DIY Modifying SDR Devices for Better Signal Reception

SDR devices can be quite expensive, averaging over 200 dollars, and a circular antenna can cost over 100 dollars, but if you want to save money, you can try modifying one.

If you use the RTL2832 to modify it, you may also need to modify it to receive shortwave signals. The device's built-in antenna has poor reception, only able to receive aviation bands in an airport parking lot. Before, it was mainly used as a TV stick, so it is recommended to prepare an additional TV antenna directly. One looks similar to the original antenna, and the other is the legendary Yagi antenna. If there is no suitable adapter, you can DIY one, and the test results are good. It can also receive signals clearly indoors at home (over 20 kilometers from the airport). The process is as follows:

Main Character: SDR device

Interface:

The original antenna's connection line was cut because the device's interface is quite special, like SMA but not SMA, and it is unclear if it is compatible. If there is no SMA to TV adapter, you can DIY one.

The DIY adapter is just a cable jammed into an F-connector, similar to the ones used for cable TV.

The ordinary DTMB antenna is shown below:

The Yagi antenna is shown below:

The received signal in the high-tech park 20 kilometers from the airport is shown below, and the effect is good.