Rtl-sdr set-up

[TalioVelez]

Years ago I purchased my first basic SDR stick from the Rtl-sdr store and it was very hard to get running. There were a number of steps including downloading something from the Airspy site to get it working. I wish to get back into monitoring using a basic stick. Have the directions become easier to program the stick? Thanks in advance.

 

[PDXh0b0]

Install the driver with zadig
Zadig

Installing the driver
Nooelec quick start guide

Sdr++ is by far the easiest to start with
for dongles, "sdr# after if there are plugins you want to try"

Download and extract the nightly release
Sdr++

 

[MELERIX]

Years ago I purchased my first basic SDR stick from the Rtl-sdr store and it was very hard to get running. There were a number of steps including downloading something from the Airspy site to get it working. I wish to get back into monitoring using a basic stick. Have the directions become easier to program the stick? Thanks in advance.

see this...

 

[Tcp14Gd]

I have an RTL SDR v3 dongle. I got a DSD Plus Fastlane subscription and downloaded and arranged the files following the steps laid out in the RR Wiki. My question is: do I need to make any preparations on the computer before actually plugging the dongle into the USB port? Will the DSD Plus software simply recognize the dongle without any additional requirements or procedures? Brand new to this. Go easy on me...

mike

 

[dave3825]

Some people need to run a program called zadig to install the driver and some don’t. If you do need zadig, use the forum search and search zadig by user @rabbit108 believe he did a few write ups with pics. I can post when I get home or someone else will before then. You can try as is and it’s either going to recognize the dongle or it won’t.

 

[Tcp14Gd]

Some people need to run a program called zadig to install the driver and some don’t. If you do need zadig, use the forum search and search zadig by user @rabbit108 believe he did a few write ups with pics. I can post when I get home or someone else will before then. You can try as is and it’s either going to recognize the dongle or it won’t.

Thank you.

 

[dmchalmers]

Get to github then what? nothing says setup or get started? Starting to think this sdr was a major waste of $40 bucks.

 

[saioke]

Get to github then what? nothing says setup or get started? Starting to think this sdr was a major waste of $40 bucks.

What github are you referring to. Zadig? You download the latest release which is 2.8, install it, then run it to install the driver. There's plenty of videos and instructions on how exactly to install that driver, but assuming you have a RTLSDR, the gist is that you find a device called "Bulk-in interface 0" and reinstall that driver as winUSB. Don't take my word for it though, do some research. I'm not going to be responsible for messing up your PC.

If you aren't happy with it, sell it. They hold their value.

 

[dave3825]

Get to github then what? nothing says setup or get started? Starting to think this sdr was a major waste of $40 bucks.

Wrong thread. Nothing in here about GitHub at all.

 

[dmchalmers]

Wrong thread. Nothing in here about GitHub at all.

sdr trunk takes you to github!

 

[saioke]

sdr trunk takes you to github!

So download SDRTrunk from the github and follow the "getting started" and "user manual" links on that same github page. Not sure what you need help with, there's plenty of instructions on how to get it running, even on Youtube.

That being said, you mention you only have one SDR dongle, and while it sometimes can be done running SDRTrunk with one dongle, most of the time you'll need 2, or more depending on what site/sites you're trying to monitor, because of the limited bandwidth range of an SDR. For one dongle, Op25 on Linux, and DSD+ Fast Lane are the only options.

 

[merlin]

If you believe the drivers are installed correctly, in Airspy SDR#, go to the menu (the hamberger top left) first down is 'source', go to that and find your dongle, select it and should work.
Older SDR#, above volume control, pull down and select Extio_RTL2832 and select that.
If your dongle is not shown, your drivers are not installed properly so you need the latest 'ZADIG', folow simple directions.
DSD plus is a different software, that takes editing a 'copy' of your FMP24.bat file, one for evry frequency and seetings.
Read the documentation.

 

[dave3825]

sdr trunk takes you to github!

Um,,,,, no. SDRT is hosted in GitHub. You go there to get SDRT. There is nothing in SDRT that takes you to GitHub.

Where was SDRT even mentioned in this thread for anyone know which program you were asking about? Many, many programs on GitHub, not just SDRT.

 

[Tcp14Gd]

I’m re-entering this thread with another newbie question. I have my RTL SDR v3 dongle and DSD Plus Fastlane. I’m half-assed getting it working with plenty of clueless-ness. Combination of fun and frustration.

My question: I got it hoping to decode active DMR frequencies nearby. And then figure out the parameters. To program into my TRADITIONAL scanner. These would be small joints not in the RR Database.

In decoding a single frequency, will the information stream tell me if it’s a standalone frequency or part of a DMR trunked system? Will it reveal the other frequencies in the trunked system and necessary programming data?

Again, I don’t want to monitor these on the computer. I’d like to program them into my scanner.

Is this even possible with the decoding information DSD Plus would provide?

Regards and thanks,
mike

 

[dave3825]

In decoding a single frequency, will the information stream tell me if it’s a standalone frequency or part of a DMR trunked system?

Generally there are things that indicate if its a trunked system or conventional freq.

Will it reveal the other frequencies in the trunked system and necessary programming data?

Generally you would look up the FCC license for the freq and monitor other freqs on the license. Depending on the flavor of DMR you would need to determine lsn/lcn/channel numbers. Sdr software uses LSN, and scanners use LCN.

Believe Con+ spits them out after a while. There is a section in dsdplus notes.txt explaining how to determine Cap+.

 

[Tcp14Gd]

Generally there are things that indicate if its a trunked system or conventional freq.



Generally you would look up the FCC license for the freq and monitor other freqs on the license. Depending on the flavor of DMR you would need to determine lsn/lcn/channel numbers. Sdr software uses LSN, and scanners use LCN.

Believe Con+ spits them out after a while. There is a section in dsdplus notes.txt explaining how to determine Cap+.

Thank you.