Hobbies change - wanting to get back into radio, maybe SDR is the way to go? Suggestions?

[Omega-TI]

I'm interested in getting back into radio, but need a little more than a simple radio with a manual dial to keep me interested. SDR might give me the biggest bang for the buck, so why not ask "THE EXPERTS" here?

Specifically my needs/wants are:

1) Be fairly "Plug-N-Play" (like a USB connector and a wall wart for power).
2) Run under Windows 10
3) Be EASY to set up or with step-by-step instructions.
4) Hopefully with a cost in the ballpark range of around $100.00 plus or minus 25.00.

Suggestions?

 

[rabbit108]

1) Be fairly "Plug-N-Play" (like a USB connector and a wall wart for power).
2) Run under Windows 10
3) Be EASY to set up or with step-by-step instructions.
4) Hopefully with a cost in the ballpark range of around $100.00 plus or minus 25.00.

Hello, Omega-TI; welcome to the forum.

First step would be an RTL-SDR.COM V3 SDR ($30) and SDR# (SDRsharp) software. Good for VHF and UHF.
Buy RTL-SDR Dongles (RTL2832U)



I use a USB extension cable.

Next step up would be SDRplay RSP1A SDR ($100) and SDRuno software. Good for HF, VHF, and UHF.
SDRplay SDRplay RSP1A Receivers Communications Receivers , SDRplay RSP1A
USB cable
HAM RADIO OUTLET AA-USB A TO B Cables Other, AAUSB A TO B

Either one can do FM broadcast.

What do you want to listen to?

 

[rabbit108]

SMA Male to F Bulkhead Female 50-Ohm RG316 Coax Low Loss RF Cable
SMA Male to F Bulkhead Female 50-Ohm RG316 Coax Low Loss RF Cable | eBay

USB extension cable
Amazon.com: Amazon Basics USB 2.0 Extension Cable - A-Male to A-Female Adapter Cord - 6.5 Feet (2 Meters): Computers & Accessories

 

[Omega-TI]

What do I want to listen to? That is a very good question. Just guessing I'd say 20% of the time it would be BCB-DX with the help of my Palomar Loop antenna with amplifier, another 40% would probably be VHF-UHF public service frequencies, and at least another 30% FM broadcast frequencies. That leaves about 10% of "dunno". I'll follow those links, THANKS!

 

[Omega-TI]

Ooooh, that RSP1A looks kind of nice! I think my specs are up to the task of using it, but the first one comes with all the goodies. Decisions, decisions.

 

[StoliRaz]

I've been screwing around with an RTL-SDR with an Anker OTG cable plugged into my phone lately. It's a fun little toy, but reception seems best hooked up to an outdoor antenna. My handheld scanner antennas don't seem to cut it. I might get a Raspberry Pi and try running it on that. There's no P25 decoding solution for running on Android that I'm aware of, so it's a very basic setup. I just started out much like you, eventually I hope to get something better but so far I'm happy with this little SDR. It's a lot of fun to see what's out there.

Take your time, research a lot. My setup took me 5 minutes to get up and running.

 

[sonm10]

There are two parts to SDRs - hardware and software. For $100, I recommend Airspy R2 mini. There are a lot of software to choose from and depends upon which digital mode you are trying to decode. For p25, you have three main options- DSD+ fastlane (don't use the free version. $25 isn't much), SdrTrunk, Unitrunker. Setup for these is quite intensive for a beginner.

SDR# is software to search around the bands.

 

[kcams]

+1 on the AirSpy, but it does depend on what you want to listen to as well. Also, check out the thread "Is AirSpy.us still in business"? Perhaps some shipping issues as of late......

If it's a trunking system, before you do anything see how close you are to the control towers in your area -- they'll tell you the range on radioreference. If you are outside of that, then you'll need a better antenna so add it to the cost --or make one-- and you'll be doing an outdoor mount. Inside the range, just a dipole antenna inside your house works just fine (rabbit ears). I can do that on a 30 mile range tower, around 25 miles away, normal terrain no mountains and not in a cave or hole.

If it's conventional radio, then just the RTL-SDR ($30) will get you there too. What's the difference? Bandwidth you can scan at the same time. It's especially important with trunking. RTL-SDR does around 2Mhz. AirSpy does 8Mhz. Large systems can be 10Mhz wide or more to get all the channels. You may need more than one SDR for your area to follow the call threads.

