The Cheapest Radio Receiver For Beginners / RTLSDR v4

[@g-whiz286]

Fantastic video. I listen to a lot of KZbin and I learned more from you in a couple of minutes than hours of other videos. Please keep up the excellent work. Clear, concise, accurate, and information-packed. I wish more content providers were like you.

[@PreTo13]

One of the best sdr introduction i know of

[@dfkjbdfondfngg]

The sheer amount of effort put into this video.... Wow. Thanks for making this!

[@sn0ren]

Thanks 🙏

[@user-31569]

Totally agree. I have no clue in proper video production and how it's supposed to be done but from the first minutes it felt like some sort of documentary movie(on VICE haha😅), which is awesome and I liked it a lot. Takk.

[@SkillCollectors]

Watched a few of your videos now, your content is awesome. Never been so engaged in radio videos before.

[@Twelve12202]

I like your videos, cool lighting and camnera angle are making those to another level. really love to watch

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

This is a very good introduction to the SDR hobby. Enough information to be useful but not too much to confuse. Well presented and produced. Thank-you. 👍

[@TalkingSasquach]

Another fantastic video! Loved the Easter Egg! Keep up the good work!

[@sn0ren]

Thanks 🤟

[@Simonrilley812]

Talking sasquachhhh i ❤ ur videos

[@Simonrilley812]

@@sn0renu too😂

[@sn0ren]

@@Simonrilley812 :3

[@aaron-bieber]

I love all the old documentary footage you found for this, it fit very well!

[@JediKnife]

What a great video; this is a superbly produced and edited video. I am a radio enthusiast and just getting back into it after several years. Just bought a PC for this type of thing. Thank you for this; it is informative, entertaining, and very much intriguing.

[@sn0ren]

Thanks! 🙏

[@rezaghp]

this is an example of how much a video could be useful

[@daeverion]

Another fantastic video! Thank you for explaining SDR in such an interesting way. I've just bought the RTLSDR Blog v4 along with a dipole antenna. I can't wait for it to arrive, so I can start exploring some of the software you recommended.

[@packetcreeper]

Very informative video! I purchased a RTLSDR with the antenna kit a couple years back and had loads of fun with it. It's a very cheap hobby.

[@liamkaloy]

If some beginer on discord will ask me again about SDR I will just paste link to this absolutely BEST introduction to SDR in the whole internet. It's still not 100% free of curse of knowledge but its good to leave some "mysteries" to solve on its own.

[@Acidbathhhhh]

This has easily become my favourite channel, so glad I stumbled across it.

[@RicoScox]

It is rare to find such an interesting and informative video. It was amazing. I really enjoyed it. Thank You!

[@sn0ren]

Thanks! 🙏

[@RicoScox]

@@sn0ren The pleasure is mine, to have found you.

[@steveblanchard7293]

Agree with that.

[@tratzum]

Very well presented and informative video. You said in 14 min what I take over an hour to explain to some people in a class I teach.

[@SteveH-TN]

Thanks for sharing this video and information. I just received my first SDR today a G90. Hopefully I will be getting on the HF Bands soon. Earlier today I ordered RTL SDR as well looking forward learning how well it will receive. Appreciate you taking the time to explain everything. 73 Steve AA4SH Tennessee

[@sn0ren]

Good luck with your new toys 🙏

[@BrosTheNugget]

Your videos are awesome man, very high quality editing and quality! Thank you for the great vids!

[@VeniceInventors]

Even though I already have and use a couple of SDRs, I still learn something from this video. Thank you!

[@splungedude]

What a great video! I really like your editing style and the overall vibe of your videos

[@didotb01]

this is exactly the video my friends needed to see to believe me radios don't need to be bulky and sucks too much power in-order to operate

[@JanusCycle]

Nice SDR introduction. Great channel. I love your audio quality. Looking forward to see where you take your channel.

[@sn0ren]

Thanks a lot. I really enjoy your channel as well!

[@David0lyle]

One of the earliest producers of the technology produced limiting software and a diagnostic tool that essentially had no limitations. The limited software was downloaded so rarely that the IT personnel assigned to monitor the server regularly questioned whether it was functioning or not.

[@HollyTroll]

impressive video quality and simplifying of ideas, subscribed!

