Getting started with low cost SDR Dongles

Software-Defined Radio (SDR) has revolutionized Amateur Radio, offering powerful capabilites for the fraction of the cost of traditional hardware. One of the easiest ways to explore SDR is with a low-cost dongle.

Why Start with a Low-Cost SDR Dongle?

Low-cost SDR dongles, often based on the RTL2832U or R820T chipsets, are USB devices that can receive a wide range of frequencies. They were originally designed for digital TV but quickly gained popularity in the amateur radio community due to their affordability and wide range of applications. These dongles typically cost between £20 and £40, making them an accessible entry point for newcomers to the hobby.

What can you do with an SDR dongle?

Some popular uses are:

• Monitoring weather satellites: Decode live weather images from NOAA satellites with free software like WXtoImg
• Track Aircraft with ADS-B: Follow live aircraft flying overhead with tools like FlightAware or dump1090.
• Listen to the amateur bands: Listen in on the local VHF/UHF repeaters. With an upconverter you can listen to the HF amateur bands.
• Listen to the news from across the world: Listen to shortwave broadcast stations from around the world

Of course what can be accomplished depends on your hardware and the antennas you use, however the possibilities are endless. Many devices work effectively from 30MHz up to the low GHz, and with additional hardware such as the ‘Ham it Up’, the range can be extended downwards to cover the HF amateur bands as well.

Buying an SDR

A number of manufacturers offer SDR dongle kits that come with basic antennas and connectors. Look for kits that have dongles such as:

• RTL-SDR Blog V3
• NooElec NESDR SMArt

Most devices are compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux

Software

To operate your SDR, you will need some software. There are a number of options, including:

• SDR# (SDR-Sharp): Beginner friendly software for Windows
• GQRX: Simple and effective for Linux and macOS users
• CubicSDR: Cross-platform software with a simple interface

Most SDR dongles should work straight away with any of these software packages, but do check compatibility with manufacturers before purchasing.

With software such as Virtual Audio Cable, the audio output from your SDR package can be routed into other software, for example aircraft data can be decoded with acarsd.