{"id":38796,"date":"2019-08-03T12:00:56","date_gmt":"2019-08-03T16:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=38796"},"modified":"2019-08-03T07:14:39","modified_gmt":"2019-08-03T11:14:39","slug":"hackaday-looks-back-at-the-venerable-rtl-sdr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/hackaday-looks-back-at-the-venerable-rtl-sdr\/","title":{"rendered":"Hackaday looks back at the venerable RTL-SDR"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Paul Evans (W4\/VP9KF), who shares the following article from Hackaday<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Before swearing my fealty to the Jolly Wrencher, I wrote for several other sites, creating more or less the same sort of content I do now. In fact, the topical overlap was enough that occasionally those articles would get picked up here on Hackaday. One of those articles, which graced the pages of this site a little more than seven years ago, was Getting Started with RTL-SDR. The original linked article has long since disappeared, and the site it was hosted on is now apparently dedicated to Nintendo games, but you can probably get the gist of what it was about from the title alone.<\/p>\n

When I wrote that article in 2012, the RTL-SDR project and its community were still in their infancy. It took some real digging to find out which TV tuners based on the Realtek RTL2832U were supported, what adapters you needed to connect more capable antennas, and how to compile all the software necessary to get them listening outside of their advertised frequency range. It wasn\u2019t exactly the most user-friendly experience, and when it was all said and done, you were left largely to your own devices. If you didn\u2019t know how to create your own receivers in GNU Radio, there wasn\u2019t a whole lot you could do other than eavesdrop on hams or tune into local FM broadcasts.<\/p>\n

Nearly a decade later, things have changed dramatically. The RTL-SDR hardware and software has itself improved enormously, but perhaps more importantly, the success of the project has kicked off something of a revolution in the software defined radio (SDR) world. Prior to 2012, SDRs were certainly not unobtainable, but they were considerably more expensive. Back then, the most comparable device on the market would have been the FUNcube dongle, a nearly $200 USD receiver that was actually designed for receiving data from CubeSats. Anything cheaper than that was likely to be a kit, and often operated within a narrower range of frequencies.<\/p>\n

Today, we would argue that an RTL-SDR receiver is a must-have tool.[…]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to continue reading the full article at the excellent Hackaday blog.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Of course, for all things RTL-SDR and beyond, I highly recommend bookmarking RTL-SDR.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The RTL-SDR.com blog also manufactures my favorite flavor of the RTL-SDR dongle along with a nice bundle of antennas. Click here to check it out on Amazon.com<\/strong> (this affiliate link supports the SWLing Post<\/em>)<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans (W4\/VP9KF), who shares the following article from Hackaday: Before swearing my fealty to the Jolly Wrencher, I wrote for several other sites, creating more or less the same sort of content I do now. In fact, the topical overlap was enough that occasionally those articles would get […]<\/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":[3,43,158],"tags":[3354,7864,2858,6238],"class_list":["post-38796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","category-software-defined-radio","tag-hackaday","tag-paul-evans-w4-vp9kf","tag-rtl-sdr","tag-rtl-sdr-com"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-a5K","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":41103,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/video-tube-radio-transmitter-designs-from-the-1920s\/","url_meta":{"origin":38796,"position":0},"title":"Video: Tube radio transmitter designs from the 1920s","author":"Thomas","date":"December 7, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans (W4\/VP9KF), who shares the following article from Hackaday: The origin of the term \u201cbreadboard\u201d comes from an amusing past when wooden bread boards were swiped from kitchens and used as a canvas for radio hobbyists to roll homemade capacitors, inductors, and switches.\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\/2019\/12\/Antique-Radio.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Antique-Radio.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Antique-Radio.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Antique-Radio.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38566,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/a-very-exciting-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":38796,"position":1},"title":"A very \u201cexciting\u201d radio!","author":"Thomas","date":"July 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul W4\/VP9KFPaul W4\/VP9KF, who writes: A very exciting radio! One that depends on excited atoms, of a sort... (Source: Hackaday) The basic technology of radio hasn\u2019t changed much since an Italian marquis first blasted telegraph messages across the Atlantic using a souped-up spark plug\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\/2019\/07\/32664D29-3A1C-4E05-A5B9-7928CA2C81BF-750x1024.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/32664D29-3A1C-4E05-A5B9-7928CA2C81BF-750x1024.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/32664D29-3A1C-4E05-A5B9-7928CA2C81BF-750x1024.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40723,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/am-radio-from-a-hand-wound-coil-and-an-oxidized-british-penny\/","url_meta":{"origin":38796,"position":2},"title":"AM radio from a hand-wound coil\u00a0and an oxidized British penny","author":"Thomas","date":"November 21, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Paul Evans, who shares the following video and article via Hackaday: https:\/\/youtu.be\/bUMXc6fi7yk There\u2019s been a spate of apocalypse related articles over the last few weeks, but when I saw an AM radio made from a hand-wound coil\u00a0and an oxidized British penny, I couldn\u2019t help but be impressed.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-21-at-07.06.18.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-21-at-07.06.18.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-21-at-07.06.18.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-21-at-07.06.18.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43684,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/credit-card-crystal-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":38796,"position":3},"title":"Credit Card Crystal Radio","author":"Thomas","date":"June 3, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans, who shares this article from Hackaday that highlights a crystal radio built completely on a smart chip credit card by Billy Cheung. Hackaday notes: This is possible because the smart chip on many credit cards contains a diode. It\u2019s then a simple\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/crystal-radio-credit-card-e1591183584962.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/crystal-radio-credit-card-e1591183584962.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/crystal-radio-credit-card-e1591183584962.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/crystal-radio-credit-card-e1591183584962.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57865,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/10\/radio-waves-the-discovery-dish-pre-launch-china-radio-international-hackaday-prize-and-baseball-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":38796,"position":4},"title":"Radio Waves: The Discovery Dish Pre-Launch, China Radio International, Hackaday Prize, and Baseball Radio","author":"Thomas","date":"October 1, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0Enjoy! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Dennis Dura and Ulis (K3LU) for the following tips: Discovery Dish Pre-launch: A Lightweight\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/discovery-dish-front_jpg_md-xl.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/discovery-dish-front_jpg_md-xl.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/discovery-dish-front_jpg_md-xl.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/discovery-dish-front_jpg_md-xl.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/discovery-dish-front_jpg_md-xl.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/discovery-dish-front_jpg_md-xl.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":63912,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/noise-reduction-ideas-via-hackaday-electronics-unmessed\/","url_meta":{"origin":38796,"position":5},"title":"Noise-Reduction Ideas via Hackaday & Electronics Unmessed","author":"Thomas","date":"September 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura for sharing this excellent Hackaday feature: Quieting That Radio. If you\u2019ve ever struggled to hear weak signals through modern RFI, this piece, featuring content from Electronics Unmessed, is well worth checking out. It explores the hidden interference SDR setups often face and\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\/2016\/12\/Spectrum-Digital-Modes-e1482065447566.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Spectrum-Digital-Modes-e1482065447566.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Spectrum-Digital-Modes-e1482065447566.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Spectrum-Digital-Modes-e1482065447566.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38796","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=38796"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38796\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}