V3 R860 RTL2832U 1PPM TCXO SMA Software Defined Radio (Dongle Only) (Black)

Q: Will this cover ssb on vhf/uhf signals?

Yes. The dongle itself doesn't demodulate anything. The SDR software you run on your PC dictates which modes you can monitor. Most software packages will demodulate/decode all analogue modes such as SSB, FM, CW, and AM. Digittal voice and data modes can be decoded with other software packages.

Q: Will this work with any antenna

Yes, but the wrong antenna won't work well. These are often supplied with a small magnetic base whip antenna. They are very poor. Indoor antennas don't work well, almost not at for shortwave and AM broadcast. Outdoor antennas are the best by far. Since it isn't transmitting, the length of the antenna isn't to critical. I have one that uses a 102" stainless steel CB whip on a steel pole, 25ft up. It picks up everything from the AM broadcast band to UHF. I get good FM reception and ATC from the city 75miles to the north and I can even hear the Portuguese speaking Fleetcom sat pirates around 260MHz. I use another with an old 20 meter ham band dipole about 20 feet above my house. It picks up everything from WWVB on 60KHz to a 915MHz ubiquiti access point, 2000ft away with a sector antenna facing in the other direction.

Q: Is there software in existence that can allow this to auto scan specific signals like fire/ems/police?

If you want to scan a P-25 system used in many areas you need 2 dongles and Unitrunker Voice Trunking software. The reason is one dongle must listen to the control channel and the other to the voice. It works, is a little more complex but P-25 scanners start at about $400.

Q: New Tech here - surely this doesn't have transmit power - does one need a "linear" to TX?

While Ice's answer is pure comedy, it won't transmit. Pick up an Icom IC-7300 when they go on sale at HRO. I have one of those with a home brew 1000 watt linear amp. It will do the job! 73' WG7B.

Product ID: 509793271

Secure Transaction

Details

Brand
RTL-SDR Blog
Color
Black
Antenna
Radio
Tuner Technology
Digital
Remote Control Included?
No

📡500 kHz–1.7 GHz tuning range

🧊Aluminum case with passive cooling

⚙️1 PPM TCXO for ultra-stable frequency

Description

📡 Unlock the airwaves with precision and power—your SDR game just leveled up!

BROAD SPECTRUM MASTERY - Seamlessly tune from 500 kHz to 1.7 GHz—capture signals others miss.
SLEEK THERMAL MANAGEMENT - Aluminum shielded case with thermal pad keeps your dongle cool under pressure.
POWER YOUR SETUP WIRELESSLY - Activatable bias-tee powers LNAs and active antennas without extra cables.
CROSS PLATFORM COMPATIBILITY - Works flawlessly on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and Raspberry Pi—plug and play your way.
PRECISION FREQUENCY STABILITY - 1 PPM temperature-compensated oscillator ensures rock-solid reception accuracy.

The V3 R860 RTL2832U SDR dongle is a high-performance software defined radio receiver featuring a wide 500 kHz to 1.7 GHz tuning range, a highly stable 1 PPM TCXO oscillator, and an aluminum shielded case for passive cooling. It includes an SMA connector, software-activated bias-tee for powering external antennas, and supports multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and Raspberry Pi. Ideal for professionals and enthusiasts seeking reliable, versatile RF reception.