NooElec NESDR SMArTee XTR SDR - Premium RTL-SDR w/Extended Tuning Range, Aluminum Enclosure, Bias Tee, 0.5PPM TCXO, SMA Input. RTL2832U & E4000-Based Software Defined Radio

If you're an enthusiast looking to dive deep into the world of NOAA weather satellite reception, the NESDR SMArTee XTR SDR should be high on your list of considerations. This compact and highly efficient software-defined radio (SDR) is a gem for weather aficionados and technophiles alike.Right out of the box, the NESDR SMArTee XTR impresses with its robust build quality and ease of setup. It’s clear that the design has been optimized for users who want a mix of performance and convenience. The inclusion of a bias tee powered by the USB connection itself is particularly noteworthy, eliminating the need for an external power source and simplifying the overall setup.One of the standout features of the NESDR SMArTee XTR is its extended frequency range, which covers from 65 MHz to 2300 MHz. This wide range is perfect for capturing signals from NOAA weather satellites, which operate around the 137 MHz band. The sensitivity and selectivity of the receiver are exceptional, ensuring clear and crisp reception of weather images and data without the interference often found in lesser models.The performance in decoding NOAA APT transmissions is particularly impressive. Paired with the right antenna, the SMArTee XTR captures vivid images that can help in real-time weather monitoring and forecasting. This capability is invaluable for both professional meteorologists and hobbyists who rely on up-to-the-minute weather data.For those new to satellite reception, the learning curve can be steep, but the SMArTee XTR comes with access to a supportive community and a wealth of online resources that help ease this transition. The compatibility with popular SDR software platforms adds to its flexibility, allowing users to tailor their setup to their specific needs and interests.

The media could not be loaded. Based on reviews, I wanted a HackRF One, but my auction order was canceled. Since the HackRF One was basically out of stock everywhere or well over $300 and I was too impatient to wait for a shipment from China, I decided to try the NESDR SMArTee XTR SDR in the meantime. It was less than $40, so there wasn't much to lose.As you can see and here in my video, it works VERY WELL. I expected lots of static and poor performance since even the Great Scott Gadgets tutorial on YouTube had a fair amount of static in lesson 1. Granted, I likely have better signal strength here in South Florida, and I think my antenna is a bit better than the stock telescoping rod they were using in the video. Instead, the RTL-SDR gave surprising good performance.That said, it's not a replacement for the HackRF One. The first thing you'll notice, if you attempt to build any of the HackRF projects, is that you'll need to drastically reduce the sample rate. The HackRF One can handle a 20MHz sampling rate; the RTL-SDR SMArTee XDR sampling rate is an order of magnitude lower - 2 MHz. Furthermore, the RTL-SDR is receive only and that definitely limits its capabilities. Even so, if you are looking for a cheap introduction to SDR, then definitely buy the RTL-SDR SMArTee XTR. You won't regret it.

First I tried FM radio. Fine. Then police band. Fine. AM airband. Same. This thing works much better than I thought it could. Digital signals are there. I find the tuning to be perfectly calibrated, no need at all to use offsets. I have some problems with FM stations overloading it (causing a few images of FM stations in other bands) so if you are near an FM station you might want an FM trap in front of the dongle. Don't forget an antenna kit; this dongle feeds power to whatever is plugged into the antenna so use a DC block if your antenna is DC shorted. Will NOT work for ADS-B because it has a gap around 1090MHz. Great product.

I was unsure about ordering this model because of the earlier reviews. I previously purchased the NESDR SMART and it works great. I bought this one to get the extra spectrum and the bias tee feature. I plugged this one into my a USB port on the computer I use for my NESDR SMART model and started SDR#. It was recognized and worked immediately. I shut down the software and plugged the NESDR SMART into the other USB port and then restarted SDR#. I can switch between the two devices! I find no negative issues and recommend this unit.

This NESDR SMArTee XTR SDR seems to working well so far after a 3 weeks of good use almost everyday. Does get warm to the touch, but that is normal. Have not noticed any frequency drift as the SMArTee XTR is heated up after an hour of use. I also own the NESDR SMArTee v2 SDR, which I have been comparing. Improvements that I would make to this NESDRs would be to produce new products with a USB 3.0 connector instead of the USB 2.0 connector that they come with now, which should not cost that much more. Produce a SDR with a full bandwidth of 25 MHz - 2000 MHz with no gaps in frequencies. Wished Nooelec NESDR could make something similar to AirSpy or SDRplay SDRs with a 12-bit or 14-bit ADC with all their functionality, but with a U.S. focus on AM and FM band stop or notch filters for our frequency ranges, this might be hard to do since most of the world is on different frequency standards for FM than the U.S. Just waiting on a better antenna to arrive, which is a discone, to really test this SDR and SMArTee v2 the out on.

I have 6 other SDR radio dongles (several different brands) in use for projects. Bought this one because of the expanded frequency range. Tested it with the correct driver (via ZaDig) and SDR# software. Worked initially but as the test went on, the audio started to garble. Got worse the longer it ran. Likely a thermal problem. Resetting the software didn't help. Returned!

If you need a simple midrange-quality RTL-SDR that provides bias-t for a LNA or something, this gadget does the job. Tunes well, seems accurate, reasonably well shielded, not much drift, etc. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another of these.