Generic or branded? $8 or $21? Observations after Nooelec sent a brand-new Mini 2 (manufacturer, Amazon) for review (many thanks, disclaimer) and bought a fresh R820T2 off eBay. Identical receiver specs on paper, but are they really the same?
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Interchangeable cases:
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PCBs look quite similar, click on image for full screen view:
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Upon closer inspection, component mounting on PCB, sideview:
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Supplied mounts and coax cables: same diameter, same holding power of magnet, discover the difference between coax cables:
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Supplied antennas: Mini 2 has more than twice the length and adjustable.
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Why does it matter? Signals are received by the antenna, and with a larger / longer antenna you got a fleeting chance of listening to fun action bands below 200 MHz, e.g. airband with generic and silver telescopic, higher peak in the image better (able to understand voice):
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Sidenote: receive performance matters primarily on antenna used, location, line of sight, and a host other factors, simply put, the Mini 2 with the supplied antenna will provide more listening pleasure.
Performance with external antenna: indistinguishable on an external discone by ear, tested on ADS-B and totals within three percent. Mini 2 has a less noisy waterfall image:
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Try that again:
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Don't ask why, only swapped dongles, both were fully warmed up.
Warranty: Mini 2 6 months, generics comes with 30 or 60-day warranty:
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Support: close to nonexistent with a generic, Nooelec seems to be staffed with people who actually use what they sell, therefore can intelligently answer questions.
Reliability: Bought a Nooelec dongle more than four and a half years ago after generics failed, and that dongle is still ticking without any hiccups:
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Featured in many old posts of yours truly (e.g. Reducing electrical noise) so it wasn't pampered, in fact, I bought my first Ham-It-Up after seeing that a dongle with Nooelec written on them won't let me down.
"What was the results of tests of both units with the same antenna mounted outside?"
Two eggs, same PCB, Nooelec is clearer, but won't matter at the $8 level. Difference is antenna, warranty, build quality, receive performance will be hard to see or impossible to hear for sighted people.
This or that? Truly believe that a generic RTL-SDR R820T2 is the best value for money in the radio world, and - be realistic - with bills looming on the horizon, $8 is less painful than $21. But with limitations: shoddy antenna, questionable build quality and no long-term support. Feel free to read up how to do a few mods for better performance if you understand the "DIY" moniker.
Which one would I buy? Reliability, warranty and performance are the keywords for me, so I'd go for the Mini 2, better still, spend that extra few bucks and get a Nooelec SMArt or rt-sdr.com v.3.
Interchangeable cases:
PCBs look quite similar, click on image for full screen view:
Upon closer inspection, component mounting on PCB, sideview:
Supplied antennas: Mini 2 has more than twice the length and adjustable.
Why does it matter? Signals are received by the antenna, and with a larger / longer antenna you got a fleeting chance of listening to fun action bands below 200 MHz, e.g. airband with generic and silver telescopic, higher peak in the image better (able to understand voice):
Performance with external antenna: indistinguishable on an external discone by ear, tested on ADS-B and totals within three percent. Mini 2 has a less noisy waterfall image:
Try that again:
Don't ask why, only swapped dongles, both were fully warmed up.
Warranty: Mini 2 6 months, generics comes with 30 or 60-day warranty:
Support: close to nonexistent with a generic, Nooelec seems to be staffed with people who actually use what they sell, therefore can intelligently answer questions.
Reliability: Bought a Nooelec dongle more than four and a half years ago after generics failed, and that dongle is still ticking without any hiccups:
Featured in many old posts of yours truly (e.g. Reducing electrical noise) so it wasn't pampered, in fact, I bought my first Ham-It-Up after seeing that a dongle with Nooelec written on them won't let me down.
Comment and answer:
Came up elsewhere as well:"What was the results of tests of both units with the same antenna mounted outside?"
Two eggs, same PCB, Nooelec is clearer, but won't matter at the $8 level. Difference is antenna, warranty, build quality, receive performance will be hard to see or impossible to hear for sighted people.
Conclusion
This or that? Truly believe that a generic RTL-SDR R820T2 is the best value for money in the radio world, and - be realistic - with bills looming on the horizon, $8 is less painful than $21. But with limitations: shoddy antenna, questionable build quality and no long-term support. Feel free to read up how to do a few mods for better performance if you understand the "DIY" moniker.
Which one would I buy? Reliability, warranty and performance are the keywords for me, so I'd go for the Mini 2, better still, spend that extra few bucks and get a Nooelec SMArt or rt-sdr.com v.3.