New RTL-SDR Released

[rtlsdrblog]

Welcome to RadioReference, since it appears "you" just joined whoever you are (meaning a single individual speaking for the RTL-SDR website I suppose).

I have to ask: are the issues with batch 1 of the revamped RTL-SDR sticks considered to be actual defects, and if so are you willing to allow people to trade up from the batch 1 or even batch 2 models considering - is a batch 3 with the fixes that have been implemented or a batch 4 on the drawing board too?

Just wondering: I don't have the newest version with the HF mods, was considering it but after reading all this and seeing how rapidly you've gone from a batch 1 to batch 2, it does seem like - at least to me - if you wanted to keep the customers happy you'd be willing to offer an upgrade (at very little to no cost) so they're running the updated hardware.

Nobody likes buying something only to find out it's not nearly as feature laden and functional as expected and then find out a newer revision is available that fixes or adds functionality that was originally intended and then find out they'd have to buy said hardware a second or even third time to get everything squared away.

I'm honestly curious to see how this situation is handled over the long run. I do intend to get at least two of the revised models whenever things are finally "set in stone" so to speak and the devices work as advertised and intended with no future revisions (least that's the hope) so I'll be paying attention to this situation as time progresses.

I wouldn't call them defects. Do you consider the USB noise or the lack of shielding on generic dongles a defect? How about the deafness of the sdrplay on milsat or the fact that the HackRF bias tee can also be damaged by short circuiting it.

The profit we make per dongle is very preciously small, so there's no way we could offer a free or heavily reduced upgrade. That would bankrupt us

Back when we originally starting selling the generic MCX dongles, we suddenly had many customers request that we use an SMA connector and a metal case, and some wanted those features asap for large projects. So we changed the unit as soon as we were able to. Then we saw that many wanted the direct sampling mod included, and so we worked on a design that cost almost nothing to add and we included it in V3. If there is suddenly high demand for other features we may add them in too, but I think most of the demands have been met now.

@Comp-100 Thank you for your kind words.

 

[bama9999]

Hello everyone, glad to hear that some of you are enjoying the new HF mode!

@AggieCon How did you try to contact us? I've checked our email rtlsdrblog_AT_gmail.com as well as the Amazon email system and I have no unanswered correspondence. Checked the spam too.

@DaveNF2G Your question and our answer is stil showing on the Amazon listing. We don't have the power to delete it anyway. Batch 2 will be ready near the end of September.

There are some minor changes to be made for batch 2, but the current issues should not affect many people. We're always going to be constantly trying to improve on each batch since new things are always being discovered about these dongles and we're always taking suggestions from users.

We do have contact details on the site, on the store page under the warranty section, on the submit page and on the v3 users guide. If there are any problems please feel free to email us. This is a new unit and we're happy to hear any feedback on things we need to change.

SDR#, HDSDR and I believe SDR-console all support the direct sampling mode.

I recently bought two of the V3 dongles, and I am completely happy with them. I find they do a much better job than the two NooElec dongles that I was using. Much better antennas were supplied with the RTL-SDR blog dongles.

I am using just a random length wire on it, and the HF reception is extraordinary, especially considering that it is a 25 dollar dongle!

 

[Flatliner]

"Warning: The bias tee LDO can be damaged if you short circuit it. Before turning on the bias tee, ensure the circuit to be powered is not shorted, or that the RTL-SDR is not connected to a DC shorted antenna!"



What exactly is a DC shorted antenna?

Many types of antenna are shorted (i.e. mag loops) so could be a serious problem for many.

 

[DaveNF2G]

Perhaps you could offer a selection of models from which the customer could choose, depending on specific usage needs. Each model description would have to indicate which design differences would come into play for different monitoring scenarios.

 

[rtlsdrblog]

Many types of antenna are shorted (i.e. mag loops) so could be a serious problem for many.

With the bias tee turned off the unit will work as normal when connected to a DC shorted antenna.

You can use the bias tee with an LNA or powered device inline with the DC shorted antenna and there won't be a problem. There wouldn't be any reason to turn on the bias tee without a powered device being used anyway.

 

[DaveNF2G]

With the bias tee turned off the unit will work as normal when connected to a DC shorted antenna.

You can use the bias tee with an LNA or powered device inline with the DC shorted antenna and there won't be a problem. There wouldn't be any reason to turn on the bias tee without a powered device being used anyway.

This is a little off to the side of the main topic here, but seems relevant.

I use RTL dongles paired via cable splitters in some applications. I would like to run a preamp at my 800 MHz beam but I am concerned about the Bias-T voltage from one SDR doing damage to the other one. I'm guessing that, if only one of the dongles is providing power to the amplifier, then both can benefit from the amplification. But how do I protect the second dongle?

