Getting Started with the RTL-SDR (Software Defined Radio)

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This video is an introduction to the cheap RTL-SDR. The RTL-SDR is a $30 Software Defined radio that packs a lot of functionality.
You can buy the whole kit here:
amzn.to/3fXnxNM
The first thing you want to do once you get your device is familiarize yourself with the parts.
Different antenna Dipole configurations can be calculated here: www.csgnetwork.com/antennaedca...
Next you want to setup your software, so download the SDR Software package from this page:
airspy.com/download/
Once the file is downloaded ,extract its contents and run the rtl-sdr bat file.
This will download the drivers needed to use the RTL-SDR.
Plug in your RTL-SDR, and wait a minute.
Open the new zadig file that was created once you opened that bat.
View- Show all Devices.
Select the "Bulk-In, Interface (Interface 0)" Device
Ensure the correct USB Id is shown: "0BDA 2838 00"
Install the WinUSB driver by clicking the install button.
The Drivers should now be installed, and you can open the SDRSharp Program included in the extracted folder.
Make sure to check out my blog, and shop over at:
themodernham.com .
⚡ Join the ModernHams Discord: ⚡
/ discord
➡️Join this channel to get access to perks⬅️
/ @modernham

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Опубликовано:

30 мар 2019

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Комментарии : 297

@jamesdurrett3827 Месяц назад

I am an 83 year retired engineer. Your presentation was clean, to the point and in a logical order. I have just purchased my first SDR and your video has definitely aided my learning curve. Many thanks,

@timmorris8932 6 дней назад

Let my add my Gorgnard appreciation to the growing list below. I am a 56 yo Tech+ from way back in the 70's. Been out of the hobby for a while now, and coming back I have found that "everything has changed". Can you believe they didn't consult me about the changes? Thank the goddess for RU-vid and individuals like yourself.

@ModernHam 6 дней назад

I'm glad you could fins something here useful!

@vesuvianvomit 3 года назад

hey I don't know if you'll ever read this kid. your an awesome teacher.. I was watching ALOT of vids like this & still failing trying to set up my software.. you were very specific about every little thing as if you were talking to someone majorily technologically challenged (I am). the details helped like running things in administrator & stuff.. some of the other vids seemed like they assumed you knew some stuff. I'm really trying.. I got this rtl-sdr & a baofeng radio & am studying for the ham technician thing.. it's ruff going.. I've always been a d student!!

@ModernHam 3 года назад

I'm glad I could help. I tried to break it down as best as I could! This stuff gets more complicated the farther down the rabbit hole you go

@andrewgardner7104 4 года назад

Superb , I have watched ten or more videos trying to set this SDR up, yours is the only one which has worked for me. You are a star. Keep safe. from Yorkshire UK. And you have a new sub. Andy.

@billlewey6573 3 года назад

The unit I got from the Amazon link was refurbished and I had to reassemble the antenna connectors. I had bought the last one, but now I see they are in stock again. BTW came without instructions so your video was essential to get started! Thanks for this succinct how to! I am listening to my local weather now. Also my favorite FM station! This is awesome!

@BladeRunner-td8be 3 года назад

I just received my RTL-SDR yesterday and have watched two superb videos about how to set it up. Out of the two videos I watched, this one is better. Thanks to you, I feel almost 100 percent confident I will set mine up without much trouble. I am running a dual boot P.C.; one side is Ubuntu, and the other is Windows 10 Professional. First, I will set up my Windows, and then based on my research, I will set up my Linux for the radio scanner. I also have an iMac, which I will set up. It's almost guaranteed that my Windows setup will not be as good as my iMac or Linux. Thank you for the clear and concise instructions. Subscribed and thumb up, Cheers

@ModernHam 3 года назад

Glad you liked the video! I find it works more smoothly in linux for me. the rtl_sdr package handles pretty much everything.

@code1017 Год назад

Holy shit thanks for this video. I have a lot of hobbies and added RTL-SDR and radio in general to my hobbies. I’m knowledgeable enough to get by with very basic SDR functionalities but your dipole resource and just your basic explanation of the hardware helped me a lot. I know this is easy stuff for the radio kings that have been into this for years but the complete newbies appreciate it. Thanks and keep up the great vids. New subscriber here 🙏👍

@orioncampos 3 года назад

I really like your style of explanation. It is fast, but also complete.

@mqb17 3 года назад

Just ordered this kit. Can't wait to hook it up.

