A few days ago we posted about the recent release of the SDRplay RSP1B software defined radio, which is an upgrade over the previous RSP1A model. The changes include a new steel enclosure, significantly improved noise performance under 1 MHz and in the 50 - 60 MHz region, noticeable noise improvements in the 3.5 - 5.5 MHz and 250 - 320 MHz range, and improved signal handling at HF frequencies.
Over on the Tech Minds YouTube channel, Matt has released a video testing the new RSP1B. He notes that thanks to the improved noise performance under 1 MHz, reception of NDB's from airports is significantly better.
Matt also tests SDRConnect Preview 2 which is SDRplay's new multiplatform receiver software. It is currently in 'preview', so features are still being added, and there may be bugs. In the video Matt shows a few of the new features in SDRConnect Preview 2 including band selection buttons, IQ recorder, asymmetrical, notch filtering and the remote server feature which allows SDRplay devices to be used over a network or internet connection.
This year there were several interesting stories and product releases that we posted about on the blog and this post will be a brief end of year review of some of our most popular posts. We also wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to every celebrating at this time of the year!
In January we saw that the popular ADS-B Exchange (ADSBx) ADS-B aggregation platform was sold to a private equity firm called JETNET. This caused quite a bit of outrage as many involved with the development of the platform were blindsided by the owner's sudden decision to sell. ADS-B Exchange is a popular ADS-B aggregator that uses RTL-SDRs and is known for it's hard no censorship policy, allowing it to be used in projects like "Dictator Alert" and to uncover immoral use of aircraft in policing and military "kill chains". Many of the original team have since started a new service at https://airplanes.live.
ADSBExchange.com interface
Next in February at the height of the "Chinese Spy Balloon" scare we ran a story about how the US air force had shot down an amateur radio 'pico balloon' called K9YO-15 , on the assumption that it could have been another Chinese spy balloon. Pico balloons are party sized helium balloons with a solar powered amateur radio transmitter attached. The fun of the hobby is seeing how far and long around the world they can travel for. A typical pico balloon could circumnavigate the globe several times over several months, all whilst transmitting it's position.
Rough trajectory overlay
In April we saw the Flipper Zero go mainstream when it was reviewed on the Linus Tech Tips YouTube channel. The Flipper Zero is a small RF hacking device that gained high popularity on social media sites like TikTok.
Later in August we also released the RTL-SDR Blog V4 dongle, a limited edition RTL-SDR that makes use of existing stockpiles of R828D tuner chips. It has improved HF performance thanks to an upconverter, and improved filtering on the VHF and UHF bands.
Just a quick note for those waiting to confirm that the RTL-SDR Blog V4 is now in stock at Amazon USA. We have linked both the dongle + antenna set, and dongle only listings below. For customers outside of the USA please check our international purchasing links at www.rtl-sdr.com/store.
With the demand being high, if you were waiting please order soon as the next shipment most likely won't be in until January. To learn more about the RTL-SDR Blog V4, please see our product release post.
Airspy is holding their annual Black Friday sale, this year offering 20% off their range of products. The sale is active at all participating resellers, which includes our own store where we have the YouLoop on sale for US$31.96 including free shipping to most countries in the world, instead of the usual US$39.95. Please note that due to EU VAT collection laws, EU customers must purchase the discounted YouLoop from our eBay or Aliexpress stores.
The YouLoop is a low cost passive loop antenna for HF and VHF. It is based on the Möbius loop design which results in a high degree of noise cancelling. However the main drawback is that it is a non-resonant design, which means that it works best when used with ultra sensitive receivers like the Airspy HF+ Discovery.
FOSDEM have issued a call for participation and have noted that slots are still open, so please submit any proposals for talks now if you are interested in presenting. The recommended topics include:
Topics discussed in the devroom include, but are not limited to:
SDR frameworks and the tools that make them useful
New SDR-based developments in ham radio modes
Cellular/telecom software
Amateur radio operator software tooling
Free / Open radio hardware
Wireless security research
Entertaining wireless hacks
SDR & ham radio in mass and higher education
Satellite, spacecraft and interplanetary communication
Software-Defined Radio is the technology of enabling radio signals to be processed and generated algorithmically, typically within general purpose processors, but also within FPGAs and GPUs; Free and Open Source (FOSS) Software Radio allows these algorithms to be inspectable and improvable. With the advent of ubiquitous IoT, sky-filling satellite megaconstellations and 5G/6G as standards designed with commercial Software Radios in mind, wireless is an exploding field of interest in the FOSS realm.
Ham Radio, also known as amateur radio, is more than just a hobby orbiting the usage of radio communication – it’s a passion that merges the realms of electronics, human interaction, and communication. At its core, ham radio is about establishing connections: with people, with technology, and with the world at large. It is a free and open community effort at heart!
This is just a quick post to let people who have been waiting know that the RTL-SDR Blog V4 Dongle with Multipurpose Dipole Antenna set is back in stock in our international store which ships from China.
Amazon stocking has been slightly delayed, but the ship with the stock should be on the way soon, and we expect it to be stocked within about four weeks.
Please remember that not all software is compatible with the RTL-SDR Blog V4 yet. The majority of programs on Windows and Linux are already compatible, or just require a simple driver swap, but some programs on MacOS will need more time to update because on these platforms the drivers are bundled with software. Android has recently seen the SDR Driver app updated to support the majority of Android apps.
Please consult the V4 users guide for the latest information about software compatibility and how to update the drivers.
Thank you to Michael B for letting us know about recent fixes to the Raspberry Pi kernel which affect RTL-SDR users. If you've been experiencing error "rtlsdr_read_reg failed with -7" when running RTL-SDR software on Raspberry Pi 4's running a Linux kernel with version 6.1 or higher, a Raspberry Pi kernel fix has been pushed which should fix the problem.
This problem "rtlsdr_read_reg failed with -7" appears to occur after having closed any program that uses an RTL-SDR, and then reopening it.
This doesn't seem to have been an issue for the older 5.12 and 4.19 kernels where this issue was previously fixed, but Raspberry Pi recently moved to the 6.1 kernel in May 2023 where the issue came back. Raspbian releases after this date may have been problematic.
The official Raspbian should eventually update, but if you've been experiencing this issue, you could try update your kernel now using:
sudo apt install rpi-update
sudo rpi-update
Alternatively according to Michael, kernel version 6.6.y should also have this problem fixed:
sudo rpi-update rpi-6.6.y
Note that updating the kernel could break other software, so doing this is at your own risk.
The RTL-SDR Blog V4 dongle (dongle only), is back in stock for international shipping today! The V4 Dongle + Antenna set will be back in stock after about a week. Please note that shipping will be a few days delayed due to a multi-day public holiday in China this week. Amazon will be stocked with V4 dongles in about five weeks time.
Please remember that not all software is compatible with the RTL-SDR Blog V4 yet. The majority of programs on Windows and Linux are already compatible, or just require a simple driver swap, but some programs on MacOS and Android will need more time to update because on these platforms the drivers are bundled with software.
Please consult the V4 users guide for the latest information about software compatibility and how to update the drivers.
We note that there have been some false rumors on various forums that the RTL-SDR Blog V4 is totally out of stock already as it is a limited edition product. We want everyone to know that that while it is a limited edition product, there should be enough stock for about a year.
