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Groups > linux.debian.user > #280418 > unrolled thread

Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available?

Started byRichard Owlett <rowlett@access.net>
First post2025-06-23 14:00 +0200
Last post2025-06-24 13:00 +0200
Articles 19 — 9 participants

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Contents

  Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? Richard Owlett <rowlett@access.net> - 2025-06-23 14:00 +0200
    Re: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2025-06-23 14:20 +0200
      Re: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? John Dow <johnmdow@me.com> - 2025-06-23 14:40 +0200
      Re: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? Richard Owlett <rowlett@access.net> - 2025-06-23 16:00 +0200
        Re: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2025-06-23 16:30 +0200
          Re: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? Richard Owlett <rowlett@access.net> - 2025-06-24 14:20 +0200
            Re: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2025-06-24 15:10 +0200
      Re: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? Timothy M Butterworth <timothy.m.butterworth@gmail.com> - 2025-06-25 12:20 +0200
    Re: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? Hans <hans.ullrich@mail.de> - 2025-06-23 16:10 +0200
      Re: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? Richard Owlett <rowlett@access.net> - 2025-06-24 14:30 +0200
        Re: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? Richard Owlett <rowlett@access.net> - 2025-06-25 16:20 +0200
          Re: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2025-06-25 16:40 +0200
        More effective searching (was: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB  device - available?) Jan Claeys <lists@janc.be> - 2025-06-30 13:20 +0200
          Re: More effective searching "Loris Bennett" <loris.bennett@fu-berlin.de> - 2025-06-30 14:10 +0200
            Re: More effective searching Richard Owlett <rowlett@access.net> - 2025-06-30 16:10 +0200
          Re: More effective searching Richard Owlett <rowlett@access.net> - 2025-06-30 16:00 +0200
    Re: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? Van Snyder <van.snyder@sbcglobal.net> - 2025-06-24 03:00 +0200
      Re: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? 🦓 <czyborra@gmail.com> - 2025-06-24 06:30 +0200
      Re: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available? Richard Owlett <rowlett@access.net> - 2025-06-24 13:00 +0200

#280418 — Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available?

FromRichard Owlett <rowlett@access.net>
Date2025-06-23 14:00 +0200
SubjectLinux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available?
Message-ID<L0O09-cA8a-7@gated-at.bofh.it>
I'm old enough to remember pocket radios of the fifties/sixties.
I looking for a USB device to plug into my laptop running Debian 12 so I 
can listen to a local station while working. I'd also want to record as 
MP3 for listening at a more convenient time.

My web search turned up little relevant detail.

Suggestions?

TIA

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#280419

FromDan Purgert <dan@djph.net>
Date2025-06-23 14:20 +0200
Message-ID<L0Ojv-cAuG-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280418

[Multipart message — attachments visible in raw view] — view raw

On Jun 23, 2025, Richard Owlett wrote:
> I'm old enough to remember pocket radios of the fifties/sixties.
> I looking for a USB device to plug into my laptop running Debian 12 so
> I can listen to a local station while working. I'd also want to record
> as MP3 for listening at a more convenient time.

RTL2832U dongle and RTL-SDR should cover that.  RECORDING the station
might be a little more interesting, but I don't see why it wouldn't be
doable. 

Note that most of the things sold with this chipset are going to be
marketed as TV Tuners; but the chip itself is capable of receiving
anything between the 630 meter and 23 centimeter bands (approx 475 KHz
to 1.2 GHz).  

