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RTL-SDR - that is listening to the frequency by the computer thanks to the TV tu

nikoloz.glonti 73839 28

TL;DR

  • RTL-SDR lets a computer listen to radio frequencies using a TV tuner instead of dedicated expensive hardware.
  • The setup uses the Not Only TV DVB-T USB DELUXE LV5T TV tuner as the key receiver.
  • The tuner model is LV5T, and it is a DVB-T USB device.
  • A YouTube video shows the whole process and demonstrates that the approach works.
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📢 Listen (AI):
  • Yes, it is possible to listen to frequencies from the computer.
    And it is not necessary to buy devices at cosmic prices.
    All you need is the Not Only TV DVB-T USB DELUXE LV5T TV tuner.
    Here is a youtube video showing the whole process.


    [/youtube]

    Cool? Ranking DIY
    About Author
    nikoloz.glonti
    Level 12  
    Offline 
    nikoloz.glonti wrote 84 posts with rating 23. Live in city Tbilisi. Been with us since 2013 year.
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  • #2 12280564
    M. S.
    Level 34  
    hmm. I fell for it. I bought the same equipment, installed it and found it to be deaf as a post. It only receives stronger signals, e.g. aviation. It can only be treated as a curiosity.
    The receiver is operational because it receives DVB-T and strong signals. Aviation in my case.
  • #3 12290348
    karolgg
    Level 2  
    From what I remember, without modifications, this receiver works from 60MHz to a little over 2000MHz.
  • #4 12292310
    androot
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
    M. S. wrote:
    hmm. I fell for it. I bought the same equipment, installed it and found it to be deaf as a post. It only receives stronger signals, e.g. aviation. It can only be treated as a curiosity.
    The receiver is operational because it receives DVB-T and strong signals. Aviation in my case.


    What antenna(s) did you use? You didn't tell him he was deaf by plugging in a piece of wire, did you?
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  • #5 12293558
    Neorecormon
    Level 12  
    It works without problems with the antenna connected to the given band. Frequencies below 60MHz can be listened to by adding a transverter + appropriate antenna, e.g. delta for the 80 m band or LW with an antenna box :)
  • #6 12295980
    M. S.
    Level 34  
    Quote:
    What antenna(s) did you use? You didn't tell him he was deaf by plugging in a piece of wire, did you?


    J-ka for the 2m band. with an antenna amplifier. On this antenna, I listen to planes, the 2m band, up to the glue frequencies on the receiver of my own design. I can hear one of the repeaters from about 130km on 75% of the signal. Airplanes take my antenna off. I also receive TV on this antenna. I guess my expectations are too high. I also had a scanner on the TV head and compared to receivers for specific bands it was weak.
  • #7 12306985
    tymek95
    Level 15  
    Is it worth buying such an invention for listening?
    Is it better to buy some baofeng for example?
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  • #8 12330141
    zweinstein
    Level 17  
    I bought a different tuner than the Not Only listed here. It has DVB-T+DAB+FM written on the housing. The cost of PLN 10 is more expensive than Not Only, but I am able to receive from about 25MHz. I tested it on the CB band and I find that it works and receives this band correctly.
  • #9 12334874
    PIOTOM0
    Level 20  
    I confirm, it covers the CB band without any problems - of course with a stationary external antenna. Besides, it works very well in FM.
    I just don't know why the frequencies diverge after some time of listening.
    Maybe it's a software fault??

    Is there any other firmware for this card?

    I recommend it for fun and testing.

    Piotrom0
  • #10 12335452
    _siekier
    Level 24  
    Hello, could a colleague show a photo of this tuner? Because I would also like to buy it, but there is a lot of it, and here is something already proven :)
  • #11 12335649
    pustan
    Level 19  
    I confirm the correct operation of this tuner. I have NOT ONLY for about a year. Bought at the V..IS store. It picks up VHF very well. Other frequencies can also be heard. I am using SDRSharp. Below is a photo. The current price is about PLN 50.

    RTL-SDR - that is listening to the frequency by the computer thanks to the TV tu
  • #12 12339495
    zweinstein
    Level 17  
    Quote:
    I just don't know why the frequencies diverge after some time of listening.
    Maybe it's a software fault??


