Dear Volumionauts,
Kind Regards,
hello,
i just got this one NESDR SMArTee XTR
finds the device fine. the only thing finding stations on the very sensitive. playing ok
is it just the signal poor here?
Dear Volumionauts,
IMPORTANT: This is NOT an out-of-the-box FM/DAB radio
This plugin uses RTL-SDR USB dongles - software-defined radio devices that require understanding of RF (radio frequency) principles to use successfully. Unlike consumer radios with a single purpose and automatic tuning, RTL-SDR is a DIY solution where YOU must understand:
This is the blueprint for RTL-SDR success: Understanding how RTL-SDR works is not optional - it’s the foundation. The plugin provides the software interface, but the hardware setup and RF knowledge are YOUR responsibility.
Reception Quality Factors:
Common New User Misconceptions:
Before Reporting Issues:
If you’re new to RTL-SDR: This is a learning curve, not a consumer product. The RTL-SDR community has extensive documentation. Invest time understanding the technology before expecting plug-and-play results.
Once you’ve confirmed your RTL-SDR setup works with standard tools, then we can troubleshoot plugin-specific issues. But hardware/reception problems cannot be fixed in software.
Kind Regards,
could you please provide some examples of a recommended Combined FM/DAB antenna?
Any plans for AM reception? I like my morning talk show!
Dear Volumionauts,
Antenna Guide for RTL-SDR Radio
After spending way too much time chasing weak signals and dealing with noisy reception, following on @Darmur request, I figured it’s time to put together some practical antenna guidance. This covers both FM and DAB+, from budget options to what actually works.
The uncomfortable truth about antennas
Your antenna matters more than your dongle. A terrible antenna with an expensive RTL-SDR V3 will sound worse than a proper antenna with a cheap generic dongle. The physics don’t care about your budget.
FM (88-108 MHz) and DAB+ (174-240 MHz) need different antenna designs because of wavelength differences. FM wavelengths are roughly 2.8-3.4 meters, while DAB+ is about 1.25-1.7 meters. An antenna optimized for one won’t be ideal for the other. If you want both, you either need two antennas or accept compromise performance.
The dongle is part of the problem
Before blaming your antenna, check your dongle:
As @Wheaten discovered: same antenna, same location, but switching from Pi5 to x86 hardware gave dramatically better audio quality and stronger signals. The Pi wasn’t defective - it just generates more electrical noise near the USB ports.
Safety warnings - please read
Outdoor antenna installation can kill you:
Indoor antennas are safer but perform worse. It’s a trade-off.
Antenna pattern comparison
| Pattern Type | Reception | Best For | Worst For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omnidirectional | Equal all directions | Urban areas, scattered transmitters, unknown signal direction | Rejecting interference, weak distant signals |
| Directional (Yagi) | Focused beam, high gain | Rural areas, single transmitter direction, weak signals | Multiple transmitter locations, mobile setups |
| Log-Periodic | Directional, wideband | Covering FM + DAB+ with one antenna | Space-constrained indoor use |
Antenna types by performance
| Price Range | Antenna Type | Gain (dBi) | Polarization | FM Performance | DAB+ Performance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget (under €15) | Telescopic whip | 0-2 | Adjustable | Fair (strong signals) | Poor | Indoor only, length matters |
| Budget | Basic dipole | 2-3 | Horizontal or Vertical | Good (local) | Fair (local) | Simple, works for testing |
| Mid (€15-50) | Powered indoor | 3-8 | Varies | Good | Good | Amplifies noise too, can overload |
| Mid | FM outdoor dipole | 3-5 | Horizontal | Very good | Poor | Wrong band for DAB+ |
| Mid | DAB Band III | 3-6 | Vertical | Poor | Very good | Wrong band for FM |
| High (€50+) | Log-periodic | 5-10 | Directional | Very good | Very good | Requires aiming, weatherproof |
| High | FM Yagi | 8-15 | Horizontal | Excellent | None | Single band only |
| High | DAB Yagi | 8-15 | Vertical | None | Excellent | Single band only |
Gain specifications guide
| Gain Range | Use Case | Typical Distance | Environment | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-3 dBi | Strong local signals | 0-20 km | Urban, line of sight | Overload in strong signal areas |
| 3-8 dBi | Balanced performance | 10-50 km | Suburban, mixed | Safe for most situations |
| 8-15 dBi | Weak distant signals | 40-100+ km | Rural, obstructed | Useless in urban areas, too directional |
Higher gain is not always better. A 15dBi antenna in a strong signal area will overload your dongle and cause distortion. A 3dBi antenna in weak signal areas won’t help much.
