Review on 📻 Nooelec NESDR Mini 2+ RTL-SDR Receiver Set with Antenna & Female SMA Adapter: Advanced ADS-B USB Receiver with Suction Mount. High Performance TCXO RTL2832U & R820T2 Tuner for Low-Cost Software Defined Radio by Dallas Grover

When I first ordered it I wasn't sure I could make it work. There were mixed reviews. Also, I'm not putting this on a Windows machine. This is an old (but still 64-bit) Samsung laptop from which I removed the Win partition and installed Linux Mint. There wasn't anything definitive about using this with Mint, but I figured that for $24 I wouldn't spend much for it (and I thought maybe I'd get a Windows PC again one day). short story. Yes, it took a bit of internet searching and playing around with it. I *think* I had to blacklist the driver he used for it and manually install a different one. There are also several software packages to choose from. This is Gqux 2.9. After the driver and software, I had to tinker with the settings, but in the end I got the right combination of settings for the job. No guarantees on your specific setup, but I was able (after installing the drive, plugging it in, and recognizing Linux) to select the Realtek RTL2838UHIDIR device from the drop-down list and click start. Well, I'm not a SWL fan or anything; It's just fun listening to police, fire, radio and amateur bands while I'm doing other things. It's not a "scanner" either. Although it could be more of a software comment. And it's great software. This allows you to bookmark frequencies that interest you so you can return to them. But as far as I can tell, you can't scan bookmarked frequencies. However, it is good for one thing; You can find new frequencies/channels by simply spending some time watching the waterfall a bit and then moving up/down the band for another bit. Broadcasts usually leave well-marked lines in the waterfall (as well as spikes on the white line across). It's pretty good for <$25 and I haven't even had time to "play around" with all the settings. The hardware itself makes a solid impression. I've let it run all day and it barely feels warm. The only negative in the package was the antenna mount. The suction part wouldn't stay "sucked" to any of the surfaces I've tried for very long, and even when it does, the metal disc slips out of the rubber mold around it. However, the magnet itself is on the bottom of the antenna, not in the bracket, so I was able to use it to mount it to the metal frame of a window air conditioner. For more serious listening I would like to get a better antenna anyway. Probably a small external and a small coaxial cable (some with adapter). Using a USB extender might help as another reviewer mentioned, although I haven't had any issues with interference when plugged directly into the laptop (although there are many areas where some of the constant signals are no doubt caused by the laptop) . Electronics).