Receiving up to 4.5 GHz with an RTL-SDR and a $5 Directv Downconverter
KD0CQ has recently been experimenting with trying to receive signals at frequencies of up to 4.5 GHz with an RTL-SDR and downconverter. Since a typical R820T/2 RTL-SDR’s maximum frequency limit is about 1.7 GHz, an external downconverter circuit is required. A downconverter converts high frequencies down into the range receivable by the RTL-SDR. For example a downconverter with a 2.4 GHz local oscillator would convert a 3.5 GHz signal down to 1.1 GHz, which can be easily received by an RTL-SDR.
The secret to doing this cheaply is revealed by KD0CQ. He shows that a very cheap $5 Directv SUP-2400 upconverter can be converted into a 2.4 GHz downconverter simply by removing some filters. He writes that he hasn’t uploaded the full set of steps to modify the SUP-2400 yet, but he intends to do so in the near future.
There is also a discussion about this mod on Reddit. Several posters have been discussing what applications a cheap downconverter could open up. Some mentioned applications include receiving various satellites in the C/S bands, DECT cordless phones @ 1.9 GHz, SiriusXM satellite radio @ 2.3 GHz, ISM @ 2.4 GHz, RADARs, RC aircraft control/telemetry/video and ham beacons.
The directions for the sup-4000 down-converter mod are no longer up on any post I can find.
Do you by chance have them still?
I saw them a month ago so I got a couple converters and now they’re gone.
Pretty Please!
Thanks in advance
Randy
http://www.m0dts.co.uk/index.php?tag=DATV&item=90
Thanks
But that’s only part of it. There are 5 or 6 more diodes filters that need to be removed. I wish I had saved the page when I first saw it.
Im actually in same situation right now. I ordered sup-2400 while ago, when site were still up. Now I finally got it and cannot modify it because of tutorial missing. I tried to contact KD0CQ without any chance. Hope that somebody still have those directions.
Four words “Internet archive wayback machine”.
Congratulations sir, you just saved my day. Thanks!
I just finished the modifications in one unit and did some tests. I had only very few test frequencies available (2.41GHz, 2.44GHz, 2.48 GHz). The higher the frequency, the better I could receive the signal on the SDR. 2.41GHz is so poor that it fades into the noise. Cannot distinguish from noise. Also, I could see many things (including FM radio stations) even better than the original signals when I go to (2.4G + freq). It seems the downconverter is not only bringing the spectrum 2.4GHz down, but also amplifying what´s already there… I wonder if I did something wrong of if this is expected. Any comment?
The directions for the sup-4000 down-converter mod are no longer up on any post I can find.
Do you by chance have them still?
I saw them a month ago so I got a couple converters and now they’re gone.
Pretty Please!
Thanks in advance
Randy
I got mine working and yes.. it does that. Had to stay far from FM-stations. I found that proper grounding and directional antenna reduces unwanted signals (as expected) but I think that further development is to hook some frequency filters with it.
can someone please tell me how to safely connect this to my rtl sdr
i plan on doing the mod , but dont understand how to connect it, and or if it goes inline to the sdr
thank you
Did you try decoding dect with this downconverter ?
I bought the rtl-sdr 2832u, like in picture: https://www.rtl-sdr.com/buy-rtl-sdr-dvb-t-dongles/# but satellites works on 10-12ghz and the frequency on the rtl-sdr should be of 2400Mhz. Anyway I need a transverter from: 10-12 ghz to 1.7 ghz.
I would like to know where to buy a transverter 10-12 to 1.7 ghz, where to buy a dish antenna (dimension of the dish antenna, I live in Italy and these are my Latitude: 41.9772934999999 and Longitude: 12.0628107999999 and the LNB for 10-12 ghz). Awayting for your reply as soon as possible, greetings paolo
Sir, I have the product NooElec NESDR Mini 2 SDR & DVB-T USB Stick (RTL2832 + R820T2) w/ Antenna and Remote Control. The maximum received frequency is 1.7Ghz. I want to use this product for receiving 2.4 GHz (ISM band). Can I use SUP-2400 along with above RTL SDR for receiving 2.4GHz signal. How do I connect down converter with RTL-SDR? Will it properly receive 2.4GHz signals?. Kindly acknowledge Sir
Take a look at rxtxdx.com for some modified sup-2400’s. You can receive 2.4 GHz with them, but you’ll probably need a filter.
The directions for the sup-4000 down-converter mod are no longer up on any post I can find.
Do you by chance have them still?
I saw them a month ago so I got a couple converters and now they’re gone.
Pretty Please!
Thanks in advance
Randy
Interested in using surplus ITFS downconverter fo 2.2 – 2.4 ghz DSN use and other services. Any info welcome Bob and others. I have 2 ft and 8 ft dishes with feeds for 2.5 – 2.7 ghz.
Anyone know where the wires go for the external power?
Here is the post with the modification in it.
Welp, that didn’t work. Here you go: http://www.kd0cq.com/2016/04/part-ii-the-mod-receive-up-to-4-5ghz-on-your-rtlsdr-for-5-00/
KD0CQ
Welp, that didn’t work. Here you go: http://www.kd0cq.com/2016/04/part-ii-the-mod-receive-up-to-4-5ghz-on-your-rtlsdr-for-5-00/
I read this post a month ago and the web-page with mods was up.
Hot soldering iron in-hand and WHERE DID IT GO?
WRN
805-728-5218
I think he got the original information from here http://www.m0dts.co.uk/index.php?tag=DATV&item=90
Yup, that’s the ATV mod. For this application though you need to take some additional steps. The signal won’t get through otherwise. Or at least not enough to bother with.
My understanding is that the sensitivity/NF on the stock RTL-SDR gets a bit bad as you get toward S-band.
So, at the very least, a microwave downconverter ought to give you a way to improve sensitivity, since your RTL-SDR would be receiving at 100 MHz instead of, say 2.5 GHz.
This application would be slightly more relevant of course if the IF of the downconverter were more like, say, 1.2 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz. C’est la vie.
This downconverter *might* be useful for receiving the S-Band (2400 MHz) downlink from Phase 3E, if it ever actually gets launched.
You could also use a “MMDS Downconverter” that cover by default about 2.2GHz to 2.7GHz with a LO @1998MHz [Most have a LO stability of around +/-30kHz (+/-15 ppm)] . Because they are waterproof sealed they might not be as easy to hack the filters out. Some come with filters from 2.2 to 2.5GHz and some with 2.4 to 2.7GHz, but that is clear stated when buying them.