-- 
|_|O|_| 
|_|_|O| Github: https://github.com/dpurgert
|O|O|O| PGP: DDAB 23FB 19FA 7D85 1CC1  E067 6D65 70E5 4CE7 2860

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#280420

FromJohn Dow <johnmdow@me.com>
Date2025-06-23 14:40 +0200
Message-ID<L0OCR-cAAQ-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280419

[Multipart message — attachments visible in raw view] — view raw

> On 23 Jun 2025, at 13:10, Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> wrote:
> 
> On Jun 23, 2025, Richard Owlett wrote:
>> I'm old enough to remember pocket radios of the fifties/sixties.
>> I looking for a USB device to plug into my laptop running Debian 12 so
>> I can listen to a local station while working. I'd also want to record
>> as MP3 for listening at a more convenient time.
> 
> RTL2832U dongle and RTL-SDR should cover that.  RECORDING the station
> might be a little more interesting, but I don't see why it wouldn't be
> doable. 
> 
> Note that most of the things sold with this chipset are going to be
> marketed as TV Tuners; but the chip itself is capable of receiving
> anything between the 630 meter and 23 centimeter bands (approx 475 KHz
> to 1.2 GHz).  

I’ve just checked by plugging in my RTL SDR - it does exactly what you want. If you use Gqrx, you can record directly from it.

J

-- 
John Dow <jmd@nelefa.org>
http://www.nelefa.org
PVC:APKTIDQ4881ao2SFS0DZLOe7t6V0UwcuUV4x3dnkJR0TZsYX0usQ


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#280422

FromRichard Owlett <rowlett@access.net>
Date2025-06-23 16:00 +0200
Message-ID<L0PSh-cBil-9@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280419
On 6/23/25 7:10 AM, Dan Purgert wrote:
> On Jun 23, 2025, Richard Owlett wrote:
>> I'm old enough to remember pocket radios of the fifties/sixties.
>> I looking for a USB device to plug into my laptop running Debian 12 so
>> I can listen to a local station while working. I'd also want to record
>> as MP3 for listening at a more convenient time.
> 
> RTL2832U dongle and RTL-SDR should cover that.  RECORDING the station
> might be a little more interesting, but I don't see why it wouldn't be
> doable.
> 
> Note that most of the things sold with this chipset are going to be
> marketed as TV Tuners; but the chip itself is capable of receiving
> anything between the 630 meter and 23 centimeter bands (approx 475 KHz
> to 1.2 GHz).
> 

That explains the irrelevant hits I got to my web search.
That chip can do TOO much.
I was looking for a device aimed at 88-108 MHz band with builtin 
antenna. [https://www.adafruit.com/product/1497 approaches my goal]

All this excess reminds me of 1990's B&W line-art precursors of cartoon 
at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_swing_cartoon ;/

Preliminary searches for "RTL2832U" and/or "RTL-SDR" are promising.
Thank you.

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#280424

FromDan Purgert <dan@djph.net>
Date2025-06-23 16:30 +0200
Message-ID<L0Qll-cBIu-7@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280422

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On Jun 23, 2025, Richard Owlett wrote:
> On 6/23/25 7:10 AM, Dan Purgert wrote:
> > On Jun 23, 2025, Richard Owlett wrote:
> > > I'm old enough to remember pocket radios of the fifties/sixties.
> > > I looking for a USB device to plug into my laptop running Debian 12 so
> > > I can listen to a local station while working. I'd also want to record
> > > as MP3 for listening at a more convenient time.
> > 
> > RTL2832U dongle and RTL-SDR should cover that.  RECORDING the station
> > might be a little more interesting, but I don't see why it wouldn't be
> > doable.
> > 
> > Note that most of the things sold with this chipset are going to be
> > marketed as TV Tuners; but the chip itself is capable of receiving
> > anything between the 630 meter and 23 centimeter bands (approx 475 KHz
> > to 1.2 GHz).
> > 
> 
> That explains the irrelevant hits I got to my web search.
> That chip can do TOO much.
> I was looking for a device aimed at 88-108 MHz band with builtin antenna.
> [https://www.adafruit.com/product/1497 approaches my goal]

That adafruit one is OK.  I'm not a big fan of the MCX connector, since
you're a bit tied to that antenna then -- similar to older TVs that only
had the 300-ohm twin-lead connection instead of an F-connector.

It's certainly not the end of the world by any means, just gets annoying
if/when the antenna needs to be moved around for better reception (I
don't like adding adapters if I can avoid it).

