How to listen into radio signals from around the world with an SDRplay box and a length of wire

SDRplay is a low cost software defined radio receiver that connects to your computer. This is a great way to explore the world of Ham Radio without the need of a licence. In this video I show you how to hook up a basic wire antenna to listen into transmissions on the 20m band (14-MHz to 14.5 MHz) from around the world.
Find out more at: www.rs-online.com/designspark...

[@KarlWitsman]

Welcome to the fun! Since I got my SDR Play RSP1A, I haven't tuned up my old shortwave radio but once. So easy to find those signals with the waterfall rather than slowly tuning a knob all night and just hoping.

[@antalperge1007]

Hi, what antennas are you using with the RSP1A? Thnx

[@KarlWitsman]

@@antalperge1007 Just a 50 foot long wire. Eventually I will do something better, but it's good for right now.

[@dalewilson4275]

Very nice demo, thanks for posting!

[@antalperge1007]

Lovely, thank you! 😍 Finally someone with the cheaper RSP1A and not the DX, Duo 🤭 + your explanation is marvellous 👍

[@RobWhittlestone]

Just about to retire, I think I may well pick up one of those SDRplay RSP1A's... I'd be interested in decoding ADS-B on 1090 MHz as well. (I come from the airspace surveillance world). SDRs are really cool. 73's Rob in NW Switzerland

[@yigitkadir3649]

An end fed half wave would look good on that garden.

[@mikeraymond6822]

install a loop the ground antenna you will recive all bands, some good how too's on the tube

[@technoant6850]

Hi M7 PNW great video on how to set up a long wire antenna, I was interest in your earth cable and wandered what mm the earth wire you used in the video, cheers great channel

[@tilmar120]

Pete Thanks for sharing. Was the pvc single cable size 2.5 mm sq? Fitted a treat into the plug

[@MrSchuits]

Thanks for the video. I'm considering making my own antenna. In some countries, like here in South Africa, you do need a HAM licence to use an SDR even if it's just for reception.

[@paullelys161]

That's tough. I can understand for transmitting but for receiving??? Need a change in the law.

[@TheGeeMan]

Wow, that's an absolutely ridiculous law, especially for listening, that being said, how are they to know you've got one in your house? short of seeing that antenna and knocking on your door?

[@mikeraymond6822]

install a loop on the ground antenna its easy. and no one will see it, use a wire colour that will blend in withe background colours

[@ravan01d]

Thanks for the awesome video. Can this be done with a RTLSDR dongle.

[@PeterJFrancis_G7MMW]

Great video Pete , have a listen on the satellite frequencies , with the long wire antenna you should be able to hear them

[@Geekchess]

Great video, cheers mate!

[@ElectricityTaster]

Can I use the ground pin on a plug?

[@Centar1964]

That SDR receiver only has a 50 ohm SMA antenna jack, you need a 9:1 unun to get best results from a random wire antenna.

[@rhoemberg1969]

SDR is bad ass.

[@winstonchurchill6506]

Been looking at these 1 year now.got to get one.and a tuning knob as well quite cheap ebay

[@philkennedy342]

Use a banana plug exactly the same size of your female pl259… you could even use speaker or bell wire and just part the required length leave the rest as that then becomes the feeder effectively a dipole antenna.. at the radio end use what ever you wish a normal pl259 string it up good to go.. De Phil M6dnu 73’s

[@dougtaylor7724]

How difficult is setting up the SDR on the computer?

[@chriskaprys]

I sure would like to get back into this, but man what a shift in mentality the internet has undergone - from 'a certain amount of backward compatibility offered for a certain span of time' to 'no backward compatibility, but the old software that worked on its relevant hardware at the time will still work, just without support' to *now* 'you may not run old software on old hardware; you must purchase new hardware and only run the most current version of any piece of software' ... it's really depressing. I have a laptop from 2015 that used to run both GQRX and CubicSDR beautifully with this R820T based dongle that I've had for years ... but ever since a fresh install of my OS I can't find any way to run the programs needed (or install any of the libraries or dependencies) for SDR. I've spent hours and hours at it, and every cul de sac I reach online simply says: this is impossible without running the most current OS. I love SDR, but I'm not going to buy a new computer just to play with it. Guess I was just spoiled by access to old builds for too long.

[@user-sw7oh9oy6f]

I hope you are going to do the Foundation - don't waste all the Antenna knowledge on just receiving ~73

[@billybigdinners7407]

Do you need a ground when only receiving?

[@RSDesignSpark]

Yes, a good grounding point will give far better results

[@technoant6850]

also should have explained just got a RTL SDR V3

[@orsike192]

haha I am also from S oxfordshire 😅

[@jayceew2j202]

1-9 balun on amazon

[@nextellcup8]

i just read that the sdrplay has 1-9 balun built in .

[@antalperge1007]

@@nextellcup8 Is it true?

[@davidhiers9912]

M