Nooelec RTL-SDR v5 Bundle - NESDR Smart HF/VHF/UHF (100kHz-1.75GHz) Software Defined Radio. Premium RTLSDR w/ 0.5PPM TCXO, SMA Input, Aluminum Enclosure & 3 Antennas. RTL2832U & R820T2-Based Radio

These work great for RTL-SDR use. Plus they give you a pack of 3 Various antennas. NooElec also sends you an Email link on how to setup this SDR up in Windows. For the price, these are just incredible to mess around with for looking at the RF spectrum or to check signal levels For Your New Scanner Antenna! You should also buy a (SMA male to F female adapter ) to hook up to some RG6 cable for an outdoor antenna setup for less interference (noise floor) from your computer, etc. Very revealing, to see just how good/bad a signal comes in to you and how high the noise floor level floats underneath. You could spend thousands and get a high end device to do that too, but this SDR (with the free software) will give you nearly that accuracy for $25. I have at least one running all the time and after an hour or so, there is No Drift whatsoever! I'm locked on a P-25 control channel and the carrier peaks exactly on frequency and just stays there all day. It has no drift. You can't ask for better specs. It receives radio signals from about the CB band (27Mhz) to about 1.7Ghz. Great for radio type "pirate experiments" too. You can hear and examine any signal you point it at, but it will only decode audio on Analog signals with the standard software. Digital P-25, etc signals will just be heard as noise bursts. For these digital signals P-25/trunking you'll need two of these SDR units and other software and yet more advanced computer skills. You can also use it to look at FM radio broadcast signals, and RDS data too. You can hear those as well. I also have the NESDR mini 2, but this is the better package deal. The case gets warm but it does not block another USB port, so this thing was well thought out. It is not a toy. NooElec gets my 5 stars vote for an Incredible Radio Receiver Device that really delivers the goods as a full fledged advanced RF Analyzer Tool with a low price. They don't know how Great it really is. I have wanted this particular device in my possession for 40 years. Great product, NooElec!

I purchased this tuner to use with a Raspberry Pi for an inexpensive VHF/UHF receiver. It works very well for that purpose considering it is broadband tuner and doesn't have tuned front-end bandpass filters. I live within 5-10 miles of some powerful paging transmitters and a NOAA weather transmitter and they don't seem to degrade the performance of the tuner when it is listening elsewhere. Quite acceptable performance considering the cost. The included antenna pack works well for VHF/UHF and the cable is long enough to place the antenna away from the Raspberry Pi. You can also connect an outdoor antenna to the SMA connector if you need better performance. Installing the drivers was not difficult and Nooelec sent along instructions that were easy to follow. When using the Zadig utility, be very careful when selecting the device to install. Don't rush and you will be fine. One of our club members accidentally selected his Bluetooth adapter instead of the SDR dongle and it took a bit of work to undo that mistake. This is not the fault of Noolec (or Zadig actually) -- to one who is given much power, much responsibility is required. Please note that these units (as do any SDR dongles) run hot, even with the all metal case to dissipate the heat, so be careful touching the case after it has been running for a period of time. Although I would prefer that the operating temperature would be lower, it doesn't seem to impact performance and hopefully product life. I have a Nooelec Nano 3 and that runs even hotter and has been in service for some time now without issues. Nooelec has been very responsive when I have contacted them and shipped my orders promptly, even with the current pandemic. All in all, a solid and inexpensive way to experiment with Software Defined Radio.

I enjoy using this SDR. The software is easy to install and it works right away after it is installed. It takes a while to familiarize with the display software, if I may, but once you get used to them, everything is easy. I recommend this for beginners like me. You get somewhat complete stuff for the price.

Gets hot, and sometimes REALLY hot. Kind of weird how something that's meant to receive radio signals would get so hot... Can't quite cook an egg on it until trying to use it all day, so that's something. Definitely need to augment cooling. Otherwise, as far as functionality, it's mostly plug and play. They have a program and some drivers you have to download in windows to get everything to work properly, which they don't clearly tell you about. Once that's done it works very well and is reasonably sensitive with the provided antennas. However, one big downside is that (again they don't tell you this) is that to receive ham radio signals you need extra stuff to connect to it. Also, TV is a no go since this thing does not have the bandwidth capacity needed. Works well for AM/FM radio and aviation, etc.... Linux usage was pretty much plug and play. Only thing I had to do really after connecting it was installing software that could use it, and the most popular one works great on Linux. There's actually a bunch of tools on Linux, under the task-hamradio apt metapackage. Overall, it's not a horrible value for the money, and decent enough for basic needs. The heat and limited bandwidth issues are huge drawbacks. Unfortunately though, to get a unit that can do TV, you're spending more than $300. So, for what it does I guess it's not a horrible value. I kept mine since it comes in handy sometimes.

