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

Ganjor86 711118 1593
Best answers

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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Treść została przetłumaczona polish » english Zobacz oryginalną wersję tematu
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  • #901 15801704
    SP5IT
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
    It was necessary not to update the Elevator.
    M.
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  • #902 15803773
    bogi
    Level 29  
    Install the original drivers and then replace them. It helped me.
  • #904 15814240
    edi730
    Level 10  
    I do not recommend this file !!! It includes Trojan: Win32 / Spursint.A! Cl
    And it's not a new version. It is from 31-May-2016
  • #905 15814262
    lysy1980
    Level 33  
    AVIRA PRO does not detect any Trojan. If you indicate a newer version of SHARPER - which as far as I know (I may be wrong) was not supposed to develop due to the infringement of SDR # copyright - then we will be grateful.
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  • #906 15814595
    don_viking
    Level 21  
    edi730 I have Norton Secutite Internet paid version and it doesn't show me any Trojan, I don't know what antivirus you have and where you got this information from. The last available version was v0.3h from 2015. Like a colleague lysy1980 he mentioned due to copyright infringement was not supposed to be developed, but maybe they did it quietly because since May there has been no mention of a new version anywhere. The only file I found on the web was on the other site as I gave it.
  • #907 15816441
    edi730
    Level 10  
    Even Windows Defender reported that the file contains a Trojan. Does not matter...
    Do you have any bearing on the filter that will cut the radio band? Such 88-108MHz
    I mean Polish stores ...
  • #908 15816513
    lysy1980
    Level 33  
    The file probably does not contain a Trojan, only you probably have a Trojan that tries to infect the archive when you open it.
    The easiest way to build the filter is to build it yourself.
  • #909 15816609
    edi730
    Level 10  
    I have no time and no capacity. That's why I'm looking for a ready. And the Trojan message shows when sucking.
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  • #910 15817194
    don_viking
    Level 21  
    I add my version of the SDRSharper program in the attachment where you can listen from 1MHz up. Below 15MHz you need to give a gain of at least 90 percent not full and you can turn on RTL AGC, although if you have a good antenna you do not need to. If you have a bad antenna, if you want to listen below 15MHz, it is enough to connect the main cable of the cable without the ground. Anticipating subsequent entries about the alleged viruses, I post a screen from the file scan on the network.
    RTL-SDR - an SDR receiver from a cheap DVB-T tuner on a USB connector
    Attachments:
    • SDR 05.rar (2.39 MB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
  • #911 15817431
    nasu
    Level 22  
    How to watch DVBT TV on windows 10 after replacing RTL & 820T2 drivers
    For me, ESET ss full version did not find a problem in any of the peaks.
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  • #912 15865930
    Verdis98
    Level 9  
    I have a question, because I want to buy this receiver: http://allegro.pl/radio-programowe-sdr-rtl2832u-r820t2-wysylka-grati-i6406149070.html#thumb/1 I have a question whether the antenna included in the set is suitable for anything? Mainly I wanted to play listening to the police, for example. My police station is about a kilometer in a straight line. The buildings are not very large, because I live on the outskirts of the city. The airport from which gliders take off, etc., is about 5 km away. Here the buildings are bigger as it passes through the city center. Any hope for any pickup? Alternatively, I would like to ask for some advice on how to make an antenna to receive, for example, this airport. Best regards!
  • #913 15866112
    Tommy82
    Level 41  
    In my opinion, the antenna from the set is suitable for picking in the ear, although the cable is a bit disturbing and for safety you need to stick this tip well.
    In order not to lose the warranty, immediately buy a grommet for a slower antenna socket and make an antenna depending on what you want to receive
    For me, an open dipole works well for me

