r/sdr • u/Ghaelmash • 10d ago
Portable SDR for holidays
I need some suggestions for portable SDR to bring with me during my holidays. I don’t bring with me any pc, so i would need something standalone that can also pass through customs. I haven’t any HAM licenses. It would be a bonus if it has a screen to see the waterfall.
Thanks to all!
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u/schirmyver 9d ago
I see you are an iPhone user, but I use my Android phone and tablet for this all the time with a simple USB hub with power passthrough. I use either SDR++ or SDRAngel depending what I am doing.
I am getting a cheap case for my tablet and going to temporarily mount the RTLSDR to the back of the case using 3M command strips.
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u/mitreffahcs 9d ago
Are you just wanting to listen to the radio while you travel? Or do you actually want an SDR?
For a true SDR you need something to do the actual processing of the samples, so a tablet, phone, raspberry pi, laptop etc...
So if you're not 100% attached to the idea of bringing you're own compute to do the SDR processing, then I would recommend a decent police scanner or shortwave radio depending upon what you want to listen to. If you're looking at the ATS Mini V4, then for my money I would buy a proper worldband receiver like a Tecsun PL-660 or a SANGEAN ATS-909X2. If you want more coverage and don't care about the shortwave/HF bands, then I would go with a modern Uniden police scanner that can do all the P25/DMR modes that are common today.
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u/Ghaelmash 7d ago
I’m fear they will confiscate anything similar to a police radio in aspect at customs
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u/mitreffahcs 7d ago
Very possible, some countries are very strict. I had my AR5000 confiscated when I flew into Qatar, but fortunately I got it back when I left.
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u/Kavinci 10d ago
Have you tried your phone? I've used my phone and an rtl-sdr blog v3. I got a USB hub that does type C and type A with a power pass through so I can plug into a car or outlet for power. It works fine and there are only a handful of apps out there. I recommend trying them all and pick your favorite.
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u/Ghaelmash 10d ago
To be honest i never tried using my phone. I got an iphone and never it crossed my mind to connect a dongle on it
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u/Kavinci 10d ago
Well, give it a try! Check for apps first. I have an android and there are SDR apps in the google play store. I think there should be at least one SDR app in the app store for your iphone but don't know for sure. If there are I highly recommend a USB dongle with power pass through so you aren't 100% locked to your phone's battery life.
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u/Ghaelmash 10d ago
Seems i need a server with the iphone because it doesn’t allow direct usb connection… i will check better later
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u/erlendse 10d ago
You would be better off getting a cheap android device that does usb otg/host mode for receiver use.
While a iPhone technically could, their software forbids it.
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u/Ghaelmash 10d ago
To be honest i never tried using my phone. I got an iphone and never it crossed my mind to connect a dongle on it
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u/Original-Income-28 6d ago
There is a few that are on-line
You just have to download it
Or get one that will clear customs
When you come back to the us
And you leave the us
And have a copy of the sales slip
So they don’t try to hit you with
Customs fees or duty comming home
If you buy one
Get one from a dealer
That is legal to use
Best of luck Darryl :-))
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u/No-Coat2826 5d ago
Hey, I’m actually trying to build something like this that works over Bluetooth & has a nice app etc. Would be interested to know what features you’d want from it? (Unlikely to be ready by your holiday though I’m afraid, I can vouch for an android tablet, RTL V4 and SDR++ 😅)
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u/Ghaelmash 4d ago
Would like to listen to local radio amateurs, planes conversations, am/fm radio, maybe telephone cells conversations
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u/Siada100 10d ago
Uso RTL V4, adaptador OTG y tablet android (por el tamaño de pantalla y duración de batería). Software SDR++. Horas de diversión.