Buy RTL-SDR Dongles (RTL2832U)
Where to Buy RTL-SDR RTL2832U DVB-T Tuner Dongles
At RTL-SDR.com we sell significantly improved premium RTL-SDR dongles but keep our profits low and offer free shipping in order to maintain low retail pricing. We strongly believe that our V3 and V4 dongles are currently the best 'bang for your buck' RTL-SDR dongles available on the market. Please see the V3 features pdf datasheet here for full information on the improvements made, and our V3 or V4 user guide for information on using special features of our dongle. (V4 datasheet and guide coming soon!) If you are new to RTL-SDR check out our about page first. Briefly, our dongles come with the following improvements:
- <1 PPM temperature compensated oscillator (TCXO) – Accurate tuning and almost zero temperature drift (2 PPM max. initial offset, 0.5-1 PPM temperature drift)
- SMA female antenna port – Generic dongles use the less common MCX or PAL antenna ports. SMA is more common, so more adapters and antennas are available for it. It is also more durable and has lower RF insertion losses.
- 4.5V USB powered bias tee - This allows the RTL-SDR to power low noise amplifiers (like the LNA4ALL, HABAMP, RTL-SDR Blog ADS-B LNA) and active antennas through the coax cable. Can be enabled in software (see V3 / V4 users guide).
- HF Direct Sampling Mode (V3) or HF Upconversion (V4) - Listen to 500 kHz - 28.8 MHz with direct sampling on the V3 model, or upconversion of the V4 model. There is a built-in 25 MHz low pass filter, but additional HF filters may be required for optimal performance (e.g. to attenuate strong MW AM).
- Aluminium case and passive cooling - These units come stock with an aluminium case and passive cooling via a silicon thermal pad. This stops reception failing due to heat when used above ~1.5 GHz.
- (V4 Models) - Improved front-end filtering. The V4 model is less prone to being saturated by strong broadcast stations.
- Improved Antennas - We provide an excellent dipole antenna starter kit for newbies. Use the included mounts and extension cable to mount the dipole in good position for optimal reception. Receives terrestrial and VHF satellite signals.
- Various additional improvements compared to other RTL-SDRs – R820T2 tuner, higher quality passive components, a choke on the USB line to reduce USB noise, a much improved PCB design for significantly less internal spurs and noise, various break-out pads, improved ESD protection, additional bypass capacitors and ferrite power line chokes, improved front end matching circuit, a modified power design for improved long term reliability, modified PLL circuit for better stability at 1.5 GHz and above, and a better LDO.
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| US Shipping | Worldwide Shipping (EU Excluded) | EU Shipping |
| Purchase on Amazon and receive FREE domestic shipping for orders over $25 and free two-day shipping for Prime subscribers! Or use our international cart for FREE shipping from China. | FREE economy-registered air mail from China! Paid express shipping from China is also available. Please double-check your address and enter it using English characters only (except for mainland China customers please use Chinese characters). | EU customers we apologize however due to high VAT compliance costs from July 1st 2021 we cannot ship directly to you from our webstore anymore. Please order directly from our eBay or Aliexpress stores where VAT will be automatically collected and remitted by the marketplace. Alternatively, see local resellers below. Thank you. |
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International Shipping Options Free Economy Post: Ships from our warehouse in China. Takes anywhere from 1-8 weeks to most countries (usually 2-4 weeks, but near Christmas months or in some rare cases 6-8 weeks). Please see the shipping notes below for information about potential delays. Express Mail: Shipped with DHL/UPS/EMS/Aramex/FedEx. Fast delivery times to most countries, typically 1-2 weeks.
Payment Options We currently support PayPal, Credit Cards, and digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin. Apple Pay is also supported via Stripe.
Local Resellers We now have resellers selling a selection of our products who are based locally in the [UK], [Germany], [Germany 2], [Italy], [Italy 2], [India], [Spain], [Brazil], [France], [Ukraine], [Poland], [Poland 2], [Sweden], [Sweden 2], [Netherlands], [Netherlands 2], [Belgium], [Switzerland], [Serbia], [South Africa], [Australia], [Australia 2] & [New Zealand] who can provide fast local tax free shipping. There is also sometimes stock from resellers on [Amazon EU]. Please note that these are independent resellers who may only carry a selection of our stock, and can charge independent prices.
Current International Shipping Notes Russia/Belarus: Due to war sanctions we are no longer able to ship these products to Russia or Belarus. EU Customers: Please order from our official Aliexpress or eBay stores using the icons next to the Add to Cart button. Due to new VAT TAX laws from 1 July 2021 we can no longer support EU customer orders directly from our website without incurring excessive compliance costs. You must order from a marketplace like eBay or Aliexpress which supports VAT collection. Thank you. EXPRESS MAIL: We are currently shipping most DHL/UPS orders with FEDEX due to improved delivery times. Packages typically ship out the next day, but tracking uploads may be delayed until the end of the week. Counterfeit Warning No one in particular owns the "RTL-SDR" concept, so anyone can sell their own RTL-SDR dongles. On this site and on various marketplaces we sell our own custom modified and improved RTL-SDRs under our brand "RTL-SDR Blog" and "RTL-SDR.COM". On marketplace sites like eBay/Aliexpress etc scammers may be falsely selling their own dongles under our brand names. The dongles with blue or green cases or square rectangular silver cases with four screws, or those advertised as "Pro" are not ours. Those dongles use poorer quality components, are designed cheaply, and may not have all the V3 features. We cannot provide support for counterfeits and these do not help support the running of the blog and the design of new products. The best place to purchase RTL-SDR Blog V3 or V4 dongles is directly from our store on this page, or the local resellers listed above. Affiliate Link Disclosure We use eBay and Amazon affiliate links which gain us a small commission per sale. Affiliate links are used with our own products and some third party recommended products displayed in the store below. |
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Includes 1x RTL-SDR Blog brand R828D RTL2832U 1PPM TCXO SMA V4 Dongle, 1x Dipole Antenna Base with 60cm RG174, 2x 23cm to 1m telescopic antenna, 2x 5cm to 13cm telescopic antenna, 1x 3 meter RG174 extension cable, 1x Flexible Tripod Mount, 1x Suction Cup Mount.
