My favourite RTL-SDR v3 SDRs have received an update, but it’s just a facelift!

As you can see in the image below, the colour has changed. The RTL-SDR v3 is now black, not silver like the previous version.

RTL-SDR v3 Black

The price has slightly increased as a result of the inflation & shipping increases over the last couple of years. Amazon US customers can expect to pay $32.95 for the SDR only, or $42.95 for the bundle. These SDRs are highly capable, very reasonably priced, and in my experience provide increased performance and more features than the similarly priced NooElec SMART v5.

There are so many things you can do with this dongle. I use mine to :

  • Monitor & Log data from a massive P25 system
  • Decode ACARS & VDL/2 Aviation Data
  • Decode POCSAG Fire Hall pages
  • Track aircraft through ADS-B
  • Decode L-band (1.5 GHz) satellite data
  • Listen to aircraft
  • Decode digital audio (DMR, NXDN, P25)

The only difference between the Black RTL-SDR v3 and the original silver units, is the tuner chip. Since the R820T chips are no longer available, all SDRs have moved over to the R860 instead (this goes for NooElec & Airspy devices as well). This does not impact the performance in any way. So you still get a :

  • TCXO – no need to set a PPM value, and freq remains stable in changing temperatures (e.g. as it warms up).
  • Bias tee – The dongle has a software switchable bias tee which outputs 4.5V for peripherals and active antennas.
  • Low noise design – this is especially important when operating in noisier environments, or when using Low Noise Amps (LNAs) or preamps. Makes it a suitable option for decoding satellite signals.
  • HF – the SDR can be used in Direct Sampling mode to monitor HF signals. It is not officially an HF receiver, so don’t expect miracles in this mode, but if you attach a long wire antenna, you will likely receive several shortwave stations!
  • SMA antenna connector – this is much more convenient than the generic dongle’s MCX adapters, and is generally the standard for Software Defined Radios.

I created a video that shows how the original RTL-SDR v3 performs against other budget SDRs which you can see below.

You can garner more information over on the official RTL-SDR blog store where you can also order direct from the Chinese warehouse. US & Canadian purchasers can easily order from Amazon at the same price, and with fast delivery.

Get a $42.95 RTL-SDR Bundle

I love my RTL-SDR bundles. They come with a handy portable dipole kit that can be tuned to a range of different frequencies. As a result you get better performance than a fixed whip. The mini tripod mount AND window suction cup mount, increases versatility considerably, and allows for quick deployment in a wide variety of situations.

Personally, I use the dipole kit a lot when I travel : on mountain hikes, in AirBnB rentals, hotel rooms, and even in my car.

Frugal Radio