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https://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/ 1/18
6/17/2018 About RTL-SDR - rtl-sdr.com
About RTL-SDR
About RTL-SDR
What is RTL-SDR?
RTL-SDR is a very cheap ~$25 USB dongle that can be used as a computer based radio scanner for receiving
live radio signals in your area (no internet required). Depending on the particular model it could receive
frequencies from 500 kHz up to 1.75 GHz. Most software for the RTL-SDR is also community developed, and
provided free of charge.
The origins of RTL-SDR stem from mass produced DVB-T TV tuner dongles that were based on the
RTL2832U chipset. With the combined efforts of Antti Palosaari, Eric Fry and Osmocom (in particular Steve
M) it was found that the raw I/Q data on the RTL2832U chipset could be accessed directly, which allowed the
DVB-T TV tuner to be converted into a wideband software defined radio via a custom software driver
developed by Steve M. If you've ever enjoyed the RTL-SDR project please consider donating to Osmocom via
Open Collective.
Over the years since its discovery RTL-SDR has become extremely popular and has democratized access to the
radio spectrum. Now anyone including hobbyists on a budget can access the radio spectrum. It's worth noting
that this sort of scanner capability would have cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars just a few years
ago. The RTL-SDR is also sometimes referred to as RTL2832U, DVB-T SDR, DVB-T dongle, RTL dongle, or
the "cheap software defined radio".
There are now many other software defined radios better than the RTL-SDR, but they all come at a higher
price. Currently we think that the Airspy ($169) and SDRPlay ($99) SDR's are the best low cost RX only
SDR's. There is also the HackRF ($300USD) which can both transmit and receive.
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Furthermore, with an upconverter or V3 RTL-SDR dongle to receive HF signals the applications are expanded
to:
Note that not all the applications listed may be legal in your country. Please be responsible.
As you can see from the table, the Elonics E4000 and Rafael Micro R820T dongles have the greatest
frequency range.
Remember that the mismatch loss when using 50 Ohm cabling on a 75 Ohm input will be very minimal at less
than 0.177 dB.
The 75 Ohm impedance for the R820T can be checked on the datasheet which can be downloaded here.
However, newer dongles that come with SMA connectors will be 50 Ohms.
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The Elonics E4000 used to be the most common, but Elonics has closed and ceased chip production, making the
E4000 rarer and much more expensive these days. Note that there seems to be a misconception that the E4000 is
better than the R820T2 because it costs more - this is not the case, the increased cost is only due to its rarity.
The R820T2 is generally regarded as having better performance and sensitivity for most interesting frequencies
compared to the E4000. For ADS-B, the R820T2 is much more sensitive at 1090 MHz. There are now also the
R820T2 dongles, which offer increased sensitivity over the R820T2. For these reasons, the R820T2 is
currently the recommended dongle, unless you need the higher frequencies that the E4000 provides and are
willing to pay a premium price.
Be careful when buying a dongle as certain sellers tend to misrepresent their devices (knowingly or
unknowingly) as having compatible tuners, when in fact they may send out a device with an incompatible tuner.
Also be wary when buying E4000 dongles from auction sites as there are many dodgy sellers incorrectly
advertising R820T2 dongles as the rare E4000.
See our RTL-SDR store page for more information about where to obtain dongles from reputable sources.
We now sell our own "RTL-SDR Blog V3" dongles which come with several key improvements for the SDR
crowd and we recommend these for users who want to mainly use their dongle for SDR.
Since then RTL-SDR has become a community based phenomenon. Certain companies such as us at RTL-SDR
Blog have taken it upon ourselves to produce our own flavor of RTL-SDR dongles that perform better than the
standard TV dongle. But none of it is possible without the wider community development behind all the free
software.
Original pioneering discoverers: Antti Palosaari, Eric Fry and Osmocom. In particular Steve M from
Osmocom who developed the first driver.
Hardware Sellers: Chinese factories producing and selling generic TV dongles, sellers of improved hardware
like RTL-SDR Blog.
Community Software/Hardware Devs: Anyone who has created software for the RTL-SDR, or has
discovered and documented a hardware hack for the RTL-SDR.
Community Bloggers: RTL-SDR Blog, and other bloggers/content creators who write and popularize RTL-
SDR applications.
Wider Community: Anyone using RTL-SDRs.
A few years ago we decided to create our own branded dongles that had significant improvements that would
benefit SDR users. Since then we've continued to improve our RTL-SDR hardware and are now at the V3
dongle.
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/ 5/18
6/17/2018 About RTL-SDR - rtl-sdr.com
For those who just want to receive a wide range of signals, we recommend the Airspy or SDRPlay as an
upgrade to the RTL-SDR. If you are mainly interested in narrowband signals the Funcube Dongle Pro+ may be
worth considering.