@EZ-viewing. 3 года назад

I can’t thank you enough for your clip. I’ve been searching high & low - pardon the pun - for information just as you’ve provided, with no luck. I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot. Thank you again. I’ll be recommending your channel to anyone who asks about this topic. Ps. I’ve subscribed. Thank you again.

@ModernHam 3 года назад

Glad I could help!

@nathancooper9932 3 года назад

FYI - great job with this video. I had a significant windows upgrade and had to reinstall the usb driver. The "bulk" reference was not an option but since you called out the ID (OBDA 2838) I was able to reinstall easily. Thanks

@josephjones5608 4 года назад

Glad to see more younger Hams!

@josephjones836 3 года назад

We got the same name

@du42bz 3 года назад

Still cant believe that i was a ham since i was 13yo

@BenTrem42 Месяц назад

@@du42bz I started SWL RTTY at 14 but only got licensed at 19! (VO1LQ, 51yrs ago!)

@dangriffin5532 2 года назад

To receive HF you can get 2 nuts that fit the threads where the telescopic elements attach. Then attach a quarter wave length wire for the band you want to use with a lug on one end to both sides by tightening the nuts. So now you have an HF dipole. To receive HF on Dongle there is something in the SDR Sharp that you might have to do so it can receive lower frequencies. Not sure but just a hunch.

@rokfam 3 года назад

Great video and very encouraging to see younger people enjoying this hobby. Best of luck!

@ModernHam 3 года назад

Thank you for your support!

@dangriffin5532 2 года назад

Thank you young man for taking the time to do this. I am waiting to receive mine sometime next month. I will follow your lead in getting mine setup.

@needlethread4715 Год назад

how did it go sir?

@dangriffin5532 Год назад

@@needlethread4715 Works great other than the software getting locked up when you click the stop button after it's been in use a while. Have to do Ctrl-Alt-Del then end task. So just leave it running all the time....lol. I only use it for HF 40 meters mostly. Tried some different solutions recommended but none of them worked. Supposedly some older versions don't have this issue. Any suggestions?

@needlethread4715 Год назад

@@dangriffin5532 thanks for the reply. had this dongle too for a month now. cant remember if i had the same experience using sdr++ or sdr# on my windows 11 desktop. but with the raspberry pi 4 i think there were a few times i encountered the same problem, with gqrx and sdr++.

@dangriffin5532 Год назад

@@needlethread4715 Probably not the fault of dongle more the freeware written for it. Someone took the time to develop it so I thank them. I certainly don't have that skill. But for $20-25 bucks it's hard to beat otherwise. It works better than my SANGEAN.

@mbatson13 2 года назад

Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been battling my stupid SDR (I know, I know, I'm the idiot, not the radio) but that trick you did by widening the bandwith on a station actually got my radio to work!!!!!!! I thought I had a broken antenna. Of course, would have been nice to know that trick about 3 hours ago but better late than never. is there a book or something you can recommend. I can't find anything for beginners... I mean REAL beginners like me. Everything is acronyms and functions, and radio terms and whatever else that has no meaning to me, but no one teaches you what any of that mean. Some how you have to already know it and so nothing makes any sense. Very frustrating, but very grateful you showed that trick!

@user-si9yk9bf9m Месяц назад

your advice got mine up and running on airspy, my screen was a bit different than yours but i was able to figure it out. thanks

@amateurspotter2656 4 года назад

Wow, that’s really something, To be able to scan all frequencies in one place is amazing 😉. Thanks for that.

@rodrigogalvao3798 4 года назад

Hi, You look like you know about that, could you help find an answer to something? I want to get my wireless microphones signals so I can make a return for those who use it while singing and those things. Can I use one of those setups to get their frequency and listen to it on the computer? I have 4 microphones, their frequencies go from 623Mhz up to 648Mhz. Thank you so much!

@reengineerit 4 месяца назад

First time trying any of this. You got me up and listening in minutes. Thanks man. Be well.

@ModernHam 4 месяца назад

You too! glad it's still working!

@mUbase 5 лет назад

Thanks for the video. I've just got one of the cheapo 100KHz to 1.7GHz boxes from China. Im a noob when it comes to SDR so your vid was really helpful. Thanks.

@namesurname4666 4 года назад

Nooo they are bad !!

@robmoed3877 3 года назад

Thank you, accidently ordered a generic RTL. sdr, could not get it to work. I followed your video and now up and running, awesome.

@ModernHam 3 года назад

Glad I could help out!

