[Scan-DC] Use a $15 Dongle for VHF voice, Radar, and ACARS monitoring

Thu Oct 3 23:32:48 EDT 2013

I have bought multiples of 4 different kinds (very small black, larger
black, same size white, larger white) on eBay.  Every type worked with SDR#
when correctly installed.  All were RTL2832U chipset.  I would buy from eBay
as most people have--for the price, not owning one is silly.  Greatest
trouble people have is installing the software--though easy, it seems
subject to glitches installing.   In some cases, after failures to get
install to works, copying a working installed version of the same software
works.  Start with SDR# (sharp) and HDSDR.  If one works, the other will
once properly installed.  Do *not* install the software that comes with the
dongle--although it usually does not cause a problem, it is not needed and
could potentially confusing diagnosing if there is a problem.

--
David L. Wilson
dwilson314 at verizon.net

> -----Original Message-----
> From: scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:scan-dc-
> bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of andrew
> Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2013 11:02 PM
> To: Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Use a $15 Dongle for VHF voice, Radar, and ACARS
> monitoring
> 
> I have gotten a few of the dongles. The ones I had bad luck with are a few
> purchased on eBay. I am sure there will be some that will work. I ended up
> buyon 2 different ones from Amazon that work well.
> 
> I think as long as the dongle is R820T you should be OK.
> 
> One of the ones I have purchased and work fine better than others is
> Tertatec TStick.
> 
> www.rtl-sdr.com has more information about what you can do with these
> dongles. Look for a post from April 13  2013.
> On Oct 3, 2013 10:47 PM, "Robert Fisher" <rwfisheriv at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> > I'd be interested to know what brands of the dongle worked for
> > folks...there is no shortage of different ones to choose from!!!
> >
> > > On Oct 3, 2013, at 13:34, Dewey3 <dewey3 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > Yes, been using mine for a little while now.  The SDR (Software
> > > Defined
> > > Radio) dongles generally run between $15-$30 dollars.  They will
> > > cover something like 54 MHz all the way up to around 2200 MHz with a
> > > small
> > break
> > > in the 1200 MHz area.  Been using two with Trunk88, one for the CC
> > > and
> > one
> > > for tuning the analog voice.  They are also very fun to use by
> > > themselves because you can be listening to one frequency, and see
> > > activity occurring on other frequencies 1 MHz up or down.  They are
> > > not quite as sensitive
> > as
> > > a scanner, and the included antenna is worthless ...BUT... put them
> > > on a better antenna, and they're a ton of fun for $15-$30.  Google
"SDR
> Radio"
> > > to learn more about them.
> > >
> > > Dewey
> > >
> > >
> > > On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 12:51 PM, Rick Hansen
> > ><Rick.Hansen at apsglobal.com
> > >wrote:
> > >
> > >>
> > >> Hi, I found this event in an Amateur Radio group on www.Meetup.com.
> > >> I
> > plan
> > >> to attend.
> > >>
> > >> The $15 Dongle appears to also be good for VHF FM, so Railfans
> > >> should be able to use it too.
> > >> =========================
> > >>
> > >> Wednesday, October 9, 2013
> > >> 7:30 PM
> > >>
> > >> HacDC
> > >> 1525 Newton St NW, Washington, DC (edit map)
> > >>
> > >> http://www.hacdc.org/
> > >> Aircraft Data Monitoring
> > >>
> > >> With a $15 USB dongle you can receive a variety of data from
aircraft.
> > >> Martin KB3UJQ will demonstrate tuning in Mode A/C radar, ADS-B and
> > >> ACARS with a RTL-SDR dongle and conventional VHF radio.
> > >>
> > >> We'll be using our roof mounted antenna to track aircraft flying in
> > >> our area and monitor their data communications.
> > >>
> > >> ADS-B is an upgrade for conventional surveillance radar for
> > >> military, commercial and general aviation.  ACARS is used like
> > >> email between
> > aircraft
> > >> and the ground.  The acronyms will be flying!
> > >>
> > >> See more and join the group at:
> > >> http://www.meetup.com/hac-
> dc/events/141117982/?a=ea2_grp&rv=ea2
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
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