The best value RTL-SDR on the market! Several improvements over generic brands including use of the R828D tuner, triplexed input filter, notch filter, improved component tolerances, a 1 PPM temperature compensated oscillator (TCXO), SMA F connector, aluminium case with passive cooling, bias tee circuit, improved power supply, and a built in HF upconverter.
Comes with our portable dipole antenna kit. Great for beginners as it allows for terrestrial and satellite reception. Easy to mount outdoors and designed for portable and temporary outside usage. Please do not use outside during poor weather conditions.
NOTE: This is the newer V4 design, and it requires updating to the latest drivers to work. Before purchasing, please ensure that you understand that not all applications work with the V4 yet! Compatibility with most popular software is now okay, but some niche programs are still lagging with support. Please consult the V4 users guide for more information.
Please see the RTL-SDR Blog V4 Release post for more information.
Amazon USA warehouse in stock.
Chinese worldwide warehouse out of stock - back around 14 May 2024.
Includes 1x RTL-SDR Blog brand R828D RTL2832U 1PPM TCXO SMA V4 Dongle.
The best value RTL-SDR on the market! Several improvements over generic brands including use of the R828D tuner, triplexed input filter, notch filter, improved component tolerances, a 1 PPM temperature compensated oscillator (TCXO), SMA F connector, aluminium case with passive cooling, bias tee circuit, improved power supply, and built in HF upconverter.
NOTE: This is the newer V4 design, and it requires updating to the latest drivers to work. Before purchasing, please ensure that you understand that not all applications work with the V4 yet! Compatibility with most popular software is now okay, but some niche programs are still lagging with support. Please consult the V4 users guide for more information.
Please see the RTL-SDR Blog V4 Release post for more information.
Amazon USA warehouse in stock.
Chinese worldwide warehouse in stock.
Includes 1x RTL-SDR Blog brand R860 (R820T2) RTL2832U 1PPM TCXO SMA V3 Dongle, 1x Dipole Antenna Base with 60cm RG174, 2x 23cm to 1m telescopic antenna, 2x 5cm to 13cm telescopic antenna, 1x 3 meter RG174 extension cable, 1x Flexible Tripod Mount, 1x Suction Cup Mount.
The best value RTL-SDR on the market! Several improvements over generic TV tuner brands including use of the R860 (R820T2) tuner, a 1 PPM temperature compensated oscillator (TCXO), SMA F connector, aluminum case with passive cooling, software switchable bias tee circuit, additional ESD protection, lower overall noise and built in direct sampling for basic HF reception.
Comes with our portable dipole antenna kit. Great for beginners as it allows for terrestrial and satellite reception. Easy to mount outdoors and designed for portable and temporary outside usage. Please do not use outside during poor weather conditions.
We are now shipping the new black enclosure design with the dongle plus antenna set!
Amazon USA warehouse in stock.
Chinese worldwide warehouse in stock.
Includes 1x RTL-SDR Blog brand R860 (R820T2) RTL2832U 1PPM TCXO SMA V3 Dongle.
The best value RTL-SDR on the market! Several improvements over generic TV tuner brands including use of the R860 (R820T2) tuner, a 1 PPM temperature compensated oscillator (TCXO), SMA F connector, aluminum case with passive cooling, software switchable bias tee circuit, additional ESD protection, lower overall noise and built in direct sampling for basic HF reception.
Amazon USA local warehouse in stock.
Chinese worldwide warehouse in stock.
KrakenSDR - 5 Channel Coherent RTL-SDR. Automatic coherent calibration. Rugged Enclosure. Low noise design. Improved software!
KrakenSDR can be used for applications that require coherence such as radio direction finding (RDF). For RDF we provide a free software stack, including a companion Android app that can be used for live mapping and triangulation of direction finding bearings.
Please see our CrowdSupply page for more information about this product.
Discovery Dish can be used to receive L-band weather satellites like GOES, GK-2A, FengYun, NOAA/Meteor HRPT, METOP, and more!
Other feeds include a hydrogen line feed for radio astronomy and an Inmarsat feed.
Please see our CrowdSupply page for more information about this product.
Includes 1x YouLoop balun "Tee", 1x Coax Inverter Connector, 2x 1 meter semi-rigid coax loop cables, 1x 2m semi-rigid coax feedline.
This is a super portable passive HF/VHF loop antenna designed for super low NF/MDS receivers like the Airspy HF+ Discovery. It also works to some extent with the RTL-SDR V3 in direct sampling mode if you enable RTL AGC. But for radios without super low MDS specs, the signals can be boosted on by using any external low cost HF amplifier, or even our wideband LNA. The receiving range is 10 kHz to 30 MHz on HF, and up to 300 MHz on VHF.
Note: This antenna is designed for portable use and is not weatherproof. Permanent mounting can be achieved with weather proofing tape.
Please see the product release post for more information, or the description on the Airspy website.
Chinese worldwide warehouse in stock.
Includes 1x Active RHCP L-Band Patch Antenna (Covering 1525 - 1660 MHz) in Weather Proof Enclosure, 1x 2 meter RG174 extension cable, 1x Flexible Tripod Mount, 1x Suction Cup Mount.
This is version two of our active (amplified + filtered) high performance RHCP patch antenna designed for receiving L-Band satellites such as Inmarsat, Iridium and GPS. Easily mountable outside on a window, surface, stick, tree branch etc. Comes with easy to use mounting solutions and extension coax, and is enclosed in a fully weather proof plastic cover.
Requires 3.3 - 5v 20mA bias tee power. The RTL-SDR V3 provides 4.5v so is suitable.
Please see the Release Post for more information about the product. Note that antenna now ships with gray coloring - not black.
Amazon USA warehouse out of stock - back late July 2024.
Chinese worldwide warehouse out of stock - back late June 2024.