@colinreece3452 10 месяцев назад

Well I'm new to this side of the hobby, of all the SDR vids this one helped me the most, I was getting annoyed then I found this channel, thank you. I'm waiting for some connectors to arrive for my antenna then hopefully I will be running.

@colinreece3452 10 месяцев назад

I'm getting the spikes and the strong sognals showing on the waterfall but just hissing not voice on all bands, I need the other functions explained as I think something isn't checked or unchecked.

@WildWoodlandsSW Год назад

Great info. Just got mine installed and working so will test these tomorrow. Subscribed,and look forward to more videos on SDR. Thankyou 🙂👍🙏

@SteveH-TN 3 месяца назад

Thanks for sharing your experience and this video & information.

@wernerbauer2652 4 года назад

Brilliant, just what I needed!!

@andychow5509 3 года назад

To remember which side of the antenna is up, which side is down, after unscrewing it, I attached a rubber band at the side that is supposed to be up, so I remember it. The RTL-SDR kit is the best out there for newbies. I started with Nooelec, and as much as I don't like bad-mouthing companies, their stuff is just subpar. For similar price, RTL-SDR is way better. For a bit more money, the SDRPlay is awesome, especially if you're on Windows. If you're planning on buying an upconverter anyway to get into the 1khz-30Mhz range, the SDRPlay gets you there without an upconverter, and has several built-in filters (which I haven't found how to activate under linux, only windows). If you plan on going the upconverter route, it's worth noting the RTL-SDR has a bias-T which can power many upconverters, while the Nooelec stuff needs another power source.

@andytomm1 3 года назад

Thanks for the tutorial, finally managed to get the stick working! AirSpy is pretty neat too.

@old_bastard2941 4 года назад

Dude, right on the money. Thank you!!!!:)

@karthibalaji3817 5 лет назад

Great ! I'm gonna get starting with the sdr soon ... Currently i'm learning about web app pen testing .do more vids It would be helpful thank you!.

@RookieLock 3 года назад

Thank you so much for doing this.. Nice easy to understand quick start guide ! -

@buffdelcampo 4 года назад

You got me up and running. Thanks!

@smyrtgyz 5 лет назад

Thank you for your time...

@georgetownsend3700 4 года назад

Great video. I wish you showed how to get digital modes to print on screen.

@davidsearles4636 2 года назад

Thanks for making the setup simple and understandable. I was getting frustated until I found this.

@jaroslawgasior394 2 года назад

hi David, are You using them with R820T2 RTL2832U? Would You tell it's worth to buy?

@davidsearles4636 2 года назад

Hello Jaroslaw, I have the RTL2832U R860T. It says it's version 3. I'm still struggling to receive much of anything on it. I sorta wish I had gotten a different dongle. Maybe a different one would have given me better results. So event though I was to finally get it to work, I'm not satisfied with the results. You might want to journey over to Frugal Radio to see if they can give you some info. I've also gone to Kiwi SDR Online. You can listen to SDR indirectly from their website. I've been doing that myself. It's limited frequency covderage but it's still fun and interesting. Good Luck, Jaroslaw

@jaroslawgasior394 2 года назад

@@davidsearles4636 Thank You :). Keep Well Man.

@KJWalda 3 года назад

Thanks! Really helpful for a beginner like I am. 👍👍👍

@Tommy_Boy. 3 года назад

Awesome! Well done Modern!! 👍

@stephencoales1331 3 года назад

Great introduction, helpd me set things up. Would be interested to see the scanner app that comes with sdr#!

@MilesNelgez 4 года назад

Thank you for this. Great introductory video.

@davidlj53 2 года назад

Just ordered mine, thanks for the starter!

@davidlj53 13 дней назад

Finally got around to trying this but when I run zadig the bulk interface does not show up instead I get Intel wireless Bluetooth. Any suggestions, I’m running Windows 10

@ihavecojones 5 месяцев назад

Hello my dude, Yea...that's a high resistance resistor in between the poles (they even say it on the website). It was used on the V3 to discharge any Electrostatic Buildilup on the antenna.

@DickGJ61 2 года назад

Great instructional! I have the SDR working like it's suppose to, but I can't hear anything, not even NOAA...I'm thinking my problem is the dipole antenna. For the moment, the only place I can set up the dipole antenna is to stick it to the outside, window of my patio door. If it's not the antenna...I have no idea what's wrong. Aaaaaargh!

