A software-defined radio (SDR) turns radio waves into data your computer can decode — one cheap dongle unlocks aircraft, weather satellites, ships, weather stations, and more.
What you need
| Item | Note |
|---|---|
| RTL-SDR dongle | The classic ~\$30 starter (get the v3/v4) |
| Antenna | The single biggest factor in what you can hear |
| Software | SDR++ / GQRX (general), or task tools (dump1090, satdump) |
First steps
# Linux: blacklist the default DVB driver so SDR tools can grab the dongle
echo 'blacklist dvb_usb_rtl28xxu' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-rtl.conf
# then test
rtl_test # confirms the dongle is seenOpen SDR++ or GQRX, tune around the FM band first (easy, strong signals) to confirm everything works, then explore.
Fun starter projects
| Project | Band | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Track aircraft | 1090 MHz | ADS-B Aircraft Tracking with readsb |
| Weather sat images | 137 MHz | Weather Satellite Imaging with NOAA and Meteor |
| Listen to FM/airband | VHF | SDR++ / GQRX |
Antenna first. A better antenna beats a fancier radio every time — and you can only receive one band per dongle at once.
Related: ADS-B Aircraft Tracking with readsb · Weather Satellite Imaging with NOAA and Meteor