Currently RTL-SDR development in a BETA state across almost all projects.
Easiest way to get started with your new RTL based dongle is using a install package provided by spench.net.
- Download and install http://www.hdsdr.de/download/HDSDR_install.exe Follow the instructions and remember where you installed it to. (YOU CAN SKIP THIS STEP IF YOU SELECT TO INSTALL HDSDR VIA THE SETUP PACKAGE IN STEP 2)
- Visit http://wiki.spench.net/wiki/USRP_Interfaces#BETA and download the ExtIO_USRP+FCD+RTL2832+BorIP-BETA_Setup.zip setup package. While there, grab the new librtl2832++.zip (without updating it you will have a tough time and see many errors)
- Make sure your dongle is plugged in.
- Extract the first .ZIP you downloaded and run the installer contained within. Install to the same folder as HDSDR. During the install process, you will be asked to install the Zadig drivers. If your dongle doesn’t automatically show up, select Options then List all Devices. Select Bulk in Interface 0 (NOT 1 if that shows up) and click Install Drivers or Replace Drivers. Close the Zadig installer and complete the rest of the install.
- When completed, extract http://spench.net/drupal/files/librtl2832++.zip to the same folder as where you installed HDSDR (or ExtIO if you chose a different location). You may have to delete/rename the existing file before replacing it.
- Launch HDSDR
- Ignore errors you see on first launch. There should be two windows that open HDSDR and Device Control. Select the Device Control window and under “Device Hint” put “RTL readlen=8192 tuner=e4k” without the quotation marks. Click Create. Hopefully it should work and you can go back to the HDSDR window, click START (or hit F2) and begin tuning around.
THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS BASED ON MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. CLARIFICATION MAY BE NEEDED.
Any questions, please ask and I will do my best to answer and clarify this post.
Here is a video about the same process:
Note: The above instructions require you have a basic knowledge of using computers and installing software. Be sure to read all instructions on your screen provided by the installers.
Janos
on Apr 30th, 2012
@ 1:39 am:
Embedded rtl-sdr setup
I made a temporaly setup, realising my idea, to run the rtl-sdr software on a small linux box, and receive the data on ethernet, and process it on a remote desktop with gnuradio blocks.
https://sites.google.com/site/embrtlsdr/
t.janos
admin
on Apr 30th, 2012
@ 12:20 pm:
Hey Janos,
I’ve made a separate post for your embedded RTL-SDR setup. It would be great if you could keep us all updated.
Thanks!
OsmoSDR - turn a USB TV tuner into an SDR - The RadioReference.com Forums
on May 3rd, 2012
@ 4:13 pm:
[...] the device arrived today from China. I followed this relatively simple tutorial and was up and running in no time. With the crappy included antenna and [...]
Putting a software defined radio on a mac - Hack a Day
on May 12th, 2012
@ 11:03 am:
[...] For people who have a Windows box lying around [balint] put up a getting started guide. [...]
Putting a software defined radio on a mac | Share Blog
on May 12th, 2012
@ 11:06 am:
[...] For people who have a Windows box lying around [balint] put up a getting started guide. [...]
Putting a software defined radio on a mac » Geko Geek
on May 12th, 2012
@ 11:30 am:
[...] For people who have a Windows box lying around [balint] put up a getting started guide. [...]
Putting a software defined radio on a mac « Hackaday « Cool Internet Projects
on May 12th, 2012
@ 2:51 pm:
[...] For people who have a Windows box lying around [balint] put up a getting started guide. [...]
Putting a software defined radio on a mac « Vijai's Blog
on May 14th, 2012
@ 2:34 pm:
[...] For people who have a Windows box lying around [balint] put up a getting started guide. [...]
Mike
on May 15th, 2012
@ 11:07 pm:
Bought the
Newsky DVB-T Stick Freeview DAB DAB+ FM USB RTL2832U / Elonics E4000
Followed your instructions ok
But the 2nd time I ran HDSDR it came back with the Device Control but when I repeated the hint command it came back with no valid driver found.
I’m doing something wrong but I can’t see why.
I had HDSDR showing signals on the waterfall but no FM decoding only noise when I ran it the first time.
Any advice/tips would be apprieciated.
DaveNF2G
on May 19th, 2012
@ 5:52 am:
The parenthetical comment at the end of Step 1 is confusing.
What “setup package below” renders Step 1 unnecessary?
SDR# With RTL-SDR Support | RTL - Software Defined Radio
on May 21st, 2012
@ 3:07 pm:
[...] SDR# (SDR-Sharp) versions 244+ (dev) have added support for RTL based SDRs supported by ExtIO. Extract the download link to the same folder you installed ExtIO to. If you haven’t done that yet, try this guide. [...]
Michel
on May 26th, 2012
@ 11:44 pm:
Hello,
I have a software conlict between Perseus Microtelecom WINUSB drivers and RTL drivers.
How i can resolve this.
Thanks by advnce for your tips
Scan New England
on May 27th, 2012
@ 5:36 pm:
Thanks for the instructions. My new el-cheapo SDR worked the first time using them. Greatly appreciated!
Scott
The RTL2832U / Elonics E4000 SDR Radio - AKA "The $20 SDR" | Ham Radio Science
on Jun 13th, 2012
@ 1:41 pm:
[...] just to be sure everything is working before moving on to other software projects. Use these instructions to get your stick and software installed. During the driver install, you will be asked what device [...]
