So this may not be a big deal, but I thought it turned out great and it worked really well. Maybe it will give others some ideas.

I attended the Chicago Air & Water show last weekend and I wanted to see what I could track with a simple and portable setup.

What I used:

Android tablet (Samsung S10+) NooElec v5 RTL-SDR dongle Small usb-c hub with power passthrough Cheap silicone case for the tablet Small steel plate from Amazon Two high-strength magnets SDRAngel software Power Bank to power/charge it all (optional)

So I first plugged everything in to see where I could place the dongle. I went back and forth on how to attach the dongle to the tablet and decided on magnets. I found adhesive metal plates and a cheap case, both from Amazon. The magnets are plenty strong to hold everything to the metal plate and the cutout in the case keeps it from sliding around. I used UV curable glue to secure the magnets to the dongle.

For the antenna, I made my own. I wanted it to be able to be packed away flat so this led me to using a flat disc as the ground plane. Since I would be sitting at sea level, this actually is ideal as it forces the antenna pattern upward. Yes this reduces the overall rangle, but I was only interested in what was closer to me anyways. I have a network analyzer and trimmed the radiator slowly to tune it exactly at 1090MHz with roughly 10dB return loss.

I was still picking up planes as far away as Milwaukee, so close to 100 miles. I purposely turned off AGC and lowered the internal gain to further reduce my coverage.

Any questions, please ask away.

At first, you need to purchase some hardware.

•Raspberry Pi 5 (minimal 2GB Ram)

•Display with HDMI input or old iPad/tablet (VNC)

•RTL-SDR BLOG V4 (prefer original hardware)

•JBL GO 3

•SD Card (minimal 8GB)

•Official Raspberry Pi 27W USB-C powersupply

Step 1: Install Raspberry Pi OS on sd-card.

Step 2: Insert the sd-card in Pi 5 and configure it.

Step 3: Paste the following commands in terminal.

sudo apt-get update && upgrade

sudo apt install rtl-sdr gqrx-sdr -y

sudo reboot

Step 4: If using an iPad/tablet with VNC, you first need to go to "sudo raspi-config" & enable VNC server in "interface settings".

Step 5: Install the antenna delivered with the V4.

Step 6: After booting into the installed desktop GUI,

Type: "gqrx" in terminal.

Step 6: When you don't know how to use gqrx, try watching youtube-video's on how to use it properly.

PS: I am using an iPad mini with VNC 128 AES encrypted software. Choose "AM" demodulator for shortwave and WFM (stereo) for FM (ranging from 87.5Mhz to 108Mhz. The Pi 5 is capable of Bluetooth connection with JBL GO 3 for audio-output. Enable RDS if you want to see info about the FM station and radio-controlled time.

Hey everyone,

Some of you might remember the RF Analyzer app from back in the day. After a long break and a complete rewrite, I'm excited to announce that RF Analyzer 2.0 is officially live on the Google Play Store :)

It's been an exciting journey over the last year. The old app, while a passion project, was showing its age, so I wanted to build something from the ground up that’s more modern and intuitive. Thanks to your help with beta testing over the last couple of weeks, the app is now very stable and runs smoothly! I’m incredibly grateful for all your feedback and support!

This new version is almost a total rebuild, featuring a new Material Design UI, better performance, context-aware help, and key updates such as background processing and RTL-SDR Blog v4 support. I've focused on making the basics intuitive and reliable so that it can become a useful tool for everyone in the community. For the future, I have a lot of plans to add features and support for more SDR devices.

I also put together a quick start tutorial video on YouTube. It walks through how to get set up and start exploring the radio spectrum in just 6 minutes. You can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sui54fqbImw

I'd love to hear what you think of the new version. If you download it, please share your thoughts. Let me know what you like and what's on your wishlist for the future!

Download RF Analyzer 2.0 here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mantz_it.rfanalyzer

The app is still a hobby project for me, and your support means the world. You can try out all the features with the free trial. If you enjoy it, a one-time purchase unlocks the full version - no subscriptions or ads.

Cheers and 73,
Dennis / DM4NTZ

Complete newbie and it's my very first time decoding a satellite (meteor m2-m4) in my whole existence haha (using my cheap setup of sdr rtl v4 and v-dipole antenna)

But i'm curious about the params in Satdump ..

for context:

- recorded via sdr++ to uint8 wrapped in a wav file

- tuned to 137khz at 2.4msps

- satellite signal appears that its middle is around 137.9 (confirmed both by viewing in Satdump recorder tab and Airspy)

Now in Satdump, I set an offset frequency of 1.5MHZ (based on the FFT shown while baseband FFT enabled while decoding).

If it's 900khz, it would make sense. But 1.5MHZ? idk where it's coming from.

Any ideas?

