So fustrated with rtl-sdr V4

[Dimmer_gamer]

I am so upset, as for the past 2 months almost everynight I am up until 3 am trying to recieve hf on my RTL-SDR Donlge. Ive tried everything, and not a single thing has worked. What do I do from here?

 

[D31245]

What are you using for an antenna? Have you been able to receive anything in VHF/UHF, AM Air Bands, local NOAA Weather stations, FM Radio broadcasts?

I am using a GRA-D220R discone on mine and am limited to receive ~100Mhz-1600Mhz, but for HF, I use SDR Console V3 Server and use other's shared long antennas for HF listening - 40 meters and 80 meters is usually pretty busy. I'm listening right now on 80 meters - 3.838 LSB.

 

[Dimmer_gamer]

What are you using for an antenna? Have you been able to receive anything in VHF/UHF, AM Air Bands, local NOAA Weather stations, FM Radio broadcasts?

I am using a GRA-D220R discone on mine and am limited to receive ~100Mhz-1600Mhz, but for HF, I use SDR Console V3 Server and use other's shared long antennas for HF listening - 40 meters and 80 meters is usually pretty busy. I'm listening right now on 80 meters - 3.838 LSB.

Im using the diopale Kit with wires on both ends. Ive seen people use that exact antenna setup. If it were an antenna issue, would I see a slight resemblance of a signal?

 

[ka3jjz]

More details are needed. Did you load up all the requited drivers? What OS is your computer (Windows, linux, etc.) That little wire dipole might work for very strong signals, but a good dedicated HF antenna will bring in more results. What control program are you using? When diagnosing a SDR issue, details matter.

Mike

 

[Dimmer_gamer]

More details are needed. Did you load up all the requited drivers? What OS is your computer (Windows, linux, etc.) That little wire dipole might work for very strong signals, but a good dedicated HF antenna will bring in more results. What control program are you using? When diagnosing a SDR issue, details matter.

Mike

Yes I loaded the drivers, and I am using SDRSharp. Im on windows. I would just buy a dedicated HF antenna, but ive seen people pick up such strong signals using the same dipole antenna, without any wires or anything.

 

[Unitrunker2]

Are you using an upconverter or direct sampling?

 

[Dimmer_gamer]

Are you using an upconverter or direct sampling?

Direct sampling Q-branch

 

[dkcorlfla]

Maybe try receiving just the audio from FT8 on 28.074 during the day or 7.074 during the night just to trouble shoot the receiver. There are also very strong broadcasts around 7.3

If you can't receive anything there then the antenna is not hooked up ;-)

 

[Dimmer_gamer]

Maybe try receiving just the audio from FT8 on 28.074 during the day or 7.074 during the night just to trouble shoot the receiver. There are also very strong broadcasts around 7.3

If you can't receive anything there then the antenna is not hooked up ;-)

Im recieving so much in vhf, in fact, stronger then I ever usually have, yet my sdrsharp just displays these fake tones that are just a high pitched ringing, and when I move the waterfall, they stay on my screen exaclty where they were, and the others move around and form diffrent signal;s, that clearly arent real signals, and are from my computer or other devices.

 

[Dimmer_gamer]

Maybe try receiving just the audio from FT8 on 28.074 during the day or 7.074 during the night just to trouble shoot the receiver. There are also very strong broadcasts around 7.3

If you can't receive anything there then the antenna is not hooked up ;-)

 

[dkcorlfla]

Looks like the gain is WAY too high! Need to play around with the settings until the lower screen is light blue not yellow. Also use USB not AM for FT8, AM for broadcast and LSB for SSB ON 4O meters around 7.2 but just try to dial in the FT8 for now and note that 40 meters is mostly good at night. Go up to 14.074 and 28.074 during the day. Do this to get it dialed in then go explore.

 

[Dimmer_gamer]

Looks like the gain is WAY too high! Need to play around with the settings until the lower screen is light blue not yellow. Also use USB not AM for FT8, AM for broadcast and LSB for SSB ON 4O meters around 7.2 but just try to dial in the FT8 for now and note that 40 meters is mostly good at night. Go up to 14.074 and 28.074 during the day. Do this to get it dialed in then go explore.

If I set the RF gain to 0, or to max, nothing changes below 28mhz, only the colour. I tried all those frequenices and there is 0 resemblance of a signal.
The closest I got is this weird electronic noise on around 7.2mhz but thats aboiut it, everything else seems to be from my computer like the harmonics or however its called.
In this case I would say its my antenna, but its in a position and setup better then lots of people ive seen on youtube which have worse setups.

 

[saioke]

First of all, Q branch shouldn't be selected if it's a V4. Keep it in Quad sampling. Q branch is for older SDRs like the V3. The V4 has a built in upconverter. Ideally, you want your gain to be no higher than 28-36. Especially when it comes to HF, because with HF you aren't trying to pick up longer signals as much as trying to reduce your noise levels. More gain = more noise.

As for harmonics, they're inevitable. You can usually filter the one in the middle out by enabling "Correct IQ" but other than that, they're just there. Even scanners have these so-called birdies due to the internal osculators and other components.
If your antenna works fine on the weather channels, FM, airband, etc. You can rule out the antenna being defective.

The facts are that the included dipole isn't really made for hf. There's many tricks to try and get it working but even that depends on your environment, how close you are to other communications, etc. Your best bet if you don't want to spend a fortune is a long wire. Attach an SMA connector and, even just running one all around your room should do wonders. Attaching a wire to the dipole can be fiddly, not offer a great connection, etc.

Regardless, always make sure your antenna isn't near any metal, power lines, or other major interference. A lot of modern windows these days have this weird coating that makes it hard for any signal penetration. You have a metal roof? That could also mess with it. Move it around your room and find the best place for it. I have my dipole in my closet for the best reception for P25.