@sonnysurles 3 года назад

Great intro. Thanks!

@tomwilliams8675 2 года назад

It's my next purchase. Thanks

@luisalvarez9451 8 месяцев назад

Hi i have a doubt about the diodes mod. Are they connected in anti parallel? Where diodes are in parallel and facing opposite directions. Regards

@KarmaChameleon3029 2 года назад

This is really fascinating. 😃

@jeoffer 4 года назад

Very helpful, good job.

@cinema-verite 2 года назад

Thanks for this amazing video...

@jayant281 3 года назад

Great video - very helpful Can you please explain difference in antenna calculator between tee half tee etc

@mikew1778 3 года назад

Excellent job, thank you!

@ModernHam 2 года назад

Glad you enjoyed it!

@timothyjohnson2793 2 года назад

Thanks for the great info

@frequencywatchers Год назад

Really Good Video ! Props !

@rubenacevedo2484 3 года назад

Hi, great video. I was wondering , is it possible to scan a band or a memory bank with many frequencies , like a normal Radio Scanner ? Thank you very much. Regards.

@kirknelson156 3 года назад

have you done anymore videos on antenna configurations and uses? I've been trying to catch a signal from the ISS, finely got some data last night but my signal to noise ratio was too poor for a good decode, I suspect either my antenna or my positioning of it. don't have one with the 2 elements, just a 1 element telescoping with a magnet mount. I've been placing it on a A/C unit to a ground plane, since its the only metal on my roof for it to stick to. and don't worry the A/C is not running. but any tips would be useful, like if i should angle the antenna horizontal instead of vertical, should it be parallel to the flight path of the ISS or at a 90 degree angle to it. hard to experiment with it when you only have 3 to 6 min and they are not transmitting every time they pass. oh and I have one of those 2 element antennas on order.

@artdodd2932 2 года назад

Thanks for the video Modern ham. I got everything running. Art K2ADC

@davidsradioroom9678 3 года назад

Thanks for the information!

@ModernHam 3 года назад

Glad I could help!

@julesl6910 2 года назад

Thanks for your help brother

@caperworld3365 3 года назад

great video. Certainly helped me

@ModernHam 3 года назад

Glad it helped

@aporitosaporitou7009 Год назад

Excellent!!! Thank you!!!

@debbiramsey4603 3 года назад

Thank you . Exactly what a rank beg right needs.

@ModernHam 3 года назад

Glad i could help out!

@apnamomo8883 9 месяцев назад

On which frequency mobile phone works?

@amraam5690 Год назад

Great video!

@crookeddealer7026 3 года назад

What was that app for measuring proper dipole antennas you mentioned may I ask?

@ironkiko 4 года назад

Thanks very much! This is so cool!!

@hazpicsphotography1627 4 года назад

Very helpful , thank you

@SignalsEverywhere 5 лет назад

Yikes, don't forget to adjust your contrast or you're going to have a really hard time picking out signals. I'd also recommend using manual gain and bring the noise floor up from zero to just when the noise floor begins to rise.

@ModernHam 5 лет назад

Thank you for this.

@joshcarz 4 года назад

great video. Thank you so much.

@smartypants5036 4 года назад

From someone who until two days ago did not even know that SDR was a thing this video was a really cool thing to find. I was a ham operator many years ago, what about if you want to talk on 2 Meters. Is that an option. Can you reach out and trigger a local repeater.

@Drsef50 4 года назад

I purchased the RTL-SDR with antenna but I'm a MAC user. No luck thus far getting software. Dave

@TheSimantov 4 года назад

thank you for a very coherent how to explanation helped me to easy start

@dangriffin5532 2 года назад

8mm Wing nuts be a good choice to attach dipole wires for HF bands. The threads are M5. There ya go.

@mr38wesson 5 месяцев назад

Thank yo my sdr dongle work well now.

@PokrovskiyAlex 4 года назад

Great! I also added video about reception shortwave on rtl-sdr v3 to my channel

@tc1uscg65 2 года назад

FWIW, on a Win10 machine, I was using, it required the .Net installation package from Microsoft.

@siim4205 3 года назад

Hi i am new in this SDR world and i got question. There are tons of information about those SDR dongles but i hadent seen information about coaxial cable lenght. Whats are those recomendation for cable, i know that best type coaxial cable for price is worldwide known RG6. If the coaxial cable are too long, can this blowup SDR dongle? Does there are some amplifiers for SDR's when the coaxial cable is long?

