If you don't like tweaking, you likely won't be happy with any SDR.
This might be true at the entry level or with out of main stream devices, but it is certainly not true for all SDRs. Many are no more difficult to install than a printer. Run the installer, plug in the hardware, use the hardware. Of course the learning curve of what an SDR can do after it is functioning is a different story, but no more so than a first time user looking at a hardware HF radio and wondering what to do with the “Twin PBT” controls or what the “ANF” button does.
The RTL SDRs are a mixed bag, sometimes they are easy to install, run the Zaddig and select the device (most of my installs have been that easy), other times they take some real effort. The number of requests for help on this board just to get them working is a pretty basic indicator that they can be a problem. Of course, what you don’t see, because they are busy using the radios, is all the people who install them and they work with no problem at all.
RFSpace devices, like the SDR-IQ, NetSDR, SDR-14, and the upcoming CloudSDR Paul mentioned, install SpectraVue, run the software. You do have to tell the software which model you have installed but still typically no tweaking, just click the device on the list, a one-time operation that you never have to worry about again. And unlike some of the RTL installs, there is never any doubt about the name / model to choose. The Ethernet RFSpace models have the added step of having to click the “find” button, and if your network is hosed (not the SDR or the SDR software’s fault) you might have to deal with your network. If you want to put the devices online to use remotely typically more tweaking is required, but to put one of my spare SDR-IQs on SDRAnywhere three days ago, so that now anyone can use it online, took 4 mouse clicks, and entering the name I wanted to call the device, after downloading the Zip.
WinRadio devices. Really plug and play. Run the installer for the program, it recognizes and installs drivers as needed. Done. Run the GUI, use the radio.
Perseus SDR. Run the installer for the application. It typically installs all drivers as needed. Done. Run the GUI, use the radio.
Elad FDM-S2. Run the installer, it installs everything needed. Done. That one is a bit more “tweaky” to actually use after install, as some basic operations are not very intuitively placed (display and DDC bandwidth in menus instead of buttons, for example). Plus it is a busy interface, so finding how to do things can be frustrating for very new users. But basic use, install and run the GUI.
T!