Windows....well, sure. Try that first. That works with above software, but you get a lot more options if you install VirtualBox, the VirutalBox add-on package, and run a Linux virtual machine on top of windows (free), or dual boot your windows box into linux. Ubuntu is easy. Learning curve is worth it and it's a hobby right . Some good active projects for trunking. Just install some dependent packages, compile, configure (there's instructions):

GitHub - TrunkRecorder/trunk-recorder: Records calls from a Trunked Radio System (P25 & SmartNet)

Records calls from a Trunked Radio System (P25 & SmartNet) - TrunkRecorder/trunk-recorder

github.com

GitHub - ScanOC/trunk-player: Trunk Player - Python Django project to play back recorded radio transmissions used on site

Trunk Player - Python Django project to play back recorded radio transmissions used on site - ScanOC/trunk-player

github.com

GitHub - chuot/rdio-scanner: Rdio Scanner is an open source software that ingest and distribute audio files generated by various software-defined radio recorders. Its interface tries to reproduce the user experience of a real police scanner, while ad

Rdio Scanner is an open source software that ingest and distribute audio files generated by various software-defined radio recorders. Its interface tries to reproduce the user experience of a real ...

github.com

GitHub - boatbod/op25: Fork of osmocom OP25 by boatbod

Fork of osmocom OP25 by boatbod. Contribute to boatbod/op25 development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

Just Air scanning? Want to listen to, and hop multiple frequency ranges (marine, aircraft, other....) farther apart than 2Mhz with one RTL-SDR?
GitHub - szpajder/RTLSDR-Airband: Multichannel AM/NFM demodulator --> works more like a conventional scanner. There are other ones too.

 

[casper150]

I am running an rsp1a with sdruno software. sdruno does have a learning curve to it. Very satisfied with the set up. Also i am using an end fed antenna with a 9:1 balun.

 

[Omega-TI]

There are two parts to SDRs - hardware and software. For $100, I recommend Airspy R2 mini. There are a lot of software to choose from and depends upon which digital mode you are trying to decode. For p25, you have three main options- DSD+ fastlane (don't use the free version. $25 isn't much), SdrTrunk, Unitrunker. Setup for these is quite intensive for a beginner.

SDR# is software to search around the bands.

That's the thing, I live in the toolies, so trunking is not an issue. The emergency service frequencies are the same now as they were back in 70's and that's the same for 30 miles in every direction.
Now you scared me off with "intensive for a beginner" as I don't have a whole lot of spare time to devote to this (not retired yet). I sort of want something plug-n-play and easy to install. Once it's up and running I'll be in my element and can enjoy things as I have time.
Thanks for you input!

Well, I had a little time before getting ready for work today. I found a neat little instructional video for installation of the software...

But when I went to purchase the entry level radio...



... so I guess I'm currently ON HOLD.

 

[Omega-TI]

Well, it also had an Ebay link, so I clicked there and ordered it. It gives me a September 22nd arrival date, man I'm gonna go nuts waiting. So, should I download the software mentioned in the video above or is there something better? I REALLY appreciate all the help so far guys, you're making this exciting for me!

 

[StoliRaz]

That's a really long wait.
I got mine off Amazon, it arrived in 4 days. I'm not a huge Amazon fan but they do ship fast and have a good return policy.

 

[Omega-TI]

Oh yeah, but it'll give me time to figure out which software to use before it arrives.

 

[ka9ucn]

It also gives you time to work on the antenna/ antennas that you will need.
Don’t forget the lightning suppression! I just lost a Hackrf1 because I was anxious to try a 550 foot Marconi before installing lightning suppression. Long story short, surprise summer hell raiser, forgot to disconnect, scrap RF1 with portapack!

Joe

 

[Omega-TI]

It also gives you time to work on the antenna/ antennas that you will need.
Don’t forget the lightning suppression! I just lost a Hackrf1 because I was anxious to try a 550 foot Marconi before installing lightning suppression. Long story short, surprise summer hell raiser, forgot to disconnect, scrap RF1 with portapack!

Good suggestion for when the time is right. For the immediate future though, I'm just going to play around with the antennas it comes with because I plan to "downsize" sometime in the foreseeable future.

 

[Omega-TI]

Well the countdown is on... IT SHIPPED!


I'm an old man, but I'm feeling like kid waiting to open a Christmas present.

 

[Omega-TI]

It's a lot of fun to see what's out there.

Yeah, being able to see a good chunk of the band visually will be a HUGE leap forward than turning a dial bit by bit trying to "find" a signal. It's like having a Poor Man's Icom R-9000!

 

[BM82557]

Yeah, being able to see a good chunk of the band visually will be a HUGE leap forward than turning a dial bit by bit trying to "find" a signal. It's like having a Poor Man's Icom R-9000!

View attachment 108289

It certainly is a big step forward from the way things were when I first started --

 

[AM909]

@BM82557: How do you get the M1–M10 buttons on the top?

 

[Omega-TI]

I'm thinking it MIGHT arrive before the 22nd of September. Apparently it's coming by plane, not boat, so it may hit customs to languish for 10 days, and then take another week to get here by USPS from California. I'm guessing around the 8th to the 10th instead...



.... so it looks like I'll be gaining admission soon!