[NLRS] RTL2832U DVB-T dongle source

[Doug Reed]

<http://www.ebay.com/itm/160786708241?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649>
Ebay item# 160786708241
Last week a number of people asked where they could buy one of these 
dongles to play with SDR. I simply suggested go to Ebay.

Since then, this particular Ebay vendor was mentioned in the "SDRSharp" 
email group. The context was specific to finding a dongle that had an 
ESD protection diode already installed on the antenna input. This seller 
specifically advertises his dongle includes a protection diode and he 
ships from New York. The only negative I can see is that his price is 
$28 instead of under $20, but his delivery will be via First Class mail 
in about a week instead of 3 weeks (and no diode) from Hong Kong. Take 
your pick.

Regarding the ESD diode, experimenters consider it to be a pretty 
important feature to have in the dongle. My dongle doesn't have one so 
I'll have to buy some appropriate diodes to add one before I attach any 
sort of larger antenna to the unit. If you need to add ESD protection to 
your dongle, the recommendation is to buy some BAV99 SC70 or SOT-23 SMD 
diodes from Ebay or wherever.

This is a dual-diode package and is easy to solder from the antenna 
input to ground. I use "easy" in the sense that it is only 3 connections 
to solder. But if you are not used to SMD work, don't have a good 
magnifier lens or microscope, and don't have steady hands and a small 
solder iron tip, don't even think about it.... This is one time where 
the $8 extra would be well spent....

FYI, there is room in my dongle to fit a SOT-23 diode package if I take 
care. But the actual space on the PCB is for the SC70 package which is 
about half the size of SOT-23. I consider the three-pin SOT-23 package, 
about 1/8" by 1/16" in size, to be easy to solder. The SC70 package is 
half that and is a bitch to solder without a microscope and a very sharp 
pointy solder iron tip....

73, Doug Reed, N0NAS.