Includes 1x Dipole Antenna Base with 60cm RG174, 2x 23cm to 1m telescopic antenna, 2x 5cm to 13cm telescopic antenna, 1x 3 meter RG174 extension cable, 1x Flexible Tripod Mount, 1x Suction Cup Mount.
Our new portable Dipole antenna set with mounting kit. Allows you to more easily get the antenna up high and outside where reception will improve significantly. Dipole base mounts onto a standard 1/4" camera screw, so can be mounted on to a variety of already available mounts. Included is a flexible tripod and suction cup mount.
Designed for portable and temporary outside usage. Please do not use outside during poor weather conditions.
Amazon USA warehouse in stock.
Chinese worldwide warehouse in stock.
Includes 1x QO-100 Bullseye TCXO LNB
This is a TCXO stabilized LNB for the QO-100 geostationary amateur satellite and other Ku-band satellites. Manufactured by Othernet. Standard LNBs used for QO-100 require modifications to be made to the circuit as the crystal needs to be replaced with a TCXO in order to avoid frequency drift. The Bullseye LNB comes with a highly stable TCXO which has less than 10 kHz offset even in outdoor conditions.
The Bullseye LNB is the world's most precise and stable DTH/consumer Ku-band down converter. Even a VSAT LNBF costing hundreds of dollars more is no match for the performance of the Bullseye 10K LNB. Each unit is calibrated at the factory to within 1 kHz of absolute precision against a GPS-locked spectrum analyzer. Under outdoor conditions, the stability of the LNB is well within 10 kHz of offset. As a bonus feature, the Bullseye 10K provides access to its internal 25 MHz TCXO through the secondary (red) F-connector. This reference output can be used to directly monitor the performance of the TCXO over time.
NOTE: Requires a 12-19V bias tee power injector, the V3/V4's 4.5V bias tee is NOT for this LNB. 11.5 - 14V enables vertical polarization and 16 - 19V enables horizontal polarization.
Chinese worldwide warehouse in stock.
Includes 1x RTL-SDR Blog Broadcast FM Band-Stop Filter and 1x SMA male to SMA male adapter.
Blocks the broadcast FM band between 88 - 108 MHz with over 50dB of attenuation. Insertion loss is less than 0.5 dB between 0 - 1 GHz, and mostly less than 1.5 dB between 1 - 3 GHz. A broadcast FM block filter can help if you have very strong broadcasts in your area that are overloading the SDR dongle. Also known as "FM Trap". Note, designed for RX use only, although several customer tests have confirmed that up to 5W can be put through this filter without issues (but please note that TX damage is not covered by warranty).
See the product release page, for more information and tests.
Amazon USA warehouse in stock.
Chinese worldwide warehouse in stock.
Includes 1x RTL-SDR Blog Broadcast AM High Pass Filter and 1x SMA male to SMA male adapter.
Designed to block the broadcast AM band between 500 kHz - 1.7 MHz with over 50 dB of attenuation. The 3 dB roll-off point is between 2.5 - 2.6 MHz. Works great with the direct sampling mode on our V3 dongles. This is a high pass filter and not a notch, so VLF will not work. Note, for RX use only.
See the product release page, for more information and tests.
Amazon USA warehouse in stock stock.
Chinese worldwide warehouse in stock.
Includes 1x RTL-SDR Blog ADS-B Triple Filtered LNA (Bias Tee Powered) and 1x SMA male to SMA male adapter.
This is a high performance filter and LNA combination for 1090 MHz ADS-B reception with 27dB of gain, a noise figure of around 1dB and over 60dB's of out of band attenuation. Designed to be used with bias tee power from our RTL-SDR Blog V3 dongles with the LNA mounted as close to the antenna as possible. It is triple filtered with a low loss high pass filter on the front end, and two 1090 MHz SAW filters placed in between and after the high performance low noise figure two stage MGA-13116 LNA. The triple filter design should help avoid dongle or LNA overload in noisy/strong signal environments.
Please note again: Requires 3 - 5v, 150mA bias tee power. The RTL-SDR V3 provides 4.5v so is suitable.
See the product release page, for more information and tests.
Amazon USA warehouse out of stock.
Chinese worldwide out of stock.
Includes 1x RTL-SDR Blog Wideband LNA (Bias Tee Powered) and 1x SMA male to SMA male adapter.
This is a general purpose SPF5189Z based wideband LNA. Works from 50 MHz to 4 GHz with a noise figure of less than 1dB. Requires bias tee power, but there is an internal header which can be used to switch to external power, although for external power wires you'll need to drill a hole into the enclosure. If you're looking to improve ADS-B performance we recommend our Triple Filtered ADS-B LNA shown above.
Please note again: Requires 3 - 5v, 90mA bias tee power. The RTL-SDR V3 provides 4.5v so is suitable.
Please see the product release page for more information.
Amazon USA warehouse in stock.
Chinese worldwide warehouse in stock.
Includes 1x SMA Pigtail adapter set (6 adapters)
Set of six SMA pigtail adapters with 20cm of RG316 cabling. Contains five SMA to female (Type N, UHF, BNC, PAL, Type F) adapters and one bonus SMA male to SMA male adapter which is often used to connect to devices like upconverters.
Amazon USA warehouse local in stock.
Chinese worldwide warehouse in stock.
Includes 1x SMA straight adapter set (6 adapters)
Set of six straight adapters with. Contains five SMA to female (Type N, UHF, BNC, PAL, Type F) adapters and one bonus SMA male to SMA male adapter which is often used to connect to devices like upconverters. Less loss than the pigtail adapters.
Amazon USA warehouse in stock.
Chinese worldwide warehouse in stock.
Includes 1x Semi-Rigid RG402 SMA Antenna Adapter Set (10 adapters)
Includes 10 RF RG402 adapter cables. SMA Male to SMA, BNC, Type N, Type F, UHF Male + Female adapters. RG402 is a semi-rigid cable. Maintains shape after bending. Please do not bend too close to the connector to avoid breakage. Great for tidy cable management in enclosures!
