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Set up RTL-SDR

Radio Bench bundles its managed RTL-SDR helper in packaged releases. Your operating system must still permit access to the USB interface.

Supported devices

Radio Bench supports RTL2832U dongles with an E4000, FC0012, FC0013, FC2580, R820T family, or R828D tuner. The R820T family includes the R820T2 and R860 tuners in the RTL-SDR Blog V3 and V4.

The Source panel shows the detected tuner in the device name. Select Refresh after you connect a dongle.

Windows driver

  1. Download Zadig from its official website and open it.
  2. Select Options > List All Devices.
  3. Select Bulk-In, Interface (Interface 0) or the RTL2838 entry.
  4. Select WinUSB as the target driver.
  5. Install the driver, reconnect the dongle, and select Refresh in Radio Bench.

Windows Update can restore a TV driver later. Repeat the WinUSB setup if a working dongle stops appearing.

Linux permissions

Install the RTL-SDR udev rules supplied by your distribution when possible. Reconnect the dongle after you reload the rules.

The helper normally detaches the DVB-T kernel module. Blacklist dvb_usb_rtl28xxu if that automatic step fails.

macOS

No driver setup is normally required. Connect the dongle and select Refresh.

Source controls

  • Device Index — selects one dongle when more than one is connected.
  • Sample rate — 250 kHz, or 1.024 MHz to 3.2 MHz in the standard RTL steps.
  • Tuner AGC and RTL AGC — automatic gain in the tuner and in the RTL2832U.
  • Gain Index — manual tuner gain when tuner AGC is off.
  • Direct Sampling — routes the I or Q branch around the tuner for HF on older dongles.
  • Bias Tee — powers an external amplifier or active antenna through the antenna port.
  • IQ DC Removal — removes the center spike from the spectrum.
  • PPM Correction — corrects the crystal frequency error.

Receive HF

An RTL-SDR Blog V4 tunes HF directly, so leave direct sampling off. Many V3-class devices need Q branch below 28 MHz.

Use 1.024 MS/s or more when tuning response matters. Low sample rates cause more USB buffering latency.

Stop other SDR applications before streaming. Only one program can hold the dongle interface at a time.