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

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.

Great, it works with HDSDR to decode what I want, e.g. HF signal via a Panadaptor, VHF FM radio (standalone), etc. Will explore to decode UHF band signal later...

I purchased this product in order to try receiving satellite images from NOAA weather satellites. It worked incredibly well! I can also listen to amateur radio bands and FM radio. When paired with a program like SDR Sharp, the opportunities to use this product are boundless!

Ok-I had a really hard time getting this set up but do recommend. I tried installing on a Win XP, Win 8 and Win 10 machine with no luck. It turns out you need to configure in Zadig, get the SDR program of choice AND download the rtl-install.bat file from Airspys website. Only after a internet search of my error did I find this as the device isnt shipped with any kind of manual. It took quite a few hours over six days of trying things to get it to work I was about to send it back to Amazon as frustration was high. But after I downloaded the mentioned file above and SDR Sharp it works now!!

Works great on a Pi 3 using OP25 to decode local Sheriff dispatch and stream to Broadcastify.

Ive been using UniTrunker software with a cheaper receiver that had the RTL2832U & R820T Tuner. It worked, but drift corrections were massive, the receiver was easily overloaded, and sensitivity/selectivity was not up to par. This little NooElec receiver basically fixes all of those issues for just a few dollars more. Since it uses the same receiver and tuner, it was a simple drop in replacement of my other receiver. It took off and began working immediately. I track a VHF trunked P25 system that has simulcast issues from time to time. It can really whack the receivers while trying to listen to distant towers. I wont say this NooElec receiver is completely immune to the RF onslaught but it is heads and tails above slightly cheaper versions. I also attempted to listen to an adjoining state 800 P25 system. My old receiver would BARELY register a control channel while the NooElec, using same antenna and gain settings, is easily able to hold the tower and provide reliable decode over 60ish air miles. It also comes with a real connector!!!! Those infuriating MCX connectors so commonly seen are completely negated by the NooElec and its SMA connector. Overall, if your software requires a receiver with the RTL2832U & R820T Tuner, it is hard to beat the NooElec with radios even twice as expensive. Very happy with the upgrade.

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.

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.

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.

This review Is for Nooelec NESDR on MacOS Catalina 10.15.7, with CubicSDR software and attached to 72’, end-fed random wire antenna. The results were more then satisfying once I became familiar with the Cubicsdr software. Hint: If you get a signal that keeps wavering in an out along with static, remember to adjust your sample rate, and ensure that the band is wide enough to accommodate the signal. FM works great with a long wire antenna, and I picked up NOAA weather loud and clear. Obviously, a long wire antenna is not necessarily appropriate for FM, so FM antennas should do better. It has a sensitive tuner, in my opinion, for a rather inexpensive $30 device. If you wanna play around the radio spectrum, this is a great device to use with the CubicSDR software on a Mac. The learning curve was actually quite short for me, which was due in part to the fact that no other software or drivers needed to be installed on a Mac--just the cubic SDR software itself.