RTL-SDR Blog Dongle Life Span (and others)

[rabbit108]

I find it interesting that SDR# is not on the list of
Compatible Windows Software
on the Nooelec site:
https://www.nooelec.com/store/qs/#windows

they list:
MATLAB
CubicSDR
HDSDR

 

[dave3825]

The thing I hate about RTL dongle you just touch it and it disconnects.

There are plenty of videos showing hot to tighten up loose USB ports but bending the clips back into place. Or If you can solder and are comfortable doing it, many USB ports can be replaced on motherboards and or USB hubs. Mine are tight and do not disconnect. I use USB extension cables when ever I can.

 

[dave3825]

I find it interesting that SDR# is not on the list of
Compatible Windows Software
on the Nooelec site:
https://www.nooelec.com/store/qs/#windows

they list:
MATLAB
CubicSDR
HDSDR

Thought maybe because Airspy, who makes Sdr#, is a competitor of Nooelec, but Sdrtrunk and Unitrunker do not make dongles and they are not listed either.

 

[cistercian]

A friend told me a few years ago about the heat issue with dongles. I use the noolectric v4 rtl-sdr and
it got pretty warm. I decided to buy a USB extension cable so I could put the stick on the desk. Then I pulled
a couple of small finned aluminum heatsinks out of the junk box and wrapped some rubber bands on to hold
the assembly together. After 1 hour the stick measured 93 degrees Fahrenheit. Mission accomplished.
The heat sinks are on either large side of the dongle...and I am not using indium or silicone to increase heat
transfer. I can easily extract the dongle so I can use the heat sink on another dongle if I wish.

I used a fluke ir thermometer. Better thermal bonding would work even better. Room is 71 degrees.

 

[LD723]

I have an older nesdr smart I got around 2017 and still works as new but the sma is very slightly bent but not out of place and contacts aren't broken. The Temps of the dongle weren't bad at all for where I had it now I have it dangling from a USB extension cord because when I left it in the USB port directly behind my pc it bent it up very slightly like I said earlier. Even during the hot summers it never got as hot as the mini nesdr dongles in normal operation.