NooElec TV28T on a Mac - how to use it?

[mlevin77]

I just bought (because it was cheap and sounded like fun) this thing:

NooElec TV28T v2 USB DVB-T & RTL-SDR Receiver, RTL2832U & R820T Tuner, MCX Input. Low-Cost Software Defined Radio Compatible with Many SDR Software Packages. R820T Tuner & ESD-Safe Antenna Input

1) I read in some forums that I need to replace the antenna to get decent reception. Any pointers to a specific product for this?

2) Does anyone have any pointers to how to start - I see all kinds of possibilities for writing code for it, which is great. For now though, I just want to scan the frequencies or install a list of predefined frequencies and their identifications, to be able to listen to things through the computer. I'm on a Mac, using the GQRX (Gqrx software defined radio receiver | Free Communications software downloads at SourceForge.net ) package, and I see and hear some noise but I can't figure out how to move through the frequencies or upload a predefined list. Is there a better software package or am I missing something obvious?

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

I just bought (because it was cheap and sounded like fun) this thing:

NooElec TV28T v2 USB DVB-T & RTL-SDR Receiver, RTL2832U & R820T Tuner, MCX Input. Low-Cost Software Defined Radio Compatible with Many SDR Software Packages. R820T Tuner & ESD-Safe Antenna Input

1) I read in some forums that I need to replace the antenna to get decent reception. Any pointers to a specific product for this?

Hey Mlevin,

First off welcome to RR. As for your questions, I don't know much with regard to software for Macs, but I'm sure there is some programs out there already that work similar to SDRSharp(windows software tuner), to utilize the dongle/RTL. Hopefully some Mac users find this thread to point you in the right direction..

As for an antenna, a replacement to the stock antenna will certainly help, but your choice of antenna will depend a lot on what you are trying to listen to, and how serious you are about listening.

If you want suggestions about what antenna, give us some details about what you want to listen too, and also where you live generally(state/city) so myself and others can look at the database for your area before trying to suggest anything.

NE1

 

[mlevin77]

Hi,

> First off welcome to RR. As for your questions, I don't know much with regard to software for Macs, but I'm sure there is some programs out there already that work similar to SDRSharp(windows software tuner), to utilize the dongle/RTL. Hopefully some Mac users find this thread to point you in the right direction..

what keyword am I searching for? What would something like this be called, that works with this software radio to let it know which frequencies to go to in my area?

> As for an antenna, a replacement to the stock antenna will certainly help, but your choice of antenna will depend a lot on what you are trying to listen to, and how serious you are about listening. If you want suggestions about what antenna, give us some details about what you want to listen too, and also where you live generally(state/city) so myself and others can look at the database for your area before trying to suggest anything.

I'm in a suburb of Boston, and I would be most interested in police, fire, military, 2-way radio, anything like that. Not sure yet what else is out there, very new to this.

thanks!

Mike

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

what keyword am I searching for? What would something like this be called, that works with this software radio to let it know which frequencies to go to in my area?

SDRSharp is a big one(SDR# is another name for it.), like I mentioned before. I can't find anything that says it works with Mac.. but it works on everything else lol.. and it shows up in the google search first.

Here's a couple I found, google'ing "SRD Software for Mac.."

http://sdrsharp.com/
DL2SDR
Using the RTL2832U on the Macintosh | Ham Radio Science
RTL-SDR Tutorial: Cheap ADS-B Aircraft RADAR - rtl-sdr.com

The last link is a good site for info on all things related to these dongles/SDRs. Hopefully others chime in with more suggestions.

I'm in a suburb of Boston, and I would be most interested in police, fire, military, 2-way radio, anything like that. Not sure yet what else is out there, very new to this.

Oh nice, go Bruins! In your area, there should be no shortage of listening.. everything you listed, and a bunch more..Are you going to put an antenna outside, or just an indoor setup?

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

Did you have any luck ?

 

[mlevin77]

Sorry for the delay, I've been busy with the day job... No luck yet. I've downloaded a couple of the Mac software pieces and they seem to find the device and give me a signal but I can't for the life of me figure out the interfaces (how to scan frequencies, download a pre-set list of frequencies for my area, or just even to set it to a known frequency and listen to something I know should be there, like an FM radio station). I am using the included (small) antenna for now, but will eventually get a bigger one. I can do outdoor (our building is 4 stories and I can get up on the roof) if I can figure out a way to get the antenna cable from outside into the house without making a hole that water will get into...

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

Sorry for the delay, I've been busy with the day job... No luck yet. I've downloaded a couple of the Mac software pieces and they seem to find the device and give me a signal but I can't for the life of me figure out the interfaces (how to scan frequencies, download a pre-set list of frequencies for my area, or just even to set it to a known frequency and listen to something I know should be there, like an FM radio station). I am using the included (small) antenna for now, but will eventually get a bigger one. I can do outdoor (our building is 4 stories and I can get up on the roof) if I can figure out a way to get the antenna cable from outside into the house without making a hole that water will get into...

