Description
100KHz-1.7GHz VHF UHF Band RTL SDR+UpConverter SDR Receiver NFM FM DSB LSB CW
WHAT IS SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO (SDR)? In traditional hardware radios, the mathematical operations required to decode and process radio signals are performed using analogue circuitry. Recently, computers have become powerful enough to perform the required mathematical calculations in software, hence the term software defined radio. This has led to advanced radios that previously required complicated analogue hardware now being able to be implemented easily in software. This has reduced the cost of advanced radio capabilities such as wideband tuning and waterfall displays.WHAT IS THE RTL-SDR?The RTL-SDR is an extremely cheap software defined radio which is based on DVB-T TV (Digital HD TV) USB receiver dongles that have the RTL2832U chip in them. It was discovered by hardware hacker Eric Fry, Linux driver developer Antti Palosaari and the Osmocom team who were developing their own SDR that the RTL2832U chip had a mode which enabled SDR. Today, by using custom software drivers, a commonly used cheap RTL2832U can then be turned into a sophisticated SDR with features that would have until recently cost in the hundreds to thousands of dollars. Of course, the performance of these dongles will not match a dedicated SDR, but they perform extremely well for the price, and almost all hobbyist projects that can be done with expensive radios or SDRs can also be done with the rtl-sdr. A wideband SDR opens up many interesting possible projects and avenues to explore. Some applications of the RTL-SDR include the following, some of which will be discussed in more depth in the project tutorials chapter.Functions Listening to unencrypted Police/Ambulance/Fire/EMS conversations. Listening to aircraft traffic control conversations. Tracking aircraft positions like a radar with ADS-B decoding. Decoding aircraft ACARS short messages. Scanning trunking radio conversations. Decoding unencrypted digital voice transmissions. Tracking maritime boat positions like a radar with AIS decoding. Decoding POCSAG/FLEX pager traffic. Scanning for cordless phones and baby monitors. Tracking and receiving meteorological agency launched weather balloon data. Tracking your own self launched high altitude balloon for payload recovery. Receiving wireless temperature sensors and wireless power meter sensors. Listening to VHF amateur radio. Decoding ham radio APRS packets. Watching analogue broadcast TV. Sniffing GSM signals. Using rtl-sdr on your Android device as a portable radio scanner. Receiving GPS signals and decoding them. Using rtl-sdr as a spectrum analyzer. Receiving NOAA weather satellite images. Listening to satellites and the ISS. Listening to unencrypted military communications. Radio astronomy. Monitoring meteor scatter. Listening to FM radio, and decoding RDS information. Listening to DAB broadcast radio. Use rtl-sdr as a panadapter for your traditional hardware radio. Decoding taxi mobile data terminal signals. Use rtl-sdr as a true random number generator. Listening to amateur radio hams on SSB with LSB/USB modulation. Decoding digital amateur radio ham communications such as CW/PSK/RTTY/SSTV. Receiving HF weatherfax. Receiving digital radio monodiale shortwave radio (DRM). Listening to international shortwave radio. Looking for RADAR signals like over the horizon (OTH) radar, and HAARP signals.• Click in “ON” Shift box
• make sure you enter the correct SHIFT frequency (minus) -100.000.000
• Switch on SDR toggle switch, red LED will light
• Tune your SDR Sharp on the bands.
• Reception on this mode from 100KHz to 30MHz
• Input antenna is HF
Operation on VHF and UP:
• Click “OFF” the Shift box
• Switch off the SDR toggle switch. Green LED off
• Tune SDR on the band you wish to receive
• Reception from 25MHz to 1.766GHz
• Input antenna is UV
Features
QUICK START GUIDE
This page is a guide aimed at helping anyone set up a cheap radio scanner based on the RTL-SDR software defined radio as fast as possible on a Windows system.
http://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-quick-start-guide/
SDRSharp Guide
A good guide to learning how to use SDRSharp and what all the options do can be found here.
http://www.atouk.com/SDRSharpQuickStart.html
Another great illustrated guide can be found here.
http://tylerwatt12.com/tips-for-using-sdr/
RTL-SDR.COM
THE BIG LIST OF RTL-SDR SUPPORTED SOFTWARE
http://www.rtl-sdr.com/big-list-rtl-sdr-supported-software/
Antenna Long Wire con Balun 9:1
http://www.radioamatoripeligni.it/i6ibe/balun9a1/balun9a1.htm
Alternative Installation Procedure for RTL.SDR and HDSDR
w.hamradioscience.com/alternative-installation-procedure-for-rtl-sticks-and-hdsdr/">http://www.hamradioscience.com/alternative-installation-procedure-for-rtl-sticks-and-hdsdr
Specifications
Fully assembled and ready to use
Uses RTL2832U+R820T chip set
100KHz to 1766MHz, operating frequency
Covers all HF amateur bands
Covers VHF & UHF bands from 24-1766MHz
Up to 3.2 M Sample rate. (~2.8 MHz stable)
Receiver modes AM, NFM, FM, DSB, USB, LSB and CW
Note: depends upon the SDR software used with the receiver
8-bit ADC giving ~50 dB dynamic range
50 Ohm input impedance
Double SMA golden antenna connectors
Diode protection on RF input
Aluminum panels
LED power and band indication
40MHz local oscillator for HF conversion
DBM balance ring mixer
Small size board
Free software
Independent antenna inputs for Shortwave and VHF
USB computer connection ( mini usb) Powered by common USB
Very High dynamic range receiver
SPDT High Power UltraCMOS™ RF Switch
Accurate and efficient band filters
Very clean audio reception
All specifications subject to change without notice
Includes
1x Testing Telescopic antenna
1xMain unit
1xUSB cable