For a big list of more software defined radios see our roundup here https://www.rtl-sdr.com/roundup-software-
defined-radios/.
RTL-SDR Schematics
No official schematic is available, but GGToshi has created his own reverse engineered schematic which is
available at http://ggtoshi.at.webry.info/201406/article_6.html. Some application example schematics are also
available in the R820T data sheet (see below).
Datasheets
There is no datasheet available for the RTL2832U as it is only available to manufacturers under NDA. The
R820T tuner datasheet is available and can be downloaded here.
Useful Links
http://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/rtl-sdr - Official RTL-SDR Osmocom website
http://www.dangerousprototypes.com - A blog about open source hardware projects that often has SDR related
posts.
http://www.hackaday.com - A blog about DIY hardware that also often has SDR related posts.
http://radioforeveryone.com/ - Formerly known as "SDR4Mariners". Another blog about RTL-SDR and radio
projects.
http://labyrinth13.com/ - Strange Beacons. Radio user who records and makes videos about several interesting
signals he finds. Often uses an RTL-SDR.
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/ 6/18
6/17/2018 About RTL-SDR - rtl-sdr.com
https://www.elecrow.com/ - Full Raspberry Pi Kit. Probably useful for an RTL-SDR carry kit.
For a comprehensive book about the RTL-SDR you may be interested in our eBook available on Amazon.
The Hobbyist's Guide to the RTL-SDR: Really Cheap Software Defined radio.
s 69 j 579 h 16 o 664
SHARES
Posted in Tagged with applications, bladerf, E4000, hackrf, R820T, radio scanner, rtl-sdr, rtl2832u, Software-
defined radio
37 comments
1.
Reply
Amazon değil de bu siteden ‘Worldwide’ yazan linke girip ‘Stripe CC Processor’ ile ödeme
yapabilirsin. Ben öyle yaptım.
Reply
2.
Hi, I have an issue with the FC0013 tuner. AGC Mode isn’t working correctly. When activating AGC
Mode the signal drops down to the lowest possible gain and only a view stronger stations are heard.
After deactivation of the AGC I can regulate the gain manually without problem.. Is there a solution to
this problem?
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/ 7/18
6/17/2018 About RTL-SDR - rtl-sdr.com
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3.
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5.
hey can any one tell me if i can use this one http://www.newskysz.com/227/93.html for sdr ?
Reply
Hi Mohammed,
Most dongles that are compatible are advertised for receiving DVB and DAB broadcasting, these
are both digital formats. The dongle you link to is for analog reception (probably PAL or SECAM)
and looks to be several-generations-old technology given its requirements (Pentium 4).
You may find that it can receive FM analog broadcasting, as some analog dongles could do that.
Reply
6.
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/ 8/18
6/17/2018 About RTL-SDR - rtl-sdr.com
help?
apart from aircraft dos the pro stick install exactly as any sdr/rtfl
ln windows which is the best software to monitor aircraft/ with a pro stick and filter?
thganks barrie
Reply
7.
Is there tv software that will use the rtl-sdr on the UHF hd channels.
I live in the country remote and want to use it for surveying to see what i can
get here.
Thanks,
Jerry
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8.
Hello,
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9.
Hello,
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10.
im usins hdsdr and DSD+1.51 on win xp along with vbcable and I get a lot of hit and target groups
decoding mototrbo as always…but on my other computer i have win 7, sdr# with dsd+ 1.51 and vbcable
and all i get are errors and no logs or tg groups or anything…i followed the instructions like setting the
12.5 khz . I also hear people talking on my xp but on win 7…all i hear is the normal noises when
decoding. I have everything set up the same i think…ive messed with volumes and input audio levels and
nothing but errors. Im using the latest rtl-sdr dongle. Will hdsdr work on win 7???
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/ 9/18
6/17/2018 About RTL-SDR - rtl-sdr.com
Reply
11.
According to the R830T data sheet, this chip is also capable of ATSC at 6mhz bandwidth. It lists DVB-T
at 6 – 8 Mhz. Why are we limited to a bandwidth of 3.2 mhz ? Has anyone attempted ATSC reception ?
Reply
AFAIK, the RLT2832 chip does the DVB-T demodulation on-chip. The fact that it is also capable
of outputting raw IQ is a happy accident for us, but it is not capable of doing it at full ADC
bandwidth.
Reply
12.
Has anyone used this to detect electronic harassment transmissions? Possibly pulsed microwaves if that is
what is being used.
Reply
Dude, No one is using any kind of radio waves to harass you or your equipment, after countless
studies that have been done the research says that humans are pretty much immune to being “mind
controlled” etc. via pretty much any means of RF/EM emissions that we know of so just stop being
paranoid! If someone is using RF to screw with equipment in your home call the FCC and stop
whining.