Amazon USA warehouse out of stock.
Chinese worldwide warehouse in stock.
Includes 1x black aluminum metal enclosure with two labelled side panels, 1x black semi-hard shell carry case, 1x thermal pad to keep the RSP1A cool and mechanically stable inside the enclosure, 1x accessory set including enclosure screws, GND lug bolt set and 3M anti-slip rubber feet.
This is a premium black metal upgrade enclosure for the SDRplay RSP1A, or RSP1. Helps block RF interference and protects the RSP inside the sturdy enclosure.
Please note this DOES NOT include the SDRplay RSP1A.
Amazon USA local out of stock.
Chinese worldwide warehouse out of stock.
Amazon USA warehouse out of stock.
Chinese worldwide warehouse in stock.
A comprehensive guide to the RTL2832U RTL-SDR software defined radio by the authors of the RTL-SDR Blog. This book is about tips and tutorials that show you how to get the most out of your RTL-SDR dongle.
The paperback includes the eBook via the Kindle matchbook program. Amazon Prime customers can borrow the book for FREE. Also available for purchase from Amazon sites in UK, DE, FR, IT, ES, JP, IN, CA, BR and MX.
[expand title = "Shipping Information / Policy (Click to Expand)"]
If you suspect a lost postal item please contact your local postal agency first and inquire there. Usually they have more information than we have. If they confirm it as lost or not received after a long time then please let us know at [email protected] and we can open an investigation on this side as well. Usually we must wait at least 6 weeks from the date posted before we can open a lost parcel investigation.
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USA For US customers we highly recommend purchasing our products from Amazon. Amazon will provide you with fast local shipping and shipping is free for orders over $35. If you are a Prime subscriber you also get free 2 day shipping. US customers may also purchase from our international checkout and choose free shipping from China and we will send via priority air mail (ePacket EMS). |
International (All countries outside the USA except sanctioned countries like Iran and NK) Please enter your address using English characters only! Please note that we have an approximate 1-2 day working day processing time before international parcels get shipped (even express orders). Note that we cannot ship to internationally sanctioned countries such as Iran and NK. These orders will be cancelled. International orders bought on our cart will be shipped from our warehouse in China. Shipping is free. Shipping can take anywhere from 1 - 8 weeks, but typically it is between 2 - 4 weeks. It will normally reach the higher end of the scale during the peak season which is the months surrounding December. Please note that delivery time is also highly dependent on the efficiency of the postal and customs agencies within your country, and please understand that this processing time is totally out of our hands. Countries such as South Africa, Italy, Canada, Brazil, and middle eastern countries are known to sometimes have extremely slow postal and customs agencies. If you need faster shipping please select an express option. Please note that we cannot cancel an international shipment that has shipped out. This is not allowed by the postal services. International buyers are reminded that as with any international parcel you are fully responsible for any duties or customs clearance fees required by your country, and that you take full responsibility for the legality of importing. If you have questions about the declared value and customs fees please feel free to contact us at [email protected]. Please watch the tracking information and contact your postal agency if there are any significant delays. If your parcel does not arrive within 4 weeks (6 weeks during December/Christmas period and for known slow countries) and the tracking looks stuck, then please contact us at [email protected] and we will open a postal investigation and resend or refund your item. Express air courier shipping is also available but this costs much more and we only recommend this for larger shipments, or for countries that don't support priority air mail. With this option we will normally use FEDEX, but for some countries may use an alternative. Depending on your country your package should arrive within 2-8 business days with express shipping (plus a 1-3 working day processing time). If you wish to use this option then please select your country from the shipping options in the cart. Note that most express couriers will not deliver to a PO BOX and they may charge additional fees for duty/customs processing. Also please note that there is often a slightly longer initial processing time with express couriers, as they are often slow to provide us with the tracking information. You can expect the tracking info to be provided 2-5 working days after your order. Note that depending on the weight, cost and destination country of your order we may upgrade your shipment to a faster shipping method for free. We will normally only do this for larger orders. How do I track my shipment? Please use the tracking link in the second order completed email that you will receive from us. Please note that tracking updates may initially take a few days to start working after receiving the shipped status. |
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[expand title = "Product Support (Click to Expand)"]
If you have a general question about RTL-SDRs or SDRs we ask you to please ask in our forums.
If you need technical support please first ensure that you have been through our Quickstart guide and troubleshooting section further down on it, as well as our V3 users guide. Common questions like how to use the HF mode are explained on the V3 users guide.
If you have a question about shipping of an item please first read the shipping policy (above) and see if it answers your question. If it is a request for tracking details please first check your old/deleted/spam mails for the tracking email which is provided by PayPal. You should have two mails from PayPal. The first showing ‘in process’, and the second 1-2 working days after showing the tracking details.
If you suspect a lost postal item please contact your local postal agency first and inquire there. Usually they have more information than we have. If they confirm it as lost or not received after a long time then please let us know and we can open an investigation on this side as well. Usually we must wait at least 6 weeks from the date posted before we can open a lost parcel investigation.
For everything else such as lost postal items, warranty claims and support inquiries that aren’t covered by the quickstart or troubleshooting guide then please contact us at [email protected]. We aim to always reply within 1-2 business days.
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[expand title = "Warranty Information (Click to Expand)"]
We will provide a two year warranty on any manufacturing defects. Please note that if you do any modifications to the PCB (e.g. soldering on it) then any warranty will be voided, so please ensure your dongle is working before trying these.
If you suspect a manufacturing fault please first ensure that you have been through our Quickstart guide and troubleshooting section further down on it, as well as our V3 users guide. Common questions like how to use the HF mode are explained on the V3 users guide.
If you've been through the troubleshooting guide and still suspect a fault please contact us through Amazon if you bought there, or email us at [email protected] if you bought from our cart. Be sure to include your order number and name. Please include details of the fault and a picture of the fault if it is physical damage. If the unit is faulty we will issue either a full refund or send a new unit out depending on your preference.
