RTL-SDR on Linux

[rocky28965]

I have a RTL-SDR Dongle
It works fine on windows 10 desktop system, but would like to run it portable with a loop antenna.
Current laptop struggles to run it on win 10 so would like use Linux.
Could someone recommend a distro that will actually run software to support it.
So far I have tried Lubuntu & Skywave, with mixed results.

 

[boatbod]

Most any Debian based distro will work with an RTL dongle. The bigger question is what software are you planning to use with it.

 

[rocky28965]

With my first attempt using Lubuntu I attempted to install GQRX using this link

Quick Start Guide

Then I installed Skywave as it already has SDR software installed.
I opened GQRX in but I couldn't get it to recognise the dongle.

 

[k9wkj]

skywave will work with your dongle out of the box
might have to read the docs to get your head around stuff
100% Linux and dongles here

 

[rocky28965]

Currently installing Linux Mint which has been on this system in the past so I know it will run it ok.
Only tried Lubuntu as it is lighter.

Was having other issues with Skywave not loging on to wifi, had to use cable.
Also freezing intermittently. Maybe it was a bad install.

 

[k9wkj]

Currently installing Linux Mint
Was having other issues with Skywave not loging on to wifi, had to use cable.
Also freezing intermittently. Maybe it was a bad install.

Skywave is a Buntu baby so you must have had its bits jumbled

 

[boatbod]

One thing you might run in to with any Linux distro is the need to "blacklist" the RTL DVB drivers so that the device can be used by your SDR software. Instructions vary slightly, but for any ubuntu distro you essentially add the following lines to a new file in the /etc/modprobe.d directory

/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-rtl.conf
blacklist dvb_usb_rtl28xxu
blacklist rtl2832
blacklist rtl2830
blacklist rtl2838

 

[k9wkj]

One thing you might run in to with any Linux distro is the need to "blacklist" the RTL DVB drivers so that the device can be used by your SDR software

actually no
Skywave already has that done
its entire intent was to do SDR stuff

 

[rocky28965]

One thing you might run in to with any Linux distro is the need to "blacklist" the RTL DVB drivers so that the device can be used by your SDR software. Instructions vary slightly, but for any ubuntu distro you essentially add the following lines to a new file in the /etc/modprobe.d directory

/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-rtl.conf
blacklist dvb_usb_rtl28xxu
blacklist rtl2832
blacklist rtl2830
blacklist rtl2838

Here is where my current problem is at on Mint 18
I cant find the (etc/modprobe.d) so can't do the blacklist.

However I now have Gqrx installed.
Initially it detected my dongle & I opened the program.
There was no sound.
I selected known local frequency.
Still no sound or any sign of activity.
Opened I/O Devices & my device was no longer on the list.
Can't seem to get it back either.

 

[k9wkj]

Here is where my current problem is at on Mint 18
I cant find the (etc/modprobe.d) so can't do the blacklist.

/etc/modprobe.d/
not in your home, its in the /
I just looked on my Minty laptop i use for FT8 and such
its there

 

[rocky28965]

After uninstalling & reinstalling I now have my RTL-SDR back on the list, well I'm assuming it is the one shown as Realtek RTL2838UHIDIR.
Still no audio or signs of life on a known local station.
Must be something I've missed.

 

[simpilo]

After uninstalling & reinstalling I now have my RTL-SDR back on the list, well I'm assuming it is the one shown as Realtek RTL2838UHIDIR.
Still no audio or signs of life on a known local station.
Must be something I've missed.

Reboot your machine after making a "conf".

 

[iMONITOR]

Linux Mint is very mainstream and supports more hardware than anything else I've tried, however I never used it with an SDR. Give it a try, it's a pretty fast install.

 

[rocky28965]

Reboot your machine after making a "conf".

Yep done that several times.
Still no sign of life or audio.

 

[rocky28965]

Linux Mint is very mainstream and supports more hardware than anything else I've tried, however I never used it with an SDR. Give it a try, it's a pretty fast install.

Yep, that's what I'm currently using.

 

[foxtail]

Look/google for op25 for Dummies...you will be up and running quickly.

 

[rocky28965]

Just an update on the proceedings here.
I gave up trying to get it to run on mint.
I still have Skywave as a dual boot so went back to that & eventually got audio to work in gqrx.
Quite a simple fix in the end but like so many other Linux issues there seems to be lots of different ways to fix the same problem.
Usually involving copying & pasting many commands into a terminal.
The next problem was getting below 24MHz

 

[k9wkj]

so your issue was networking in Skywave ? not the rtl_sdr ?
as rtl_sdr is a "it just works" in Skywave

 

[rocky28965]

so your issue was networking in Skywave ? not the rtl_sdr ?
as rtl_sdr is a "it just works" in Skywave

Ah, no, nothing to do with networking.
As I said in post #1 this is to run a RTL-SDR portable with a loop antenna.
To get away from the house & all the interference.
It works so well with my PL-660 I wanted to compare the SDR.

 

[k9wkj]

Was having other issues with Skywave not loging on to wifi, had to use cable.
Also freezing intermittently. Maybe it was a bad install.

I mistook that
that is what I remembered you said about Skywave