SDR For Beginners - Listening To GMRS Or Ham On SDR & Basic Overview Of SDR Using CubicSDR Software

Get your inexpensive SDR dongle here: amzn.to/3SNdcbI
In this video I show you my new toy for GMRS and ham radio, the "RTL-SDR Blog" USB SDR radio dongle and I explain the basics of SDR (Software Defined Radio) and how to get started using SDR. I also give a demonstration of the CubicSDR software and how easy it is once you know your way around - and I tune in some GMRS and non-GMRS frequencies using the SDR dongle
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#SDR #GMRS #HamRadio

[@markgreen7858]

oh yeah in I got a kali Linux tablet an it's rooted so iam in there

[@markgreen7858]

it's a kali nethunter tabelt

[@markgreen7858]

Rooted

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Thanks for letting us know how smart you are because you use a rooted Linux tablet! We are all very impressed! But we would be much more impressed if you were smart enough to edit your youtube comments and use a spell-checker.

[@DonzLockz]

No comprehendo wtf you are saying! 🤔😄

[@bodazaphfa]

I bet OP is 5’2” tall…or short, and drives a pickup truck with a 48” lift with mudders all while wearing his big cowboy hat with his huge belt buckle…with chrome bull testicles hanging off of his trailer hitch.

[@briantalley3265]

Very nice video! I would encourage everyone to get an SDR dongle and try this. A random-length wire worked great for me - about 60 feet strung horizontally and about 20' up and I was able to receive 160m up through 10m. I am able to pull in stations around the world easily. For receive, an antenna does not necessarily need to be tuned to any particular band. The waterfall is what got me hooked. Once I could see the signals and realized how much is going on, I wanted to understand it all more. That led to me getting my General (but I also have my GMRS license, of course) and moving into digital modes on HF.

[@blackfam972]

Watching your videos is like watching the slow progression into nerddom

[@apophisdd]

Progression lol. Downward spiral more like!

[@lasulupaulasulu2781]

Yes like Einstein smoke wee hhhhh

[@bryanisms2732]

I just got my GMRS license and have been watching so many of your videos, I caught myself talking to my wife like you. " I will make dinner...so that YOU...my favorite wife..can rest and read your favorite book." Haha

[@b4ux1t3-tech]

Man, I love the little easter eggs on the desktop @7:02. Your sense of humor is on point. I love that you don't take anything too seriously, while simultaneously providing thorough and educational content. Keep up the great work!

[@jamesslick4790]

My man is a man after my own heart. I have folders on my computer that have "sketchy" titles, even though the ACTUAL content is totally innocent, It's my little trolling. Some people.. "SOME PEOPLE" think I'm weird. I like it like that. 👍😊👍

[@flawdanative3223]

That male-to-male SMA adapter sounded a little gay to me...🤣🤣🤣

[@AndrewSchott]

I can attest to CubicSDR as a good tool on Linux (Fedora and RHEL here). Works great! Thanks for the vid and mention of Linux.

[@Aimsport-video]

Great overview. With CubicSDR and SDR++ one can have a vfo for each GMRS channel and with squelch adjusted to keep backround noise quiet you can monitor all GMRS simplex frequencies at once. A small fan on the sdr receiver helps keep it running all day. Love your channel.

[@Lordabememes]

Great I also do it in the sdr# with multiple vfo

[@M_White_VA]

Nice fan tip

[@markgreen7858]

that's the same one I got

[@Krispin291]

I know that you might not read this due to being a busy person, but if you do I want to thank you. Due to your very funny and entertaining but above all informative videos, I have made good choices on my purchases. To the point that I have mounted a repeater in my permanent campsite for the enjoyment of young and old peeps. I could use some pointers to improve my repeater, but I am one of a million followers. I am not going to bug you with that. I also enjoy Josh and Mike`s videos but they are good for ideas only since I am not a HAM. Keep it up sir! And Thanks again!! WSCP976

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Thank YOU!