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[expand title = "Wholesale Information (Click to Expand)"]
We can provide bulk rates for order of over 10 units. If you want to buy 10+ units please contact us directly at [email protected] for a wholesale quote.
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Recommended accessories from other sellers
Note that some of the links below are affiliate links which help support the costs involved with the running of this blog. However, all the products listed are what we actually do recommend regardless.
Antennas
Probably the most important part of a radio system is the antenna. There is no one size fits all antenna, every different design will have a trade off. For instance, wide band antennas can receive more frequencies, but will have less gain at any one particular frequency. If you want to receive everything then get a wide band antenna. If you want to receive one frequency with optimal reception, find a tuned narrow band antenna.
Discones are wideband antennas. This makes them ideal for the RTL-SDR as using a Discone will allow you to receive at almost any frequency with decent performance.
Amazon
eBay 
A 1090 MHz ADS-B antenna from FlightAware. Is weather proofed and has 5 dB of gain. Uses an N-type antenna connector. See our review post for more information.
AmazoneBay
Upconverters
The lowest frequency an RTL-SDR can comfortably tune to is about 24 MHz. An upconverter allows you to use your RTL-SDR on HF frequencies which are between 0 - 30 MHz. They work by shifting frequencies between 0 - 30 MHz "up" by a fixed amount into a frequency range that is receivable by the RTL-SDR.
Currently we recommend the SpyVerter as the upconverter of choice. Although it was designed to be used with the Airspy, it works perfectly with the RTL-SDR. It uses a 120 MHz oscillator, has excellent filtering and can be powered via USB cable or via the bias-tee on our RTL-SDR Blog dongles. The SpyVerter uses an innovative new architecture that reduces overloading, has better SNR than other options and can operate all the way down to DC.
With the above performance and features, the included metal case and adapters and at a similar or even lower price compared to other upconverters we think this one is the best value. See our review post for more information.
Direct
An alternative to the SpyVerter is the upconverter designed by SV1AFN.
It based on the ADE-1 mixer chip, uses a 200 MHz oscillator, has good filtering and works almost down to DC.
eBay
Another recommended option is the Ham-It-Up Upconverter.
This one like the SV1AFN is also based on the ADE-1 mixer, but uses 125 MHz oscillator and is based on an open source design. There is also a metal case available on Amazon and eBay. However, currently we would recommend the SpyVerter or SV1AFN over this option.
AmazoneBay
RF Filters
RF filters connect between your antenna and RTL-SDR dongle. They help to significantly reduce out of band interference and noise which is very helpful when trying to improve signal strength.
FlightAware sell a very affordable ADS-B band pass filter. Many users have reported significantly improved reception when they started using this filter. This is probably the best filter to get if you are interested in ADS-B. See our review post for more information.
AmazoneBay
We also highly recommend the ADS-B HABAmp for receiving ADS-B signals. This is a filter + LNA combination that works very well and will significantly improve ADS-B performance.
We've tested these ourselves with the activatable bias tee in our units and found them to definitely work very well.
Direct
This product is great for if you are using an upconverter together with your RTL-SDR, or other SDR. Contains seven band pass filters that range from 1.6 - 2.5 MHz, 2.5 - 4.7 MHz, 4.7 - 7.5 MHz, 7.5 - 14.5 MHz, 14.5 - 21.5 MHz, 21.5 - 33 MHz and 33 - 56 MHz.
eBay
Low Noise Amplifiers
If you have long runs of coax cable then a low noise amplifier (LNA) can help to significantly improve your reception. Coax cable is lossy and the longer it is the more your received signal is attenuated. By adding an LNA near the antenna this loss can be reduced.
The LNA4ALL is a very affordable wide band low noise amplifier that is very commonly used with the RTL-SDR. Has the ability to be powered externally from any voltage between 6V - 9V, or with a simple modification with 3V - 5V in bias tee mode.
We have tested the LNA4ALL in bias tee mode with the activatable bias tee in our units and found it to work well.
Direct
There are also several low noise amplifier circuits that can be found very cheaply for sale on eBay and most will do a good job. Unfortunately most don't provide a bias tee option like the LNA4ALL or HABamp does. Currently we recommend LNA's based on the SPF5189Z chip as they have wideband good performance, and are cheaply produced.
eBay
Other Accessories
Ideally you want to get the RTL-SDR dongle as close to the antenna as possible. Normal USB cables have a length limit of about 5m before they stop working, but with an active USB cable this can be extended up to 10 to 15 meters.
We recommend these Monoprice cables as they have been reported to work successfully with the RTL-SDR dongle.
AmazoneBay
We recommend using RG6 coaxial cable for most links between your antenna and RTL-SDR. RG6 is low loss cable and it is also very cheap because it is used commercially with satellite TV installations.
RG6 is 75 Ohm cable. Note that the mismatch between 50 and 75 Ohm impedances is completely negligible for RX applications.
AmazoneBay
Noise and interference can sometimes be induced in the USB cable itself which can show up in the RF spectrum. To stop this noise use clip on ferrite cores on the USB cable. These cores help to suppress unwanted currents in the USB shield.
AmazoneBay
A USB on-the-go (OTG) cable is required to use the RTL-SDR on Android phones with software like SDR Touch and Wavesink. We recommend trying to find cables that come with power plugs so that you can use it with a power pack. Using an RTL-SDR can increase CPU usage which can quickly drain a mobiles battery.
AmazoneBay
If you are using a long wire or random wire antenna with a HF modded RTL-SDR or an upconverter you should use a 9:1 impedance transformer to get good SWR.
There are also several other alternatives available on eBay that use a larger iron core.
AmazoneBay
A wideband noise source can be used together with an RTL-SDR dongle to perform measurements on filters and to measure the SWR of an antenna.
See our tutorial here for more information.
eBay
Recommended alternative SDRs
Airspy SDRs have high performance RX capabilities with mid tier pricing. Their units really shine when used in tough RF environments, such as in RF environments with strong and weak signals together. The Airspy is an excellent upgrade from an RTL-SDR dongle.
