starting out in SDR

[WatnNY]

What software are you using?

DSD#. I'm still in the learning stages of the SDR stuff, but I had ZERO luck with the DMR, CTCSS and scanning plug ins.

 

[dave3825]

DSD#. I'm still in the learning stages of the SDR stuff, but I had ZERO luck with the DMR, CTCSS and scanning plug ins.

If you meant DSD+, that software does not use plug ins or do CTCSS. If you meant sdr#, that uses plug ins, does ctcss but will not do any trunked voice following.

 

[mtindor]

If you meant DSD+, that software does not use plug ins or do CTCSS. If you meant sdr#, that uses plug ins, does ctcss but will not do any trunked voice following.

Im' guessing he means SDR#. Dunno though. Cryptic.

 

[dmchalmers]

Here’s a pic of the sma soldered to the board. If yours “spins‘ it‘s broken off, still not the fault of the flush mounting nut unless maybe it was over tightened. You could open the case to see and possibly re solder it. Nothing to lose at this point.

Amazon has a great return policy. Unfortunately you should have noticed the problem sooner and sent it back during the 30 day return window. As they say “experience is knowledge gained too late”.

SDR is definitely not for everyone, sorry for your frustration and the $40 loss. Good luck going forward.

Thank You i'm kind of now looking at RSP1b for my next adventure seems all software for RTL_SDR is NOT newbie begginer friendly. Seems rtl_sdr would make their products a lil more easy for new user an then MAYBE those users might Pay for extras? Gets me that most say V3 or V4 is the way to start, NOT for us old guys without PC experience. Thank You again.

 

[WatnNY]

If you meant DSD+, that software does not use plug ins or do CTCSS. If you meant sdr#, that uses plug ins, does ctcss but will not do any trunked voice following.

Sorry, yes, I'm trying to use SDR#. The plug ins are not working for some reason. What's the suggested software to use with the version 4 dongle from RTL-SDR?

 

[BM82557]

Some plugins do not work correctly in newer versions of SDRSharp.

 

[redbeard]

Sorry, yes, I'm trying to use SDR#. The plug ins are not working for some reason. What's the suggested software to use with the version 4 dongle from RTL-SDR?

Do you know if you downloaded the x64 version by chance? That could be the issue with plugins too. I would recommend reading the RTL-SDR Blog quick start guide and the v4 specific parts: Quick Start Guide

 

[dave3825]

SDR# will work fine with that and other dongles. Trick is finding plug ins that work with either the newer or older versions. I stopped updating at 1742. Not a fan of all that dot net crap in the newer versions.

 

[foster_006]

Thank You i'm kind of now looking at RSP1b for my next adventure seems all software for RTL_SDR is NOT newbie begginer friendly. Seems rtl_sdr would make their products a lil more easy for new user an then MAYBE those users might Pay for extras? Gets me that most say V3 or V4 is the way to start, NOT for us old guys without PC experience. Thank You again.

I am completely happy with my RSP1a (now discontinued)! It is much more forgiving than the Airspy Mini that I just picked up. The SDRPlay software is right up my alley... but since SDRTrunk now recognizes the SDRPlay series, that's my main use for it.

My SMA connector did seem a little fragile, and I hope that was just my experience... so don't over torque your antenna cable on the SMA connector.

As for the AirSpy Mini, I had some RFI issues to deal near my computer and in my home office but it's working much more to my liking now. On any SDR dongle or device, don't over crank your LNA gain... as the results will be unfavorable.

 

[WatnNY]

Do you know if you downloaded the x64 version by chance? That could be the issue with plugins too. I would recommend reading the RTL-SDR Blog quick start guide and the v4 specific parts: Quick Start Guide

Yes, it's the x64 version. I followed the instructions for the plug ins, but they were old and I didn't have a certain file. Then I read somewhere you don't need to install lines in some file anymore, all you had to do was put the plug in files in another file labeled "plug ins."

 

[WatnNY]

Some plugins do not work correctly in newer versions of SDRSharp.

Thanks. So I should use DSD+ so I can do DMR and NXDN?

 

[redbeard]

Thanks. So I should use DSD+ so I can do DMR and NXDN?

That's certainly my preference. It uses tuner programs (FMPx) that come with it that are direct/IP linked so no fooling with magic lines or virtual audio cables and what-not.

 

[WatnNY]

That's certainly my preference. It uses tuner programs (FMPx) that come with it that are direct/IP linked so no fooling with magic lines or virtual audio cables and what-not.

Thanks. I will download it tomorrow and give it a try...

 

[WatnNY]

So I completely deleted SDR Sharp from the hard drive and reloaded the software, starting from scratch. I downloaded the Simple DMR plug in, then opened/ran it on a DMR repeater. The Simple DMR plug in shows "DMR" and "Voice," but does not decode the signal so it can be heard. Now what?

 

[mtindor]

So I completely deleted SDR Sharp from the hard drive and reloaded the software, starting from scratch. I downloaded the Simple DMR plug in, then opened/ran it on a DMR repeater. The Simple DMR plug in shows "DMR" and "Voice," but does not decode the signal so it can be heard. Now what?

Do you know for a fact that the plugin you are using is supported by the version you downloaded? Or was the plugin included with SDR#? I never bother with plugins.

It would be so much easier to dowload DSDPlus, extract it to a sensible directory such as c:\dsdplus or c:\users\<username>\desktop\DSDPlus and then run FMP24-CC.bat and 1R.bat

Third party plugins aren't necessarily compatible with every version of SDR#, unless they are plugins included with SDR# or distributed off of the SDR# website.

 

[dmchalmers]

Do you know for a fact that the plugin you are using is supported by the version you downloaded? Or was the plugin included with SDR#? I never bother with plugins.

It would be so much easier to dowload DSDPlus, extract it to a sensible directory such as c:\dsdplus or c:\users\<username>\desktop\DSDPlus and then run FMP24-CC.bat and 1R.bat

Third party plugins aren't necessarily compatible with every version of SDR#, unless they are plugins included with SDR# or distributed off of the SDR# website.

Would be nice if RTL-SDR had your instructions, runFMP24-CCbat and 1Rbat no clue those were starting points.

 

[dmchalmers]

Here’s a pic of the sma soldered to the board. If yours “spins‘ it‘s broken off, still not the fault of the flush mounting nut unless maybe it was over tightened. You could open the case to see and possibly re solder it. Nothing to lose at this point.

Amazon has a great return policy. Unfortunately you should have noticed the problem sooner and sent it back during the 30 day return window. As they say “experience is knowledge gained too late”.

SDR is definitely not for everyone, sorry for your frustration and the $40 loss. Good luck going forward.

I opened up SMA end an yes it fell right out center lead an it kinds looks like the square nut was maybe solder also can't tell. Wish i would of known then i was suspicious of the way it was shipped from Amazon in a ziploc bag thrown in with other items. Thanks for pics comfirmed my fears.

 

[mtindor]

Would be nice if RTL-SDR had your instructions, runFMP24-CCbat and 1Rbat no clue those were starting points.

Probably a good idea to read every file ending in .TXT in the folder. Of course, that may be harder to determine if you allow windows to hide file extensions from you. That's definitely something a person should NOT want Windows to do when it comes to DSDplus.

Mike