Software Defined Radio (SDR) on Android Device

Thanks to all the excellent questions, comments and help shared in the comments of my inaugural SDR video, I learned that I could use the SDR on my Android phone. In this video, I share that experience with you in case you're interested in doing the same.

Video Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
1:35 - Parts List
2:20 - Driver & App Install
2:58 - Hardware Setup & Demo
5:58 - Final Thoughts & Closing

Affiliated links to components used in video. Note: Though the price and everything else is the same from Amazon, I may earn a small commission on purchases using these affiliated links which helps support the channel:

Android Play Store Apps used in video:

[JamesEdwards]

Greatly appreciate the no bla-bla-bla format of your videos. Straight to the point with great info.

[maincharacter]

I can't believe this channel don't have more than 60.1k viewers. Keep going Tom, you're a darn good presenter / explainer / teacher.

[boba.]

Tom, You've pushed me to make the move to experience SDR inexpensively! Thanks

Pulled the trigger on this stuff today to experience SDR using my android smartphone (5.93" diagonal screen with 1080p x 2160p resolution):

--RTL-SDR Blog V3 dongle (from the official website)
--Micro USB Host OTG Cable with USB Power
(allows dongle to be powered by phone charger or external battery pack rather than cellphone battery)
--SMA Male Plug to BNC Female adapter
(allows me to connect some of my old portable scanner antennas / whips to the dongle)
--SDR Driver Android driver
--SDR RF Scanner Android software

Holding off on this for now:
--SMA Male Plug to SO239 Female Adapter
(allows connection of my outside antennas to dongle)

[lexscarlet]

Dude the "unexpected interest" you discovered in that comments section may have come from appreciation of you boss tier editing skills and clarity I'll watch any topic you make a video on

[ghostmanscores]

Some of the most fascinating things I've ever learned were in YouTube comments.

[MrDeekaph]

Thank you brother! I've had a lifelong interest in radio but have held off investing in heavy duty hardware with the view of SDR on the horizon, and then I forgot about it. Then it dawned on me one day and I looked it up and using your video I put an old Note 3 to work! One thing I will add for anyone looking into this, I followed your instructions to the letter but ran into a "Source not available!" when I first fired up RF Analyzer. If you get this, go to settings (the three dots at the top right and then "Settings") and under "Source Type" select the source from RF Hack to RTL-SDR.

[Daemon]

I never heard of it before. Glad that there are devices like this that we can hear radio traffic.

[gerardolebron]

I sold. You have earn my subscription. Congrats. Thank you for the outstanding insight

[CajunGreenMan]

Your voice sounds like it would be perfect for radio, TV, Internet voiceover. This was a great video. very concise yet still has all the details and you never struggle for your words. Keep up the great work!

[rwd]

I just found your channel randomly without watching any RF related anything today, I fucking love this channel and immediately subbed. I'm an RF engineer in north florida that happens to be the youngest at 31.

I want to say your speech is extremely coherent and well put together on top of having a solid voice for speaking. I'm currently binging your videos while building a Ramsey FM transmitter from 1994 that I've had since I was 10 that I never got around to making. 🤣

Keep up all of your awesome videos man and again your voice would be great for the broadcast business 👌👌

[TM]

Please note the NESDR Smart only goes down to 25MHz wheras Silver V3 you have covers all the HF SW bands. So if you want to listen to Shortwave you need the Silver SDR you have.
Hope that helps

[FrankFactor]

Tom, thanks for these great videos. You really know how to spend my money! I will be buying a diesel heater this week, and I was able to dig out my SDR (that I have had for years and never really figured it out how to effectively use) and start tinkering with it again. I was up and running in no time thanks to your advice. Going to build some bigger antennas next, very excited.
Now you should plug that S9 into an HDMI monitor or TV (using a USB C to HDMI adapter or one with additional power and USB slots) and try out the Samsung DEX desktop. These Androids apps are great full-screen and with a mouse and keyboard, and thanks to being powered by the phone, it makes for a portable option that will make you wanna leave your laptop at home.
Thanks for the great content!

[agomes]

You are a star! Helpful, knowledgable, humble, well-spoken, straight to the point!
Pity not all humans are like you.
Thank you so much .🙏🙏👍

[jimaanders]

This is incredibly interesting, Tom.
I hadn't heard about these devices until I saw your videos.
You're a fast learner and a very good teacher, thanks very much!

[jeffreycohen]

Like others, I appreciate your no-nonsense style of conveying the information. Well done and thank you.

[preyingjaws]

Thanks for the quick overview. I just got the SDR dongle for backpacking. For under 2 ounces this is a welcomed addition to my kit.

[daviddoch]

No blah blah, . to the point and raw, great presentation style

[ericgulseth]

Nice follow up on your SDR radio video. Your last video got me thinking about my long desire to get into Ham and I have started studying for my Tech licenses. Hopefully in a few weeks I'll be a new ham.

[jamespfitz]

This is a well-done how-to video. And that voice!

[joeb]

While I have not tried the SDR dongle with an Android device, I have used it for many hours with my PC. I have listened to local trains (including track-side monitoring equipment - "20 cars, 80 axles, noooo defects"), aircraft-to-tower comms, VHF and UHF repeaters (one freq at a time) and simplex signals, municipal agencies (EMS and Fire), local organization's commercial radios, and with the UpConverter, HF SSB signals. I have even been able to Rx VHF APRS packets and pass the audio to another PC to decode. I use SDR# software and the NooElec HW. This ~$20 (the price 3 years ago) toy has supplied me with dozens of hours of fun. Thanks for the video!