    At the beginning I struggled with the problem of the complete non-overlapping of the set frequencies with the actual ones. I tried to compensate in the "Configure" tab but could never set it. After some time, I realized that I had Swap I&Q enabled. I don't miss the frequency while listening for several hours. One thing that annoys me is quite strong heating of the tuner.

    I listen to it myself for now on a piece of wire but I connected it to antennas for amateur bands and really day to night. Amateur communications and beacons could be heard without any problems.

    An additional disadvantage that bothers me is the characteristics of the tuner. Where I would not listen (CB, 2m, 70cm) some FM station is still broadcasting in the background. The tuner seems to have increased sensitivity to the 88-108MHz range. Anyone have any simple filter ideas for this range?

    PS Model I use:
    RTL-SDR - that is listening to the frequency by the computer thanks to the TV tu [/img]
  • #13 12350874
    gregor_1980
    Level 14  
    I am just waiting for the tuner from the above photo, I ordered it on ebay from China for the equivalent of PLN 35, it is based on the RTL2832u chipset and the R820t tuner, apparently the older versions are on a different tuner. The tuner on the R820T probably works in the 24-1700MHz range, and has greater sensitivity than, for example, the E4000. Here is a video comparing the same-looking dongles with two different tuners.

    [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVrdgdN1HF0 [/youtube] .

    Buddy zweinstein, maybe you live near the transmitter of an FM station and this causes the phenomenon you describe?
  • #14 12355235
    zweinstein
    Level 17  
    Yes, there are transmitters on each side nearby. Even without an antenna, I receive most stations. This is what it looks like in the city. In the countryside I have an omnidirectional and broadband Discone antenna and it also collects all CCIR stations for me. I have two options - selective antenna or this filter. With a scanner like this SWR, the filter is better. He has only been acquainted with the topics of the radio station for a few weeks. So far I haven't had the opportunity and the finances to get a listening receiver. These tuners are a breakthrough for me.

    Thanks a lot nikoloz.glonti to the author of this topic, because it was his film that prompted me to get acquainted with this interesting topic :)
  • #15 12357600
    gregor_1980
    Level 14  
    I also always wanted to have such a scanner, but I never even dreamed that I could have one for little money, in general, the SDR technology itself is something amazing for me because radio technology has always been associated with LC circuits, tuning and other nasty stuff for amateur without the appropriate equipment, and here you are, one IC, there are almost no input circuits, and such possibilities, see also https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic2353101,.html someone already raised the topic a year ago. By using the converter, e.g. on the LA1185, you can extend the range with long, medium and short waves. Best regards and good listening.
  • #16 12359250
    Tomek L
    Level 12  
    Hello
    I have a problem. I bought this tuner and it turned out that as soon as I want to turn on playback in the SDR program, a window with the error "Cannot access RTL device" appears. I tried to change the parameters but it did not work. Maybe someone knows a solution to this problem? I will only add that the TV works without a problem.
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  • #17 12360843
    gregor_1980
    Level 14  
    Tomek L wrote:
    Hello
    I have a problem. I bought this tuner and it turned out that as soon as I want to turn on playback in the SDR program, a window with the error "Cannot access RTL device" appears. I tried to change the parameters but it did not work. Maybe someone knows a solution to this problem? I will only add that the TV works without a problem.


    You probably need to uninstall the manufacturer's drivers and install the SDR recommended for listening. As far as I know, you have a choice, either you use the original drivers and watch TV or you install special ZADIG drivers and use the dongle as a scanner, here is a description of how to do it, unfortunately/unfortunately in English http://rtlsdr.org/softwarewindows . I won't give my head that this is the right method, but that's what they recommend on the forums. Regards.
  • #18 12361444
    zweinstein
    Level 17  
    When I played with the drivers (I restored the original drivers to see how the TV works) I also had this problem after restoring the ZADIG drivers. I have reinstalled these drivers several times. I think it worked in 3 as I first removed everything, restart, uploaded the original drivers, restart, ZADIG, restart, it works :) But the first time it started without any reboot. Probably the system has moods.
  • #19 12361882
    Tomek L
    Level 12  
    Thanks. Everything's running now. I installed the ZADIG drivers and it started right away. Regards
  • #20 12402050
    NBA79
    Level 11  
    Is it possible to listen to something on UHF / VHF on this contraption??
  • #21 12422962
    gregor_1980
    Level 14  
    NBA79 wrote:
    Is it possible to listen to something on UHF / VHF on this contraption??


