Yup. It's been a thing for well over a decade. Every tech-minded radio nerd should have at least one. Rtl-sdr.com is a good starting point.

Threre are variatons, but all of them have the capability to tune to frequencies across very wide frequency spectrum. They connect through the USB of a computer.   There are dozens of “public domain” applications that control the RTL-SDR via the computer.   Demodulation is controlled by the computer program(s) AM, FM, Single Side Band.  Typically the RTL-SDR dongles will cover frequencies from 200 KHz (longwave) to 1.5 or 2 Gigahertz.   With a home-made antenna (QFH), you can receive weather satellites - including the Russian Meteor series, which orbit above Toronto several times a day.  I had used a software program to automate reception, recording and deodulation of colour pictures transmitted by the Meteor satellites at 139 MHz.   Previously there were several US weather satellites operated by NOAA that could be received in Toronto.  (Now decommisioned).  I also receive the remaining international shotwave stations, along with most of the amateur radio bands.  For example, there is a relay for hams on 444.800 “VE3RCI” located on the CN Tower.  Another ham radio relay operates on 444.100, from Colden NY, near the Channel 23/4 tower site.  With the right antena those 70 CM band ham radio transmissions are receivable in Toronto.  There’s a lot of “digital’ activity for trucking, and other business that can be decoded using software “shareware”.  Then there are some specialized dongles that allow you to receive transmissions from aircraft.  The planes within several hundred KM can be plotted onto a map, in “real-time”.   It is an interesting hobby, with lots of free software, and plenty of on-line mentoring for configuration.  The cost of entry is quite low.  One can get started for around $100 - plus a Personal Computer.  Unfortunately there isn’t much software that has been written for the current iterations of the Apple Mac Operating system(s) but if you have a PC, there are dozens of free programs.  I had seen at one time, a program that claimed to de-code FM IBOC signals and the sub-channels, but I cannot recall having any success with FM HD, though AM and FM stations are easily received.

Fitz wrote:

Isn't there some SDR technology that allows a person to DX as if they were in another area. I could from Toronto be be DXing like I'm in New Jersey  ?

Look up KiwiSDR ... DX from pretty well wherever you fancy where a DXer has set up an accessible tuner.
 

SDR is basically a little unlocked receiver, with the right "middle men" you can go from Long wave and AM (MW) all the way up to various sat feeds in the upper ghz band.

you can also decode HD radio, i have had lots of sucess with this, also a lot of fun to decode SCA/SCMOs/RDS

basically it will do anything you want with the right software, and the right antenna system! but that antenna is the most important part, plenty of SDRs come with a 8 inch little whip on a 2 foot cable. and its just not up to the task in most situations, especially when talking about FM, most HAM bands, CB etc.

Last edited by Cheese2RF (November 12, 2026 11:09 am)