Receivers
RTL-SDR stick and the SDR driver app
Plug a stick into the phone; a separate SDR driver app opens it for SDRSowa.
On this page
How a stick works with the app #
Plug the stick into the phone with a USB-C (OTG) adapter. In this version of the app the stick is opened by the separate SDR driver app, not by SDRSowa itself. Settings > Receiver shows whether the driver app is installed. If it is not, the card says so and has a Get the SDR driver app button.
Controls #
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Stick name and state | Shows the stick found on the USB port and whether it is connected. Tap the stick's name to connect to it. |
| Refresh devices | Looks at the USB port again. |
| Disconnect | Lets go of the stick. |
| Why no sound? | Opens a short check of the stick, the antenna and the sound output. |
What the driver app must support #
SDRSowa asks the driver app to pass on some settings to the stick: antenna power (bias-T) and RTL AGC. These two switches say "Needs the SDR driver app to support it." If your driver app ignores the request, the switch has no effect. The frequency correction (ppm) is applied by SDRSowa itself.
If the stick does not open #
Install the separate SDR driver app and open it once. Allow it to use the USB device when the phone asks. Push the stick fully into the adapter and the adapter into the phone, then press Refresh devices. Some phones need an OTG adapter that is known to work. If the stick still does not open, the driver app shows the reason.
A phone without USB host support can still use a network receiver.