    Yes, yes. It all depends on the antenna. You can even connect a broadband TV to start with.
  • #22 12424071
    zweinstein
    Level 17  
    The minimum that can be reached is 25MHz. After connecting the parabolic antenna, it was even possible to listen to the beacons around 1.3GHz, so the range is very wide.

    I have already tried with a TV antenna with an amplifier. I had more interference than a useful signal. The disconnected antenna with the amplifier on was so strong that it even interfered with my reception from another antenna. This is the case with Chinese DVB-T room antennas - not worth it. It is better to connect the antenna itself without any additional amplifier.

    I would also touch on that aspect. What is the input impedance of this tuner? From what the manufacturer states on the website, it is 75 Ohm. The MCX socket used there is 50 Ohm. How is it finally?
  • #23 12424583
    NBA79
    Level 11  
    gregor_1980 wrote:
    NBA79 wrote:
    Is it possible to listen to something on UHF / VHF on this contraption??


    Yes, yes. It all depends on the antenna. You can even connect a broadband TV to start with.


    So a half-wave dipole and it should also flash?
  • #24 12456474
    gregor_1980
    Level 14  
    On an open dipole (75 ohm) with an amplifier from a broadband antenna, I received ADS-B 1090MHz!!! signals, the antenna was outside right outside the window, I received signals from planes within a radius of about 80km. I also managed to receive a signal from the NOAA satellite on 137MHz, the signal was weak but I managed to decode a bit. Dipoles can be made of two telescopic antennas, and their length can be adjusted to the band of your choice. For the beginning of the fun, I recommend a broadband TV antenna with an amplifier, the higher the antenna, the better.
  • #25 12457738
    NBA79
    Level 11  
    gregor_1980 wrote:
    On an open dipole (75 ohm) with an amplifier from a broadband antenna, I received ADS-B 1090MHz!!! signals, the antenna was outside right outside the window, I received signals from planes within a radius of about 80km. I also managed to receive a signal from the NOAA satellite on 137MHz, the signal was weak but I managed to decode a bit. Dipoles can be made of two telescopic antennas, and their length can be adjusted to the band of your choice. For the beginning of the fun, I recommend a broadband TV antenna with an amplifier, the higher the antenna, the better.


    Hello. I already tested my dipole. It sleeps nice. I hear planes approaching Okęcie and Balice...
  • #27 13040941
    Mich43l
    Level 20  
    Hello, I have something such , I tried to select something from the list in the SDR program but I can only select other sound car and softrock, and something doesn't work for me, what am I doing wrong? The device has drivers installed and appears as sound and game controllers, while it is called AF9035 BDA device drivers downloaded from the manufacturer's website.
  • #28 13075227
    sb8gapi
    Level 14  
    Unfortunately, this URZ00185 tuner does not work as an SDR receiver, because it has an Afatech AF9035 processor, and not the required RTL2832. A similar tuner with the AF9035 is AverTV/Avermedia (A835).
    For the DV-T nat USB tuner to work as SDR, it must have RTL2832 and preferably R820T (range from approx. 24 MHz to 1970 MHz). A lot has been written about this on the electrode, so I won't repeat myself. Lots of info on this topic and here:
    https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic2353101-0.html
    https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic2463965.html
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around using the Not Only TV DVB-T USB DELUXE LV5T TV tuner for listening to various radio frequencies via a computer. Users share their experiences, noting that while the tuner can receive strong signals like aviation and DVB-T, it may struggle with weaker signals unless paired with appropriate antennas. Suggestions include using external antennas, such as dipoles or broadband TV antennas, to enhance reception. Some users report success with different tuners based on the RTL2832u chipset and R820T tuner, which offer broader frequency ranges. Issues with software and driver compatibility are also addressed, with recommendations for using ZADIG drivers for SDR applications. Overall, the tuner is seen as a cost-effective solution for amateur radio listening, though performance may vary based on setup and environment.
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FAQ

TL;DR: For ~PLN 35 (≈ $9) you unlock 24–1700 MHz reception with an RTL2832U+R820T stick; "It covers the CB band without any problems"[Elektroda, PIOTOM0, post #12334874] Install Zadig, add a real antenna, and signals jump by 20 dB[Elektroda, M. S., post #12280564] Why it matters: A $10 dongle can replace scanners that cost ten times more.

