RTL-SDR dongle with new TCXO oscillator

RTL-SDR (RTL2832) is very cheap TV dongle than can be used as PC based scanner. You can use it for various applications as: HF/VHF/UHF SDR receiver, waterfall for your TRX (IF), APRS Igate, ADS-B Aircraft radar etc.

Dongles use classic 28.8 MHz crystal oscillator. With original one the frequency stability and error is quite poor. Frequency mistake is around 15 kHz on 900 MHz...

That is why I decided to try to exchange original oscillator for the NEW 28.8 MHz TCXO with 0,5ppm. There are some pictures of the modification.

TCXO informations

Frequency offset with original crystal oscillator:

And with NEW TCXO installed!

Remove original crystal

Clean piece of GND on PCB and solder TCXO.

Be careful! Do not connect top of the TCXO with the ground!!!

Cu wire from crystal pad to TCXO one.

Cu wire from Vcc to the TCXO with additional capacitor.

Or another possibility:

Example of application of RTL-SDR with great open sw OpenWEB RX:

- 10 GHz SDR RX with SAT LNBs with TXCO :)