RTL-SDR Problems

[poppafred]

Sorry, folks, I am a complete green horn when it comes to SDR.

I bought an RTL-SDR off eBay. I've been trying to find what I could without bothering the group. I have it working, sort of. I can receive anything on VHF/UHF but I get absolutely nothing in the HF bands. I have the antenna connected to an off-center-fed dipole. I can't even get WWV time signals.

What am I doing wrong and where can I get help on swapping the SDR over to the HF bands?

 

[n9mxq]

If it's a RTL-SDR v3 you use the Q branch for HF reception. .

 

[boatbod]

Sorry, folks, I am a complete green horn when it comes to SDR.

I bought an RTL-SDR off eBay. I've been trying to find what I could without bothering the group. I have it working, sort of. I can receive anything on VHF/UHF but I get absolutely nothing in the HF bands. I have the antenna connected to an off-center-fed dipole. I can't even get WWV time signals.

What am I doing wrong and where can I get help on swapping the SDR over to the HF bands?

Not all RTL dongles can directly receive the HF bands; many require a down-converter.

 

[BM82557]

The RTL2832U / R820T dongles frequency range is 24 MHz to roughly 1850 MHz with no gaps.

 

[poppafred]

If it's a RTL-SDR v3 you use the Q branch for HF reception. .

How?

 

[poppafred]

Not all RTL dongles can directly receive the HF bands; many require a down-converter.

Nope, has HF and VHF/UHF capabilities.

 

[poppafred]

The RTL2832U / R820T dongles frequency range is 24 MHz to roughly 1850 MHz with no gaps.

Not this one, it has HF also.

 

[n9mxq]

I can only speak for SDR#. Click the gear icon, then select the sampling mode

 

[boatbod]

Not this one, it has HF also.

Nope, has HF and VHF/UHF capabilities.

Well maybe if you provide a link to the specific model you have, we can either quit wasting our time or provide more info. Fact remains that not all RTL dongles can directly receive HF. If yours definitely "has" that capability but it's not working, maybe you should take it up with the supplier.

 

[spongella]

Never used the direct sampling mode with my dongles, so I cannot help except to add that you can buy an up-converter like the HamItUp model from Nooelec. I've used that model for a number of years and works well on HF and even MW. Nothing not to like about it and it can be used with SDR# and HDSDR. Good luck OM.

 

[n9mxq]

Well maybe if you provide a link to the specific model you have, we can either quit wasting our time or provide more info. Fact remains that not all RTL dongles can directly receive HF. If yours definitely "has" that capability but it's not working, maybe you should take it up with the supplier.

Pretty sure he has an RTL-SDR v3. It's the only one I've found that does HF without a converter. I had to go back and look to see how to get it to work on HF myself. Once you switch to the Q branch, it works great on HF. Receiving as well as either of my HF rigs..

 

[poppafred]

Well maybe if you provide a link to the specific model you have, we can either quit wasting our time or provide more info. Fact remains that not all RTL dongles can directly receive HF. If yours definitely "has" that capability but it's not working, maybe you should take it up with the supplier.

Really, dude? That'a your idea of "helping"?
Why did you even bother to answer the post? :roll:

It was advertised on eBay as an "RTL-SDR with HF"
There are no external markings on the case.
I tried to post a photo but can't seem to get it into my post.

By the way, the setting gear and Q branch worked fine with SDR# 1.0.
Now if I can figure out how to get it to work with SDRConsole v3.0...

 

[poppafred]

This is it...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/100KHz-1-7...994285&hash=item19ed1447f5:g:PvUAAOSwwbdWPvwK

 

[n9mxq]

Ahh, well, sorry, but I can't help with that one.. Bought one once, came in kit form.. threw the kit away and kept the RTL stick... (Wasn't advertised as a kit)

 

[spongella]

poppafred,

Okay on the link, have seen these on Ebay for a few years but never bought one. You might want to check www.rtl-sdr.com, a great SDR website, perhaps they have reviewed that particular model or the SWLing blog https://swling.com/blog/ additionally. Hope you get your's to work and 73's.

Spongella

 

[n9mxq]

By the way, the setting gear and Q branch worked fine with SDR# 1.0.
Now if I can figure out how to get it to work with SDRConsole v3.0...

I'm having very little luck figuring that out here also.. If you figure it out before me, share ;-)

But, as I said before, the RTL-SDR v3 dongle works great on HF.. If you can't get yours to work, I'd recommend that one.

 

[poppafred]

But, as I said before, the RTL-SDR v3 dongle works great on HF.. If you can't get yours to work, I'd recommend that one.

I can get it working great on v1.0 but v3.0 of SDRConsole doesn't work HF with the dongle.
I've spent all day digging about and I think that Simon did not include direct sampling in v3.0 because it wasn't that clean.
If that is the case, I'm stuck with v1.0 for now.

 

[KM4BLG]

Some softwares have it as "direct sampling". They are right about Q-branch. I can speak for GQRX. In the "Configure Devices" screen, under "Device String" where it says "rtl=0" change to "rtl=0?direct_samp=2"

 

[KM4BLG]

Also, check to make sure that the VU and HF sides are on the right side. I bought one of those and they put the label on backwards so the antenna connections are reversed.

 

[iceman382]

What An Arrogant ***! Boatmod Is.

Well maybe if you provide a link to the specific model you have, we can either quit wasting our time or provide more info. Fact remains that not all RTL dongles can directly receive HF. If yours definitely "has" that capability but it's not working, maybe you should take it up with the supplier.

Seriously! Lighten up.
Not everyone is as sophisticated as you think you are.
That's why people ask questions and hope that they don't have to read crap like you post.