Smartphone turned into SDR receiver

List of hardware

Cell Phone
- Motorola one 5g ace

SDR
-RTL-SDR

Antenna Connector

OTG Cable

Mounting Hardware

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Software

SDR software

you'll have to scroll down on the page to where it says "Download Here" in bold letters, and then follow the instructions. on Android it asks me to "open with package installer".

OTG root app

This app does cost a few dollars.
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My battery consumption with this set up it noticably more. I am not completely sure, bit i would estimate it drains the battery 2x as fast as you would just being on your phone. The SDR itself also gets very hot and can burn you potentially, so be careful with that.

[kgrebradio]

This is simply the updated description, posting it here in the comments as well.
I will be making a follow up video soon and address a few more details that are notable to mention.

Thankyou all for the feedback and it is well noted. And thanks for watching my video.

List of hardware

Cell Phone
- Motorola one 5g ace

SDR
-RTL-SDR


Antenna Connector


OTG Cable

Mounting Hardware



Software

SDR software

you'll have to scroll down on the page to where it says "Download Here" in bold letters, and then follow the instructions. on Android it asks me to "open with package installer".


OTG root app

This app does cost a few dollars.


My battery consumption with this set up it noticably more. I am not completely sure, bit i would estimate it drains the battery 2x as fast as you would just being on your phone. The SDR itself also gets very hot and can burn you potentially, so be careful with that.

[JerryEricsson]

cool! I have been using SDR for many years now, a few years ago, I purchased that very device, it came with some antenna's and worked fairly well in my home, where I can hardly pick up the local AM and FM signals. I purchased a small outdoor loop antenna and now I can get all sorts of signals on shortwave as well as the ham bands (I am a HAM operator as well). I am recovering from surgery now so this thing is bringing me great fun as I sit in my old recliner and while away the time as my old body recovers from cancer surgery. I have mine hooked to my MacBook Pro and it works fairly well. The software I am using on the Mac isn't as selective as the stuff I was using on my PC laptop but was MUCH easier to set up. I purchased a used MacBook Pro as a get well gift for myself.

[truhartwood]

This is how I started, too. I now use
- a Nooelec Nano3 (2cm X 1.7cm X 0.8cm)
- an OTG adapter (no cable - just a tiny block with male USB-C on one end and female USB-A on the other)
- a little, 1¾"/4.5cm or so VHF/UHF rubber duck that has the right SMA connector for the 90° antenna connector it comes with, so no need for an adapter.
- the SDRTouch app

With the Nano3 plugged into the OTG adapter plugged into my phone, it only sticks out 5cm/just shy of 2". The 90° adapter let's the antenna stick up, rather than adding more length. Take off the antenna and put them side by side and you can close your hand around it so small that people can't guess if you have anything in your hand or not. 👍

[RisingTidesAC]

Please list the links to the hardware and the download link to the software in the description.

[antalperge]

StickMount Pro!! 👍
LOVELY WORK, THANK YOU! 😍👍
Seen hundreds of YouTube vids on SDRs, and none of the big heads mentioned this StickMount Pro app!

Good work! 👍

[maurolimaok]

Aweful video, amazing concept.
Hope for more videos. This is very interesting.

[nicholassabai]

Great video, but I spent most of the time getting distracted by the cracks on the screen 😅

[haroldsmith]

Good work.

How long does your phone battery last when it is powering the RTL-STR dongle?

[TylerTechUTube]

When you flipped it over I instantly thought shard of glass in the finger

[digitalmediafan]

Excellent but you really should get a new screen !

[yogidemis]

You're phone has seen better days bro!!

[m.brillon]

Great idea! I was thinking what a great way to put that old phone to use. And if you want to get all fancy 3D print a case to package it all together. Thanks for sharing that. Take care from Canada eh!

[budboggy]

Good show-n-tell, thanks.
It would be great if you would create another video answering questions brought up in the comments. Suggest you make a list of questions (other than the ones about the cracked screen) and give a simple answer to each.

[radioman]

Good video thanks. One question... once you have it up and running do you still need a cell or internet connection to use the SDR? NS9T 73

[kchedville]

I have a question about the iphone and SDR -- i have a not-so-old iphone 6 that i own but its not activated with any Provider, can what you did be set up on it the iphone i have??

[viacheslavstarr]

Waiting for SDR BT device. Put it under roof or on the balcony. Connect it with good antennas and that's all.
When you want to listen to the radio, tern on application sdr++ on your phone, listen, record, change bands, change frequencies, watch waterfall and spectrum. And no wires

[keggod]

Excellent idea on repurposing a older droid.

[dkbee]

Stickmount Pro is 9 years old. The common way to root nowadays is to use Magisk and as a recovery TWRP.
Nifty mobile RTL-SDR application though. And an impressive real looking cracks wallpaper. ;-)

[gD]

I imagine you kept throwing the phone down until you made it work!

[worldtoptrend]

Im the first one who has invented the sdr phone patch