    https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic2353101-720.html

    As for the police, determine if you can listen to them at all, then determine what frequency they work on.
    You can also listen to taxi exchanges or train communication from time to time.
    If you are at the seaside, maybe some AIS data
  • #914 15866184
    Verdis98
    Level 9  
    I live in Katowice :) But I am close by: a police station, 2 hospitals and an airport. Do you know what is the name of the socket to which the antenna is connected to this receiver? The frequencies that interest me are in the range of 120-180 MHz. I do not know if I can build an antenna that will have this range, but I will search on the Internet. Can a new antenna be connected to the receiver by cutting off the old one and soldering two wires?
  • #915 15866203
    Tommy82
    Level 41  
    It's like me and the police from Katowice missed, but I wasn't looking either. I think I caught Tychy once.
    Preferably through a grommet. This is from what I remember the MCX socket and the grommet probably is, but you would have to be sure. It's best to use a more serious socket - I don't like these little ones.
    PKP is also good at catching.
    It is best to have a separate antenna for an air band, and the other one can be identical only for another band.
    Making such an antenna is a breeze. Anyway, you will always listen to something higher on the air band. Remember about the polarization of the antenna.
  • #916 15866218
    Verdis98
    Level 9  
    And it catches cool in Katowice on air frequencies? Do you have any formula to calculate the antenna length?
  • #917 15866427
    BOOM i ZONK
    Level 22  
    Look in the posts SP5ANJ

    ? = 300 / Fodb * k

    Fodb - frequency in MHz
    k - shortening factor typically 0.98-0.95
  • #918 15868452
    don_viking
    Level 21  
    Hello, has anyone tested such a toy? Is it worth the money. The description says that there is a tuner inside with a converter.
    http://www.banggood.com/100KHz-1_7GHz-VHF-UHF...ner-Receiver-NFM-FM-DSB-LSB-CW-p-1070964.html
    As for the website, I have already ordered a few things there and they take into account the complaint if necessary. Sometimes you can buy cheaper what costs us four times more on the Allegro. Yes sdr tuners are half cheaper.
    http://www.banggood.com/search/tuner-dvb-t.html
  • #919 15871016
    lysy1980
    Level 33  
    don_viking wrote:
    As for the website, I have already ordered a few things there and they take into account the complaint if necessary. Sometimes you can buy cheaper what costs us four times more on the Allegro. Yes sdr tuners are half cheaper.
    http://www.banggood.com/search/tuner-dvb-t.html


    You did not take into account a few things, DUTIES, VAT, CUSTOMS CLEARANCE + income tax - if you want to sell something to the lagenie company, you have to pay the above-mentioned taxes + customs clearance - I'm not talking about those who "sell their electronic stocks" - although I also do not know if in the event of such a person's mishap, customers cannot be forced to pay Duty and VAT for the seller who did not pay it - Allegro will not hide anything, all transactions are archived and, at the request of the relevant authorities, customer lists of the seller are issued.

    If you order something privately for yourself and possibly the parcel is detained by UC (believe that it happens quite often, the parcel is opened by UC), and you will receive a notification from Poczta Polska about this fact, it will also not be free of charge, sometimes it is simple - all you need is a screen of the transaction + or a confirmation from the bank or PayPal for payment by card, etc., sometimes you need to hire a Customs Agency, i.e. to pay DUTY + VAT (VAT is inevitable - Duty can be 0% or you will be exempt) + COST CHECK-IN. If you hire an agency, it is from PLN 50 upwards + fee for Poczta Polska, probably PLN 30 - payable when delivering the package by the postman.

    In the end, you are stupid that you did not order anything, the goods will return to the sender and you are back with what you paid when buying.

    End of OT
  • #920 15871537
    don_viking
    Level 21  
    Thanks for explaining where this price difference might come from. For information, I compared the prices of tuners from the other side for PLN 43 with the Allegro auction of the same tuner with three adapters for PLN 139 from Gostynin, but that's not what I meant. I did some shopping for my own needs, not for sale and for large sums. My point was whether this receiver with a converter is worth something or not worth getting infected.
  • #921 15871565
    BOOM i ZONK
    Level 22  
    Did you look at page 19-20 of this topic ?? Until the knock you won't have it on the table and look inside, you'll never be sure ...
  • #922 15877719
    wbober
    Level 11  
    Hello,
    I have a problem with frequency correction in SDRSharper (04k).
    The Balice APP is 121.075 and I have around 120.932 - almost one MHz !!. How to correct it?
    SDR # is ok (around 40ppm).
    kisses
    bober
  • #923 15877939
    BOOM i ZONK
    Level 22  
    Paste the file settings.xml or look for a setting in it frequencyShift and before you set the frequency correction correctly.

