Listen Around the World - No Internet Required (HF & Shortwave on RTL SDR)

Listen to HF and Shortwave with an RTL SDR dongle. I've received many questions if this can be done, and the short answer is "yes". Aside from quickly showing what settings to use in the free software (SDR# aka SDR Sharp), I'm using this opportunity to show off a cool little loop antenna I picked up from Amazon for $50. If you weren't sold on SDR capabilities before, perhaps this video will put you over the edge LOL. Enjoy.

Tom the Dilettante Amazon Store:

Megaloop MLA 30+ Loop Antenna:

RTL SDR Website:

RTL SDR Store:

AliExprerss RTL SDR Kit:

The Smokin Ape's RTL-SDR Setup Video:

[wintermetalhd]

WOW. Even without the commercial antenna, just changing those settings I'm now pulling stations that were completely invisible before! Thank you!

[jakecallinsky]

Was a 25q in the army and just got back into this. I love radio and should have never stopped

[newtron]

Thanks Tom! Most of my reception using RTL SDR has been in Quadrature sampling such as Aircraft, School Buses, fire, police etc, and did not get any Short Wave until I changed down to Direct sampling (Q branch) So, by dropping down the Cog like you did, and choosing that, Now my Waterfall is Lit Up all over the place with conversations. Time to re-explore! Thank you Thank you!

[lambdaprog]

Thanks for this awesome video. RTL-SDR is a most welcome "anomaly" in the consumer hardware realm. It has enough performance and cheap enough to get hobbyists started. It is also a first class citizen in many SDR software, most particularly SDR# where all the advanced DSP features are available for all the supported hardware.
Thanks for the video and the good work.

[tckr]

The first video of yours I watched was on the SDR, and have enjoyed them scenes. Looking forward to the next video.
Thanks

[Tommy_Boy.]

Love the RTL-SDR v3. It's a big part of what pushed me to finally get my amateur radio (ham) license. The RTL-SDR v3 is amazing! It "does" have a "mirrored image effect" (for lack of the proper term) based on the 14.400 MHz (14400 kHz) local oscillator. For example: WWV (time) at 10.0 MHz (actual location) will also show up at 18.8 MHz, or WWV at 5.0 MHz also at 23.8 MHz, etc. There is currently no filtering included for this. I have to say, it's a lot of fun though. Well worth the small price for the usb-dongle and some free software to learn. 👍📻⚡

[CalebKennizzite]

Very insightful summary delivered via an easy to grasp video; Thank you!
Further proof how military vets ROCK! :-)

[EagerBeagle]

Looks like a Radio Direction Finding (RDF) Loop antenna. Keep crankin' out the great vids.

[FEPLabsRadio]

Tom, that's a great job. I like that antenna, pretty sweet setup for SDR use.

[logaandm]

Get a 48" Photographers reflector. It is made from a metal loop. You can cut and bend the loop, drill a couple of holes and insert the MA-30A instead of using the supplied loop. Makes a huge difference and you can still collapse the antenna into the bag. Not as good as a dipole, but way easier to set up.

[barnabas]

With this set up I would recommend using the bias tee option that is available with the RTL SDR through software, then you do not have to use the bias tee that comes with the MLA 30 loop. Not only does this remove the need for plugging in a USB power supply to the MLA 30, it may also remove some noise from the signal as the MLA 30's bias tee is quite noisy due to the IC it uses for voltage conversion.

It's also very easy to overload the SDR with too much signal which can create ghosting of strong stations and excess noise. If you unscrew the lid of the pre-amp on the loop, there is a gain control which can be adjusted to reduce these issues. On mine it was set at maximum from factory - this was too much. Even with these adjustments made I still got ghosting of strong stations in the wrong places on the dial, which is due to the way that the RTL SDR samples the HF bands, but for the very reasonable price this is still a great way to get started!

[spycon]

Very informative and useful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and insights

[maly]

OK, this antenna has sma connectors? One question, how to connect such an antenna to the Grundig Yacht Boy radio? The grundig radio has a 3.5mm mono jack antenna socket, is there an adapter from sma female to 3.5m mono jack? waiting for Your answers for me :)

[FosterFarmsOk]

im just getting into listening to shortwave. So far I have a small portable and amazon is bring me the RTL-SDR today. The hardest thing for me is what to do about an antenna. There is So much information out there and so much of it is confusing. I like your simple approach.

[Zodliness]

@Tom the Dilettante - Many years ago I owned and used an early Windows 98se compatible VHF USB dongle to watch analogue TV on my desktop PC. Recently though I took an interest in SDR dongles after watching your video and other informative videos like it. For the price they're amazing and they offer a whole new untouched aspect to computing when bored. Shame that broadcasts in the UK are generally fewer and further between anything remotely interesting, but these cheap entry level SDR dongles still provide hours of intriguing eves-dropping entertainment. And no licence required for an RX only device!

[bartwis]

Great video. And now the question. RTL-SDR or maybe Nooelec NESDR SMArt HF Ham It Up? There was mention of NESDR in one of your videos but it wasn't much information. 😉

[Da_GrandiMan]

Is this SDR hardware n software, linux (RPi) OS compatible?
Are the antennae whips incl. With this model on Amz, too ?
If not what's the additional cost ?

Thx !

[JBrown-jyhi]

Thank you for the informative video that has spiked my interest in this hobby! 2 questions: Will RTL SDR receive the aircraft HF bands 4000 khz to 16000 khz? What would be a good antenna for these frequencies, and other frequency use? I live in a townhome association that prohibits external antennas etc. Thank you for any information!!

[kkunkel]

The timing of this video is perfect. I bought the RTL SDR 2 weeks ago, but so far only had a rubber duck antenna to attach to it. Was doing some research for a budget antenna!

[fkfk]

I was wondering about radio astronomy. I am a data nerd and always looking for interesting and unique sources of data. I saw your SDR and was wondering if this could provide an easy solution.
I live rather remote, and I do have a location that has a good sky view and is radio-quiet. I am looking at something in the 10cm to 10m range at an altitude of 1500'.
I have no idea where to start pairing with someone that could use the data.