rtl-sdr.com

You'll definitely need a computer, USB SDRs are not standalone, and they must have some sort of compatible computing device to work.

The cheapest thing that could be probably be used is a Raspberry Pi Zero, or similar low cost single board computer.

I can not seam to get any ham reception on the spectrum. I can hear hear my repeater on my portable scanner. But not any on the computer. Is it that I just need to get a better ham antenna an plug it in. The one that came with it is picking up Noaa - am/fm radio an fire- police, but not any ham in ...

The portapack software doesn't have anything like that i'm afraid.

Can't get the driver to install either. Win7 Device manage shows "other device" "Bulk-in interface" however it says there is no driver. Zadig 2.01, 2.22, 2.24 all run and leave me with a green arrow, but no driver. I manually extracted the drivers to a directory and if I tell it to update the drive...

You can just use the basic rtl_sdr software from the drivers to record an IQ file.

You won't find an antenna that can do both VHF/UHF and HF at the same time. There's just too much of a difference wavelength wise.

For VHF/UHF look for discone antennas.

For HF look at long wire, dipole antennas (large) or magnetic loop antennas (small).

I have been playing with my RTL-SDR v3 for a couple of days now and I have noticed it gets VERY HOT - I mean it is currently at about 85 deg C after having been run for 30 mins. I have also noticed that the RX performance is poor. I cannot RX signals that my scanner easily picks up - even on my ext...

The install-rtlsdr.bat file isn't damaged, those % signs are normal and meant to be there. Maybe your antivirus was blocking it though?

You'd have to confirm with the dev. I recommend asking in https://airspy.groups.io/g/main.

Sorry could you please clarify what you mean? What are 'the files' that you are referring to? There are no files stored in the R820T2, it is not a memory stick.