[@sn0ren]

Thanks! 🙏

[@sparky71a]

v.4 Out performs SDR receivers £100s more expensive. Software is key depending what bands you're listening to. SDR Console fir instance is extremely good for Airband,the noise compression is superb. I can listen to Tower to Pilot comms from some airports well in excess of twenty miles from my home base,and Pilot comms hundreds of miles away,Using a tuned J Pole. Well done Rtlsdr v.4!!!

[@Alex-gm2bt]

nice video : up until now, i didn't understand the interest of SDR. Also : huuuuuuge kudos for the subtitles : it's nice to have real proper subtitles.

[@guidelineuk4876]

What a great presentation I will probably buy one now I found someone to explain it correctly

[@MatthewJohnCrittenden]

Good stuff! Got into this a couple of years ago and have been running a PiAware setup monitoring the skies here in Australia (near Brisbane) along with other RTLSDR stuff. A super inexpensive and interesting hobby to get into. Have a sub. :)

[@trojnara]

Great basic introduction. Very useful.

[@henningyoutube9563]

Great introduction to the SDR hobby. Tak :)

[@gdotbat]

Boy that Talking Squatch guy does produce a lot of noise doesn't he? 🤣 Great video. Just picked up a v4 RTL-SDR and having a ton of fun with it.

[@BenTrem42]

*_Very nicely done!_*_ Lovely overview._ p.s. FFWD to 8:30 or if you already know radio 101.

[@daveb7408]

This is the second of your videos I have watched today. Again, Great content, excellent presentation, and thank you for keeping it at a level for us newbies. This channel has high potential and I look forward to seeing where it goes/grows. I would be interested in learning more about APRS and amateur radio in general if you are looking for ideas. Following from Florida, USA.

[@robertbogu4794]

Impressive editing!

[@WallaceAustin]

Fantastic video - thank you for your work putting this together. I plan to share it with non-hams who ask me about getting into radio.

[@Niels.OZ3NO]

tak for en fantastisk video. Du kom lige plusselig ind i mit feed.

[@ildarmingazov2304]

Hey there! Thank you for clear explanation and advise as well. I've grab this video to learn some terms in English. Bye for now

[@edermi_]

Love your content and style. I’m quite new to all the radio stuff but my interest grows constantly and your videos help me understand some concepts, thanks a lot! Would love to see more content on actual usage of tools like RTL-SDR, Flipper zero, etc for real world use cases, e.g. reading real signals, understanding how and why they are how they are. Currently I mostly struggle with sitting in front of raw data and not really knowing how to approach identifying and decoding the signals correctly. I understand this probably is a lot of just knowing things and I hope sticking around will teach me some of this stuff.

[@rajaramkrishnamurthi1538]

Nice description. So clear.Like a BBC news!!

[@netautorisationnetautorisa545]