Quick Facts

• Chipset combo: RTL2832U + R820T, approx. 24–1700 MHz coverage[Elektroda, gregor_1980, post #12350874] • Street price: PLN 35–50 (€8–12) including antenna adapter[Elektroda, pustan, post #12335649] • Stock reception: 60–2000 MHz; add a down-converter for HF bands[Elektroda, karolgg, post #12290348] • Driver needed: Zadig WinUSB for SDR mode on Windows[Elektroda, gregor_1980, post #12360843] • Reported drift: ≈ 50 ppm after several minutes[Elektroda, PIOTOM0, post #12334874]

Which USB tuners definitely work for RTL-SDR?

Look for models that declare RTL2832U plus R820T or E4000 tuners. The verified Not Only TV LV5T Deluxe, generic “DVB-T+DAB+FM” sticks, and most NooElec/NESDR clones work[Elektroda, pustan, post #12335649] Avoid dongles using AF9035 or AF9015 chips; they cannot enter SDR mode[Elektroda, sb8gapi, post #13075227]

Can I listen below 60 MHz (HF, short-wave)?

The RTL directly stops near 24 MHz, but sensitivity falls fast below 60 MHz. Add a simple mixer or 125 MHz up-converter to shift HF into the dongle’s pass-band. Several builders used LA1185 converters to copy 3–30 MHz amateur signals[Elektroda, gregor_1980, post #12357600]

How do I install the correct Windows drivers?

  1. Unplug the stick and remove any OEM DVB-T drivers via Device Manager. 2. Run Zadig, select “Bulk-In, Interface 0”, click “Install WinUSB”. 3. Re-plug the dongle; SDR# should now list “RTL-SDR/USB”. Users report instant success after this swap[Elektroda, Tomek L, post #12361882]

Why does the tuned frequency drift after a few minutes?

The quartz oscillator can drift ~50 ppm as it heats, moving 100 kHz at 2 GHz[Electroda, PIOTOM0, #12334874]. Disable “Swap I/Q” mistakes, allow 3 minutes warm-up, or fit a TCXO reference for ±1 ppm stability (commercial TCXO boards cost €5).

My stick shows strong FM stations everywhere. How can I tame that?

R820T front-end overloads when > −10 dBm signals exist. Insert a 3-pole 88–108 MHz notch or use a cheap broadcast-reject filter (< €10 on eBay). "A simple filter cured the permanent FM bleed"[Elektroda, zweinstein, post #12339495]

Is the input 50 Ω or 75 Ω?

The RTL2832U RF input is nominally 50 Ω, yet most packages include MCX-to-75 Ω coax leads. Mismatch losses stay below 0.5 dB across VHF, so you can safely mix 50 Ω and 75 Ω hardware for casual listening[RTL-SDR Blog].

How far can I receive ADS-B aircraft beacons?

With a window-mounted dipole and RTL-SDR, one user tracked aircraft at 80 km radius[Elektroda, gregor_1980, post #12456474] A rooftop 5 dBi collinear typically extends this to 200 km, while adding a 10 dB LNA can push coverage beyond 350 km[Flightradar24 Stats].

Does the dongle overheat during long sessions?

Yes, R820T packages reach 50 °C in 30 minutes[Elektroda, zweinstein, post #12339495] Continuous airflow or a small aluminum heat-sink lowers temperature by 15 °C and reduces drift. Failures are rare, but thermal shutdown can occur above 70 °C (edge-case).

What if my stick still says “Cannot access RTL device”?

The OS may hold the old driver. Remove every instance from Device Manager, reboot, and reinstall Zadig drivers. Several users needed two reboots before SDR# regained control[Elektroda, zweinstein, post #12361444]

Quick start: How do I hear my first signal?

  1. Plug RTL-SDR with Zadig driver installed. 2. Launch SDR#, choose "RTL-SDR/USB", press "Play". 3. Tune 99.90 MHz FM, set W-FM mode, adjust gain until noise floor rises 6 dB. Music means success!
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