Arno
on Jun 18th, 2012
@ 3:03 am:
Hi,
I have bought the “TerraTec T-Stick+” with Realtek RTL2832U / Elonics E4000 chipset (I have opened it to check it).
Than I have followed all your install steps, allso putting RTL readlen=8192 tuner=e4k in the device hint. But when I launched HDSDR Device Control and I click “Create”, it shows “could not find a compatible device” and so on.
Please could you help me??
Thank you!
(Win XP SP 3)
RTL-SDR Adventures | AmateurRadio.com
on Jul 23rd, 2012
@ 7:06 am:
[...] in Windows 7 on my aging Dell D630, I was able to get the SDR running. Using the instructions here at rtlsdr.com, I finally got things up and running. There was one mistake that made me lose several minutes. [...]
Joao
on Jul 27th, 2012
@ 3:06 am:
For TerraTec T-Stick you need ti put
RTL readlen=8129 vid=0x0CCD pid=0x00D3 tuner=e4
on device hit
Redtank
on Jul 28th, 2012
@ 2:33 pm:
I was able to get HDSDR up and running fine on my Windows XP box by following your excellent instructions, thank you. I’d like to run the software on my Vista 64 laptop but am unable to install the driver supplied in instruction #4. Windows refuses the driver. On the other hand, Windows accepted the USB driver supplied with the Ezcap install CD. I’m not able to configure the Device Control without the correct driver….any suggestions or has anyone else had the same issues with installing on Vista?
Thanks,
Cris
best smoothie blender
on Aug 7th, 2012
@ 8:42 pm:
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Carey
on Aug 12th, 2012
@ 6:43 pm:
just got my rtl going. this thing is great. works like a dream, thanks for the tutorial
Dan
on Aug 18th, 2012
@ 7:06 pm:
Thanks for the guide! I followed your steps and my device gets detected and the program starts. I can see signal on the histogram, but all i ever hear is noise. Never do i get any clean signal at all. I’ve even replaced the craptastic antenna the unit ships with…any thoughts?
Blog motoryzacyjny
on Aug 27th, 2012
@ 9:20 am:
I don’t even understand how I finished up here, however I believed this put up was once great. I do not know who you’re however certainly you’re going to a well-known blogger for those who are not already. Cheers!
Craig
on Sep 10th, 2012
@ 7:06 am:
Been trying to get this working under windows 8 with no luck at all.
tony
on Sep 13th, 2012
@ 12:34 pm:
not working here.
got Ezcap DVB-T with RTL chipset and e4k tuner (it says.)
box say’s rev 8.0 ,so i guess i got some driver isue.
can tune, i see spike, but no sound.
soundcard is correct and wide enough in badwide.
even local radio give no sound.
local repeater (2 miles distance,) no sound..
RTL2832U with HDSDR - The RadioReference.com Forums
on Sep 15th, 2012
@ 8:27 am:
[...] [...]
fri
on Sep 18th, 2012
@ 1:18 am:
i have tried with my kworld ub405a with no luck. please any idea? ( i am still not sure the chipset in it)
tony
on Sep 24th, 2012
@ 4:31 am:
hmm, took a trick from a m8, but it seems, the software isnt yet FM ready, hehe..that was most of problem.
RTLSDR Starting from the beginning | KC9WPK Amateur Radio
on Sep 29th, 2012
@ 5:54 pm:
[...] http://www.rtlsdr.com/2012/04/getting-started-with-rtl-sdr-dongle/ [...]
Iamfrankensteein
on Oct 27th, 2012
@ 2:59 am:
Yeah, mine finally works. DO NOT PLUG IN A USB3 PORT!.
I think it has something to do with addressing.
Diego Garcia Medina
on Nov 4th, 2012
@ 6:10 am:
Hi all
Can you please tell me if it is possible to build sdr radio using Encore analog tv dongle Encore Enutv-3
http://www.encore-usa.com/pe/product/ENUTV-3
Thanks in advance
Grant
on Nov 13th, 2012
@ 12:44 am:
Hi there im doing this sdr project , but my dongle just wont connect to HDSDR , in the hint i get the message , could not find compatible device , im using a compro u650f , i pulled it apart and it using the required rtl chipset and tuner chipset , im lost any ideas
Cheers Grant
Gogi
on Dec 13th, 2012
@ 3:55 am:
Заебался я с установкой!! Ни хуя драйвер ебучий не поставить!!!
http://tinyurl.com/univrees24093
on Jan 9th, 2013
@ 7:46 pm:
This particular blog, “Getting Started with a RTL based SDR
Dongle
http://tinyurl.com/buffdring08123
on Jan 28th, 2013
@ 5:26 pm:
“Getting Started with a RTL based SDR Dongle
pompe funebre
on Jun 11th, 2013
@ 6:25 pm:
Hi there, I want to subscribe for this web site to take most
up-to-date updates, thus where can i do it please assist.
penguin
on Jun 13th, 2013
@ 5:10 am:
The zadig installer tries to download and install visual C redistributable package, what a nightmare. The whole concept. Please put the package inside the installer, the download keeps failing. Or use C# for goodness sake. C is built on obsolete 8 bit dos libraries