Windows driver requirement
SPECTER SDR communicates with RTL-SDR hardware through WinUSB. Receiver Setup shows every compatible USB interface and whether it is ready.
- Open ARRAY SETUP from the left drawer.
- Review the USB Driver Setup panel.
- Press INSTALL SDR DRIVER when a compatible interface is not using WinUSB.
- Approve Windows elevation, then allow the receiver service to restart and rescan.
Manual Zadig fallback
Use OPEN OFFICIAL ZADIG if automatic installation cannot bind a receiver. In Zadig, enable List All Devices, select the RTL2832U Interface 0 device, choose WinUSB, then install or replace the driver.
Array layouts
AUTO-FIT CONNECTED proposes a practical layout for the current receiver count.
| Receivers | Suggested layout |
|---|---|
| 2 | North / South |
| 3 | North / Southeast / Southwest |
| 4 | North / East / South / West |
| 5 | Four directions plus centre omnidirectional |
| 6 | Six-way ring |
| 7 | Six-way ring plus centre omnidirectional |
| 8 | Eight-way ring |
Stable receiver identity
Many inexpensive dongles ship with the same serial, commonly 00000001. Duplicate serials can prevent every connected receiver from appearing and make stable slot restoration impossible.
Program a unique serial with only one dongle connected at a time:
rtl_eeprom -s 00000002Repeat with a different serial for each receiver. SPECTER SDR can then restore names, slots, tuning, gain, antenna roles, bearings, and saved configurations consistently.
USB power and bandwidth
- Use a powered USB 3 hub for larger arrays.
- Split receivers across independent USB controllers when practical.
- Use matched antennas and feed lines for meaningful amplitude comparison.
- Test unplug, replug, and restart behavior before field deployment.