Do-it-yourself antenna principles
I’m not giving construction plans (too many variables, liability concerns), but here are the principles:
Troubleshooting common issues
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No stations found during scan | Loose connection, wrong polarization, no coverage | Check F-connector, verify antenna orientation, confirm DAB+ available in region |
| Scan finds stations but won’t play | Signal too weak, digital cliff effect | Better antenna, outdoor placement, higher mounting |
| Audio is noisy/distorted | USB interference, signal too strong or too weak | Try different USB port, add ferrite beads, adjust antenna position |
| FM works, DAB+ fails completely | Wrong frequency range, different antenna needed | DAB+ needs Band III antenna (174-240 MHz), not FM antenna |
| Signal strength varies wildly | Multipath interference, reflections | Use directional antenna, change mounting location |
| Works during day, fails at night | Atmospheric conditions (FM skip) | Normal for distant stations, directional antenna helps |
Regional DAB+ reality check
| Region | DAB+ Status | Band Used | Coverage Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Widespread | Band III (174-240 MHz) | Excellent national coverage |
| Germany | Widespread | Band III | Good coverage, expanding |
| Netherlands | Good | Band III | Major cities well covered |
| Norway | Widespread | Band III | National rollout complete |
| Australia | Limited | Band III | Major cities only |
| Italy | Growing | Band III | Uneven regional coverage |
| USA/Canada | Essentially none | N/A | Use HD Radio or internet instead |
| Parts of Asia | Very limited | Band III or L-Band | Check local coverage maps |
Before buying a DAB-specific antenna, verify your region actually has DAB+ transmitters. Check your country’s DAB coverage maps online. Don’t assume.
Some countries use L-Band DAB (1452-1492 MHz) instead of Band III - completely different antennas needed. Research your local standard first.
Bottom line recommendations
| Your Situation | Recommended Antenna | Budget | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| FM only, strong signals, urban | Simple telescopic or basic dipole | €5-15 | Adequate performance, not worth spending more |
| FM + DAB+, urban, good coverage | Wideband log-periodic or separate FM/DAB antennas | €30-60 | Covers both bands, reasonable compromise |
| Weak signals, rural, distant transmitters | Directional Yagi or log-periodic, outdoor mounted | €50-100+ | Height and aiming matter more than antenna model |
| Testing, experimenting, unknown conditions | Cheap basic antenna first | €10-20 | Identifies actual problem before investing |
| Indoor only (apartment, rental) | Powered omnidirectional or window-mount dipole | €20-40 | Best compromise for installation restrictions |
Universal truth: The best antenna is the one that’s outside, up high, and properly oriented. Everything else is compromise.
Quick decision flowchart
Do you have DAB+ coverage in your area? (Check maps first)
Can you install outdoor antenna?
Are your transmitters all in one direction?
How strong are your signals? (Try cheap antenna first to test)
Kind Regards,
many thanks, but you could also provide some examples with links of recommended Combined FM/DAB antenna? Something I can add to cart and buy
Hey @jocoman,
AM Radio Reception - Technical Feasibility
Short answer: Yes, the RTL-SDR hardware can receive AM. No, I’m not planning to implement it anytime soon.
Hardware capability:
RTL-SDR dongles can tune AM frequencies:
The R820T/R820T2 tuner chips in typical dongles support these frequencies. Some cheaper dongles struggle below 24 MHz, but many work down to 500 kHz with direct sampling enabled.
Implementation reality:
Adding AM support means:
This is weeks of development and testing, not an afternoon project.
Where we are now:
Getting FM and DAB+ working properly took substantial development effort. If you’ve been following this thread, you know hardware quirks, and UI iterations were needed just to make two bands work reliably. Look at the repo and chat history - it’s extensive.
AM adds another layer of complexity because:
Community contribution:
The repository is public: volumio-plugins-sources-bookworm/rtlsdr_radio at RTL-SDR · foonerd/volumio-plugins-sources-bookworm · GitHub
If AM radio is important to you or others in the community, contributions are welcome. The codebase is there, the patterns are established (look at how FM is implemented), and the infrastructure exists.
What’s needed:
I’m happy to review pull requests and provide guidance on plugin architecture, but I’m not committing development time yet. FM and DAB+ serve the majority use case.
Bottom line:
Technically possible? Yes.