If you're trying to get something on that dipole, your best bet would be 80m down in the 3.5mhz range. Honestly, you should be picking up something if you have a decent wire attached to the top radial, even if you can't really hear it. Do NOT put a wire on both radials.

And most importantly of all, since you're using a V4, you DO need to install the drivers into SDR#. I'm not talking about zadig, I'm assuming you've already done that. You need to go here Releases · rtlsdrblog/rtl-sdr-blog and download the latest release and drop the rtlsdr.dll file into your SDR# directory.

 

[dkcorlfla]

Nooelec has a low cost 9 to 1 balun that should help get you started on HF. It and a section of coax to run out a window and hook up a end fed wire outside would make a big difference by getting the antenna away from the noisy computer and monitor.

Nooelec - Search results for: 'balun one nine'

Default Description

www.nooelec.com

 

[EAFrizzle]

Nooelec has a low cost 9 to 1 balun that should help get you started on HF. It and a section of coax to run out a window and hook up a end fed wire outside would make a big difference by getting the antenna away from the noisy computer and monitor.

Nooelec - Search results for: 'balun one nine'

Default Description

www.nooelec.com

Nooelec has some other things that help as well. The One Nine balun works well with long wires and large loops. If you have an AM or FM broadcaster nearby, their filters do a good job at cutting down that overload, giving more headroom to the HF signals.

Once you get a proper long wire or loop, and are getting signals you want, you can consider a Low-Noise Amplifier. The Nooelec ones are affordable and decent quality. Buy a set of SMA attenuators because the amp will overload the SDR by itself. This will give the SDR the gain it needs coming into it, without introducing noise from running the SDR gain so high.


There can be a lot of fiddling involved to get a good signal on the screen, so be patient. Just from a glance at your screenshot, I'm fairly certain that finding the right gain setting will get you what you want.

The kit dipole that comes with the rtl-sdr on Amazon are pretty OK, for what they are. Pop open the rectangular lid to look at the coax connection to the elements. Mark the side that is attached to the center conductor. You want that element upwards when listening to VHF and above. You may also want to put some solder on the braid where it's attached to the element, and tighten the screws as needed.

I know a guy that has had good HF reception using a Wilson 1000 CB mag mount on a cast-iron skillet, so don'tcount anything out. The nice thing about shortwave reception is that you can get very creative with antennas, even to the point of ridiculous.

Be patient, experiment with everything, and above all have fun.

 

[ronenp]

Are you capable of receive anything on any frequency ? ther to receive VHF Commercial signal and with the same setting go back to the HF and try to see if you receive anything

 

[Dimmer_gamer]

First of all, Q branch shouldn't be selected if it's a V4. Keep it in Quad sampling. Q branch is for older SDRs like the V3. The V4 has a built in upconverter. Ideally, you want your gain to be no higher than 28-36. Especially when it comes to HF, because with HF you aren't trying to pick up longer signals as much as trying to reduce your noise levels. More gain = more noise.

As for harmonics, they're inevitable. You can usually filter the one in the middle out by enabling "Correct IQ" but other than that, they're just there. Even scanners have these so-called birdies due to the internal osculators and other components.
If your antenna works fine on the weather channels, FM, airband, etc. You can rule out the antenna being defective.

The facts are that the included dipole isn't really made for hf. There's many tricks to try and get it working but even that depends on your environment, how close you are to other communications, etc. Your best bet if you don't want to spend a fortune is a long wire. Attach an SMA connector and, even just running one all around your room should do wonders. Attaching a wire to the dipole can be fiddly, not offer a great connection, etc.

Regardless, always make sure your antenna isn't near any metal, power lines, or other major interference. A lot of modern windows these days have this weird coating that makes it hard for any signal penetration. You have a metal roof? That could also mess with it. Move it around your room and find the best place for it. I have my dipole in my closet for the best reception for P25.

If you're trying to get something on that dipole, your best bet would be 80m down in the 3.5mhz range. Honestly, you should be picking up something if you have a decent wire attached to the top radial, even if you can't really hear it. Do NOT put a wire on both radials.

And most importantly of all, since you're using a V4, you DO need to install the drivers into SDR#. I'm not talking about zadig, I'm assuming you've already done that. You need to go here Releases · rtlsdrblog/rtl-sdr-blog and download the latest release and drop the rtlsdr.dll file into your SDR# directory.

I have about 10m of wire connected to an AM loop antenna out my window, and still get nothing, which you say I should get something like 80m which is alot. I just think shouldnt I get any signal at all? I recieve VHF perfectly and all, and yes I changed it to quad sampling. The only thing I can think of at this point would be the LTE tower right behind my backyard fence, which im not sure if it affects HF.

 

[Dimmer_gamer]

Are you capable of receive anything on any frequency ? ther to receive VHF Commercial signal and with the same setting go back to the HF and try to see if you receive anything

Yes, I recieve VHF very clearly, especially enviroment canada for my area, and I also have good reception on UHF. Air Band is strange, but I usually focus on getting CYHM Atis

 

[Saint]

Keep in mind the propagation on the bands have been terrible lately, I can not get anything on the Amature Bands in the Day time.

Saint

 

[Dimmer_gamer]

Nooelec has a low cost 9 to 1 balun that should help get you started on HF. It and a section of coax to run out a window and hook up a end fed wire outside would make a big difference by getting the antenna away from the noisy computer and monitor.

Nooelec - Search results for: 'balun one nine'

Default Description

www.nooelec.com

I was thinking ill order one today, they arent expensive at all.

To your other frequencies you asked me to try, none came back with any signal. Although, the only true signal that I can get that I hope isn't a harmonic, is on 7.2mhz, which doesnt sound like the other fake signals.