    Added after 35 [minutes]:

    frequencyShiftEnabled change with False on True if you haven't already.
    As for the desktop, I haven't found it, but maybe I'm blind ... ;)
  • #924 15878028
    wtełek1
    Level 14  
    Hello, I have not been involved in this topic, but I have had SDR for a long time and listens to different bands, usually 170-185MHz.
    I built a 137MHz quadrifilar helix antenna to receive weather data from NOAA satellites. I have one problem, the entrance to the roof is secured with a padlock (3-story tenement house) and here is the problem, if I put the antenna out of the window, e.g. a meter from the wall, I would be able to catch anything to be sure that the antenna is suitable for receiving it signal type? because it will be easy to get on the roof, but fly with it several times, etc.

    The second thing, the person who familiarized me with this topic said that good reception will be provided by a mesh antenna placed horizontally without a mesh. It is about the bands on which policemen broadcast, etc.

    The antenna is Quadrifilar Helix. The most ordinary. RTL-SDR - an SDR receiver from a cheap DVB-T tuner on a USB connector
  • #925 15878050
    BOOM i ZONK
    Level 22  
    @ wtełek1 What is the antenna you built it with? Yes, if you put the antenna out of the window at a distance of one meter from the wall, you will receive something under favorable conditions ;) (instead of asking such questions, you would have done it a long time ago and found out for yourself ... preferably on a wooden brush - no, I'm not kidding!) The mesh antenna is the last resort, but in my opinion it is a dream come true.
  • #926 15878576
    wbober
    Level 11  
    BOOM i ZONK wrote:
    Paste the file settings.xml or look for a setting in it frequencyShift and before you set the frequency correction correctly.

    Added after 35 [minutes]:

    frequencyShiftEnabled change with False on True if you haven't already.
    As for the desktop, I haven't found it, but maybe I'm blind ... ;)

    Shift is in the FFT Display.
    Well, it's going hard because:
    For 144,800 I set Shift 97,000 and it holds when I call from Frequency Mgr,
    when I punch by hand, you have to set it again.
    For 119.275 (Kraków INFO) Shift 147.000 and the same.
    Fun with every frq? I think I'm doing something wrong :(
    The same in the SDRSharper 3h version
    bober
  • #927 15879446
    don_viking
    Level 21  
    wbober wrote:
    BOOM i ZONK wrote:
    Paste the file settings.xml or look for a setting in it frequencyShift and before you set the frequency correction correctly.

    Added after 35 [minutes]:

    frequencyShiftEnabled change with False on True if you haven't already.
    As for the desktop, I haven't found it, but maybe I'm blind ... ;)

    Shift is in the FFT Display.
    Well, it's going hard because:
    For 144,800 I set Shift 97,000 and it holds when I call from Frequency Mgr,
    when I punch by hand, you have to set it again.
    For 119.275 (Kraków INFO) Shift 147.000 and the same.
    Fun with every frq? I think I'm doing something wrong :(
    The same in the SDRSharper 3h version
    bober


    But why set shift when you can set PPM correction. In SDRSharper (04k) this correction is also set by clicking " config ". The basic rule is to select" RTL-SDR USB " not " ExtIO_RTL ". Then click config and set up PPM.
  • #928 15879563
    wbober
    Level 11  
    don_viking wrote:

    But why set shift when you can set PPM correction. In SDRSharper (04k) this correction is also set by clicking " config ". The basic rule is to select" RTL-SDR USB " not " ExtIO_RTL ". Then click config and set up PPM.


    Thanks to Viking, I found your settings somewhere and after unchecking Shift and selecting in config only "Offset Tuning" all for now :) ok (ppm = 45)
    kisses
    bober
  • #930 15880479
    sir_mendez
    Level 10  
    I recently came across the SDR slogan and I have these questions - there are several of them, but on one topic basically:
    Does this RTL-SDR only receive the air signal? Inn. in words, is it suitable, for example, for the visual evaluation of the power of DVB-T TV channels in the antenna sockets in the rooms?
    [I can see that the range is quite wide and it will probably also include: 470 - 790MHz (sheet 21 - 60), 790 - 862 MHZ (sheet 61 - 69), 174 - 230 MHz (sheet 6 - 12)]

    What does SDR show at all when it is attached to a home satellite / DVB-T cable? Does it draw any graphs for the above channels? Power from the SAT socket will not burn something on USB in this mode?

    Any info in this direction is welcome ;)
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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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