Open to community implementation? Absolutely.
If there’s significant demand (multiple users requesting it, willingness to test), I might reconsider.
Kind Regards,
Hey @Darmur,
Fair point - here are some specific combined FM/DAB antennas you can actually buy.
Budget indoor options (€10-20):
RTL-SDR Blog Multipurpose Dipole Antenna Kit
Around £17-20. This is the antenna that comes with the RTL-SDR bundles. I use this one myself - works quite well in vertical orientation right outside the window. Includes telescopic elements, magnetic base, suction mount, tripod, and 3m extension cable. Good starting point for most setups.
Ancable DAB/FM telescopic with magnetic base
Around £14. Telescopic, 3m cable, magnetic base. Good for testing if you can get reception at all. Mixed reviews - works well in strong signal areas, useless in weak ones.
Generic DAB/FM telescopic antenna
Around £13. Similar to above, slightly different connector adapters included. Band coverage: FM 88-108 MHz, DAB Band III 174-240 MHz.
Mid-range outdoor (€50-70):
Antiference FMDAB combined aerial
£53.39 + shipping. Proper outdoor antenna, omnidirectional FM (360 degrees), directional DAB (90 degrees). Pole mounted, weatherproof. This is a real aerial, not a toy. Requires outdoor installation and coax cable run.
Also available from various UK trade suppliers if Antiference direct shipping doesn’t work for you.
Higher-end options (€80+):
If you need serious gain for weak signals, you’re looking at separate antennas:
Antiference 4-element DAB aerial (DAB2304T) - around £70-80
5-element FM aerial (FM1085T) - around £80-90
These are directional high-gain antennas. You’d need to combine the outputs. Only worth it if you’re in a genuinely poor reception area and outdoor mounting is possible.
Reality check:
Start cheap. The RTL-SDR dipole kit or the £14 Ancable antenna will tell you if your problem is “no signal at all” or “weak signal that needs better antenna”. If the cheap one finds nothing, a £80 antenna probably won’t help either - your area might just lack coverage.
If the cheap antenna finds stations but they’re choppy/noisy, then upgrade to the Antiference FMDAB outdoor antenna.
For most people in urban areas with decent coverage, the RTL-SDR dipole kit mounted vertically near a window is adequate.
Kind Regards,
Jeepers
Thank you for that response. I had no idea of the complexity to make AM work.
So, definitely not worth the effort!
thanks for the hints, I got the first one you’re using too
The XTR models are not ideal for DAB+ reception, as they’re optimized for L-band and satellite frequencies.
That leaves the SMArt V5 and SMArTee as better choices.
The SMArTee is recommended if you plan to use an LNA or active antenna, thanks to its built-in bias tee
Something weird is happening with the delete function via port 3456.
If I delete all FM and DAB+ channels, I see them in “Deleted Stations”.
If I scan FM stations again, I see:
But only 3 are added:
Dear Volumionauts,
Thank you for reporting and testing @Wheaten - appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Hardware:
Volumio:
Testing:
Maintenance:
Suggestion:
Would it be possible to implement a live signal strength scan to assist with antenna alignment? Right now, it takes three minutes to realize DAB has vanished into thin air.
Hey @Wheaten,
To get the assets refresh - you will need to start browsing from the root of Music Library:
There is no concept in the backend UI of the child container assets count dynamic refresh. This is simply cached.
Will need to evaluate, how dynamically re-query statically calculated signal floor.
Kind Regard,
Dear Volumionauts,
Version 1.0.9 introduces professional-grade antenna positioning tools to help you optimize your RTL-SDR reception. These tools provide real-time feedback as you adjust your antenna placement and orientation.
Tool 1: RF Spectrum Scan
Tool 2: DAB Channel Validation
Three Critical Bug Fixes:
RF Spectrum Scan shows WHERE radio frequency energy exists in your location. Channel Validation shows IF that RF energy is actually decodable DAB. Strong RF does not guarantee usable signal - it could be interference or wrong modulation type.
The screenshots below demonstrate spectrum scan results with a bi-dipole antenna in different orientations (described using clock face positions):
Test environment: Urban London with multiple DAB ensembles
Dongle: RTL-SDR V3
Antenna: Bi-dipole (DAB Band III optimized)
The screenshots show real-world signal variations with antenna positioning changes. Your results will vary based on:
Version 1.0.9 available through Volumio plugin repository.
Kind Regards,
How did you connect this antenna? Plug type?
