Dongle purchase-

[Graham Bell]

I`ve a yearning to have a play with a dongle no specific areas or fields Any suggestions welcomed.
Regards-
G.B.

[Anmer]

I`ve a yearning to have a play with a dongle no specific areas or fields Any suggestions welcomed.

I dread to think what you have in mind 

[Graham Bell]

I couldn`t possibly comment on that!!
Regards-
G.B.

[Anmer]

Seriously, what do you want to do with it?

[rikgale]

I can highly recommend the RTL-SDR Blog V.3 for an SDR dongle. Good cooling (metal case) and software enabled Bias-T for flexibility, should you need it

https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/rtl-sdr-blog direct from the manufacture of the RTL-SDR Blog V.3. I have personally brought 8x RTL-SDRs and 5 ADSB LNA and a couple of antenna sets from this seller. They are the real deal - there are enough fakers out there. The first one I purchased has been running 24/7 for the last 2 years without issue.

(NOT that they have any in stock right now (01/04/22) - having just checked... try again in a few days)

I have done ADSB, ACARS, VDLM2 and Airband with these.

There are other websites out there, for other kinds of dongles should you require them, so I am told

[Graham Bell]

Thank you young sir, this seems to fit my parameters.
Mike- Nothing specific I came across a You Tube clip of someone using one and thought thats looks interesting!
Thank you both for your interest.
Regarda-
G.B.

[Anmer]

Mike- Nothing specific I came across a You Tube clip of someone using one and thought thats looks interesting!

You can listen to a radio frequency, watch TV or track aircraft.  And more imaginable things.

You may need some computing power to go with it.

[Graham Bell]

 
Regards-
G.B.

[Graham Bell]

Any suggestions as to a UK based supplier of the RTL-SDR dongle,as suggested by Rikgale. The link he provided takes me to a Chinese outlet with a 2 month delivery.
Many thanks.
Regards-
G.B.

[Anmer]

Any suggestions as to a UK based supplier of the RTL-SDR dongle,as suggested by Rikgale. The link he provided takes me to a Chinese outlet with a 2 month delivery.

You may find it cheaper on AliExpress?

In my experience, most items arrive from China within two to three weeks.

Or get a FlightAware ProStick from Moonraker.  But since FlightAware was sold to Collins Aerospace, prices have gone "sky high".

[rikgale]

They usually deliver in about 2 weeks. And are direct from the manufacture (in China) of the RTL-SDR blog v.3 - Anything else might not be the real deal (there are plenty of Chinese fakes out there - joys of a good product, ppl want to imitate). IMHO I would be uncomfortable buying from AliExpress... there are a few resellers in the UK, but you pay a mark up for the privilege

[Graham Bell]

Thank you gents- Points raised inwardly digested.
Regards-
G.B.

[rikgale]

https://shop.technofix.uk/sdr/usb-rtl-sdr-sticks/super-stable-1ppm-tcxo-r820t2-tuner-rtl2832u-rtl-sdr-com-usb-stick-version-3

Try here - UK seller

[Anmer]

IMHO I would be uncomfortable buying from AliExpress..

I've never had any problems with AliExpress and I've made quite a few purchases, usually a lot cheaper than the Chinese listings on ebay.

What problems have you experienced Rik?

[Triple7]

But since FlightAware was sold to Collins Aerospace, prices have gone "sky high".

You are not kidding, I hadn't ralised that, I have used Pi Hut for these in the past:

https://thepihut.com/pages/search-results?q=flightaware

Tim