{"id":24679,"date":"2017-03-14T08:31:14","date_gmt":"2017-03-14T12:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=24679"},"modified":"2017-03-14T08:31:14","modified_gmt":"2017-03-14T12:31:14","slug":"buyer-beware-insane-rtl-sdr-pricing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/buyer-beware-insane-rtl-sdr-pricing\/","title":{"rendered":"Buyer Beware: Insane RTL-SDR pricing"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

$300 is an absurd price for this RTL-SDR package.<\/p><\/div>\n

This morning, while browsing eBay, I noticed a high-production retailer selling an RTL-SDR package for $300 US! <\/strong>(To add insult to injury, this isn’t even the latest version of the RTL-SDR dongle!)<\/em><\/p>\n

I post this warning message to those who are new to the world of the RTL-SDR.<\/p>\n

You should never pay more than $30 US shipped for the latest version of the RTL-SDR dongle unless you’re buying\u00a0custom enclosures, filtering, etc. In fact,\u00a0the RTL-SDR package above<\/a>\u00a0retails for about $25 shipped via Amazon (though currently out of stock). The RTL-SDR stick alone retails for $20.95<\/a>\u00a0shipped. You can find a number of models between $10-20 on Amazon and eBay.<\/p>\n

The majority of\u00a0eBay sellers list the\u00a0RTL-SDR at the\u00a0proper market price.<\/p>\n

The allure of the RTL-SDR is its affordability–don’t fall for sellers on eBay, Amazon or elsewhere who list these at outrageous prices. \u00a0They’re simply trying to rip you off.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This morning, while browsing eBay, I noticed a high-production retailer selling an RTL-SDR package for $300 US! (To add insult to injury, this isn’t even the latest version of the RTL-SDR dongle!) I post this warning message to those who are new to the world of the RTL-SDR. You should never pay more than $30 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,158],"tags":[2858,2942],"class_list":["post-24679","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-software-defined-radio","tag-rtl-sdr","tag-rtl-sdr-dongle"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-6q3","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20919,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/the-rtl-sdr-v-3-dongle-on-shortwave-gary-details-setup-and-reviews\/","url_meta":{"origin":24679,"position":0},"title":"The RTL-SDR V.3 dongle on shortwave: Gary details setup and reviews","author":"Thomas","date":"August 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Gary Wise (W4EEY), for the following review of the RTL-SDR dongle: Based on your blog post on the Version 3 release of the RTL-SDR dongle I had to buy one. I ordered mine from Amazon for $25, and it came in two days. I have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"RTL-SDR-RTL2832U-e1471375714199","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/RTL-SDR-RTL2832U-e1471375714199-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/RTL-SDR-RTL2832U-e1471375714199-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/RTL-SDR-RTL2832U-e1471375714199-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/RTL-SDR-RTL2832U-e1471375714199-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20767,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/ivans-preliminary-review-of-the-new-rtl-sdr-dongle-on-shortwavemediumwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":24679,"position":1},"title":"Ivan’s preliminary review of the new RTL-SDR dongle on shortwave\/mediumwave","author":"Thomas","date":"August 22, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ivan Cholakov (NO2CW), who shares the following video review of the\u00a0new\u00a0RTL-SDR dongle on the\u00a0shortwave\u00a0and mediumwave bands. Ivan notes: This is daytime reception comparison. Nighttime could be a different picture. [The RTL-SDR dongle] tunes and frequency is 100% on spot. Using SDR Sharp you have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"RTL-SDR-RTL2832U-e1471375714199","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/RTL-SDR-RTL2832U-e1471375714199-1-300x243.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":17173,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/01\/chris-has-developed-an-easy-way-to-run-the-rtl-sdr-dongle-on-a-mac\/","url_meta":{"origin":24679,"position":2},"title":"Chris has developed an easy way to run the RTL-SDR dongle on a Mac","author":"Thomas","date":"January 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to Chris Smolinski who writes: I wanted to run SdrDx, and other SDR apps on my Mac with an RTL SDR Dongle. So I wrote this server app, that makes it appear like a networked SDR. No need to install any RTL libraries, or compile any code. Just\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Apps"","block_context":{"text":"Apps","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/apps\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"RTL-SDR-001","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/RTL-SDR-001-1024x649.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/RTL-SDR-001-1024x649.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/RTL-SDR-001-1024x649.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11972,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/01\/excellent-website-dedicated-to-the-rtl-sdr\/","url_meta":{"origin":24679,"position":3},"title":"Excellent website dedicated to the RTL-SDR","author":"Thomas","date":"January 16, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post reader, Mike, writes: Check this website - not only does it cover RTL dongles, but others as well as Airspy... http:\/\/www.rtl-sdr.com\/ Many thanks, Mike. The depth of RTL-SDR.com is most impressive. They seem to post near daily updates on their blog. Perhaps it's time I jump into the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"RTL-SDR","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/RTL-SDR-e1421423853297-1024x759.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/RTL-SDR-e1421423853297-1024x759.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/RTL-SDR-e1421423853297-1024x759.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":32464,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/05\/thomas-n1spy-how-to-chase-cubesats-with-an-rtl-sdr-dongle-and-some-wire\/","url_meta":{"origin":24679,"position":4},"title":"Thomas (N1SPY): How to chase Cubesats with an RTL-SDR dongle and some wire","author":"Thomas","date":"May 29, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to Ivan (NO2CW) who writes: Thomas, N1SPY used equipment worth $25 to chase mini satellites. Includes instructions for making a simple circularly polarized antenna. Did it work? Check for yourself! https:\/\/youtu.be\/t5pihYcRWPA Click here to view on YouTube. Thanks, Ivan, for passing along another excellent project by Thomas (N1SPY).\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/cubesat-999x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/cubesat-999x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/cubesat-999x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57580,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/08\/the-new-rtl-sdr-dongle-version-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":24679,"position":5},"title":"The New RTL-SDR Dongle Version 4","author":"Thomas","date":"August 21, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dura, who notes that the latest version of the RTL-SDR dongle is now in production. Here are details from the RTL-SDR blog: RTL-SDR BLOG V4 DONGLE INITIAL RELEASE! We're happy to announce the first release of our new RTL-SDR Blog V4 dongle which\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/RTL-SDR-V4.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/RTL-SDR-V4.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/RTL-SDR-V4.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/RTL-SDR-V4.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/RTL-SDR-V4.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/RTL-SDR-V4.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24679","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24679"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24679\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}