SDR# does NOT work with Noolec and non of the scanner trunk programs work either. My experience, ymmv.
A few questions before I take the plunge
- Thread starter jordoncloutier
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jordoncloutier
Newbie
that scares me a little , but i see other guys using nooelec products and sdr# with no issues , Im hoping for my sake it was an issue specific to your setup .
boatbod
Member
Well that's just totally incorrect. I ran a broadcastify feed with 3 Nooelec blue dongles with op25 for 2 years and rarely had a problem.
This Noolec - NooElec NESDR Smart v4 SDR - totally did not work with SDR# and Unitrunker, tried numerous help forums and youtube videos, and no luck. I'm glad it worked for you.
boatbod
Member
Occasionally there are hardware failures, but for the most part any RTL dongle will work regardless of manufacturer. TCXO is highly desirable unless you want to chase thermal drift all over the place.
I have one and I have yet to explore much with it. Do you know of good sites to explore the software beyond SDR# that can be used? I'd like to try and program my local public safety trunked systems to try them out.
I have 5 Nooelec Black V4 SDRs. No issues using any software, however, I just had one fail (board component burned up.) They need to have driver installed correctly to work - as with any Realtek based RTLSDR device.
The number of SDRs required depends on the os, the software, and the type of system being monitored. op25 runs on Linux and can use one SDR to monitor a P25 P1/P2 system. Unitrunker runs on Windows and (usually) requires 2 SDRs to follow and output audio from most system types (excluding P25P2.) DSD+ Fast Lane is also Windows, and supports P25 P1/P2. It can use a single SDR, but I use 2. SDRTrunk can be built to run on multiple platform (as a Java program) - not too familiar using it.
Knowing what system(s) you want to monitor will help with recommendations.
The number of SDRs required depends on the os, the software, and the type of system being monitored. op25 runs on Linux and can use one SDR to monitor a P25 P1/P2 system. Unitrunker runs on Windows and (usually) requires 2 SDRs to follow and output audio from most system types (excluding P25P2.) DSD+ Fast Lane is also Windows, and supports P25 P1/P2. It can use a single SDR, but I use 2. SDRTrunk can be built to run on multiple platform (as a Java program) - not too familiar using it.
Knowing what system(s) you want to monitor will help with recommendations.
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jordoncloutier
Newbie
Update , I received the laptop and Nooelec bundle yesterday , Unpackaged everything, setup the laptop , removed all the bloadware and crap that comes with windows 10 , found the computer to run absolutely fantastic ! , Installed SDR# , got the dongle working , checked out local FM radio , NOAA , and even listened to an hour long local HAM net . very happy with it so far . I am finding the antenna really makes all the difference , I found I got the best performance when I attached the dongle to coax leading up to my OTA TV antenna that is mounted on my roof . The supplied antennas in the Nooelec bundle are barely ok .
I now want to listen to AM and HF !
Ive heard that the RTL-SDR V3 blog dongle has hf built in .. Is that the way to go or should I pick up the Nooelec "ham it up" HF add on box to work with my Nooelec sdr dongle ? . I also plan on purchasing the Youloop portable HF Antenna .
Thoughts ?
I now want to listen to AM and HF !
Ive heard that the RTL-SDR V3 blog dongle has hf built in .. Is that the way to go or should I pick up the Nooelec "ham it up" HF add on box to work with my Nooelec sdr dongle ? . I also plan on purchasing the Youloop portable HF Antenna .
Thoughts ?
I just got my IC-R8600 back for warranty sensitivity verification and it exceeds factory specs. So with new cabling and connectors the last factor is antenna condition and location. It's a Diamond discone. So yes, antennas are the key to good reception. Those supplied antennas are usually for what the radio was initially designed for...TV reception in Europe.
That said. I knew you would want more. You got your feet wet for very little and a computer to boot, which you wont regret.
In the end I have to be honest. Over the past few weeks I've been using my SDRPlay RSP2 a lot. It went aside when I got my Icom.
But it is a very nice radio with amazing frequency range all in one box. Very sensitive. With the addition of a nooelec LANA it covers what Icom said of the IC-R8500 when it first came out. "DC to Daylight".
There's a pissing war between SDR# (Airspy) and SDRPlay. No biggie with all of the other SDR programs that do work very well.
For the price they are one hell of a SDR radio. Don't let the guys have you believing an upconverter wont work, it's just another box in the string and something that will get in your way (swapping in and out) to get that continuous frequency coverage I knew that you would be seeking.
Have Fun! Check out the FB SDRPlay group.
That said. I knew you would want more. You got your feet wet for very little and a computer to boot, which you wont regret.
In the end I have to be honest. Over the past few weeks I've been using my SDRPlay RSP2 a lot. It went aside when I got my Icom.
But it is a very nice radio with amazing frequency range all in one box. Very sensitive. With the addition of a nooelec LANA it covers what Icom said of the IC-R8500 when it first came out. "DC to Daylight".
There's a pissing war between SDR# (Airspy) and SDRPlay. No biggie with all of the other SDR programs that do work very well.
For the price they are one hell of a SDR radio. Don't let the guys have you believing an upconverter wont work, it's just another box in the string and something that will get in your way (swapping in and out) to get that continuous frequency coverage I knew that you would be seeking.
Have Fun! Check out the FB SDRPlay group.
jordoncloutier
Newbie
Im a little confused what i should do now ,.... a part of me wants to return the Nooelec basic bundle and purchase the RTL-SDR V3 Bundle instead , that way I get HF, AM and FM capabilities all in one package , ..maybe thats the way I should have went from the start .
If I purchase the ham it up add on box , that will cost me $100 canadian .
while for the same money I can buy the RTL-SDR V3 bundle and the Youloop antenna.
I may have answered my own question , just looking for anyones thoughts on the most price effective way to go from here . thanks again for all the helpful tips !
If I purchase the ham it up add on box , that will cost me $100 canadian .
while for the same money I can buy the RTL-SDR V3 bundle and the Youloop antenna.
I may have answered my own question , just looking for anyones thoughts on the most price effective way to go from here . thanks again for all the helpful tips !
Understood. It can get confusing. SDR is so diverse these days. People are doing very cool stuff with DSD+ and a couple of RTL dongles.
The RSPdx is pretty darned popular. It's probably one of the choices you 'should have made'. But I understand a budget versus expectations.
We're all here to answer your questions. A length of wire out a window will get you ok HF reception. Antenna's are the key really.
I know for me being limited up to 50 MHz or from 50 up just wouldn't be satisfying with one radio.
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