*YES ...LEARN TO "KNOW" WHAT SOUND .. IT IS YOU "HEAR" TAKES TIME* *BUT IS NOT "ALL" YOU WANT TO "SEE /DECODE" ....* ( allways in "SSB" ... and use "LSB" .. this will get "90%" of decoders "happy" ) *ON GOOGLE "SIGNAL LISTINGS" .. AND "AUDIO - DEMO" OF SIGNALS* *CAN BE FUND ..* *AND "BIG" LISTs OF "FREQ IN USE" .. WHO IT CAN BE .. AND "DECODE INFO"* ..... ELSE ... JUST USE "TIME" TO LISTEN ..... *A REAL **#RADIO** IS BETTER ... "ALLWAYS"* (no do not mean "a lot of money" ) *I STARTED WITH A "SIEMENS E310 or E311" ?? (BIG OLD HF RADIO)* *THEN "COMPUTER SOFTWARE" (DECODERS)* *.. **#FREE** **#GOOD** SOFTWARE IS A .."MUST" ..* *SOME IS "CRAP" ... BUT IF "LUCKY" ..YOU FIND A "GOOD" ONE* (THIS WILL ALSO TAKE TIME .. ARE MANY MANY TO "TRY") *I USED THIS ..."OLD/NEW" .. IN "MANY YEARS" ..."MANY YEARS"* *THEN "SOME YEARS AGO" .. ( ICOM R-9000 )... THIS ONE COST MONEY !!* ( a super radio .. 30 khz - 2000 mhz .. ) *NOW "SAILOR RADIO DENMARK" SYS 1000 / 1000-B /SOLAS STATION* (7 of them) ..BUT... ALSO HAVE A LOT OF ... "SDR STUFF" ... AND "NOTE BOOKS" !! MOST "NOTE BOOKS" MAKES #NOISE ... ON THE "RADIO - FREQ" ... *( WHAT THEY NOT TELL YOU )* *AT THE "END" RTL-SDR RADIO .. IS ONLY FOR "FUN"* *ERRORS AND COMPUTER "PROBLEMS" ..IS NORMAL* *EVEN THE "BIG REAL" SDR-RADIOS .. "COST A TON".. AND ARE NOT "GOOD".* *JUST WHAT I KNOW ... ( started before 1990 with hf stuff )* *AND DONE "MOST" .. WHAT CAN BE "DONE" ....* *SO A "REAL RADIO" ( OLD NEW DO NOT MATTER ) .. just **#no** plastick junk ..* *AND A "COMPUTER" ONLY AS "DECODER" .. WORKS BEST* (MY "SAILOR RADIOS" ..R1119/R1120/R1121.. ARE FROM "1985 - 1990" ) I CAN "LISTEN" MORE ...AND "DECODE" MORE .. THEN THE RADIO PEOPLE HERE IN TOWN ..THEY ARE .. "HAMS" ... !! hehe have a good day mister

[@harambe4628]

Great informative video. This helped me decided what to do with the project I had in mind. Cheers.

[@nurnachman]

wowowowowoowwwww!!!! so interesting... and touches so many fields of science and engineering 😎

[@pepe3591]

Really good quality, would like to hear more about antenas and how they work

[@d.w.nickerson4147]

Thank you for that introduction!

[@janusdk]

Halfway in: Interesting topic. Well put together video - and I already shared it with friends. Now, back to the vide :-)

[@TurnFullCircle]

wow this is great info - i have a small xdata 808 which I really like - but this looks fantastic - I have been thinking about getting something like this for some time - I love the look of the Angel software - did not know this was a thing! i am really interested in tracking aircraft and shipping too.Thank you very much for this informative video...cheers

[@Simonrilley812]

Finally you uploaded love your vid❤❤😂

[@icurnet]

A very professional video, thanks

[@hulkgqnissanpatrol6121]

When I got mine on launch, I was excited but all I've done it decode radar and become a semi professional Rf antenna builder! 😅

[@thevoice4you-hq7bf]

Superb to say the least ...thanks 😀😎

[@casybond]

Nice overview, thanks.

[@OniKingFukai]

Great video, looking forward to more.

[@coolingfan]

Thank You so much! I wonder about DIY antenna too!

[@profbosons]

Excellente vidéo, bravo!

[@iphone2web]

Amazing video! Thank you

[@GeekNetworkDK]

Fedt Søren, flere videoer tak… giv den gas 😎

[@alphadexxa]

Is that a Danish accent i'm detecting?

[@sn0ren]

Det kan jeg vist ikke løbe fra.. 😬

[@tomastomas595]

I think, that 'snoren' it's Danish name 100%

[@CANADA-fq9fh]

Dit klink ook bietjie Duits en bietjie Hollands of tussen die twee...Interessant

[@JanDahl]

110% dansk prosodi. Det er ligesom at høre Mumlemanden 😊❤️

[@signalscout6020]

Very well done, I've shared this video as a great primer on radio in general. I really push the 50USD RTL-SDR combo kit, along with their excellent ebook, for potential ham radio operators. If you plan a more in-depth look at SDRANGEL, I would certainly watch. Cheers.

[@tonymon875]

Very well presented thank you

[@drakeblackk]

10:18 might be a stupid question, but if i would connect my UVK5 to my pc, it would work with any sdr programs, to see waterfall and stuff just like with the RTL-SDR V4 itself? Like without spending any more money on it? I already ordered the V4, im just interested if i could to that with my radio too, because however i searched, didnt find anything, i might be just stil stupid for this. Thanks :)

[@sn0ren]

No, UV-K5 is not an SDR. But if you use the Remote Dock project for quansheng radios, then you can get somewhat of a spectrum to be displayed on your computer. But not a full blown SDR implementation.