> All this excess reminds me of 1990's B&W line-art precursors of cartoon at
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_swing_cartoon ;/

Which bit is the "excess" here?  The breadth of ranges at which the
receiver works?  


-- 
|_|O|_| 
|_|_|O| Github: https://github.com/dpurgert
|O|O|O| PGP: DDAB 23FB 19FA 7D85 1CC1  E067 6D65 70E5 4CE7 2860

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#280446

FromRichard Owlett <rowlett@access.net>
Date2025-06-24 14:20 +0200
Message-ID<L1aN4-cOFs-5@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280424
On 6/23/25 9:28 AM, Dan Purgert wrote:
> On Jun 23, 2025, Richard Owlett wrote:
>> On 6/23/25 7:10 AM, Dan Purgert wrote:
>>> On Jun 23, 2025, Richard Owlett wrote:
>>>> I'm old enough to remember pocket radios of the fifties/sixties.
>>>> I looking for a USB device to plug into my laptop running Debian 12 so
>>>> I can listen to a local station while working. I'd also want to record
>>>> as MP3 for listening at a more convenient time.
>>>
>>> RTL2832U dongle and RTL-SDR should cover that.  RECORDING the station
>>> might be a little more interesting, but I don't see why it wouldn't be
>>> doable.
>>>
>>> Note that most of the things sold with this chipset are going to be
>>> marketed as TV Tuners; but the chip itself is capable of receiving
>>> anything between the 630 meter and 23 centimeter bands (approx 475 KHz
>>> to 1.2 GHz).
>>>
>>
>> That explains the irrelevant hits I got to my web search.
>> That chip can do TOO much.
>> I was looking for a device aimed at 88-108 MHz band with builtin antenna.
>> [https://www.adafruit.com/product/1497 approaches my goal]
> 
> That adafruit one is OK.  I'm not a big fan of the MCX connector, since
> you're a bit tied to that antenna then -- similar to older TVs that only
> had the 300-ohm twin-lead connection instead of an F-connector.

I mentioned the adafruit as it came up as an early hit that leaned in 
general direction of my personal goal.

> 
> It's certainly not the end of the world by any means, just gets annoying
> if/when the antenna needs to be moved around for better reception (I
> don't like adding adapters if I can avoid it).

As I'm interested in local broadcasts only, sensitivity/directivity is 
not an issue. A screw post would serve for antenna connection - short 
wire is "good enough antenna" for my el cheapo clock radio ;}

> 
>> All this excess reminds me of 1990's B&W line-art precursors of cartoon at
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_swing_cartoon ;/
> 
> Which bit is the "excess" here?  The breadth of ranges at which the
> receiver works?
>

Essentially ;}
Featuritis can get in way of usability.

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#280448

FromDan Purgert <dan@djph.net>
Date2025-06-24 15:10 +0200
Message-ID<L1bzr-cPc7-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280446

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On Jun 24, 2025, Richard Owlett wrote:
> On 6/23/25 9:28 AM, Dan Purgert wrote:
> > On Jun 23, 2025, Richard Owlett wrote:
> > > [https://www.adafruit.com/product/1497 approaches my goal]
> > 
> > That adafruit one is OK.  I'm not a big fan of the MCX connector, since
> > you're a bit tied to that antenna then -- similar to older TVs that only
> > had the 300-ohm twin-lead connection instead of an F-connector.
> 
> I mentioned the adafruit as it came up as an early hit that leaned in
> general direction of my personal goal.

Yeah, it's not a bad receiver in general -- just a case of that
connector *potentially* being a source of headaches.

> 
> > 
> > It's certainly not the end of the world by any means, just gets annoying
> > if/when the antenna needs to be moved around for better reception (I
> > don't like adding adapters if I can avoid it).
> 
> As I'm interested in local broadcasts only, sensitivity/directivity is not
> an issue. A screw post would serve for antenna connection - short wire is
> "good enough antenna" for my el cheapo clock radio ;}

Oh, that's good then -- I'm in an area where it's "oh if you wanna
listen to THAT station, the radio has to be THERE; but if you want THIS
station, it has to be HERE"

Granted it's just some old boombox (probably from the 90s) that's seen
better days.