[@d4nk42o]

Love the ATHF picture in the top left! I have meatwad tattooed on my leg ") also thnx for the SDR info

[@garycook5125]

I've been wondering about these, too. Thanks for taking the time to educate us.

[@trevorhannabus2239]

Thanks for the review. I am intrigued by this SDR, so I ordered one from Amazon.

[@RobDTom]

Wow, expanding your horizons with the SDR stuff.

[@eijentwun5509]

He can expand his Verticals too :-P

[@TheREALJosephTurner]

As a licensed ham radio operator, I have to say... HOLY CRAP, THIS VIDEO HAS BEEN UP FOR A WHOLE DAY AND NO ONE HAS HAD THEIR POST PINNED YET!!!

[@DiggerX]

I love my SDR, I run HDSDR with Fldigi and MMSSTV for more fun, I use a multi band scanner antenna @ 40ft and a Long Wire antenna for HF. I have a few other digi programs to decode FT8 and other Ham radio digi signals, lots of fun. My favorite Sad Ham Freq. is 7.200 LSB, those guys are Nutz.

[@Rusted_Link]

shitchuation time in space of where you are but do not wish to be

[@richardwallace2590]

I did not catch the affiliate link for the big boy panties.

[@Devo1987]

time to got to area 51

[@alleyratAnderson]

I had never heard of software defined radio, I think I will get a dongle.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Ahhh a new way to spy on people across the Country on the frequencies very nice Randy Lmfao 😂 16:30 @NotaRubicon Productions

[@vitale6633]

Thank You Randy - I've been successfully "Demystified" with Elevated Dorkness :) This video got me up and running with the RTL-SDR V3 on my Mac in a just a few minutes. Greatly Appreciated !!!

[@NavUpNorth]

How did you get it to run on your Mac? Been looking and haven’t had success

[@shoersa]

Your video prompted me to dig out an old dongle (blue plastic case labeled "820T2 & SDR") in the project box. Then followed your software suggestion of CubicSDR which showed up in the software manager of Linux Mint 21 on my Dell laptop. Installed via the software manager without any problems. Lots of noise but worked. Some googling suggested putting a metal disk (~24cm dia) under the small (~12cm) antenna that came with the dongle. Another suggestion was to get a USB cable 4/5 feet long and use ferrite beads on this cable so as to get the dongle away from the computer and reduce the noise being picked up. I did both & noise was reduced. Did the FM broadcast station and the NOAA exercise. Also activated a 433MHz remote and it showed up in CubicSDR. Great bang for the buck as a way to see the spectrum usage. Thanks for the video.

[@dezent]

Are you stuck in a loop somehow? you keep repeating the same information over and over. I'm at 5:58 right now and this is hard to watch.

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Yes, that is exactly it, i am stuck in a loop. If this makes it hard for you to watch then dont watch.

[@Texas1FlyBoy]

With some more dorkness and finding the right decoder, you can decode signals from different sensors, like temperature/humidity, car tires, etc. You don't need to buy a weather station - decode the signals from the neighbor! 😆

[@ectoneato]

I'm glad to see you showing off SDR! I just got mine too and just realized how widespread digital modes are used. My next step is to figure out the Simple DMR plugin on SDR#...

[@nubwagon3758]

You're my new dad, and I love the ATHF picture.

[@thejakeyboi]

I paused the video out of genuine curiousity to see what those icons were on the desktop, then I spat my beer out laughing. Thank you for the explanation and the laughs.

[@hillbillypatriot1]

Can you use an iOS device with the sdr?

[@thetrailgoat]

Love the T-shirt 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@JediKnife]

Is it possible to adapt this to a USB C port to use on laptops without USB A?

[@Tariq1058]

Yes just get a usb a to c adapter

[@donaldoc]

Truthfully, not sure if I'd even have a need for this... But Sensei, I do appreciate your time with the presentation, and lessons learned from it. 👍

[@tomperone9338]

Randy discussing radio and radio dorks back in June 2021: "...it's a lifestyle. It's not just a tool, it's a way of life." Randy in January 2022: playing with Software Defined Radios. You have been assimilated. Welcome to the collective! 😁

[@W2IRT]

Wait until he finally breaks down and gets his ham ticket. The Sad Hams won't know what hit them.

