Software Defined Radio Receiver USB Stick - RTL2832 w/R820T

Ever wanted to dive into the weird, wonderful, and often invisible world of radio? This little USB stick is your ticket. It’s based on the RTL2832U chipset with an FC0013 tuner, covering 48.25 MHz up to 863.25 MHz. That’s a wide slice of spectrum to poke at using just your laptop or desktop.

Hook it up to your computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux all work), load up some SDR software, and you can listen in on:

• FM radio
• AM signals (not broadcast AM, think utility stuff)
• CW (Morse code)
• POCSAG pager traffic
• Various unencrypted public service chatter (depending on local laws)
• …and plenty more oddities bouncing around the ether

We fired one up on a Windows machine with Zadig + SDR# and had a blast sweeping through the band. There’s a ton to discover once you start tuning.

Need a push to get going? We’ve got a simple getting-started guide, and there’s a goldmine of SDR projects and tutorials here:

• rtl-sdr.com – project ideas and experiments galore
• rtlsdr.org – software and driver resources
• superkuh.com/rtlsdr.html – deep dive into the hardware
• Melissa Elliott’s talk on hacking with the RTL – a must-watch
• Handy graphical tools for Mac users

In the box you’ll find the compact RTL2832+FC0013 module with an MCX RF connector, a DVB-T antenna (great for basic experiments, especially if you’re in a DVB-T region), an IR remote (mostly for novelty), and a driver/application CD. If you’re serious, you might want an MCX to SMA or MCX to BNC adapter for a beefier antenna setup.

⚠️ Heads up: Depending on where you live, some signals are off-limits. Check your local laws before you accidentally stumble onto frequencies you shouldn’t.

Note: Remotes may look slightly different between batches, but functionality is the same.

Technical Details

Revision History:

• As of Sept 15th, 2025: chipset updated from R820T to FC0013.

Specs:

• Antenna length: 120.65 mm (4.75")
• Wire length: 1168.4 mm (46")
• USB dongle: 22.24 mm × 23.1 mm × 9.9 mm (0.87" × 0.9" × 0.38")