See our review post for a comprehensive comparison between the Airspy, SDRplay RSP and HackRF.
Direct
Another good mid range SDR is the SDRplay RSP line of receivers. These SDRs are great value for the price and can receive HF frequencies without an upconverter. Previous iterations were behind the Airspy in terms of overall performance, but the RSP1A and newer models are on par.
See our review post for a comprehensive comparison between the Airspy, SDRplay RSP1 and HackRF.
Direct
The HackRF One is a relatively low cost TX/RX capable SDR. It is designed for radio experimenters and it has a very wide band frequency range from 1 MHz to 6 GHz, and a wide bandwidth of up to 20 MHz and an 8-Bit ADC. It is probably the most versatile SDR that exists at the moment, but in a compromise it does not have the best quality RX or TX performance. Thus it is perfect for experiments like reverse engineering and testing RF devices, but it is not intended to be used as a commercial radio or ham radio.
Amazon
Despite some broken itens that came, the product is amazing. Even in a fast try, using the dipole kit antena inside my home, it was possible to receive SW content. The audio quality is something completely different from “generic” dongles… congrats…
I placed my order on March 15, 2018. Now is April 26, 2018 and nothing is heard about my package. I checked the RT361811045HK traking number and on March 26, 2018, the message is “Handed to carrier / Left for destination”.
I bought things from you, but the packages came quickly (maximum 3 weeks). This package is delayed for a month or more.
Has the package not lost on the way?
Hi Lilian, Thanks for your order.
The intl. postal system can unfortunately be quite random in their delivery times. Normally if everything goes smoothly delivery times of 2-3 weeks can be expected. But often there are issues like flight delays, additional security checks and customs delays, which can push some parcels to have several weeks longer delivery times. This is why some parcels arrive fast, and others take a long time. Everything still seems normal on your tracking, and it’s been travelling for about 4 weeks now.
But if a parcel takes longer than 6 weeks to arrive we are allowed to open an investigation with the postal service, and claim insurance for a lost parcel if necessary and refund you. If you see no progress with the parcel tracking or no delivery within the next two weeks please contact us at admin
rtl-sdr.com, and we’ll start the investigation and prepare a refund for you.
I also just checked the statistics for your country and it seems that delivery times in your country are quite heavily scattered recently, with parcels taking anywhere from 2-9 weeks to arrive. So i’m confident that your parcel is still on the way.
Hello from Romania,
Just received my RTL SDR Blog V.3 + Dipole Antenna Kit, and I’m happy to announce that all the packed items are straight and sound, and it works…. after completed SDR# QSG for Windows, I stood a second… and realized that I have bought a glorified cheap FM tuner. It’s no better than my ’80s ITT Touroport 220… let alone my Sangean ATS-803A!!! ( still can’t believe I sold the latter ).
All in all, after fiddling with some settings, I’ve got it to work on Kubuntu 16.04.3 with Gqrx, works as stated by the blog authors.
No frequencies under 24 MHz, except for those imaged spurs that intersect on the waterfall, as described by sm5bsz…
Even on Windows 10, direct sampling does not SEEM to work, I mean I left connected the provided diapole antenna and adjusted setting according to the official guide. Should I be able to receive something? I have a 400 kW powerhouse closer than 120 KM North, on 1053 KHz.
Thank you in advance for your time taken!
P.S.: This comment is not meant to exaggerate the disadvantages of the RTL SDR, but compare it to what I own now.
Not completly setup and understood the software yet and already complaining that it does not work like a off the shelf receiver 😀
You cannot expect to receive the HF with the VHF dipole. The dongle do not have any front end filtering and you need a good antenna outside and probaly a 30MHz low pass filter.
Well, did my research, my apologies!
I have quite a HF-hostile EMI at my grandmother’s house…
After some getting used to it on FM, I absolutely recommend it for RURAL area users! Signals are weak enough for the receiver front-end, so I managed to pick up a lot of stations! – over 90 of them.
What is up with the book showing as over $300?
That is odd. Must be an Amazon bug, i’ve contacted them to fix it…
Apparently thousands of self-published createspace books are affected by a bug at the moment. Hopefully they fix it soon…
Thanks, looks like it got fixed.
I recently purchased the “RTL-SDR Blog R820T2 RTL2832U 1PPM TCXO SMA Software Defined Radio with Dipole Antenna Kit” and it took 5 weeks to receive it. I have been on the edge of my seat waiting for it but the antenna kit is not complete. It only came with one 1meter telescoping antenna, and one 13cm antenna. I also received a different base from the picture and then I also have the dongle. There are several pieces missing from my order. How can this get fixed in a timely manner?
Hi there,
Do you have any kit suited to AIS reception? There seems to be quite a lot of ADS stuff so just wondering if there are any recommended supporting devices that are worth considering for AIS e.g. filters.
Cheers
Andy
i want buy v3,if i use “Direct Sampling (Q branch)” need i welding Q lead wire or not?
Hello. I have the v3 and am able to activate direct sample mode in software. Several SDR programs are capable of this. No hardware modification is needed, although the stock telescoping antenna is not great for HF reception. Also check out this web page for more info:
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-blog-v-3-dongles-user-guide/
Good luck friend.
I am looking forward to purchase the Dipole antenna kit or the RTL SDR V3 with the dipole antenna kit, can anyone tell approximately when they it will be in stock worldwide?
We should be back in stock near the end of this month (March).
Your local reseller link to sweden is not working, seems like the site is down.
Looks like it’s up now when I checked. Can you confirm?
Now it works.. When will the rtl-sdr V3 with antenna come in stock at the china warehouse? I really want one..
After many hours of Googling, via Reddit, I have found you. You seem to have your act together. Very nice.
Here is what I want to do:
1 – an inexpensive solution (e.g. < $50 US.
2 – a device that will work with available free software.
