    If so, can the tuner be "saved"?
  • #814 15529247
    internick
    Level 36  
    Posts: 3081
    Help: 273
    Rate: 555
    And you did well. Now you need Zadig to replace the driver. The topic has few pages. Don't take the easy way, just review it from the beginning. I guarantee that all descriptions are included in it.
  • #815 15534406
    Hajna
    Level 24  
    Posts: 478
    Help: 69
    Rate: 145
    How to use RTL-SDR on a cheap USB DVB-T tuner for HF and 64–1700 MHz? This is my antenna made of a ski pole, screwed to the base of the magnetic CB antenna, and I can pick up all stations from about 20 km, I think you can pick up more on the wire,

    Added after 21 [minutes]:

    The antenna looks east, west and south, I can't see Gliwice from the north.

    Added after 2 [hours] 48 [minutes]:

    As I wrote earlier, I listen to the train and it should walk without any problems.

    Added after 4 [minutes]:

    Previously, I failed to add a file
    Attachments:
    • PKP.rar (8.38 MB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
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  • #816 15534902
    kriss51
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
    Posts: 5630
    Help: 672
    Rate: 481
    How long is the radiator? You will get a much better reception if you connect the cable braid to a metal railing. Best to make 1/4 wave counterweight.
  • #817 15535944
    Hajna
    Level 24  
    Posts: 478
    Help: 69
    Rate: 145
    Tomorrow it is coming, but at this point the antenna picks up the best and I have no noise, because I moved to other places and there were problems with receiving it due to noise, the SDR receiver is DVB-T FM DAB 820T2 & SDR
  • #818 15535959
    kriss51
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
    Posts: 5630
    Help: 672
    Rate: 481
    Hajna wrote:
    but at this point the antenna picks up the best for me and I have no noise



    I have not written anything about relocating the antenna. It's just about the counterweight.
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  • #819 15536474
    czakos
    Level 12  
    Posts: 85
    Help: 1
    Hello colleagues after a short break :)
    Does anyone have a fraquency scanner for sdr 1332 because from a friend don_viking I got the entire program 14 .. and when I turned it off, an error appeared and he did not remember the settings later, so I had to set everything up again and 1332 works stably, but I can not find a plug that would work and I return to the topic of setting the scan, for example, the given bandwidth and at the moment when someone sends me to stop and after the transmission is finished, he scanned again like a typical scanner because now I have PSP set and I listen to 1 frequency; / and I'm interested in amplifying my antenna photos a few posts earlier . Unfortunately, the blocks around, as they are broadcast from PSP, it goes nicely but as soon as from the car to probably 2 km max; / I plan to throw a naked 42 cm on the roof, I'm just waiting for a 9 m cable :) it will then be above the blocks and let you know how it is doing :) because the dipole is too conspicuous :)
    I also ordered Nagoya NA-773 SMA-F Dual Band Antenna 144/430 MHz but somehow it does not do well on the windowsill; / she probably will be better for the scanner with the amplifier ... How to use RTL-SDR on a cheap USB DVB-T tuner for HF and 64–1700 MHz?
  • #820 15539374
    don_viking
    Level 21  
    Posts: 562
    Help: 14
    Rate: 136
    Try to install this version from the FMSuite attachment, it will probably work with the old version of SDRSharp. There is also an eazyscanner.
    https://www.assembla.com/spaces/sdrsoft/subversion/source/HEAD/easyscanner/trunk/release/v03
    And on this page you have most of the plugins for the program.
    http://sdrsharp.pbworks.com/w/page/62589136/FrontPage
    http://www.rtl-sdr.com/sdrsharp-plugins/


    Alternatively, you can check my plugin archive in the attachment.
    I also added a more interesting reworked version of SDRSharp called SDRSharper, unfortunately there are no additional plugins there.
    Attachments:
    • SDRSharper_03h.rar (3.84 MB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
    • pluginy sdrsharp13.rar (10.43 MB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
  • #821 15542057
    Hajna
    Level 24  
    Posts: 478
    Help: 69
    Rate: 145
    To my colleague Kriss51, the radiator is 112 cm long, the diameter at the bottom is 18 mm and at the top 10 mm, the antenna base is metallically connected to the balustrade through a metal base to which the cable shield is connected, I can sacrifice a stick and shorten it every few cm or the reception will improve.
  • #822 15543847
    kappav22
    Level 9  
    Posts: 26
    Rate: 4
    I have a question, what can I listen to it? I don't think you have heard it for some time because they have a coded signal.
  • #823 15543898
    kriss51
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
    Posts: 5630
    Help: 672
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    kappav22 wrote:
    I have a question, what can I listen to it? I don't think you have heard it for some time because they have a coded signal.


    Everything in the range of 25-1700 MHz with all emissions, eg aviation, fire brigade, hams, CB, PMR, etc., after adding a converter, you can listen practically from 100 KHz. If you still use a suitable program, you can decode digital broadcasts.