 

[Flatliner]

This is a little off to the side of the main topic here, but seems relevant.

I use RTL dongles paired via cable splitters in some applications. I would like to run a preamp at my 800 MHz beam but I am concerned about the Bias-T voltage from one SDR doing damage to the other one. I'm guessing that, if only one of the dongles is providing power to the amplifier, then both can benefit from the amplification. But how do I protect the second dongle?

Hi Dave,

Possibly a Bias T injector on the second device will block the DC. Or an isolation transformer, though usually only good for HF. Having said that, probably DC blocking is already present in the dongles, being that they are already DC injectors.

 

[rtlsdrblog]

This is a little off to the side of the main topic here, but seems relevant.

I use RTL dongles paired via cable splitters in some applications. I would like to run a preamp at my 800 MHz beam but I am concerned about the Bias-T voltage from one SDR doing damage to the other one. I'm guessing that, if only one of the dongles is providing power to the amplifier, then both can benefit from the amplification. But how do I protect the second dongle?

If you're using two of the V3/V2 units then it should be fine as they have a DC block cap built in. Just make sure your splitter actually can pass DC, and doesn't have some sort of design that shorts out to ground. You can check this with a standard multimeter on the continuity test mode.

Note that most of the normal dongles don't have a DC block, and the BAV99 diode will burn up if power enters them through the antenna port. For those you need to use an external DC block, or remove the BAV99.

 

[DaveNF2G]

I'm using the R820T2 based units sold by Nooelec, et al. I won't be buying any of the announced newer ones until I can be sure of getting the design corrected version.

 

[wildbillx]

Hello guys, I recently got one of the v.3 dongles. I was able to pick up HF stuff off my discone antenna just to see if it worked. I have been using it for vhf/uhf and it picks up fine. Now however when I go to any HF it does not see anthing, even strong signals. How can I fix this?

 

[slicerwizard]

I thought you had to change a setting or two for HF. Something like direct sampling off the Q branch or am I thinking of something else?

 

[wildbillx]

Yes Slicerwizard you do, even after I change it to Q branch I am still dead air. I even checked it against my DX394 on the same antenna.

 

[J9G]

Sensitivity

At 150 MHz the sensitivity has been measured.
It is better by 1.5dB compared to all the RTL-SDR dongles (10+) I have measured so far.
Result: the dynamic range will increase by 1.5dB! This is a real improvement and not an imitated one by applying decimation.

John

 

[jonwienke]

I recently purchased one of the V3 batch 1 dongles. The Batch 1 limitations are hardly dealbreakers, especially given the price.

 

[ka3jjz]

There's a review of the new RTL-SDRs on the UDXF website

http://www.udxf.nl/The-RTL-SDR-V3.pdf

You will need Adobe Acrobat or a reader like Foxit, as it's a PDF...Mike

 

[elraval]

There's a review of the new RTL-SDRs on the UDXF website

http://www.udxf.nl/The-RTL-SDR-V3.pdf

You will need Adobe Acrobat or a reader like Foxit, as it's a PDF...Mike

Really interesting article. Being new to the whole HF listening thing and the inner working of SDRs in general found it really helpful. Thanks

Sent from my Xylophone using Tapatalk...

 

[pinkfish457]

This notice appeared on the SDR-RTL website this morning:

RTL-SDR v3 Availability Note: Our next batch of RTL-SDR v3 dongle stock should be available in 1-2 weeks (there is a delay with restocking due to the Golden week holidays in China). Production has completed, and we are only waiting for delivery of this stock. Batch 2 includes minor enhancements including slightly tweaked capacitor values, an additional decoupling cap and a fuse on the bias tee.

 

[Spleen]

Speaking of, now that I have one, can anyone recommend a half decent broadcast AM filter? Apparently I live 1.5 miles from a 1KW night/day transmitter and 10 from a night/day 50KW coming from a 3-tower site.

 

[Audiodave1]

Speaking of, now that I have one, can anyone recommend a half decent broadcast AM filter? Apparently I live 1.5 miles from a 1KW night/day transmitter and 10 from a night/day 50KW coming from a 3-tower site.

PAR filters have provided great performance for me for 10 years. I have many but not this one in particular.
SWL Filters | PAR Electronics | Filters for the commercial 2 way market, MATV, FM broadcast, laboratory, marine industry, amateur radio, scanner and short wave listening enthusiasts

 

[spongella]

After reading these posts will definitely purchase the v3. Currently using v2 for a few years, nothing not to like about it considering what you receive for that low price. Being able to not just listen, but also save favorite frequencies, visualize segments of the spectrum, along with the many options make it a good value unquestionably. Like the fact that the v3 has software-controlled bias tee. RTL-SDR.com is a great group to work with too.