When I bought this little SDR, I was a bit discouraged by how it took extra work to get it to function on windows. It eventually did and performed well... for a while (both in windows and linux). It had success working with SDR#, HDSDR, GQRX, and I suspect it would have worked with any SDR software. Well, I used it successfully yesterday and had no mishaps storing it as usual, however, today it does not work at all. It didn't last 6 months (more like a week of actual use). I seldom used it until the last two months when I began to learn how much more I could do with a SDR. I have no explanation nor advice on how to avoid this- it just quit working. I have tried (un/re)installing (yes, I know about Zadig). No changes were made to the system it was used on yesterday. It was powered off, then powered on today and it doesn't work anymore. This is NOT an installation or user issue. I have tried it on multiple ports and more than one system, windows, linux, nothing. Before this, I definitely would have given it 5 stars. This makes me a sad panda. Now I get to play the warranty game. I am extremely grateful for the 2-year warranty... now, how to go about starting that? **UPDATE** I spoke with the NooElec support team at: [email protected] I must admit to being a bit surprised. Their response was incredibly fast. In fact, it was almost immediate. It was so late in the night, I didn't bother looking for a response, but it was there, and didn't appear to be a scripted automatic response. Their support was amazing. Even through email, Sarah was quite pleasant and easy to work with. The information I provided seemed uninformative to me, but I gave all the steps I took to troubleshoot, my observations and also the two screenshots I put here (my details were a bit more expansive than what I put here). It was all that was needed to determine what was wrong. In my case, it was not deemed worthy of salvage or further troubleshooting. This is apparently a rare issue as all NooElec stuff is burn-tested for 24 hours. A bad one got through, but that sort of thing inevitably happens to almost everyone's product. I'm not trying to be a commercial, or sound like their PR, lol... just expressing pleasant surprise. A 2 year warranty speaks pretty highly by itself! A replacement is now on the way. Looking forward to it. I wish all warranty support went this easily. If it weren't such an easy process and an experience which also gave me so much confidence in their products, I would have only taken the 1star to a 4star. This went so smoothly and painlessly, it deserves 5 stars. I had been pondering which SDR brand to toy with next after this one broke... but after this warranty support, I will definitely be buying more of these! I am a loyal customer now... and my first one was a dud. If you are shopping for SDRs, get one of these. If it breaks, they'll take care of you.

Pros: Nice small case, works fine when it works. Cons: Slightly worse reception than the RTL-SDRv3, Intermittent usb disconnects. Just wiggling this makes the device reboot. I have to set it Just So for it to work, but even the skigvhest bump and it stops working. Not worth the trouble. Idk if they skimped on the usb connector, poorly soldered it, or what. It doesn't wiggle. I have only used it indoors at my desk. Never had a full size usb connection go so flakey. Can't reccommend this when the rtl-sdr is better in pretty much every way and cheaper.

The Nooelec NESDR SMArt v5 Bundle is a premium software-defined radio (SDR) kit designed to transform your computer, tablet, or smartphone into a versatile RF receiver. With a frequency range spanning from 100kHz to 1.75GHz, it caters to a broad spectrum of applications, including AM/FM radio, shortwave, CB, air traffic control, ADS-B, AIS, NOAA weather satellites, and more. ⸻ ⚙️ Key Features • Wide Frequency Coverage: Receives signals from 100kHz to 1.75GHz, supporting a vast array of radio communications. • Enhanced Performance: Compared to previous versions, the v5 offers up to 15dB improvement in HF signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and up to 6dB in VHF/UHF SNR. • High-Precision TCXO: Equipped with a 0.5PPM temperature-compensated crystal oscillator for improved frequency stability. • Robust Build: Housed in a black brushed aluminum enclosure with an integrated heatsink, ensuring durability and efficient heat dissipation. • Comprehensive Antenna Kit: Includes a magnetic antenna base with a 2m RG58 cable and three antenna masts: a variable-frequency telescopic antenna, a 433MHz fixed-frequency antenna, and a UHF fixed-frequency antenna. • Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works seamlessly with Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android operating systems. ⸻ 👍 Pros • Versatile Reception: Capable of receiving a wide range of frequencies, making it suitable for various applications. • Improved Signal Quality: Enhanced SNR ensures clearer reception, especially in HF bands. • Portable and Durable: Compact design with a sturdy aluminum enclosure makes it ideal for both stationary and mobile setups. • User-Friendly: Plug-and-play functionality with extensive software support simplifies the user experience. ⸻ 👎 Cons • Limited HF Performance: While it supports direct sampling for HF reception, optimal performance may require an upconverter like the “Ham It Up” for frequencies below 25MHz. • No Bias-Tee Power: The v5 lacks a bias-tee, which means it cannot power active antennas directly. • Heat Generation: Extended use can lead to the device becoming warm; adequate ventilation is recommended for continuous operation. ⸻ 🧪 User Experience Users have reported positive experiences with the NESDR SMArt v5, noting its sensitivity and ease of use. One user mentioned, “I was amazed at the system’s sensitivity with nothing but a telescopic antenna mounted indoors. All bands perform very well.” However, some users have pointed out the absence of a bias-tee and the device’s tendency to heat up during prolonged use. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall consensus is that the NESDR SMArt v5 offers excellent value for its price point. ⸻ 🧰 Conclusion The Nooelec NESDR SMArt v5 Bundle stands out as a versatile and cost-effective solution for both beginners and seasoned radio enthusiasts. Its broad frequency coverage, improved signal reception, and robust build quality make it a reliable choice for various SDR applications. While it has some limitations in HF performance and lacks a bias-tee, these are minor considerations given its overall capabilities and affordability.

I bought this to be a mobile SDR device and meant to be deployed on the go. Setup was a breeze, the antenna base and wire are kind of a pain, but everything worked pretty well out of the box except one thing. The darn USB connector is just slightly too long or narrow to fit snugly in ANY USB port! I tried 2 laptops, a Raspberry Pi, an expensive vertical USB hub, the supplied extension... And no matter what I changed, moving the antenna to tune the radio would inevitably disconnect it from the computer. I tried it for almost two months all while in contact with customer service and they told me it was common to have it disconnect due to the weight and I needed to keep trying hubs and extensions... Well that's not very good advice for your product and I returned it because I tried nearly everything, but if you have a way to snug this thing up and leave it alone it would work great. If not, get the RTL-SDR Blog v4 it fits much better without any wiggling or disconnecting. It's really a shame because if this USB issue was fixed this would easily have 5 stars from me.