    Added after 3 [minutes]:

    Hajna wrote:
    To colleague Kriss51, the radiator is 112 cm long,


    For 150 MHz, the radiator and counterweight must be 50 cm each. 112 cm is definitely too much.
  • #825 15544628
    Hajna
    Level 24  
    Posts: 478
    Help: 69
    Rate: 145
    http://www.peter384.cal.pl/r/r.html for example, if I want to listen to PKP, this page is OK, I am asking also the MODERATOR to ask colleagues to give their location in their profile. And for example kapav22 and don_viking sparkle in tmatach. I am from Zabrze and not when you can meet.

    Added after 6 [minutes]:

    It is not the points that are important, but the knowledge of the forum members.
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  • #826 15545944
    Anonymous
    Anonymous  
  • #827 15546018
    BOOM i ZONK
    Level 22  
    Posts: 596
    Help: 20
    Rate: 72
    For starters, move the antenna further away from the building wall, as the roof antenna won't help.
  • #828 15546299
    don_viking
    Level 21  
    Posts: 562
    Help: 14
    Rate: 136
    Hello, recently I was getting a lot of news at PW, so I decided to create a topic that serves as an installation guide for SDR tuner, SDRScharp and Virtual Audio Cable. I hope it will be useful for beginners in the subject of SDR.
    Best regards.

    https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic3182271.html#15546214
  • #829 15547070
    bogi
    Level 29  
    Posts: 1135
    Help: 103
    Rate: 244
    KamilOc wrote:
    Siemano, I'm not satisfied with the range, where I receive from a DVB-T decoder and a half-wave dipole antenna .. What do you think about whether to buy a radio? Anything would help? Here, for example, this radio I wanted to buy but I wonder: http://www.banggood.com/Wholesale-BAOFENG-UV-...-Transceiver-Radio-Walkie-Talkie-p-61066.html

    Well, see for yourself that the antenna has nowhere to expand to catch the signal, I will not say because I can hear the control panel with 20 KM in the evenings, but mobile stations are approx. 2km, 3km, 4km, you can't hear it anymore, no noise ... Yes it looks like the encirclement of blocks around me:
    How to use RTL-SDR on a cheap USB DVB-T tuner for HF and 64–1700 MHz?

    This radio works in the ranges of 136 - 174 MHz and 400 - 480/520 MHz (depending on the software version) + FM radio reception. So I don't know if it will please you. As for the antenna, talk to the neighbor / m and above, maybe they will let you hang at home.
  • #830 15551308
    kappav22
    Level 9  
    Posts: 26
    Rate: 4
    What could it be?
    You hear a humming noise that stops from time to time.
    How to use RTL-SDR on a cheap USB DVB-T tuner for HF and 64–1700 MHz?
  • #831 15551358
    internick
    Level 36  
    Posts: 3081
    Help: 273
    Rate: 555
    Most likely your PPM is misconfigured. This is most likely a transmission on 172.6875.
  • #832 15551363
    lysy1980
    Level 33  
    Posts: 2228
    Help: 205
    Rate: 319
    He asked "what is it" - meaning "what transmission", not whether it has a well-set PPM.
    It is a digital voice broadcast.
  • #833 15551371
    kappav22
    Level 9  
    Posts: 26
    Rate: 4
    Okay, no matter what, maybe I asked the question wrong.
    How can I hear what is broadcast there?
  • #834 15551376
    lysy1980
    Level 33  
    Posts: 2228
    Help: 205
    Rate: 319
    You need to know the type of transmission and have the key - 99% you can't do anything because ... you don't have the key.
  • #835 15551382
    kappav22
    Level 9  
    Posts: 26
    Rate: 4
    And some decoder will not be able to do it?
  • #836 15551388
    lysy1980
    Level 33  
    Posts: 2228
    Help: 205
    Rate: 319
    No, because you need a key to decode.
  • #837 15551394
    kappav22
    Level 9  
    Posts: 26
    Rate: 4
    OK thanks for the information.
  • #838 15551403
    lysy1980
    Level 33  
    Posts: 2228
    Help: 205
    Rate: 319
    The number of analogue broadcasts that can be listened to is narrowing, soon there will probably be only the airline, amateurs + some PMR to listen to.
  • #839 15551417
    kappav22
    Level 9  
    Posts: 26
    Rate: 4
    And I have a question, what can I decode, for example, DSD?
  • #840 15551432
    internick
    Level 36  
    Posts: 3081
    Help: 273
    Rate: 555
    lysy1980 wrote:
    ... No, because to decode you need to have a key ...


    First you need to know what's going on there, not to write in the dark.

    When a colleague corrects the PPM, it may turn out that there is nothing to decode there.

    This system has been launched, but 99% no one is working on it. And what you can see is just a regular frame.
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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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