rtl-sdr.com

If you're running in direct sampling mode its normal to see images of AM stations around the CB band. It's just the nature of the direct sampling mode. For VHF, are you sure that you didn't just forget to change the gain? Normally if static damaged the dongle there will be some gain values that work...

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.