Tag Archives: RTL-SDR

Rough Outline for Circle City Con

Just so people have an idea of what the class is going to cover:

1. Basic theory of electromagnetic radiation known as radio waves
2. Install SDR# software and configure Dongle on Windows to monitor broadcasts (FM radio, Ham Radio, Other bands).
3. ADBS (Track airplanes, basically how FlightAware does it, with remote sensors people run)
4. Frequency counting (finding what Freqs are popular in an area to do more of item 2).
5. Radio Directional Finding, using RTL-SDR dongles on a Raspberry Pi with a touchscreen and gui software.
5a. (for licensed HAMS) how to turn the Raspberry Pi in to a broadcasting radio

RTL-SDR for Circle City Con

Remember I said you only need 1 of these. These are how they came from Amazon (where I got them all), see last post for links.

RTL-SDR.com: Again I like this because it’s a metal case and came with 2 antenna.

The NooElec in the aluminum case. This is a bare USB stick put in to the block. The picture on Amazon is blue, but what I got was black with silver lettering (I like that look).

The Blue NooElec, like the one in the block case, it comes with a telescoping antenna.

Lastly the NooElec cheap option, with the stick antenna, that doesn’t collapse.

Parts list for Circle City Con’s SDR talk

I’ll be teaching an Introductory class at Circle City Con this year, on Software Defined Radio.

Introduction to Software Defined Radio with the RTL-SDR on Windows and the Raspberry Pi 2

4-hour introduction to Software Defined Radio, using the RTL2832U chipset, covering both Microsoft Windows and the Raspberry Pi. We will be going over how to track airplanes, scan radio frequencies to find people talking, and covering a little radio theory. Covering RTL-SDR due to the cost of equipment. A list can be provided to students prior to the course.

Here is the part list you’ll need if you’re taking the class (Note the links got to RTL-SDR.com, Amazon, or Ada Fruit, and I am not associated with either of them). If you can get parts elsewhere that is fine :

A computer running Windows you are authorized to install software on. I discourage using your work computers.
A R820T2 RTL2832U radio dongle. (Only need 1 of 4 listed the below, 4 listed for diff options).
- RTL-SDR Blog R820T2 RTL2832U Metal case (built in heat sink to prevent Frequency drift), and 2 telescoping antennas. Currently sold out, but should be back in stock soon.
- NooElec NESDR Mini+ Al: 0.5PPM TCXO RTL-SDR & ADS-B USB Receiver Set w/ Aluminum Enclosure & Antenna. I have not received mine yet, so do not now the antenna quality.
- NooElec NESDR Mini 2 SDR & DVB-T USB Stick
- NooElec NESDR Mini USB RTL-SDR & ADS-B Receiver Set The antenna it comes with isn’t that great.
A Raspberry Pi 2 or 3 (the 3 were not out when I wrote the proposal, and I have yet to find one in stock).
A way to power the Raspberry Pi, I suggest a USB Battery Pack.
A way to interact with the Raspberry Pi
- USB to TTL Serial Cable for programming / setup
- A Rapsberry Pi Touch Screen
Headphones / earbuds

All the RTL-SDR dong’es with antennas I’ve gotten so far have had magnetic mounts, and you need a ground plane for them to work right.