SDR Dongle DIY All Band Portable Scanner for CB and Radio hobby
Home made Portable small Scanner using a SDR USB Dongle and OTG port on Android Galaxy Tab for travel monitoring. Listen to any Frequency above 25MHz to 1500MHz most modes. Portable USB power pack for hours of scanning.
SDR ( Software Defined Radio ) Portable DIY (DO It Yourself ) WideBand Radio Scanner
Components:-
HARDWARE –
Old Video Tape Case – = $ free
- modify by cutting Hole in front Lid to suit size of Android device inside.
Any Phone or Small Tablet = $ 100 +
- – must have INCLUDED Software for OTG ( On The Go ) capability! (MOST have OTG Included)
OTG adapter cable = $ 35
- – with USB Socket for USB SDR Dongle and plug to go into Power Pack plus lead plug to suit your Device
USB SDR Dongle = $40 to $65
- of any type will work above 25MHz
- **RTL-SDR V3 Brand Genuine USB Dongle can go down to 1MHz with SDR++ Software for Android
5V DC Power Pack = $50
- sized to fit in Video case with Phone / Tablet with socket for OTG cable.
ANTENNA – The antenna is THE most important component of this build!
The antenna must be able to be adjusted to suit the frequency of reception for ideal signal strength and clarity.
Fortunately VHF (Example AIR Band on AM ) & UHF (Example UHF CB ) have short wavelengths and can be received with an antenna under two foot long so an old portable AM radio telescopic antenna is ideal and can be easily adjusted to best length to suit the frequency.
HF Frequencies can be received with an attached very long piece of wire if close to the wavelength required. It can be amazing what can be heard in the HF spectrum from 1MHz to 30MHz including Ham, Marine, Weather, Aircraft, Military and Broadcast.
SOFTWARE
All SDR software suitable for Phone / Tablet is available FREE download from Google PlayStore
The are many SDR programs for Android and the BEST by FAR, is SDR++ !
SDR++ is a very professional frequency monitoring software program based on a full featured P.C. capable product.
Like all SDR Programs (apps) it can be a bit confusing at the start up because of its power and features but well worth learning.