@Emanemoston Год назад

Thank you sir.

@Lcapone 3 года назад

I also have such a receiver. But I don't like one problem, it gets very hot. And it is felt outside the case, and inside it is even stronger. Have you tried installing a cooling cooler on it and will the holes in the casing affect extraneous parasitic interference?

@BrentBeard615 5 лет назад

Kudos! Very informative video. Keep up the good work! -Beard

@amigulus6896 4 года назад

That was very helpful, Thank you! Is there a way to save the radio station instead of entering its frequency each time?

@ModernHam 4 года назад

I wish there were, but I haven't found it yet

@andrewhamop6665 4 года назад

CubicSDR has that functionality.

@ethancorey3742 2 года назад

It's under Frequency Manager

@henninb 4 года назад

AM radio specifically, starting with my local stations. Does the sdr have the capacity to pick up the signal? If so I am struggling to do so. My guess is I likely need the correct antenna configuration. Please share your thoughts. Thanks for the great video.

@ModernHam 4 года назад

Yes, but where AM bands are used typically require quite a long antenna.

@aheriady 3 года назад

Nice explanation.....

@koreapop3004 3 года назад

Keep going ♥️

@chetnapatel9700 4 года назад

Which free download software to use to scan up to 9 ghz n from where to download. And which is the cheapest sdr rtl that caan support?

@bartronicsecurity 4 года назад

Im building a remote for 433Mhz frequency. I have to make sure I keep the harmonics as low as possible. Is it possible to turn this into a spectrum analyser so I can see the levels of harmonics at 1300Mhz?

@dangriffin5532 2 года назад

The capacitor you showed. I wonder what it's specific purpose is? Filtering?

@2012turok 3 года назад

Thank you....more please.

@ModernHam 3 года назад

More to come!

@MarzJonp 4 года назад

Awesome!

@1stevenj83 4 года назад

Dipole antenna 468 divided by frequency in mhz

@unclealig 4 месяца назад

couple years ago i used an RTL dongle from an DVB-T usb-stick (with a RTL2832U chip) for listening to ATC radio using SDR#. Now i am trying to set it up all again, but i cant receive ATC radio (now using the current AIRSPY SDR# software). However, i can receive radio broadcasting (FM). any hint what i am doing wrong? thanks

@ThinFreddysFlop 3 года назад

I have one of these: @t I can receive FM stations in 88-108 Mhz range with good sound. When I switch to direct sampling and with long aerial into HF socket I can see many good strong signals in MW and HF bands. But when I tune in to the signal peaks I never get any audio. Maybe just a hum at best. I try all demodulation settings. Any thoughts?

@videodude8137 6 месяцев назад

Sir it is a resistor. Not a capacitor. Resistors do not have an up or down side. That resistor is for ESD bleedoff. Some report, though, that the end connected to the center conductor of the coax is up, and seems to give better results. Also, the newest version of the dipole antenna being sold does not have a resistor. The modes are not for the audio coming out. You select the appropriate mode for the signal your tuned to. Amplitude Modulation, Frequency Modulation (NFM or WFM), etc.

@FabioSpelta 4 года назад

Amazing video, thanks! My dipole antenna though has a resistor (100kohm) and not a capacitor. What could that imply in practice? Thanks.

@mikeoxbig7806 3 года назад

Ever find out?

@FabioSpelta 3 года назад

@@mikeoxbig7806 nope. :-(

@bgdamore 2 года назад

Hi, folks, I came here due to the same doubt... but I can't read the value ( 100K ). After check the resistor value ( barely can distinguish the first band in my antenna ) I've found this, explaining why the resistor is in between. Hope this clears your questions also: "I have the same antenna and it is 100K ohm on mine. This would serve to bleed any static charge (its intended purpose) without impacting performance." Link: forums.radioreference.com/threads/why-is-this-cheap-rtl-sdr-blog-v3-kit-antenna-so-good-and-why-is-it-so-directional.406041/

@lonnymoore2622 4 года назад

awesome thank you very much you were a awesome help

@nojiratzlaff4388 5 месяцев назад

There is no link or anything on the AirSpy downloads page that reads "Windows SDR Software Package" so which should I use?

@BytebroUK 14 дней назад

Gaargh! Yet another useful helpful RTL-SDR thing, but yet again, it assumes I am on a Windows machine. Can someone *please* do one of these for those of us on Linux? :) And I want to learn more about building an antenna for Short Wave. Thx!