RTL-SDR

[Dimmer_gamer]

I got an rtl-sdr, and its pretty good. But I was using a coaxible cable that didnt secure on, so i got the multipurpose dipole, and the signal is okay. I dont know what Im doing wrong, but I have the atenna attatched to my window (on the inside because its too windy outside) and im still getting not the best signal. Not to mention, I cannot pick up CB, and most signals I see are just tones that stay when I remove the antenna. Besides that, its just airband and FM I can listen to, and some digital stuff, but thats a diffrent story.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I see are just tones that stay when I remove the antenna.

By "tones" I take it you mean wave forms? If they stay when you remove the antenna then it's likely a source of RFI or more from within your monitoring location (electronic devices, lighting, etc) Ideally you'll want to get that antenna outdoors and mounted as high as possible to achieve the best possible results

 

[Enforcer52]

Help us with a little more info:

1. What software are you using?
2. Is the dipole in the vertical orientation? One end pointed straight up and the other end straight down.
3. What are you wanting to listen to? And how far away are you trying to listen to?
4. General area you are located, type of terrain, city or countryside?

As @Whiskey3JMC said, the antenna should be outside and as high as possible.

 

[PDXh0b0]

What sdr do you have?

For CB
If rtl-sdr v3 - you need to put it in Direct sampling Q branch

If the rtl-sdr v4 good to go

Your dipole...cb is doable, but you'll need to add some wire (speaker wire or whatever you have handy)

Since you want to keep the dipole inside..

Take 36 ft ish of wire , connect it to one of the dipole elements, run it out the window as high as you can.

Connect 18 ft ish of wire to the other dipole element, lay it in a loop inside below the window....

 

[dave3825]

I got an rtl-sdr, and its pretty good.

But I was using a coaxible cable that didnt secure on, so i got the multipurpose dipole, and the signal is okay.

most signals I see are just tones that stay when I remove the antenna.

The dongle has an SMA female connector.





What connector is on the 2 antenna's that you tried?

Are they SMA male?

 

[Dimmer_gamer]

What sdr do you have?

For CB
If rtl-sdr v3 - you need to put it in Direct sampling Q branch

If the rtl-sdr v4 good to go

Your dipole...cb is doable, but you'll need to add some wire (speaker wire or whatever you have handy)

Since you want to keep the dipole inside..

Take 36 ft ish of wire , connect it to one of the dipole elements, run it out the window as high as you can.

Connect 18 ft ish of wire to the other dipole element, lay it in a loop inside below the window....

So I tried this and still just no signal at all. For the past 10 of my 12 hours awake right now, ive just been scowering the internet for solutions. If I have the antenna proper like this, and all the drivers, and the right program, and that my rtl-sdr is a v4, what else could be the issue? I just dont want to buy an expensive antenna for HF, as I see people online picking up alot of HF with just the dipole, no wires or anything.

Just to clarify, I am generally looking to recieve below 24mhz, not just CB.

 

[saioke]

So I tried this and still just no signal at all. For the past 10 of my 12 hours awake right now, ive just been scowering the internet for solutions. If I have the antenna proper like this, and all the drivers, and the right program, and that my rtl-sdr is a v4, what else could be the issue? I just dont want to buy an expensive antenna for HF, as I see people online picking up alot of HF with just the dipole, no wires or anything.

Just to clarify, I am generally looking to recieve below 24mhz, not just CB.

If you're talking about the dipole that is included with the RTLSDR, yeah you aren't going to be getting any HF on that thing. You'd be better off getting 70+ feet of speaker wire and just attaching a sma connector to that. That dipole should be fine for airband all the way up to 700mhz (But not great) depending on what pair of antenna radials you have attached.

Some people have had success by attaching a good chunk of wire to the top radial of the dipole, but even that is sketchy. I never had any luck doing that.

Other than a long wire, you could spend $40 for an MLA-30+. But it's a directional antenna and isn't the greatest either in my experience. It doesn't do CB very well if at all, even though it says it does. But it does 40/80m fairly decently, and even a bit of Medium wave. That being said, I think it's worth the $40 considering other hf antennas can be in the $300+ range if you aren't willing to take a 100 ft wire and string it up a tree.

 

[foxtail]

Why not try a random wire length of say...10-20 feet, throw it outside your window and see if anything shows up. Hell even 5 foot wire will get you something...

 

[Dimmer_gamer]

Why not try a random wire length of say...10-20 feet, throw it outside your window and see if anything shows up. Hell even 5 foot wire will get you something...

I already tried this and I did not get anything