3 – Use the device as a signal tracker. The supporting device should (can be) an Android phone. I have a phone (not activated). I am trying to trace RF emissions within my house. I have an extensive Insteon installation and it does not work. The Insteon devices use two methods of inter-device communications. RF around 900 MHz, and a low frequency power line signal.
I need to be able to trace RF signal strength among the newer devices that us the RF. I bought a whole bunch of Insteon devices when they were new and touted the dual communication capability. Turned out, that years later, you needed all new devices to participate. I won't go into my opinion of this marketing ploy (nah, outright deceptive advertising with no attempt to compensate early adopters). Any way. I need to sniff 900 MHz.
4 – A general purpose spectrum analyzer. I live in an area with really spotty cell phone accessibility. What I want to be able to do is use an Android phone to wander around looking at cell phone signal strengths for various suppliers. So I can pick the best of he worst carrier. I probably have to activate one phone with a carrier to actually use it to find the best carrier. It is really annoying that a phone does not seem to be activated unless it is to a single carrier.
5 – Free or nominal cost software to accomplish all of these things.
OK – What are your suggestions for what to buy? Or am I simply being annoying.
An RTL-SDR can be used to sniff 900 MHz without issue. I suppose you could then work on reverse engineering the sniffed signals. The RTL-SDR won’t automatically be able to decode them.
You can measure relative signal strength with the RTL-SDR too. But for mobile phones you’ll need to figure out which frequencies are in use by which carriers. There’s probably an Android app which can do this without the need for the dongle.
Most RTL-SDR software is free, e.g. SDR# for Windows, GQRX on Linux. On Android SDR-Touch (paid), and RF-Analyzer (free) are available.
In the L-Band antenna advertisement you state it Can receive Outernet L-Band signal.
Outernet has ceased transmitting their L-Band signal.
They are now preparing a new Dreamcatcher device which will receive a Ku satellite signal.
Замовив, купив, прийшло, працює, рекомендую!
Translated: Ordered, bought, came, works, I recommend!
Hello
What options are available for an outdoor roof mounted antenna ? Signal reception with the default antenna is quite bad in my house.
A discone is usually recommended for wideband reception.
Got the SDR with the antenna kit. works like a champ
I just received your SDR with Antenna kit and see that it uses RG 174 cable / connectors. I need to convert the RG174 connection on the SDR to RG6 — can you help in any manner – cannot find a converter anywhere.
Thanks and Happy Holidays
You need this and this.
At one time you had just the antenna kit for sale at Amazon? I would like to review it on my YouTube channel, hamrad88. I have already reviewed the SDR dongle and other products of yours and have given them high marks in my reviews. I see you have the antenna set with the dongle but I already have reviewed that dongle. Thanks for your time and this great website.
Tom Stiles
I’am interested in measuring through sw in pi a doppler shift and power level of an adsb message. I think that the dongle with 1PPM TCXO should be suitable to get accurate measurements. Is any application or project already addressing this topic..? Has this dongle ever been used to return the ‘accurate’ value of the doppler shift or power level (eg. gain settings etc) . Thanks
Dear Sirs:
I purchased one of your RTL-SDR V3 units. It works fine on VHF / UHF but I can’t get HF to work right. I have the latest SDR# software from AirSpy installed on Win 10 running in Direct Sampling Q mode. With a good HF antenna I can see plenty of strong signals on the SDR# display, some over SNR 30db but the AM, USB, LSB, DSB audio is barely discernible and buried in the noise, even on a strong signal like WWV. I’m not sure if it’s the hardware or a setting, though I have experimented for hours with various settings to no avail. Any suggestions?
— R Carlson MD (N0AOT)
[email protected]
V3 dongle can work on hf in direct sampling mode for this you have to select q mode in direct smapling for hf also need a loop anteena or few meter randome wire work perfectly. Many broadcast channels started in the evening time.
Doctor,
I want to purchase the $25.95 kit and use it as you did. I am concerned about the need for programs such as JARVA and Linux Are these required?
Jerry Ervine KC5YRE
Mission, TX (El06)
Can you upload a screenshot of your settings to imgur.com or similar? It sounds like you might just have the IF bandwidth set too low, which is a common mistake people make.
Order Number:RG651396012CN
Tracking shows it getting to the U.S. around the 8th. but I haven’t received it yet.
Hi Jason, I see that it left China on the 8th, it doesn’t show that it arrived in the USA yet. It’s probably in the queue at US customs now but at the moment they have huge delays and won’t scan the parcel until it passes through. Delivery is usually about 2-6 weeks.
Hi friends,
I have your RTL-SDR v3, and works well in VHF, but in HF anything signal. What it is the fail? I hope your comments or help.
For HF please remember to activate the direct sampling mode. Instructions here https://www.rtl-sdr.com/V3.
That’s ok! RTL-SDR is working excellent!!! https://youtu.be/dxthG7ll_i4
And with Zeus Radio software too!
73’s from XE-SWL-24-01
That’s ok! RTL-SDR is working excellent!!! https://youtu.be/dxthG7ll_i4
And with Zeus Radio software too! https://youtu.be/miRiRUbtO2w
73’s from XE-SWL-24-01
Could you provide an update on when the RTL-SDR V3 kit will be available thru Amazon? Its been 2 weeks since the last estimate.
Hello. I recently purchased the RTL-SDR v3 dongle and have been having a great time exploring it’s functions and capabilities. I have been trying to reverse engineer an old GM key-less entry FOB for a truck I no longer have just for educational purposes, not to preform a re-play attack, but to decode the signal and read the sequence of numbers/characters being sent, but I am having some difficulty when it comes to recognizing the type of modulation used from the waveform pattern. I have identified it’s operating frequency and successfully captured several good samples of the signal it produces, but it does not appear to match any examples I have found on the internet and there is virtually no technical data on the FOB itself available. Can you recommend a reference source (book or website) that might provide me with low level information on how the various digital modulation schemes work?
Search OOK maybe and see if that looks like it.
It’s October 11th and it looks like the trl-sdr is not yet available through amazon (it says available in october). Can you tell us when it will be available?