[@tomperone9338]

@@W2IRT I'd love to see that happen! Regardless, he's helping bring more people into the broader radio hobby, be it GMRS, Ham, CB, and yes...even MURS. It's all good!

[@bodazaphfa]

Dammit, Amazon is out! Aarrggg. Regardless, thanks for educating me on this. I’d never heard of it but I’ll get one somewhere/somewhere. Very fascinating!

[@bodazaphfa]

Finally got one!

[@Lordabememes]

Wait ! Did you just attach a baofeng antenna to the sdr without any counterpoise .it's just a half antenna

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Yup, and it was still getting signals from 40-50 miles away.. It's weird how everything doesn't always have to be perfect, and "good enough" is often all thats needed.

[@djk8541]

@@TheNotaRubicon nailed it man, even with the crappy antennas that come with the Nooelec bundle I'm pulling in 800mhz P25 transmissions from over 100 miles away and aircraft ADS-B signals around 80 miles away

[@Kevin-gh1cn]

i thought YT had rules against people sharing their "Dongle"

[@METALfanUSMC]

🤣🤣🤣👍

[@Radio48388]

This was the best video guide I found on CubicSDR, thanks for making it. I was able to get the software up on my Nooelec Mini SDR. I can see the waves of various wideband FM radio stations, but when I select them, I only hear static. I've never heard anything but static after a couple hours of experimenting. I've played with the gain, the width of the band, but still can't hear anything intelligible. Is there any simple fix to this? Thanks.

[@MrLuanDo]

Thank you for the tour of CubicSDR software. I am still wondering what the Center Frequency is for. It's next to bandwidth and freq display on top right of your screen.

[@Steve_AI7SV]

Hay NotaRu, Thanks for demystifying SDR Radio. I want a copy of the shirt you were wearing.

[@nh79nh79cj7]

Are there programs that you can program like a scanner to scan VHF and UHF channels like a conventional scanner.

[@jayjohnson7827]

Not 'big Boy Panties' They are 'Man Panties'

[@RobBob555]

Why can the build in a Digital demodulator ?? Lazy software considering almost everything on UHF 8s digital

[@Joe-o3o3g]

You say that the dongle can receive from 500khz to 1.7 mhz is that without any gaps. Can you receive hf and airband.

[@88drones62]

SDR is great. It’s what got me started in radios all together. They are cheap and can do almost anything. Also unless you spend big money you can’t transmit and you aren’t at risk of breaking any laws.

[@RobBob555]

HDSDR is no doubt the best ( most user friendly) all the others are all VERY similar..and TBH pretty bad

[@daytona1212]

Well, I have got one of these, and it doesn't cover all the frequencies they claim it to cover. You will find out when you go below 24MHZ, you will just find a lot of echos of the same channels.

[@TheNotaRubicon]

You have to enable direct sampling mode for anything below 24Mhz.. But even if it doesnt work below 24Mhz, for $29, i can live with that.

[@daytona1212]

@@TheNotaRubicon Yep, for $29 it works just fine enough. I will test direct sampling. Thanks!

[@djk8541]

Add a Ham It Up upconverter for anything below that point

[@DonzLockz]

Very informative Randy, I am now fully trained on SDR dongles. :)

[@cablrus1885]

Gots mines the other rotation of the earth. Should be in my metal box with stickers o the side in 3 rotations of the planet....yes trying to get pinned. Ur awesome dude very informative

[@gtheodora]

Can you share the file at the very top of your mac desktop please. FOR A FRIEND.

[@preacherjohngroves9647]

Love mine! Running HDSDR on Win 10. Like listening to the party line of yesteryear lol. Thanks for the vid!

