Nooelec RTL-SDR v5 SDR - NESDR Smart HF/VHF/UHF (100kHz-1.75GHz) Software Defined Radio. Premium RTLSDR w/ 0.5PPM TCXO, SMA Input & Aluminum Enclosure. RTL2832U & R820T2 (R860)-Based Radio

First off I have been a ham radio operator since the 80s and hold an extra class (top) rating. I was looking for a very portable scanner that I could take along on my travels to listen to airline frequencies (also a private pilot) that wouldnt take up a lot of space in my full under seat bag nor look suspicious while in the airport, as a standard scanner might. The good news is that it does work, the bad news is that there are some limitations. The idea of slapping a small antenna on it and plugging into a cell phone or tablet with an OTG adapter is not feasible. The main issue is that the SDR radio draws more power than the OTG via the usb port can deliver. Solution, purchase a powered USB cable. This allows you to plug one end into a charging battery, which I always travel with, which powers the radio and doesnt drain the phone or tablet. https://www.amazon.com/Degree-Angled-Female-Enhancer-Adapter/dp/B071X8BCFH/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=powered+usb+cable+otg&qid=1552141974&s=gateway&sr=8-3 Then you will need an extension USB cable to the phone or tablet so you can place the unit in suitable position, and any adapters to your particular phone, USB to C, etc. Easily done and not expensive. Then there is the antenna! The beauty of this Radio is that it is extremely wide band covering below commercial FM to 1.700 Ghz or more. This covers most of the commercial bands including Aircraft, first respondeners, most walkie talkie and even cell phones. Note that many systems on those bands are encrypted and not easily monitored. The beautiful thing about this SDR radio is the spectrum display, or waterfall which will show you a chunk of the band and all the active frequencies. You are able to simply slide your virtual vernier to a hot spot and monitor the frequency. In addition there is a running visual display of all the activity on that part of the spectrum so you can see frequencies with intermittent activity. You also can easily select all the common radio modulation schemes, like AM, FM, FM narrow, amateur radio SSB USB, LSB and CW, etc. Of course, you will need an antenna and unfortunately antennas are tuned to the frequencies you want to listen to. Very critical if you are transmitting, less so for receiving. For example, international ham radio frequencies have a wave length of around 65 feet (20 meters) the length of a full wave antenna. 1/4 wave antennas also work at approximately 16 feet. Not practical to carry around plus you will need an additional adapter (Ham it up) to receive the lower frequencies. On the other hand a 1700 MX signal close to the top end of LTE cellphone data as a full wave length of 6. For receiving a wide band scanner antenna is probably your best bet like: https://www.amazon.com/AEcreative-Wide-Band-Scanner-BCD396XT-BCD436HP/dp/B07HWLSNQP/ref=sr_1_8?crid=3RCJLW4EP4MW&keywords=wideband+scanner+antenna&qid=1552143429&s=electronics&sprefix=wide-band+scanner+antenna+%2Celectronics%2C205&sr=1-8 When looking for an antenna you will need an SMA female connector. Lastly, you will need software for your phone, tablet or computer. Some of it is open source and free (donation) and others have a demo version and a small fee ($5-10) for the Android / IOS versions. Try before you buy! All in all a great product with serious applications.

Really cool radio. Works well with most SDR Software. Get it!

I am using the NESDR as a panadapter with my ham Yaesu FT450D transceiver. I installed a first IF buffer board and rear panel connector on the FT450D. When connected to this dongle, using HDSDR software, this allows the HDSDR software to display a wideband view around the tuned frequency on the transceiver. The device works very well for the purpose. The TXCO temperature compensated oscillator really improves the frequency stability over a cheaper bare-bones device. This insures the frequency displayed on the transceiver and the panadapter agree. The problem with this model is that the four USB contacts within the metal USB connector shell are set too far back from the tip of the connector. The mating socket makes insufficient contact for a reliable connection. The slightest movement of the dongle or extension cable will disconnect the device from the computer. Contact is very intermittent. This problem was on any USB socket or extension cable. Other users have reported the same issue. I contacted Nooelec. While they were somewhat helpful, they seemed unaware of the issue. I finally resolved the problem on my own by filing a few millimeters off of the end of the USB connector with a flat file. This allows the connector on the dongle to insert farther into the socket making reliable connection. No more disconnects.

Looked like it was used and was wrong version. Spend money on SDRPlay

I bought a pair of these dongles to use for P25 Phase 2 decoding in the 700/800 band and let me tell you, they work really well. Both dongles have less than .2ppm correction and they were super easy to setup in SDRTrunk on Linux Mint with a Radio Reference premium subscription. Dongles do get warm, but I have had them running non-stop for almost 2 weeks straight with 0 issues so far.

We are using multiples of these in a Linux environment in the 160 MHz and 1.0 GHz frequency bands. The NESDR exhibits good sensitivity and adjacent band overload performance. For the price its unbeatable.

The enclosure is small and the SMA connectors are very rugged. The device can get fairly hot but Ive had to reliability issues so far while testing on windows.

First I got the RTL-SDR, but which was OK, but Id heard that this one had better reception. So I bought this one. Its almost a drop-in replacement for the RTL-SDR, and only a little bit more expensive. Its also slimmer, so that I can use my audio ports while using it, unlike the RTL-SDR. And it DOES have better reception. Im happy with it. There may be other SDR dongles with better reception out there, but not at this price. I recommend getting this instead of the slightly cheaper RTL-SDR. However, I cant give it 5 stars because it doesnt pickup weak FM stations as well as my Sangean tabletop radio. My purpose was to record FM radio from a weak station. I have both Sangean and Nooelec connected to the same FM rooftop antenna. The Sangean gives me static-free reception. The Nooelec reception, while listenable, has a little of that Rice Crispies snap-crackle-pop. I dont know why they cant improve the reception, maybe add some DSP... or something?

Liked the display on my computer monitor.

Bought two from Amazon. One arrived fine and works fantastic. Much better temperature stability than any others Ive had. That part I love! The other was DOA, and Amazon quickly sent me a replacement. But when I plugged it into my laptop it fried not only itself, but the laptop too, which is now junk. Good thing it was an old laptop. I have a feeling my experience is not normal, so Ill rate it 3 stars. If I could somehow get two working at the same time, Id certainly rate it higher. The one I have Id give a five, easy. Its really good. Im sorely tempted to order another one and hope for better luck. But, well, who knows...