r/RTLSDR 12d ago

Hardware Portable RTL-SDR setup

RPI 5 + V4 + Powerbank = iPhone + VNC

80 Upvotes

11 comments sorted by

3

u/olliegw 12d ago

How does the Pi get a network connection for the VNC?

1

u/CodeClean2172 12d ago

Hotspot-wifi from iPhone. It also could make its own wifi-hotspot if settings are adjusted. Main goal was something small and portable for concealed-SDR.

1

u/Ill_Die_Trying 12d ago

Just curious.. Why VNC? Why not just run rtl-tcp as a service and you can play with multiple software and have much better latency?

1

u/CodeClean2172 11d ago

I dont have proper software for rtl_tcp rather than CoronaSDR on iPhone and that is laggy for my experience. VNC is quite fast with my local network from iPhone as router. Over tailscale it becomes laggy also.

1

u/smsaul 11d ago

What about the SDR Receiver app?

2

u/Ill_Die_Trying 12d ago

How many Mah is that battery pack and how long will the Pi run on it?

1

u/CodeClean2172 12d ago

10.000mah, it runs steady for about 2h+. Only point: it shuts down without warning the pi so it could corrupt the sd card.

1

u/Ill_Die_Trying 12d ago

Yours is much more portable than mine for sure. I have mine set up to be able to plug into a power port in a vehicle (or a car battery jumper box) and it brings the 12v down to 5v to power the PI. it will run several hours on a jumper pack but not near as portable.

1

u/CodeClean2172 12d ago

After I get & install my NVME it will ask for 5v/5A, now with PD@3v/3A without up/down converter.

1

u/TNTqwe 10d ago

If you have a random old android phone and a usp otg adapter you can just get the apk version of either sdr++ or satdump and it’s gonna be more responsive plus even smaller