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# Software Defined Radio Receiver USB Stick - RTL2832 w/R820T

**Type:** Product page · **SKU:** ADA1497 · **Brand:** [Adafruit](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/adafruit-australia)
**Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/software-defined-radio-receiver-usb-stick-rtl2832-w-r820t.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/software-defined-radio-receiver-usb-stick-rtl2832-w-r820t.html.md))

If you've ever been curious about software defined radio (SDR), this USB stick is the easiest way possible to have fun with a powerful, configurable receiver. Packed...

## Pricing

- **Price:** $58.50 (inc GST) — $53.18 AUD, exc GST
- **Quantity discounts:** 10+ $51.58 (exc GST) · 50+ $50.53 (exc GST)

## Availability & dispatch

- Out of stock — the product page offers email notification when it returns.

## How to buy

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## Description

If you've ever been curious about software defined radio (SDR), this USB stick is the easiest way possible to have fun with a powerful, configurable receiver. Packed with the powerful RTL2832U and R820T tuner, it can tune into signals from 48.25Mhz to 863.25Mhz. That means you can use a computer (with Windows, Mac, or Linux) to tune into: FM Radio, AM signals (but not AM radio), CW (morse code!), unencrypted radio signals (such as those used by many police and fire departments), POCSAG pagers, and more.

Adafruit plugged it into Adafruit's windows computer and used Zadig SDR# to poke around and listen to the wireless world around us, it's lots of fun!

[Adafruit have a basic getting-started tutorial here](https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-started-with-rtl-sdr-and-sdr-sharp), and theres way more tutorials at these fine sites:

- http://www.rtl-sdr.com/ - a blog with tons of information, ideas and projects
- http://rtlsdr.org/ - a nice resource with links to software.
- http://www.superkuh.com/rtlsdr.html - a blog with tons of hardware details on the RTL SDR chipset
- Melissa Elliott's lovely talk on hacking with the RTL [(and her notes on using the command line utilities on a Mac)](https://www.defcon.org/images/defcon-21/dc-21-presentations/Elliott/DEFCON-21-Elliott-noisefloor-URLS-reference.txt)
- Some nice graphical Mac tools

Comes with a very compact (but very good quality) RTL2832 R820T module with an MCX RF connector, and a basic 'DVB-T' antenna (used to tune into DVB TV signals, not available in the Adafruit but will work in Europe or any country with DVB-T broadcasts) as well as an IR remote which isn't terribly useful. The antenna seems OK for basic experimentation. We also have some MCX to BNC and MCX to SMA adapters (see below) which you may want to use to connect a better antenna.

**Please note!** Depending on your location, listening in to some radio signals may not be legal. So consider this your warning to check before 'accidentally' tuning into naughty frequencies.

### Technical Details

- Antennae Length: 120.65mm / 4.75"
- Wire Length: 1168.4mm / 46"
- USB Dongle: 22.24mm / 0.87" x 23.1mm / 0.9" x 9.9mm / 0.38"

## Images

- [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/1/4/1497-04.jpg)