Use an RTL-SDR Software-Defined Radio Receiver with an Android Smartphone [Tutorial]

How to Use an RTL-SDR Dongle on an Android Phone

Cyber Weapons Lab, Episode 048

The RTL-SDR is a cheap, powerful software-defined radio dongle that is popular in the hacker community. While it can be annoying to set up, using it on an Android device is free and surprisingly easy. Once set up, you can listen to radio conversations from a wide range of radio frequencies. Police dispatch traffic, hotel cleaning crews, first responders, and others use sub-megahertz range to communicate, and many of those remain unencrypted channels you can snoop on.

Parts needed:

- Android phone

Either one of these, depending on your phone:

Or, if you need power too:

If using the power OTG adapter, this would also be good:

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[dmanm]

So wicked, I love how you show us the full capabilities of the device and let our minds fill in the rest of the things that could be done. Thanks for the legit videos.

[davohsaurus]

My area is surrounded by personal planes. Curious to see if this would work on them since they're the small ones.

Radio phreaking is my jam bro! Please bring more! Cant wait to see if you do a SSTV episode!

[Gamer-ssxw]

hey, thanks for the great video. Greetings from Germany

[hillbillypatriot]

SDRoid apparently isn’t offered on playstore anymore, couldn’t find it.

[prosthetics]

Amazing tool. I already think of many ways to put this to use🤘

[MrJimbotz]

Hi could you please let me know what antenna you have the phone plugged into on your desk please.
And by the way, thanks for the video.

[tHNc]

listening cops coming to get you because you listened police frequency :3

[drwho]

You are a smart and rare man and I respect you very much

[marcharrison]

Null Bytes, I have been treating your Digital Weapons videos like a college course and taking notes. I have ordered the majority of components you have been demonstrating, however I am still unsure how best to make this device portable. Lets say I would like to power the pi with the dual-USB power bank you recommended, do you have any recommendation for a screen large enough to see whats being typed into the terminal?

[alexc]

As always this is a great video. Keep it up !

[toml.]

Which antenna do you use with which band? The short one for higher frequency?

[p.thadeushornswoggler]

wish there was a way to widen the spectrum. it is zoned in on such a small area of spectrum you can't see what's going on in the rest of the band...

[adisonsky]

Is it useful for short wave radio on my phone ?

[new_contents_all_day]

Does rtl sdr can listen to cell tower and phone signals around the whole planet or does it have a maximum kilometre range .. please tell

[WebDre]

Thank you for sharing. Nice setup you got there :)

[coondogtheman]

I'm guessing that the media files permission on SDRoid is for recording of signals. I have SDRtouch and it asked me this permission when I first set it up so I can record broadcasts. Now if there was a way to get SDRtouch to record to the SD card which it doesn't.

[grams]

Another video full of good info thanks man

[waynedavies]

I have just about everything set-up but my Samsung phone refuses to see the dongle. I can't seem to tether the two together. Phone links to computer okay, but refuses to see the dongle, and activate it. Every time I start SDR touch, it says it can't see any connection. Tried activating the tethering app on the phone, but had no luck. Why won't phone see the dongle, and why does it refuse to tether up.

[anticapitalize]

10:00 - Drones don't broadcast ADSB, and a surprising number of private/military aircraft still do not. I think you met ADSB transmitter not receiver.

[wfp]

Beautifully crafted tutorial video, well done and thanks 👍