OT (mostly) SDR questions

[Jim Lesurf]

I'm trying to get one of the common SDR 'dongles'. RTL2832 but seem to have
difficulty getting any response from retailers!

I've tried (twice) to email "Martyn Lynch" (hamradio.co.uk) at the
recommendation of some radio amatueurs to ask about the versions (note
plural) if this which they advertise. But get no reply at all.

I want to get one that works with all the 'usual' SDR software for Linux.
IIUC this means 'version 3' of the dongle, but I'd be happy with a later
version that also does this if it also is fully usable with Linux.

FWIW This has been prompted by two interests:

1) Specific. IIUC the Linux software can now receive and decode the UK
DAB/DAB+ broadcasts. So my initial interest is that I want to do some
analysis of their real-life quality in technical terms to assess their
audio shortcomings.

2) More generally as a receiver for other purposes and as a bench spectrum
analyser, etc.

Anyone here have experience of the dongle+linux and/or any other reliable
UK retailer I *can* contact and buy one from?

Ta,

Jim

P.S. I do currently use a FUNCubeProPlus radio dongle. This is good and
very adaptable. But has a low bandwidth compared with the above type, is
more limited in some ways, albeit easier to DIY control/analysis software
for! :-) It also has a specific 'gap' between the ranges it can cover.

[Woody]

Post by Jim Lesurf
I'm trying to get one of the common SDR 'dongles'. RTL2832 but seem to have
difficulty getting any response from retailers!
I've tried (twice) to email "Martyn Lynch" (hamradio.co.uk) at the
recommendation of some radio amatueurs to ask about the versions (note
plural) if this which they advertise. But get no reply at all.
I want to get one that works with all the 'usual' SDR software for Linux.
IIUC this means 'version 3' of the dongle, but I'd be happy with a later
version that also does this if it also is fully usable with Linux.
1) Specific. IIUC the Linux software can now receive and decode the UK
DAB/DAB+ broadcasts. So my initial interest is that I want to do some
analysis of their real-life quality in technical terms to assess their
audio shortcomings.
2) More generally as a receiver for other purposes and as a bench spectrum
analyser, etc.
Anyone here have experience of the dongle+linux and/or any other reliable
UK retailer I *can* contact and buy one from?
Ta,
Jim
P.S. I do currently use a FUNCubeProPlus radio dongle. This is good and
very adaptable. But has a low bandwidth compared with the above type, is
more limited in some ways, albeit easier to DIY control/analysis software
for! :-) It also has a specific 'gap' between the ranges it can cover.

Look in eBay at item 256049848923, or search on RTL2832U

[Jim Lesurf]

Post by Woody
Look in eBay at item 256049848923, or search on RTL2832U

I don't 'do' fleabay or amazoon. I prefer to buy direct from a UK retailer
who has a real shop, etc, in the UK. Old fashioned like that.

Sadly, I keep getting the feeling I'm no longer allowed to do what I wish.
But I am reluctant to become 'assimilated'.

Jim

[The Other John]

Post by Jim Lesurf
Anyone here have experience of the dongle+linux and/or any other
reliable UK retailer I *can* contact and buy one from?

I got my RTL SDR from www.technofix.co.uk.

[Jim Lesurf]

Post by The Other John

Post by Jim Lesurf
Anyone here have experience of the dongle+linux and/or any other
reliable UK retailer I *can* contact and buy one from?

I got my RTL SDR from www.technofix.co.uk.

Curious. With my usual 'light, no-javascripting' browser that gives me

] Privacy error

] A privacy error occurred while communicating with www.technofix.uk this
] may be a site configuration error or an attempt to steal private
] information (passwords, messages or credit cards)

] An unknown error occurred while processing the certificate.


I'll try a different browser. Curious how websites manage to get in the
way of things at times.

OK, different brower also whines about certificates, but seemed to work.