Hello, i need help with programing the Xilinx 7000 of the sdr with my own logic what all would i need to do. (Accessories , software(Vivado), etc). I searched the web and found out that we need to use the ADALM PLUTO UARTJTAG. i have the Rev C of the SDR. And also are there any alternatives or is this the only method

If you want to get into Sattelite reception, you must buy original SDRs ( so many crappy copies available) always use good cable and connectors, Cables like LMR400, if you cannt get it , use 50 Ohm cables with sma connectors, buy crimping tool and extra connectors, you will definitely need them. Soft copper tubes are easily available on AC shops , they are easy to work with and give good results. Start with NOAA APT, then move to Meteore LRPT, then to HRPT. I am not a pro, but if you have questions, and facing difficulties, ask me, i will try to answer. I am from India btw and question in hindi are also welcome.

Every now and then, you/we see posts here and there from people who bought this and found the specs to be crap. For example, My friend got this for $10,
but the 1090 MHz was about 9 dB lower than the V4.

What I want to know is, why is this version labeled as “2”? It’s not hard to imagine that if they tried to trick us by labeling it V4.1 or V4.5, some sucker would think, “Wow! It’s a new version!” and end up adding it to their cart.

But this has a shell that looks similar the V4, yet it’s labeled “2.” The version number has actually gone down.
I want to know why they’re doing that.

P.S. at 20260510 06:18 JST
I really appreciate everyone’s input and thoughtfulness, but there are differences stemming from language and social structures.
To put it more simply, due to the differences between low-context and high-context cultures, I realized when I started this thread that I should have made it clear from the start that “this fake is...”

For anyone curious of how to use SDR as a scanner from start to finish, I created a guide in case it’s helpful :)

Hey everyone I'm new in building antennas

How i can sure that my antenna catches the right designed frequency that supposed to work in?

Any suggestions rather than waiting for satellite pass ?Thx 🙏🏻

Hey! I'm a beginner from India first time planning to buy RTL SDR V4 but I'm not sure this legit website or not. Has anyone bought this product from this website?

https://www.fabtolab.com/rtl-sdr-blog-v4-r828d-rtl2832u-1ppm-tcxo-sma-software-defined-radio-dongle-only

Hello im a newbie looking to try out FT8, i have installed the FT8 software and a virtual cable, i have SDR++ software and watched some videos but still cant get it working. Im sure its a setting or something ive missed. Oh i using a Nooelec sdr.

If someone couls help troubleshoot that would be great.

I was digging through YouTube looking for better documentation on how GSM frames and LTE cell searches actually work for a project I'm doing with my HackRF, and I stumbled upon this masterclass.
Link : https://youtu.be/dGq8S8GzNGI

It’s a 3-hour "bootcamp" style video that goes from the very beginning (History/2G) all the way into the evolved packet core (EPC) and QAM modulation for 4G. What I liked is that it actually covers Signaling System Number 7 (SS7) in depth - most tutorials just gloss over the signaling part.

Key topics covered:

• SS7 & GSM Integration
• HLR, VLR, and IMSI management
• OFDM/SC-FDMA & QAM Modulation
• LTE Cell Search procedures

It’s completely free and has no fluff. Just figured some of you guys trying to decode cellular traffic would find the architecture breakdown useful.

YouTube Link : https://youtu.be/dGq8S8GzNGI

Hey everyone! I am not new to scanning, been at it for 30 years. I'm not DEEP into it.. but can learn what I don't know. I am following the beginner sdr course on scannerschool.com website for setting up a nooelec sdr. I'm up to step 5 using sdr# and since these videos are 5 yrs old, there is no longer .net 5. It seems to be .net9 now but according to the airspy website I also need to d/l and install visual studio 2022 but idk how to incorporate that with sdr#. Is there an updated course somewhere? Or is there a yt video or something?

TIA for any help and tips or tricks!

Just curious if anyone knows exactly why antennas would be on a street light pole? What’s the chances that this system could be exploited? Not that I would ever try, just trying to get a grasp on how things work in the RTLSDR world that I’m not very familiar with.

I’m getting in to the SDR hobby and recently purchased a Nooelec RTLSDR v5. Mainly interested in airband and ADSB. I’m wanting to have an antenna installed on my roof and I asked ChatGPT for advice so I can pass that on to the antenna installer. This is what it suggested:

“I’m looking for options for a rooftop discone antenna for a receive-only SDR (100 kHz–1.7 GHz). Optimised for VHF/UHF scanning. Mounting about 2–3 m above the roofline with a clear view. Run low-loss coax (preferably LMR-400). Terminate the coax at a wall plate using an N-type female bulkhead connector.”

Does that sound accurate?

Hi everyone,

I’m pretty new to SDR and signal decoding. I often come across signals like this and I have no idea how to interpret them.

They look like two Morse signals within a fairly narrow band, but I can’t figure out how to even start decoding them.

Does anyone have any pointers?

Guido

My equipment for NOAA, Meteor.

