Tonight’s BARRA Tech Net focuses on Software Defined Radio (SDR) dongles, one of the most affordable and versatile tools in modern radio. An SDR dongle, such as the popular RTL-SDR based on the RTL2832U chipset, turns any computer into a wide-band radio receiver capable of tuning from VHF through L-band and beyond. With just a small USB stick and basic software, operators can explore spectrum that traditionally required expensive equipment.
We’ll cover how SDR dongles work, what hardware is worth buying, and how to set up essential software like SDR++, SDR#, CubicSDR, and GQRX. We’ll discuss antennas—arguably the most important part of the setup—and how even inexpensive or homemade antennas can dramatically improve performance.
Common applications include monitoring FM broadcast, weather radio, APRS, ADS-B aircraft, AIS marine traffic, P25 and trunked systems, NOAA satellite imagery, and spectrum analysis. More advanced uses include panadapter integration with ham rigs, remote receivers, and digital signal decoding.
Our goal tonight is to give newcomers a solid foundation and offer experienced users a chance to share tips, tricks, and interesting projects they’ve done with SDR. Whether you’re brand new or already experimenting, there’s something here for everyone.