Gave me a contact 'form' to fill out, so I've tried that. Can't tell if
it worked as it gave me no explicit confirmation. Nor showed me their
actual email address. (Didn't bother to look at their page code for how
the form generates it.) Used my 'public' email address as per my
website pages.

If I get no reply I'll see if I can find their telephone address.

Weird how eager retailers are to avoid answering questions before
selling you something. Maybe they simply farm out their website
design and have no idea themselves how it works... or can get in
the way.

Jim

[The Other John]

Post by Jim Lesurf
OK, different brower also whines about certificates, but seemed to work.

I don't have a problem using Firefox/Windows10.

How about the shop URL - https://shop.technofix.uk/

[Andy Burns]

Post by Jim Lesurf
Curious. With my usual 'light, no-javascripting' browser that gives me
] Privacy error
] A privacy error occurred while communicating with www.technofix.uk

works without javascript (well it displays ok, maybe the shopping cart
might not function) but the server is missing an intermediate
certificate, firefox does plug the gap, maybe your browser doesn't have
a cert for "AlphaSSL CA - SHA256 - G4" to the same?

They claim to be the only UK official RTL-SDR reseller.

[Andy Burns]

Post by Jim Lesurf
I'm trying to get one of the common SDR 'dongles'. RTL2832 but seem to have
difficulty getting any response from retailers!
I've tried (twice) to email "Martyn Lynch" (hamradio.co.uk) at the
recommendation of some radio amatueurs to ask about the versions (note
plural) if this which they advertise. But get no reply at all.

tried TechnoFix?

<https://shop.technofix.uk/super-stable-1ppm-tcxo-r820t2-tuner-rtl2832u-rtl-sdr-com-usb-stick-version-3>

Post by Jim Lesurf
I want to get one that works with all the 'usual' SDR software for Linux.
IIUC this means 'version 3' of the dongle,

I think I read caution over assuming the v4 was automatically better
than the v3, due to less support from apps?

I've used mine for ADS-B and DVB-T spectrum scanning, not for DAB, and
not with linux.

[Jim Lesurf]

Post by Andy Burns
tried TechnoFix?
<https://shop.technofix.uk/super-stable-1ppm-tcxo-r820t2-tuner-rtl2832u-rtl-sdr-com-usb-stick-version-3>

Just had a go at seeing if I can coax their website to telling them my
email address and that I'd like to ask about this. No idea as yet if it has
worked.

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Jim Lesurf
I want to get one that works with all the 'usual' SDR software for
Linux. IIUC this means 'version 3' of the dongle,

I think I read caution over assuming the v4 was automatically better
than the v3, due to less support from apps?

That's my currently-patchy concern. So I'd probably go for a V3 unless I
can be told otherwise by the seller. (Which would mean I could return a
different version if it failed to meet my stated requirement when buying.)

Post by Andy Burns
I've used mine for ADS-B and DVB-T spectrum scanning, not for DAB, and
not with linux.

I've only used an FCPP and a DVB-T/T2 dongle thus far. The FCPP is easy to
use as it simply outputs the sampled bandwidth as an IQ series of samples.
So you can easily DIY analysis for basic 'spectrum analysis' or AM/FM. But
it has a low bandwidth and not suitable for other things I'm now wanting to
explore. The above looks like what I'll need, but as yet I've not got in
contact with a retailer because they seem not to reply to emails and use
the website almost like a barrier against simple inquries!

Is there a usenet group for the RTL users? Or an email list?

Jim

[Andy Burns]

Post by Jim Lesurf
Is there a usenet group for the RTL users? Or an email list?

I suspect you'd likely have to stoop to using a web forum ...

[Jim Lesurf]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Jim Lesurf
Is there a usenet group for the RTL users? Or an email list?

I suspect you'd likely have to stoop to using a web forum ...

I do use a couple of those at present for other topics. However they are
good in that they povide the advantage of working without javascript being
enabled and then I don't get the adverts, etc. Less gravy, more meat. :-)

So, is there one for the RTL you'd recommend, or for use of radio dongles
in general?

Jim