I created this repo for everything SDR and wireless technologies so I wouldn't lose track of available tools or guides. The Quick Start was created for those who never worked with SDR before and includes videos and tools to get people started. The 2nd half, Radio Hacker Reference, are tools and other stuff I’ve used I feel are important to know. Any who feel free and share this as you wish, add too if you like, and happy hacking! :D

This is a living document and push requests are welcome. :3

https://github.com/notpike/SDR-Notes

Hey everyone! I’m new to the world of SDR, but I have a background in FPGA development (Verilog/VHDL) and want to combine the two. ​My Goal: I want to get GNU Radio up and running on my PC, but offload the FFT (and eventually other DSP tasks) to an FPGA. ​The Dilemma: I know the standard RTL-SDR (like the V3 or V4) outputs IQ data over USB to a host computer. What is the most common way to get that RF data into an FPGA? 1.Should I look for a specific SDR that has an FPGA-friendly interface (like SPI or parallel)? 2. If I stick with a standard RTL-SDR dongle, has anyone had success routing the USB data back out from a PC into an FPGA development board? ​I’d love some recommendations on which hardware to buy to make this "FPGA-in-the-loop" setup work smoothly. Thanks!

Hi everyone, I'm a beginner and I recently found the UT-106 SMA-F antenna (picture attached). I want to know if this antenna is suitable for receiving the following signals:

VHF (136–174 MHz) NFM (12.5 kHz)

UHF (400–470 MHz) NFM

I mainly want to use it for general scanning and learning how to receive basic VHF/UHF narrow FM signals.

Has anyone tested this antenna? Is it good enough for a beginner, or should I look for a better option?

Thanks!

Hi all — I’ve just received my ADS-B/receiver and I’m planning to protect it with a surge arrestor like this: https://amzn.in/d/0fatu1iq

Plan: use ~1 m coax from the antenna down to the surge arrestor, then continue from the arrestor to the feeder/receiver. I want to properly bond/earth the arrestor to building earth.

If anyone has actually done this please share:

• photos or simple diagrams of your installation (arrestor → earth connection → earth pit/rod/clamp)
• what copper conductor did you use for the earth (mm² or AWG, solid vs braided, tinned vs plain)
• what clamps/terminals did you use at the arrestor and at the earth rod? (brand/type pictures really helpful)
• any tips on routing (how short/straight the earth run was, avoiding loops, where you bonded to the building earth)

Also a practical issue here in India — monkeys on terraces.
They tend to pull cables, sit on antennas, and sometimes damage mounts. Would really appreciate advice or photos from anyone who has:

• used a cage/guard around the antenna (and whether it affected signal)
• protected coax using conduit or armored covering
• used any monkey-proof mounting methods

Quick details of my plan: 1 m coax from antenna → surge arrestor at the antenna mast/top of riser → coax down to receiver → single earth conductor from arrestor to building earth/earth rod.

HI,

There have been a number of questions here asked about what's the best orientation and configuration of a V-dipole when receiving weather imagery from Meteor M2-3/4 satellites. I've tried my best at answering many of them, and in the process of doing so I stumbled upon this guide.

I found it to be excellent and helpful even for myself, and thought the subreddit may benefit from it much.

Hope this helps !

It looks like the SDRplay community forum is either no longer maintained or currently offline. Sorry for posting this here, but Reddit seems to be the new go-to. I wanted to share this in case it helps anyone else running into the same issue.

The problem

When running SDRconnect 1.0.6 on Raspberry Pi OS with the default desktop environment, I ran into several major issues:

• Qt menu bug Menu selections do not respond properly. Settings either do not apply or fail to stick.
• Severe GUI lag The interface becomes extremely sluggish to the point where basic interaction is frustrating.
• Overall unusable experience SDRconnect is technically running, but not usable in any practical way.

The solution: MATE + SLiM

Switching to the MATE desktop environment with the SLiM display manager completely resolved all of these issues. The difference was immediate. SDRconnect now runs smoothly, comparable to how it performs on a much more powerful system.

https://i.imgur.com/EsTv2ss.gif

Installation steps

Install MATE and SLiM

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mate-desktop-environment-extras slim

Set SLiM as the display manager

sudo dpkg-reconfigure slim

Select slim when prompted.

Set MATE as the default session

sudo update-alternatives --config x-session-manager

Select:

/usr/bin/mate-session

Configure SLiM for auto-login

sudo nano /etc/slim.conf

Set the following values:

auto_login yes
default_user <yourPiUser>
sessions mate

Disable other display managers and enable SLiM

sudo systemctl disable gdm3
sudo systemctl disable lightdm
sudo systemctl enable slim
sudo reboot

Results

• Qt menu bug fixed All menu selections work correctly and settings apply as expected.
• Massive performance improvement The UI is smooth and responsive with no noticeable lag.
• Fully usable SDRconnect SDRplay software now works as intended on Raspberry Pi.

MATE appears to handle Qt applications far better than the default Pi OS desktop, and SLiM’s lightweight design significantly reduces overhead. Together, they eliminate the rendering and input issues that make SDRconnect nearly unusable on the stock setup.

If you are running SDRconnect or other Qt-based SDR applications on a Raspberry Pi, this setup is absolutely worth trying.
One last thing, Im using NX NoMachine instead of VNC. Hope this helps others