RTL SDR device. Is this worth buying?

[VK2FAK]

HI all....

I know Jaycar also had one a year or so back.....but could not find it in there online cat.

I assumed that computer devices were all the rage...strange that no shop locally would stock at least some brand version of them....even if not the right type for sdr..

[VK3BQ]

$50 and you can't be sure it's the correct chipset. http://www.dicksmith.com.au/computer-ac ... sau-xh2390
Or take a $20 punt at office works?? http://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/m20P ... reId=10151


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[VK4GHZ]

H all....

Can you buy these USB devices from more local shops around Sydney and Suburbs.....or only from Internet purchases...

I would rather go to a shop and buy something.....

Anyone done such a crazy thing as I am suggesting.....

Been there, done that.
DSE, JB HiFi all have them, but it's a complete lucky dip.
The average dumbass consumer who buys these, buys them for their intended purpose: a TV dongle, and couldn't care less about the chip set.

I would simply go to eBay, and look for one that specifically states using the RTL2832 and R820 chipset.

As I posted on the previous page, the local eBayer I purchased mine off, even delivered it in-person to my door.
If an eBayer is prepared to do that, I think they're more than trustworthy.
Assuming that is your underlying reason for avoiding eBay in the first place?

You're going to need to obtain a MCX plug and some RG316 coax, and a connector for the other end to make an antenna adapter cable.
(I have some BNC sockets on the way to suit RG316)
You can buy MCX-PAL adapters, but I prefer the idea of a flying lead to relieve strain off the internal MCX socket.

The link to where I got mine from: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Radio-TV-and ... 1143851937
From Brisbane, much quicker than ordering from Asia.

[VK2LK]

NooElec stock thee sticks which have been specifically chosen to have the best tuner and chipset for use with SDR applications.

http://www.nooelec.com/store/

[VK3DXE]

I bought a NooElec one via eBay and it arrived this week - here in about 10 days.

I'm running it with SDR# and it seems quite stable and reasonably sensitive given what it is. I even stuck one of my decent 2m preamps in front of it (with the SDR gain wound right back) and found it performs quite nicely on 2m. My preamps have fairly tight bandpass filtering, and the device really benefits from this.

I'm still learning how to drive everything, including the virtual audio cables (I run a free version of a different brand), but so far I'm really impressed with what it'll do for the dollars. Next step is some decent front end filtering and RF amplification across different bands.

I've also downloaded and installed the "Direct Sampling Software Mod" from http://www.rtl-sdr.com/direct-sampling- ... ifcations/. The link directly to the .dll is here: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/430 ... MOD_VC.dll This will at least give you some HF capability.

I've had it receiving WSPR from JA on 30m, so it works OK, but not as well as a dedicated HF RX or SDR with an upconverter, but is still really handy to see what's happening across a swathe of HF spectrum on the very cheap.

Edit: I've just received a decode from VK2CPR on 40m with this setup using my 10m vertical as the antenna. Admittedly not terribly strong, but at least its working and I have a benchmark to improve from.

2015-02-05 11:24 VK2CPR 7.040097 -27 0 QF33lv 5 VK3DXE QF21nv 275 216

[VK2AVR]

My preamps have fairly tight bandpass filtering, and the device really benefits from this.

There is a new patch out for the R820T driver that allows modifying the IF bandwidth. The version of SDR# you are running now has a 5MHz IF bandwidth, and with only ~45dB dynamic range it is easy to get aliases and/or miss weak signals. When SDR# updates to take advantage of this new feature you should be able to change the IF bandwidth down to as little as 300kHz I believe, which makes chopping out an alligator next door possible. A narrow IF in conjunction with a preamp would be ideal for using the SDR to monitor for weaker signals on a specific frequency.