Low noise SDR dongle

[Hdc30474]

I have two RTL-SDR dongles. The silver V3 and the Black V3. They are not counterfeit. Both have a high noise floor regardless of USB cable or computer.

Is there an SDR dongle with less internally generated noise without breaking the bank?

nooelec?

 

[Hdc30474]

I have two RTL-SDR dongles. The silver V3 and the Black V3. They are not counterfeit. Both have a high noise floor regardless of USB cable or computer.

Is there an SDR dongle with less internally generated noise without breaking the bank?

nooelec?

AirSpy Mini ?

 

[rabbit108]

I have two RTL-SDR dongles. The silver V3 and the Black V3. They are not counterfeit. Both have a high noise floor regardless of USB cable or computer.

Is there an SDR dongle with less internally generated noise without breaking the bank?

nooelec?

What method are you using to measure the noise floor; details please.

Some screenshots would be helpful.

 

[dave3825]

Like mentioned, post screenshots of your spectrum showing the dongles settings..

 

[Hdc30474]

These things have internally generated noise regardless of settings. Apparently power supply generated. I am not asking for help tweaking any settings. Before I buy something else, are there other brands that generate less internal noise?

 

[janeksp6]

Mam dwa klucze RTL-SDR. Srebrny V3 i czarny V3. Nie są podróbkami. Oba mają wysoki poziom szumów niezależnie od kabla USB lub komputera.

Czy istnieje adapter SDR generujący mniej szumów wewnętrznie i niewymagający dużych nakładów finansowych?

nooelec?

Hdc30747 Spróbuj z index.sdrsharp.com I3...,

 

[dave3825]

These things have internally generated noise regardless of settings.

True but proper settings, correct coax and antenna tuned for the band of interest can reduce high noise.

I am not asking for help tweaking any settings. Before I buy something else, are there other brands that generate less internal noise?

Nobody is really having issues using those dongles and having a high noise floor. Generally properly setting the gain will reduce the noise floor. If you don't want to post any settings, that's fine.

Generally the more expensive sdr's can have better everything including a noise floor. But if you buy one and your issue is setting related, or can be remedied by adjusting settings, you will have the same issue.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Both have a high noise floor regardless of USB cable or computer.

Regardless of band as well? Noise floor for VHF or below will generally be higher than UHF or higher. Environmental factors should be taken into consideration as well: Strong transmitter(s) nearby? Other potential sources of RF within your monitoring location?

 

[rabbit108]

An RTL-SDR only has an 8-bit ADC. This limits its dynamic range to about 50 dB. An SDR with a better ADC will have a higher Dynamic Range to handle a stronger signal while maintaining a lower noise floor.

The comments above about the ambient noise floor at your location are very true. The noise floor at my location is very high on VHF, and extremely high on HF. I can't even copy WWV on HF.

 

[janeksp6]

RTL-SDR ma tylko 8-bitowy ADC. Ogranicza to jego zakres dynamiki do około 50 dB. SDR z lepszym ADC będzie miał wyższy zakres dynamiki, aby obsłużyć silniejszy sygnał, utrzymując jednocześnie niższy poziom szumów.

Powyższe komentarze dotyczące szumu otoczenia w Twojej lokalizacji są bardzo prawdziwe. Szum otoczenia w mojej lokalizacji jest bardzo wysoki na VHF i ekstremalnie wysoki na HF. Nie mogę nawet skopiować WWV na HF.

W HDSDR poziom szumu regulujesz urządzeniem SDR F8, w innych SDRSharp Bez szumu nic nie zostanie wykryte

 

[kb5udf]

Comparing apples to apples, my airspys have a much lower (usually at least 20db) last time I checked, noise floor than regular rtl-dongles.

Cheap dongles can work fine for local/strong signals, but if you are more serious about receiving distant/weak signals, airspys are a plugin replacement (generally) that work much better with regard to getting a better signal to noise ratio.

 

[maus92]

My RSP1a has a higher noise floor on the 7/800 UHF band than either my Airspys or Nooelec RTL-SDRs although I'm located in a challenging RF environment wrt trees.

 

[PDXh0b0]

It's usually an environmental factor.
Example - I get a great low noise floor 80% of the time in the 137 MHz range, outside factors out of my control jack it up 20-30% 20% of the time, 15% or more has come from new homes (didn't have the interference till after two neighbors built homes near by)

 

[Hdc30474]

Comparing apples to apples, my airspys have a much lower (usually at least 20db) last time I checked, noise floor than regular rtl-dongles.

Cheap dongles can work fine for local/strong signals, but if you are more serious about receiving distant/weak signals, airspys are a plugin replacement (generally) that work much better with regard to getting a better signal to noise ratio.

This is what I am hoping to learn about the typical performance of these SDR dongles. I did not want to invest unless someone else has experienced much improvement. All I have so far is one cheap plastic cased nooelec (garbage), and the two RTL dongles. (Not too bad, but need it to be better)

My main focus is 108 to 400 MHz. If It is the power supply I would even consider opening one up and locating the power input and connecting it to a clean power source. Also placing small toroid cores on each USB data line.

Thanks

 

[Hdc30474]

An RTL-SDR only has an 8-bit ADC. This limits its dynamic range to about 50 dB. An SDR with a better ADC will have a higher Dynamic Range to handle a stronger signal while maintaining a lower noise floor.

The comments above about the ambient noise floor at your location are very true. The noise floor at my location is very high on VHF, and extremely high on HF. I can't even copy WWV on HF.

My location is has very low noise on every other receiver in most of the spectrum up to 1 GHz.

I hadnt thought about the ADC bit resolution, and had no idea what resolution would be the least with good performance. I will pay attention to it when choosing an SDR dongle.

 

[Hdc30474]

Comparing apples to apples, my airspys have a much lower (usually at least 20db) last time I checked, noise floor than regular rtl-dongles.

Cheap dongles can work fine for local/strong signals, but if you are more serious about receiving distant/weak signals, airspys are a plugin replacement (generally) that work much better with regard to getting a better signal to noise ratio.

I am considering the AirSpy Mini. I am trying to be inconspicuous. I am working on a stealth antenna. An aluminum water bottle. Fat bottle will have a very broad bandwidth. Just need to work on the impedance matching circuit. Which AirSpy are you using? Thanks

 

[kb5udf]

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