OTA TV signals - Seems like a no-brainer, no programs available?

[Omega-TI]

I'm a NEWBIE in the SDR realm, so pardon a potentially stupid question...
Anyway, I've seen nothing on decoding OTA (over the air TV signals). This seems kind of like a no-brainer idea. Am I missing something right in front of my face, or is there a reason I've not come across anything.

 

[a417]

The cheapie RTL SDRs don't decode enough bandwidth to get a north american OTA TV signal. You can do it with more expensive hardware or other hacks, but it's not as simple as using them for a radio reciever.

older link, but still good...even if it's from medium.com

 

[Omega-TI]

The cheapie RTL SDRs don't decode enough bandwidth to get a north american OTA TV signal. You can do it with more expensive hardware or other hacks, but it's not as simple as using them for a radio reciever.

older link, but still good...even if it's from medium.com

Thanks, the bandwidth issue makes a lot of sense.

 

[lwvmobile]

That was the actual inteded use of the RTL2832U chipset in the cheap dongles, but it doesn't work with North American ATSC broadcasts, but instead the DVB-T broadcasts found in places in Europe and other places in the world.

If you're interested in OTA devices though, those Hauppauge devices can be found for dirty cheap on places like eBay, either USB or PCI/PCIe cards that will handle ATSC tuning just fine, works with Windows or Linux.

Edit: Spelled Hauppauge correctly this time, I think.

 

[a417]

Edit: Spelled Hauppauge correctly this time, I think.

Been spelling it wrong for two decades, gave up trying.

 

[Omega-TI]

Been spelling it wrong for two decades, gave up trying.

Hey thanks for the info! I copied and pasted that alphabet soup into Amazon and came up with some pretty neat results << HERE >>.
THANKS AGAIN!

 

[lwvmobile]

Hey thanks for the info! I copied and pasted that alphabet soup into Amazon and came up with some pretty neat results << HERE >>.
THANKS AGAIN!

Those listed items seem a bit more expensive that what I've seen/spent in the past for an ATSC tuner. I was thinking more like this:

EBAY USB TUNER
EBAY PCIe TUNER

I personally wouldn't spend more than $20 for one of these, unless you want fancier options besides ATSC tuning.

 

[rabbit108]

I've seen nothing on decoding OTA (over the air TV signals). This seems kind of like a no-brainer idea. Am I missing something right in front of my face, or is there a reason I've not come across anything.

An SDR will show you what a TV signal looks like, but it will not (usually) decode it:

RTL-SDR V3 with free DIY scanner software:



With SDRplay RSP1A SDR



This is with the Hauppauge 955Q, which is not considered an SDR
signal monitor added

Strong signal:



marginal signal:

 

[w2lie]

Been spelling it wrong for two decades, gave up trying.

Obviously you aren't from Long Island, where we hear and spell Hauppaugue almost daily
FYI - it is pronounced Haw-pog. Not "Hop pop a gewey." or Hop pop a gwe"
I've heard people from out side the area try to pronounce the town name and it's always a good laugh.

Hauppauge, New York - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[kv5e]

WHISKEY 2 LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY

 

[w2lie]

WHISKEY 2 LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY

Exactly!

 

[jhooten]

If you're interested in OTA devices though, those Hauppauge devices can be found for dirty cheap on places like eBay, either USB or PCI/PCIe cards that will handle ATSC tuning just fine, works with Windows or Linux.

I have the device. The OEM software is on a crashed hard drive.

 

[a417]

I've heard people from out side the area try to pronounce the town name and it's always a good laugh.

Family worked in westchester for 35 yrs, heard it all the time but couldn't spell it to save my life!

 

[lwvmobile]

I have the device. The OEM software is on a crashed hard drive.

Should be able to pick up the correct Windows software/drivers from the Hapogapog website for your particular device, even the legacy devices 'appear' to have support for Windows 10, though I can't say I know for sure.

Hauppauge Support