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

Liked the display on my computer monitor.

This device did not give me the usual spike in the middle of the FFT graph in GNU radio or any of the other SDR programs I use. Sample rate is a bit limited - 2M, not as fast as my HackRF, but given that it does not have that annoying spike and it uses a 12 bit ADC rather than 8 bit to generate the I and Q value samples, the sound quality is 16X better (4 more bits means 2^4 = 16) than the HackRF.

It does what the listing says it does. The quality is very nice especially given the very moderate selling price. I especially appreciate the metal enclosure. Its quality is very solid and the USB and RF connectors are of good quality. The receiver works as well as any other RTL SDR I have used and offers reasonably stable frequency accuracy. I wouldnt expect this radio (or many other SDRs) to be highly accurate above VHF without the option for external reference standards. However, you can account for any frequency inaccuracies in software, so this isnt a real problem even when tracking satellites or performing basic radio astronomy. For the price, this is an excellent way to get your feet wet in SDRs. It is also flexible enough to add LNAs, up-converters, down-converters, filters and even improve the frequency stability through upgraded frequency/time standards. RTL SDRs are not just for getting your feet wet. With some DIY skills and commercially available parts, you can make an RTL SDR function well above its price-point. I like it.

The Nooelec RTL-SDR hardware works really well for RF monitoring and experimentation. I’ve bought three so far and they all work great. Very nice and premium-feeling aluminum outer case. Everything was nicely packaged. I’ve run these sticks on a Raspberry Pi for days at a time with no frequency drift. They all worked with zero or minimal ppm correction needed. If you want some RTL-SDR hardware this is a great option. It’s not perfect, though. While it is technically true that you can run two side by side on a Raspberry Pi, in practice I didn’t find this to be very practical. It will cover all four ports so forget about any other peripherals. When run in this configuration, the two SDRs will get really, really hot. With a little extra separation, they get warm but not hot. (I realize these are designed to run hot, but why do that if you don’t have to?) Even though you can run two side by side on a Pi, you’re better off using a USB hub instead in my opinion. The other problem I’ve found is something about the USB-A connectors doesn’t allow them to make a great connection with the host. I’ve tried multiple USB hubs, and of course connected directly to the Pi and in every case the dongles don’t feel like they are held solidly in place. They are quite loose and slightest bump will disconnect them or give a lousy connection to the host until they are wiggled around some to reseat them. This doesn’t appear to be a problem with the USB connector to the circuit board. It’s something with the connector design and how it mates with the ports — almost as if it’s slightly too long. If you plan on using these with a semi-permanent configuration, you should consider a bit of hot glue or epoxy to make sure they are held in place even if bumped around. I’ve had no problems with the SMA connectors and they feel solidly attached. So, in all it’s great hardware let down by a couple unfortunate but not insurmountable design decisions. As long as you keep these things in mind when you purchase, you’ll be fine.

The heat was so hot, as to melt what it was plugged into. And this was in only a matter of 1 or 2 hours, as I was trying to figure out why my computers would not recognize it. If I had plugged it in and let it run( if it has worked) or simply plugged in and left the house, I would have come back to my house burnt down. This is not the normal heat associated with these products. I own multiple SDR RTLs and even multiple of this exact same device/version. This unit was defective out of the box. Not doa because if it was doa it would not have done anything. It also shorted and fried multiple electronic devices that were on the same circuit. Ive had to buy a new SDR, new USB hub, new antenna ( the oddest part as these are RX only should not put power in that direction) and new Raspberry pi 4 , new switches ( that have internal circuit breakers) that controlled the circuit and it blew every fuse it possibly could. Days later and Im am still trying to sort out all the shorts caused to my previous impeccably working HAM/SDR/Nav/Com station. Im estimating the total cost to be a solid five figures. It blew multiple high end digital Ham radios and everything connected....

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?

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...

I thought this would be my entrance into the world of SDR, but it overheated easily. It would be operational for about 10 minutes or less before overheating and refusing to work. I was using Ubuntu and a Chromebook. My second occasion working with it, it just went kaput. I dreamed of setting it up in a cloth ice pack to reduce the heat, but alas, it never worked again on the Chromebook! So, I tried installing a different driver and attempted a Windows-based SDR platform on my desktop unit and... nothing. Its a paperweight now.

Expect any little movement or vibration to affect USB connection and require you to restart the software. Other than that, It receives well and I have finally found some software I like.

Works great - The product description did not say it needed an SMA male to SO239 connector to attach to my antennas that use PL259 connectors. Once I go that- the SDR worked great.