Cheap wide band radio receiver (USB Dongle)

[Xringer]

I ordered one of these, so I could listen to weather on VHF and maybe hear some ham radio signals..
Figured it might be useful for checking the frequency of the X-10 RF remotes,
and maybe even hear the RF transmissions from my NStar electric meter..?.



Nooelec TV28T V2 USB DVB T Rtl SDR Receiver RTL2832U R820T Tuner MCX Input | eBay


I checked out this site.. rtl-sdr.com - A blog about RTL-SDR (RTL2832U) and cheap software defined radio
rtl-sdr.com
A blog about RTL-SDR (RTL2832U) and cheap software defined radio
~~

I downloaded the SDR stuff and was able to hear a lot of RF signals..
Even with the small antenna, I could hear weather, police and FM radio..
rtl-sdr | Receiving fm transmitter and radio - YouTube


Today, I saw this 1090 Mhz add-on software..
RTL-SDR Tutorial: Cheap ADS-B Aircraft RADAR - rtl-sdr.com

"RTL-SDR Tutorial: Cheap ADS-B Aircraft RADAR

The RTL-SDR can be used as a super cheap real time air radar. Modern planes use something called an ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) Mode-S transponder, which periodically broadcasts location and altitude information to air traffic controllers. The RTL-SDR can be used to listen to these ADS-B signals, which can then used to create your very own home aircraft radar system. "



This afternoon, I was tracking planes flying around the Boston area!!


That's Live Flight tracker (online) on the left side and my little "Radar" on the right..
It's very short range, since I'm using a 4 inch antenna, (taped to a window) so there is signal loss
when the planes get out to 10 or 20 miles.. Best one was about 30 miles..

I saw one plane on the 'Radar', but it was blocked (owner's request) from on-line tracking..
I had no problem tracking it, from it's signals. It was owned by Bank America.


The radar is just one of many add-ons available. I was just curious about it.
Never got to play with a real Radar, so this is the next best thing..
The software is a little complicated, not sure what all the functions are,
but it's fun to play around with.

[NiHaoMike]

I have one and have found that by heatsinking the chips inside (a bit of scrap copper or aluminum works nicely), performance improves. If you connect a regular TV antenna with an adapter, it works better for lower frequencies.

[Xringer]

I have a few of antennas that I want to try for difference apps.
I think a good antenna and maybe a good LNA would help performance a lot..
I have a short adapter (antenna) cable on order, so I can plug into BNC cables etc.

My TV antenna seems like a good one to test, but I'm not sure how many of the
signals I want to spy on, are horizontally polarized. I know the 1090 mHz
'radar' signals are vertically polarized, I might build one for that band.
I have an old 900 mhz base station ant (Comet FP-19) that might be hackable to 1090 mHz..



I had not heard the chips were running hot. I' have some tiny heat sinks in my bins,
so I'll check out the hack.. Right now, I don't even know how to open the dongle..

[NiHaoMike]

Just pry on the seam with your fingernails and it pops right open.

An amplifier can improve performance, but use a good quality one and put it as close to the antenna as you can.

[where2]

Speaking of ADS-B transponders, the guy in the next cube from me at the office is a pilot and has one that is a little ~2" cube he can attach to his iPad. Amazing what the non-commercial pilots have at their fingertips these days in portable electronics.

On a similar concept, in the VHF marine bands you will find AIS, a ship based packet broadcast intended to reduce collisions and near misses on the high seas, and around ports.

[Xringer]

I've seen an impressive radio app on youtube.

I've also seen that AIS add-on. I'm too far inland to play with that one.
I would need a really high antenna.

One of the comments I've seen about the AIS add-on, is that it makes it easier for the pirates.
When I was a kid, I never figured, in the 21st century, we would still be plagued by pirates.

[Acuario]

Originally Posted by Xringer

When I was a kid, I never figured, in the 21st century, we would still be plagued by pirates.

I wrote the software for a company that provides marine security and alerts for pirate/suspicious activity and tracks vessels through dangerous zones of the world. I just took a quick look and they have had 32 reports so far this year. You would be surprised how much activity there is in some parts of the world. Not many result in the vessel being taken but there are frequent occurrences of vessels being attacked while at sea or boarded whilst in port and supplies being stolen.

We provide autonomous satellite trackers that are magnetic and can be placed on a vessel without being obvious. The first thing that happens when a vessel is pirated is that the comms and AIS equipment is disabled making the vessel untrackable. Using our trackers which could be placed pretty much anywhere the vessel can still be tracked.

Acuario

[Xringer]

I found a very old Ham radio antenna down in the basement.
It works pretty well on 1090 MHz.. (And on VHF & UHF too).
I was able to see that Air France visually for about 40 miles (cloud bank).
I had no idea that I could see planes that far away. (in Connecticut & RI).

Even with the antenna in the South facing window, the radio is able to track
planes 30 miles North of me, in NH.. (Signals bouncing off the power lines?).

I never expected this kind of performance from a $20 toy...

[pinballlooking]

Thanks for posting. I just ordered one. This will be fun for me and the boys to play around with.

[Xringer]

I was getting about a 40 mile range with the 'radar', using a 1/4 wave vertical antenna taped to the window.
I'm amazed, because 1/4 wave at 1090 mHz is about 2.6 inches.. (AKA paper clip antenna).

I got a little BNC adapter off Ebay, (from China) since it's got an odd connector.

I like the full coverage of this radio.. Most radios don't have 310 mHz..
(So you can listen to tire pressure signals from passing cars)..