It was supposed to be in stock at the start of October, but it’s currently delayed by US customs hold ups. They’ve selected the shipping container with our and other’s goods for a randomly selected intensive exam…We’re expecting them to release them in a few days though, then they should be on Amazon within 1-2 weeks from then.
Any update on when they will be available thru Amazon? Its been 2 weeks.
Hi. I would like to by the dipole + dongle package from amazon. when do you expect to have that available?
thanks!
It was supposed to be in stock at the start of October, but it’s currently delayed by US customs hold ups. We’re expecting them to release them in a few days though, then they should be on Amazon within 1-2 weeks from then.
Win DLL by osmocom (RelWithDebInfo) seems not export any I2c control function…
there are alternatives maybe ? also no function to control the general purpose bus
it could be useful if supported in software…
You’ll need to expose them yourself, or create functions that you expose in the driver. Have a look in the librtlsdr.c, there are i2c write functions available. There is also rtlsdr_set_gpio_output, rtlsdr_set_gpio_bit available.
Thanks
in addition to my previous msg, I connect the smartphone to the rtlsdr with an otg cable that powered both devices.
Hello.
I’m a blind bcl listener, I plugged the RTLSDR Blog 3 dongle on Adroid with SDR Touch app, because the Windows and Mac programs are not accessible with the screen reader software.
I would like to receive some BCL signal in am, and ham radio in ssb, but unfortunately I do not get any useful signal.
I set preference / direct sampling to the “branch q direct sampling” function useful for short waves,
I use a wire antenna of 10 meters, and with my Sony icf 7600 I received many signals in same frequences.
Tanks.
Did you figure this out?
Hello,
some software mean to use the v.3 i2c bus for extenal
devices ?
Hi Alex, it’s used to turn on a relay in v3 dongle to allow power to an LNA if you choose to use one.
I meant External i2c devices,not the bias TEE
I2C is controlled in code, you can have a look at the RTL-SDR drivers and sample software like rtl_fm and look for the required functions.
Hello, I have a house on the beach 10 miles from the city, I have an antenna of 11 meters for citizen band (27 MHz) to communicate to the city, a VHF antenna for Marine Band (156 MHz) and a UHF antenna 462 MHz) for recreational use, I am interested in buying the RTL-SDR kit with the 2 antennas, but I have some doubts,
Do I need something extra to listen to these frequencies ?
Can I listen those frequencies with the 2 antennas included in the kit ?
Can I use my own antennas, which adapters i need ?
Thanks
If you already have those nice antennas set up then you can use them. The RTL-SDR uses an SMA female port, so you’d just need to get an adapter for whatever connector your current antennas are using. The included whips can cover multiple frequencies if you change the lengths to the resonant for the frequency you are listening too, but ideally you want to get them outside where I assume your other antenna setups already are.
I ordered the RTL-SDR and antenna kit with economy shipping from China, and it arrived in the UK 5 days after dispatch, which is great.
I am completely new to amateur radios, but setting up SDR# and the dongle was very simple, and I am surprised how good a reception I am getting on airband – even with the antenna indoors.
I have made a minor alteration to the set-up which has enabled me to hear weaker signals much better. Between my laptop and the RTL-SDR dongle, I added a 2 meter USB extension lead and moved the dongle away from my laptop. I then added ferrite chokes to each end of the USB cable.
Is there any updated ETA on when the RTL-SDR Blog v3 w/ antenna will be back in stock on amazon? I would like to order one and I’m debating ordering from china vs waiting for amazon stock (preferably choosing the faster option).
It’s hard to say because we just don’t know how long the import will take (sometimes it’s fast, sometimes not). Best case within a week, worst case probably about 2 weeks.
You say repeatedly that we should buy these items from “worldwide chinese warehouse”, but there is no link, so HOW?
Never mind. Just me being blind…
Can We Pay Through Payoneer?
Just checked Amazon 6/21/17 and the LTR-SDR BLOG is out of stock. When will these units be available again?
Thanks,
PuJo
We should have stock again on Amazon in about 1 week from now.
Do you sell on aliexpress?
It would be nice if I can purchase the SMA telescopic antennas that are bundled with the rtl-sdr.com SDR sticks (separately). Do you have any plan on doing this?
Sorry no plans for now. Later in the year we’ll have a simple telescopic dipole kit which will be better than the stock antennas that we have now, and we plan to sell that separately.
Hello!
How can I track my parcel if I ordered it in your online shop https://www.rtl-sdr.com/.
Hello, thanks for your order.
You can track the parcel at 17track.net, the sending post official website, or the website of the recipient postal service in your country. The tracking number would have been sent in a Shipping Confirmation email from PayPal. If you lost it, please email us with your order details to have it sent out again.
Need adapters – mcx female to mcx female for projects. can anyone point to adapters with ‘reasonable’ prices.
i bought the silver metal case upgrade and never received it. impossible now to track or recover my money. DO NOT BUY FROM THEM AND GET IT OFF EBAY AS THEY WILL SCAM YOU. WHAT A JOKE. they run the 90 day scheme to screw you over so u cannot complain
90-day scheme? You should have up to six months to open a claim on PayPal. We sell on eBay too, and the same protections provided by PayPal apply there and here as well. And we’re more than happy to issue a refund at our expense if a parcel gets lost in the mail, but we haven’t had any contact from you apart from here.
Secondly, I just checked your tracking details (looked up your order from your name), and it shows that it was successfully delivered at your address on 3 April 2017 after 14 days in transit. If it’s missing from your mailbox you should contact us and also contact your countries postal agency to open an investigation ASAP.
I bought the AM BC filter, which was delivered to the east coast USA, from the Chinese warehouse in less than 2 weeks. It works perfectly and is very well made. No scams here!
No Win DLL to use GPIOs in V3 ?
I would like to buy RTL-SDR Blog R820T2 RTL2832U 1PPM TCXO SMA Software Defined Radio with ant. Could you mind to sell you product on http://shopper.tw since I am live in Taiwan.