[@drakeblackk]

@@sn0ren Oh yeah, i have firmware on mine with the spectrum, i thought that it would be possible somehow to connect the radio to my pc, and actually listen to the channels on my pc, using my radio. Thanks!:)

[@HenricPelegric]

great video always

[@josefkesavaara]

Excellent introduce to the topic ❤

[@callmetony1319]

keep up the great work 👍

[@sniperchaz111]

Dont forget on HF Amatures use between 160m to 10m not just 80m to 10m bands plus all modes but more frequently cw usb lsb rtty

[@joeyjamison5772]

Thanks, good video.

[@-Tris-]

A magnetic loop antenna is great for listening to HF. And maybe use a balun (or unun in this case) for the long wire antenna. Just my experience. 😉

[@baomao7243]

In 2000 I saw an SDR demodulate 900MHz - it needed to run on an Intel Xeon server processor. But thanks to Moores Law, in 2024 silicon with similar compute capability is incredibly cheap - almost “jelly bean” pricing where you buy it by the kg.

[@The07059]

12:28 what is that version of thinkpad??? Is it x230???

[@sn0ren]

Yes

[@beerforceone]

Great content (and channel), love the artistic direction. Do you mind sharing the music ? Thanks a lot!

[@sn0ren]

Thanks! It’s just random tracks from storyblocks audio library. I can try and look the specific ones up later.

[@w.loczykij5354]

Just what I needed

[@ricardohernadez4525]

Is SDR++ available for android devices? I don t see the android file in their Nightly Build Files anymore...😔😔😔

[@robertcorbin2749]

Thanks for sharing. Do you know if there is an sdk or some sort of c documentation for creating your own programs for the rtl-sdr device?

[@dwudcuqoyl1465]

I started with rtlsdr still use them but now mostly hackrf is my goto( cant beat the speed and resolution and range) But still use rtl sdrs for chaining with hackrf ( to increase bandwidth *this does involve external clocking)

[@JudgeFredd]

Very informative video

[@Zealor365]

Excellent video.

[@tomadam337]

What antenna would you recommend to listen to aircrafts? airband VHF

[@dartmaximus4091]

I have the same question)

[@tomadam337]

@@dartmaximus4091 I found another video and the person said a dipole with 23 inch on each side should work for the airband.

[@sn0ren]

Check out my video on antennas for HackRf - I go over the theory on antenna lengths for specific frequencies

[@dorado66]

Hello friend, I just bought a STL-SDR V4 but it is not compatible with the console V3 application. It accepts the driver, it recognizes it but there is no reception, can you help?. Psdt. I am currently using Sdr++ and it works fine

[@sulochanasatyan7228]

Sweden calling 🎉

[@danedewaard8215]

NICE VIDEO!!!

[@bobtail1200]

Werq. I like how hes says that , im goning to start talking like this giy . Thank you

[@zap117]

what would i need if i want to build a cyberdeck that can also transmit like a ham radio ?

[@partymcfly5549]

lol, outset island on the computer behind you, nice

[@4Nanook]

This was my first dongle, unfortunately I found the below 50Mhz response both noisy and full of birdies. I upgraded to an rspDX and much happier with this unit. Granted the first was $25 and the second $200 but the difference in performance is more than a little.

[@cvabds]

Nice content

[@crashline]

Subscribed. Good video.

[@mikeames1427]

I have two similar radio plug in units. Was never happy with the software. What software do you suggest for ease of use and performance? Newbie at RDS as most experience is analog/digital.

[@sn0ren]

I like SDR++ for general receiving

[@CD6GLL]

Excelent work. Greetings from Chile. I can use this device in a mac m1?

[@sn0ren]

Yes

[@CD6GLL]

@@sn0ren muchas gracias. Saludos desde Chile

[@oneloveafrica8860]

tanks man it was so good

[@LoweTN]

Had the Radarbox24 yellow VHF stick for a while and never intercepted a whistles! No assistance by RD24.