[@cam_o_style91]

Will come in handy too track down repeater jamming jerks

[@markvandeneykel1028]

Thanks for the inspiration, Randy. I've been busy since I saw your video but kept in mind I wanted to get around to trying this. I just got my SDR USB device and have it up and running on MacOS using CubicSDR software. I've so far listened to several FM radio stations and also GMRS-22 while my wife transmitted using my KG-135G. Thanks also for providing the repeaters in our multi-county area.

[@planefiesta]

What a fantastic channel I love the files on your desktop also lol

[@ricpla6930]

I just bout one and hooked it up, I don’t know shit and I was surprised to suddenly barely hear conversations

[@marksutton8504]

I just got the LTR-SDR, your video will be a great help! I also have a Mac.

[@applejacks971]

Legend has it that guy is still waiting to hear what they are doing to the golf course off the 57

[@madcarew5168]

Can you contact the Outer Limits?

[@mitchmac3383]

I'm gonna need your help with some spiders, though. 😐 so...

[@DoodiePunk]

Is there something like that that can receive DRM, DAB+, and the likes?

[@ronjones1414]

Congratulations, you're a SONAR tech!

[@dzroc]

Is there a way to scan inverted or scrambled frequencies? Outside of the states of course

[@Justin-bd2dg]

Best Shatner impression EVER...

[@thatguy5358]

holy shit, just noticed ATHF on the back wall... nice

[@JD144-]

Enjoyed the video. When I look at the waterfall all I see are blonde, redhead, and brunette.

[@FelixAn]

The file names on the desktop at 7:01 are so funny!

[@jameshisself9324]

I loved the 'youtubers I hate' files lol

[@kryptonson]

Starting off with a Doors quote. That’s the way to do it

[@aledmonds5448]

Bro you taught me how to use my fwang and I got one of these , looked up how to use it and you came up fuck yes

[@no1be4me2]

Enjoyed your video I was wondering if you could make some recommendations on a good antenna I looked around but there's so many thanks in advance...

[@Texas1FlyBoy]

The antenna largely depends on what frequency range you want to listen to. The SDR dongle will get the best signal for a specific frequency with a tuned antenna. As Randy demonstrated, a GMRS antenna works great for GMRS frequencies. For very general use a scanner antenna, such as a discone (around $50 to $200 USD, depending on what frequency range you want to cover), works fairly well for me. I have one that costs about $100 and it covers 25MHz to 1.3GHz (good enough for me). To start and just get familiar with the SDR, any wire antenna *outside* will work. Using an outside antenna is best. Radio signals are reduced when going through walls - some frequencies more than others.

[@Bill_tyler]

Lmaooo a little doors reference lol

[@duff8402]

The rabbit ear antenna you can buy with or in addition to this isn't too awful. Far from perfect, but it does help expand your listening range with the adjustable lengths of the telescoping legs

[@JDurhamArt]

Randy, as always….Great educational video. I’ve learned a lot on this video on a visual sense. What an amazing tool to have.

[@jefftaylor-eg6sc]

The newer Ham Radios such as the IICOM 7300 and Icom 7610, the Yaesu FT-DX101MP AND THE KENWOOD TS-890S all come with a digital decoder.

[@yourdonefor4454]

10:00 those are absolutely dmr signals.

[@alrubio4401]

Is Cubic SDR better than Airspy SDR.. any comparasion

[@TheNotaRubicon]

I prefer airSpy now mostly because it has plugin support and the db range is not dynamic - on CubicSDR, the db range changes based on the signal levels, making it very hard to read/measure signal strength.

[@SheltonDCruz]

How far can you actually pick up a signal from on the UHF band (400Mhz to 460Mhz) with the whip antenna?

[@wesak777]

I put on my big white pantys, I'm New in radio FREAK'S 😉 UR so FUNNY ! i'm going for my VE2 ! Thank from Québec ! have a nice one everybody !

[@anactualalpaca7016]

ok but how did he know about my fear of spiders

[@MattLitkeRacing]

I thought it was special drawing rights

[@JohnDoe-ku4jj]

That balloon folder is kinda sus right now

[@ExPLD12]

Fear It Self And Spider 100% relate to me 😂

[@victororo462]

I just bought my first unit. But I just found out that it's all about adapters...lol. So I'm studying which ones that would work. Pretty nifty though.