No worries, I was hoping it was working and you were lost in RF Land

One way to test if it is working with the software you have now, is to just simply tune it to a local radio station, you know you pick up in your home/scanning location... So AM or FM, which should be an option for the types of modulation..which is usually selectable right in the main window of most SDR software.

What software are you using currently?

As for an outdoor antenna, and the cable, there are numerous ways to avoid water getting into your house, you will want to take a look in the Antenna section of the forums for one thing, and read/google around, there are solutions for just about any budget..but don't go too cheap if you don't have too, the less money and time, and planning you put into your setup now, the more it will cost you in the future to maintain, or replace all parts involved..including the parts of your house affected. Instead of me trying to explain my setup, here's a picture, to give you an idea of what you can do :

 

[popnokick]

In his original post here (scroll back to top) mlevin77 wrote: "I'm on a Mac, using the GQRX (Gqrx software defined radio receiver | Free Communications software downloads at SourceForge.net ) package, and I see and hear some noise but I can't figure out how to move through the frequencies or upload a predefined list."
So he is using GQRX, and needs help with it.
mlevin77: go to Gqrx SDR | A software defined radio powered by GNU-Radio and Qt for a tutorial, YouTube video explanation, latest version, etc.

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

In his original post here (scroll back to top) mlevin77 wrote: "I'm on a Mac, using the GQRX (Gqrx software defined radio receiver | Free Communications software downloads at SourceForge.net ) package, and I see and hear some noise but I can't figure out how to move through the frequencies or upload a predefined list."
So he is using GQRX, and needs help with it.
mlevin77: go to Gqrx SDR | A software defined radio powered by GNU-Radio and Qt for a tutorial, YouTube video explanation, latest version, etc.

Yes that's true, but he also said this in his second post..and note I said "currently" in my last post..

No luck yet. I've downloaded a couple of the Mac software pieces and they seem to find the device and give me a signal but I can't for the life of me figure out the interfaces..

 

[popnokick]

Fair enough, and glad you caught that. So now I have a question for mlevin77: What are the other software "pieces" you have downloaded for the Mac that "find the device" and "give [me] a signal"? I've only found GQRX for the Mac (and it works). So now both of us want know: Are you currently using GQRX or something else?

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

I found this in my searches, maybe you want to check it out too popnokick, it says they are using HDSDR :

Using the RTL2832U on the Macintosh | Ham Radio Science

 

[mlevin77]

One way to test if it is working with the software you have now, is to just simply tune it to a local radio station, you know you pick up in your home/scanning location... So AM or FM, which should be an option for the types of modulation..which is usually selectable right in the main window of most SDR software. What software are you using currently? :

yep, I was trying to do that and failed - never got a single station... So I think I'm doing something wrong. I've tried DSP Radio 1.4.1, GQRX, GNU Radio borip server and HDSDR... All no luck. I can get signal (static) but never successfully received any radio station. I think I'm not using the interfaces correctly; it's odd that I'm failing that with these different apps - I'm not a computer dummy, usually, but no luck here.

 

[mlevin77]

Fair enough, and glad you caught that. So now I have a question for mlevin77: What are the other software "pieces" you have downloaded for the Mac that "find the device" and "give [me] a signal"? I've only found GQRX for the Mac (and it works). So now both of us want know: Are you currently using GQRX or something else?

I've downloaded: DSP Radio1.1.1 app, and something called HDSDR and GNU Radio BORIP_Server

Mike

 

[mlevin77]

mlevin77: go to Gqrx SDR | A software defined radio powered by GNU-Radio and Qt for a tutorial, YouTube video explanation, latest version, etc.

I went there but the tutorial link

http://gqrx.dk/category/tutorials

says "Not found" - no working web page there....

 

[popnokick]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 7_0_4 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/537.51.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/7.0 Mobile/11B554a Safari/9537.53)

I use GQRX on a Mac. On the 1st NooElec RTL stick I bought it was same as yours.... Static but no signals. Thought it was a bad device, so bought another... Same thing. Both times using the short mag mount antenna that comes with the NooElec. I then ordered an adapter to connect my OCFD in the attic to the RTL-SDR USB stick. MMCX to male F connector. EUREKA! Works great now. All I needed was a better antenna. The one that comes with it is worthless. The Off-Center Fed Dipole did the trick. Most likely you just need a better antenna.

 

[NE1C4NSC4N]

yep, I was trying to do that and failed - never got a single station... So I think I'm doing something wrong. I've tried DSP Radio 1.4.1, GQRX, GNU Radio borip server and HDSDR... All no luck. I can get signal (static) but never successfully received any radio station. I think I'm not using the interfaces correctly; it's odd that I'm failing that with these different apps - I'm not a computer dummy, usually, but no luck here.

Hey Mike, sorry for the slow reply, its been a busy week. It sounds like maybe the antenna could be part of your issue, as popnokick said. When I bought mine, the stock antenna worked ok for 1090 Mhz(ADS-B), but I never tested it on regular radio with the stock antenna(used my outdoor antenna's for that).

You could try tuning something up near 800-1000mhz, that you know is an active frequency, and see if it works then..And also try getting your antenna up in a window or near one if you can, and havent already. That will at least verify if the dongle is working..but it sounds like it is.