Reply
Actually electronic harassment is a very serious problem. I’m a qualified scientist and I can
tell you that it is an absolute fact.
Those that are saying that they’re being electronically harassed experience the same things
with the same symptoms. The human body just does not behave in the ways that this
technology can cause.
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/ 10/18
6/17/2018 About RTL-SDR - rtl-sdr.com
The symptoms are otherwise unrelated and can only be connected by the use of such
technology.
Reply
Reply
Get a carbon monoxide detector for your home if you don’t have one.
Reply
I’ve actually created a program with that exact objective of finding the electronic harassment
transmissions using this RTL2832 dongle.
It turns it into a spectrum analyzer and can record the data over a range of frequencies and process
it to find signals that could be interesting.
You should try find me on facebook and I’ll send you the program.
Reply
Good day, good Sir. I was trying to find you on the facebook, but it’s pretty hard. May I ask
you, to msg me on my mail (omginnerpeace@gmail.com)
I think that way too and totally agree with you. Also, I think I have some useful information
to exchange with you to analyse and discuss about it, If you are that good and willing to do
that. I would appreciate it.
Reply
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/ 11/18
6/17/2018 About RTL-SDR - rtl-sdr.com
Hi Alex, just got this message a few days ago. I’ve sent you an email.
Reply
I’m a ham radio operator. Have not used any radio communications in years. But the electronic
herassment is in the wi-fi band .
Around 2.4 GHz microwave s. I took a wifi detector apart and extended its antenna out of the case.
I bought the wifi detector from horbor grate. I detected the herassment it also will detect a
microwave oven from 15 feet. Test it, it works, for a hole $20.00 USA dollars. Horbor grate..They
just named me… Good luck
16 years of the same bull shit.
Reply
The frequencies are likely in the biologically resonant frequency range of the human mind,
that’s between 400 and 500 MHz.
I’ve actually detected using the rtl sdr and some code that I wrote a fascinating signal at a
very specific frequency in that range that I’m reradiating.
If I’m reradiating a resonant frequency in that range it would mean that the original
transmitted signal is reaching me, creating oscillating or resonating electrical currents within
my mind and then those are creating the reradiated signal, just like an antenna receives and
creates radio waves from oscillating currents.
So it wouldn’t be reflecting off of the surface because signals at this frequency don’t do that.
That’s a signal that could create the electronic harassment effects that we experience.
I can detect it from more than 10 meters away using a subscription satellite television dish
and those dishes aren’t even designed for this frequency range. I use it mostly for
directionality, although a yagi antenna would probably be better.
It can also be detected with just the basic antenna supplied with the rtl.
This is proof of something very serious because I should not be reradiating a signal like that
and I’m saying this as a qualified scientist.
https://github.com/ClintMclean74/SDRSpectrumAnalyzer
Reply
13.
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/ 12/18
6/17/2018 About RTL-SDR - rtl-sdr.com
What sdr hardware (R820T RT2832U dongles) is the best platform at the moment? SDR#? Portable SDR
(PSDR)?
Is it possible to use such a dongle to record/analyze any RF signal, from like a remote control light
switch? Can it also play AM/FM radio?
Reply
14.
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15.
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16.
Thank you so much for taking th etime to make this useful page! What a lot of resources!
Reply
17.
Thank you very much for the link to my website. I owe much to your blog and website. It was because of
the great “Quick Start” guide you provide that I was able to easily setup and configure SDR for my
computer. Thank you very much for that and for continuing to post interesting stories about the many uses
of this technology. Regards.
Reply
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/ 13/18
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18.
I would like anybody to scan the signal of this crypto mobile phone and tell what it shows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiIdviHR-9Y
Reply
19.
Could you plz let us know whether you may provide a solution for;
1. Detecting and auto recording of real time particular speech or voice passed over mobile phone
conversation;
2. Detecting the mobile phone number(s) which were active at a specific place of abduction/Kidnapping.
These to be used by govt law enforcement authority.
Hope to Hearing from your end.
Thanking you,
Reply
20.
IZ5RZR – how to build an ultra cheap Ads-b 1090 Mhz antenna and increase your reception with a
preamplifier and a little tricks in final.
– more info at http://www.caturegli.it – or on my youtube channel IZ5RZR max30max31
Reply
21.
Reply
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What is RTL-SDR
The RTL-SDR is an ultra cheap software defined radio based on DVB-T TV tuners with RTL2832U chips. The
RTL-SDR can be used as a wide band radio scanner. It may interest ham radio enthusiasts, hardware hackers,
tinkerers and anyone interested in RF.
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