[@joelacindaterry1582]

Thanks for the video. I'm using a MacBook Air and when I try to "label" a frequency the software chimes but does not save the label. How did you get your labels to work? I'd like to label my GMRS frequencies like you do. thanks!!

[@himelishak6694]

I am facing some problem with installing RTL-SDR. I have downloaded CubicSdr-0.2.4-Win64 and zadig-2.7 I followed all the instructions to install zadig and Cubic Sdr. But on my CubicSdr I am not getting the rtl signal in the sdr device. So what should I do?

[@licence1001011]

Thank you man❤🎉for the video

[@whiskersmcmeow6224]

Man those windows instructions looked scary as hell but I update my 2013 windows computer and cubic downloaded by itself and works. I got lucky. Instructions sounded like rewriting code lol

[@MrBilld75]

Got the Nooelec v4 RTL "NESDR Smart" and downloaded Cubic SDR. Already installed the drivers went into Cubic SDR saw the waterfall and was instantly confused, lol. Hence, I am here. It is pretty, for sure, but now I need to learn what all that pretty stuff is. I'm learning SDR# Sharp as well.

[@timsmith9169]

Hey Randy ,I just herd how gmrs was born .😉😉😉 It was on the 700 ,good one buddy .I got one of those blue tooth programers the app just will not download .tryed it on 3 different cell phones . Still can't get my Revetis 97s .I can't find the driver on windows12 I just bought the comet base/repeater atenna 10 foot long ,lmr 600 and a 40 foot mast .I kinda feel I waisted alot of cash the 97s was 499 along .anyway love you 700 and the videos ,oh have you seen the cable that you can clone the uv5r with ,,,later great video 🗽🇺🇸🙏

[@williamdowdy8846]

Ok, now I got it. So, let's build an antenna

[@theg0z0n]

Aqua Teen? huh, didn't expect that.

[@Fedaalis]

Nice touch with the ATHF legos at the end :D Thanks for the video. I have one of these bad boys in my near future and very psyched about it.

[@JAKOB1977]

and you should donate, to the people making SDR programs... they put a lot of effort into these programs and its mindblowing to see how potent some of these programs are that are free of charge... so when you like a free program.. use a few coins and donate to the person who made that software...its such a basic thing for keeping people motivated for making their work accessible and able to test and use.

[@royrobinson4636]

Great explanation and demo! 😎 SDR = Software Defined Radio I hope you're feeling okay? I sensed a slightly diminished amount of sarcasm 🤐 Get well soon! 🤣

[@punkbutler88]

male to male....😆. I get so confused with all the adapters. I have a discone, and tv antenna split to a distribution amp. I pick up quite a bit.

[@11dazzler]

Thank you. This was the perfect video for installing to my Mac.

[@ruggugglan]

I got something simular. But it got its own screen. Called a SDR Malachite. Wonderful Little thing. 0 - 2000 MHz with a MLA 30+ Loop antenn.

[@almirria6753]

I will be reinstalling mine, this spring. I have to move my ant. mast where I have attached my base station radio/s & scanners, from the front of the house to the backyard by my dest.

[@k9nmt]

3 weeks and not one comment about what’s on Randy’s desktop… I expect better from the KZbin experts.

[@jalonzo333]

Great presentation.... You make this subject easy to understand.. Thanks.

[@forrestjoyner7593]

Did you mention that the RTL-SDR gets hot enough that you can turn your room thermostat down during the winter and still be comfortable?

[@addisondentremont3070]

That digital sound is trunking controlers your hearing they are DMR trunking controlers

[@dwightbernheimer331]

As soon as you said... "I'm going to plug THIS into my computer" I knew I just should have turned on my ICOM receiver... Lol. Good stuff thanks for posting...

[@tonymatulonis2136]

Nice video alot for the money