Files

Setup

Microsoft Store

Open the Microsoft store and install Python 3.13 and Visual Studio Code.

Unzip Setup Files

Download the workshop setup files from here, and extract the zip.

Run Installer

Run the setup.bat file to install the needed python libraries (setuptools, matplotlib, pyrtlsdr, pyrtlsdr). If Windows Defender opens a popup, click More info then Run anyway.

Fix Drivers

Plug in your RTL-SDR device and open Zadig, it will require an admin login, so wait for someone to put it in for you. Once open, the device may have RTL-SDR in its name, or it might just say Bulk-In Interface. Either way the USB ID must be 0BDA 2838 00 to continue.

If the ID matches, click Install Driver and wait a bit.

Once you get a message saying the driver install was successful, you may move on.

Open in VS Code

Double click example.py to open it, selecting Visual Studio Code if it asks how to open the file. Once it opens, you should see a recommendation to install the Python extension, install it.

After it installs, go back to the example.py tab and click the play button in the top right corner. If everything is working, you should see a plot open like this:

Play with SDR++

While you wait for everyone else to finish, open sdrpp/sdrpp.exe. Select RTL-SDR as the source and press the play button in the top left.

The big number at the top of the screen is the tuned frequency, change it to explore the radio frequency spectrum. Below is an example of a FM radio station.