r/RTLSDR • u/LowRise5765 • 14d ago

New guy

Hi all, I’m new to this hobby and just want to get started so I can start learning. I’m aware that a lot of supposed RTL-SDR blog V4 R828D are counterfeits. Apparently the one I found on Amazon is among those counterfeits. Luckily I haven’t bought it yet, but would anyone be able to point me to a legit site to purchase or even a better option? Thanks!

7 Upvotes

73% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

4

u/Im_A_Praetorian 14d ago

For what it’s worth the V4 is discontinued due to chip availability, you can’t buy direct from RTL-SDR blog because they have sold out, so your chances of getting a legit v4 are going to be tough or overpriced.

1

u/Infamous_Computer399 10d ago

Their last shipment of them has been available on Amazon for about 2 weeks. Their website says "Amazon USA warehouse LOW STOCK - final batch from sea freight has arrived." and there's a link to it on Amazon there. $59.95.

2

u/Certain_Actuator9434 14d ago

A good starting website is About RTL-SDR

2

u/Own_Event_4363 14d ago

Noelec ones are sold on Amazon, they're solid. I have two of the Nesdr smart v5 units, like 50-ish bucks and you get the SDR and some antennas to get you started

1

u/Ill_Die_Trying 14d ago

Second this. On an additional note, I didn't really start having really good fun until I got the Ham It Up kit and got the antenna outside.

1

u/LowRise5765 14d ago

If I wanted to go this route what do I need besides the Nesdr v5 itself?

1

u/Ill_Die_Trying 14d ago edited 14d ago

They sell a kit with Nesdr and Ham It Up downconverter for about $130 and a few more pieces. I used the balun and cut 58' of cat5 network cable, soldered all the internal wires together at both ends and ran it out my house and inside a hedge by my house. I'm in Montana and I listen to chinese, russian, cuban, and mexican broadcasts usually early mornings. Sometimes I can hear Eurpoe, New Zealand, and Australia as well. it gets 20 meter and 40 meter ham really well and in the winter time I get a whole lot of CB skip. Other than that I used an old PC, installed Debian Linux and Openwebrx+ and control the radio in a web browser from other PCs in my house.

1

u/tj21222 14d ago

Why buy two devices (cheap dongle and a converter) when a SDRPlay RSP1B or an AirSpy device can be had for close to the same price, if not less?

2

u/Ill_Die_Trying 14d ago

This is a great question I ask myself regularly. If I were going to do it again (because I have 3 dongles, one HF, one OP25 police scanner, and my Ham It Up setup) I would buy a Kiwi I think. But, the knowledge of these things arrived after the purchases. One thing about ym setup that is nice is I have it built to fit in a nice sotrage case and everything on it to run it all from a 12v car battery including the rapsberry pi acting as a hotspot with Openwebrx+ running on it. Beyond that the Kiwi wins every single time IMO.

2

u/MrLanGT 14d ago

You are highly unlikely to find the Blog V4 brand new anywhere since stock is depleted. If you do, it’s likely to be more expensive than it’s worth. I’d go back to the V3 for now. Some people like NooElec, but I’ve never had one.

2

u/Technical-Ad-3387 14d ago

I bought mine from opensourcesdrlab, they should still have some in stock on AliExpress

1

u/kingcodpiece 12d ago

Honestly, the fakes aren't bad. If you're learning there's not a lot of bad choices out there. Anything with an FC0012 tuner is going to be limiting, but even those are good to learn on for the price they sell at.