SWL RTL-SDR In The Field!
Hi guys CJ here VK2021SWL
When we want to go in the field and do some cool SWLing, we could do like many and just grab your favorite radio and get outside and throw up an external antenna and see what you could pick up. This is fine and nothing wrong with that at all; in fact that is how I started as a kid in the 60’s.
But today technology has finally caught up with radio and man can you do some really cool things today! We have a few nice radios’ that cover everything but the only thing we lacked is being able to do those things like decode and get visual & interact. Here is what I mean:
With just my radio (XHDATA D808 or the Eton Elite) I can take them out with me the Eton is like carrying a boom box back in the day LOL but basically all I can do is listen & video what I am listening to & take some notes for my personal log, which I like doing but that’s it.
Eton elite on Amazon in Australia is $1,159 (as of June 2023) XHDATA D-808 $119.00 = $1,278.00
With My RTLSDR SWL Kit:
The idea was to see if I could put something together that would allow me to enjoy all aspects of radio and be able to set up in minutes not a lot of cables and chargers and use a small backpack that could go with me anywhere when I am out so that if I wanted to I could just open it up and get live. I always have some tech with me no matter so people are used to me carrying a bag or backpack.
The goal here is multi-function & portable so I spent about the same as my 2 radios and created for me the perfect on the go SWL Field Kit. That goes everywhere with me except date night LOL! My Field Kit Contains:
- 1 refurbished MS Surface Pro / loaded with HDSDR/WSJT-X/Grid Tracker/RTL1090/Virtual Radar/MMSSTV/Gpredict/FLDIGI etc acts just like a radio – $325
- 2 RTL SDR dongles (dipole antenna included) $160
- SR1 SDR tripod Antenna SuperScanR – $75 coax included (at time of purchase now AU $170.00)
- Baofeng GT3 – (listen only License Required) $65
- Uniden 80 channel UHF CB (No License Required) – $35
- Samsung 10 inch Tablet With RTLSDR software & AVARE ADSB Pro/ CW/PSK31/RTTY/Rattlegram/FT8/ SSTV – $105 used
- Samsung 7 inch Tablet (same programs as 10 inch) $55
- Bluetooth mic – $55
- Samsung phone used (one of my oldies S4)
- JBL headsets – $120
- 65 Watt USB C – Charger $79
- Solar Charger 25 Watt – $79
- USB Hub – $19
- 2 Micro OTG Cables (for RTL SDR Dongles) – $15
- Total = $1,282
So for around the same cost of my 2 best radios I now have the ability to not only listen – but to get a bit creative & interactive while in the field like:
- Tracking air Traffic – just went to a new level. Now we listen to the air traffic and pick up the plane on radar – see the type of plane/airline /destination / altitude/air speed &more (no internet needed).
- Decoding FT8 / RTTY / PSK31 & save the data to my Surface Pro (No Internet Needed) – We later send QSL cards to the HAM operators letting them know we picked them up. We use eQSL for this and it has proven to be great for our SWL projects – to date we have QSL cards from 43 countries, not bad eQSL https://www.eqsl.cc/ Look up our Shortwave call sign VK2021SWL (Internet needed to upload and send QSL cards through eQSL)
- Download Images – SSTV and we have done ISS from the space station
- Listen & tune AM shortwave radio stations globally
- Listen to the entire HAM band & CB bands USA & UHF Australia
- Decode CW in real time
- Decode DMR
- FM Radio
- Satellite Comms
- We can also see digital tracking using Grid Tracker & WSJT-X & we can record our on screen activity as well in real time, which looks awesome on YouTube! Our YouTube Channel @swlqsl
So for me using the RTL-SDR style of setup works great for me at home and in the field, I have a MLA 30+ loop antenna at home, works well. when I am out if devices are fully charged before we head out we also have backup solar power to keep devices charged so no time limits on how long we stay out.
The most exciting thing is I get to actually see what I am tracking or listening to and interact with HAM operators via eQSL it does add to the experience. There are some events out there where SWL’s can participate in SOTA events; we are looking at how we can put some events on in this arena for SWL’s so stay tuned. We hope you like this post and hope it inspires you to get out there and get active.
Have a great day CJ Henderson VK2021SWL www.swlqsl.com
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