[@CosmicYT11]

That buzzer noise is the Russian buzzer

[@leopoldomolina1763]

I used my handheld radio on 146 MHz just 1m away from the RTL dongle and it certainly freeze the SDR++ app when I pushed the PTT. But it looks to be still okay... I won't do it again :S

[@sn0ren]

You’re EMP’ing it ⚡️

[@christophersmith7714]

I got a genuine rtl-sdr dongle. I use iphone and mac so can someone recommend some software/apps that will work? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Total noooooby here. Cheers from UK

[@matthewfernell2027]

So if there are 25 stations on 92.5 mhz on FM does that mean, you can listen to all of them with an SDR or just local stuff

[@sn0ren]

Not sure I understand your question but you can only listen to FM broadcast stations on VHF that you have within range, regardless of what radio you use to receive it with, car radio, sdr, etc. Radio signals on VHF are line-of-sight and broadcast FM stations use big antenna towers to cover a large area, but ultimately the curvature of earth prevents signals to propagate further and thus several radio stations can use the same frequency if they are far enough apart to not overlap in coverage.

[@matthewfernell2027]

@@sn0ren so I can only pick up what I would in a car radio on an FM frequency? Do I have this correct?

[@sn0ren]

Correct

[@arvaneret_329]

Can these SDR USB devices damage the laptop to which they're connected as antennas?

[@sn0ren]

Not unless lightning strikes your antenna

[@arvaneret_329]

@@sn0ren What about too much signal or touching some part of the USB after accumulating electrostatic and feel a discharge?

[@sn0ren]

@@arvaneret_329 I haven't heard of anyone having such problems. If you have a long wire antenna outside it could technically build up static, but so can walking across the carpet. If you're worried about it, just ground your antenna before plugging it in.

[@maslojihoceske]

I Have a question if exist this but on cw ssb

[@Duckland6070]

❤❤❤ good

[@theminer49erz]

Link in description took me to a page of text reviews amd video links, but no way to aquire one.

[@theminer49erz]

I found one though! I have land on top of a big hill already well above anything around me. Its roughly 3500feet, likely more that that, but I just moved here and am still learning. It's a farm so any interfere will likley be of my own making which is good. I have plenty of room to build antenna, and multible types of Sat dishes I have collected over the years, ready to go, so why not start to dig in?! I grew up in an area where it would have been fun, but never got into it, having no access/mentor. Then I lived in areas where it would be a nightmare to learn in at least. But no more excuses! This seems like a fun way for a PC nerd like myself to jump into it too. I learned a good bit trying to get broadband up here. I eventually landed on 2x Parabolic antenna for a dedicated 2xMIMO 4GLTE modem, but it took a while to get to that point even. Started with a phone hot spot getting 3MBs download w/ barely 1MBs uploads. After about three other setups, I ended up with this one that I have now, getting 25MBs down and 8 up! A lot better than Hugesnet (Satellite) and much more reliable about the same if not better upload and is MUCH cheaper than starlink. I tried both the Sat options. It's also less than half the price of DSL which would be terrible anyway as well as extremely overpriced. Ok, I digress sorry, thanks for the video!

[@test-xv7wc]

我的v4版本的RTLSDR的usbA接口已经变形了，它似乎比其他的USBA接口长一点，并且自重很大，USBA口没法提供足够的机械强度，我想自行绘制一个pcb转接版，将usbA装换为usbA 或着直接焊接上连接线

[@dimepia123]

Works with a mac?

[@sn0ren]

Yup 🍏

[@yannisgk]

it works (somewhat) but only few softwares exist for the mac!!!

[@andreasgaming9004]

are you from denmark?

[@sn0ren]

Ja 🇩🇰

[@orgelkraft]

I wish they made an SDR for the iPAD..

[@sn0ren]

Yeah unfortunately iPad is quite locked down but there are sdr apps for android so maybe grab a cheap tablet and you can plug the RTL SDR into it.

[@jyk4]

good info but the background music is only disturbing

[@MENSA.lady2]

Start with a proper receiver like an RCA AR88D, yes it's heavy but it will do a proper job. Plugging a device into a USB port on a PC will teach you nothing useful. To receive anything useful you MUST have a decent antenna which a proper receiver hill have provision for.