> 
> > 
> > > All this excess reminds me of 1990's B&W line-art precursors of cartoon at
> > > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_swing_cartoon ;/
> > 
> > Which bit is the "excess" here?  The breadth of ranges at which the
> > receiver works?
> > 
> 
> Essentially ;}
> Featuritis can get in way of usability.

The selection of tuner chip(s) is what gives the possibility of wide
input range -- in this case the R820T, which runs from ~40 MHz to ~1000
MHz; allowing it to receive basically all globally-transmitted VHF and
UHF television signals (here in the US, they're broadcast roughly
between 50 and 800 MHz).  It's not all that special of a tuner, in the
sense that televisions have used something like this for probably 40+
years now; basically ever since you had to stop worrying about whether
to tune VHF or UHF to get what you wanted to watch.

Tuner works for "radio" simply because FM broadcasts (88-108 MHz in the
US) are between the former VHF stations 6 (87.75 MHz) and 7 (177 MHz);
though I think those have been long decommissioned in the US (2005? '08?
something like that).

-- 
|_|O|_| 
|_|_|O| Github: https://github.com/dpurgert
|O|O|O| PGP: DDAB 23FB 19FA 7D85 1CC1  E067 6D65 70E5 4CE7 2860

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#280457

FromTimothy M Butterworth <timothy.m.butterworth@gmail.com>
Date2025-06-25 12:20 +0200
Message-ID<L1vou-d2jA-7@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280419

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On Mon, Jun 23, 2025 at 11:44 AM Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> wrote:

> On Jun 23, 2025, Richard Owlett wrote:
> > I'm old enough to remember pocket radios of the fifties/sixties.
> > I looking for a USB device to plug into my laptop running Debian 12 so
> > I can listen to a local station while working. I'd also want to record
> > as MP3 for listening at a more convenient time.
>
> RTL2832U dongle and RTL-SDR should cover that.


Thanks for the info  I just ordered the RTL-SDR with antenna bundle from
Amazon. A little pricey at $50 but that is ok. When I lived in Korea I
always tried to get DVB-TV to work on Linux but never found a device and
software for it.

I usually do not use streaming audio/video from the internet as I use a 5G
metered connection to the internet. I get 10 Gig of Hotspot and I have two
phones so I get 20 Gig Total hotspot a month. I also have a T-Mobile 5G
home internet router but it has about 50% packet loss and usually only gets
4G when it does work.


> RECORDING the station
> might be a little more interesting, but I don't see why it wouldn't be
> doable.
>
> Note that most of the things sold with this chipset are going to be
> marketed as TV Tuners; but the chip itself is capable of receiving
> anything between the 630 meter and 23 centimeter bands (approx 475 KHz
> to 1.2 GHz).
>
> --
> |_|O|_|
> |_|_|O| Github: https://github.com/dpurgert
> |O|O|O| PGP: DDAB 23FB 19FA 7D85 1CC1  E067 6D65 70E5 4CE7 2860
>


-- 
⢀⣴⠾⠻⢶⣦⠀
⣾⠁⢠⠒⠀⣿⡁ Debian - The universal operating system
⢿⡄⠘⠷⠚⠋⠀ https://www.debian.org/
⠈⠳⣄⠀⠀

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#280423

FromHans <hans.ullrich@mail.de>
Date2025-06-23 16:10 +0200
Message-ID<L0Q1X-cBBL-5@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280418
Am Montag, 23. Juni 2025, 13:53:35 CEST schrieb Richard Owlett:
> I'm old enough to remember pocket radios of the fifties/sixties.
> I looking for a USB device to plug into my laptop running Debian 12 so I
> can listen to a local station while working. I'd also want to record as
> MP3 for listening at a more convenient time.
> 
> My web search turned up little relevant detail.
> 
> Suggestions?
> 
> TIA
The chipset is important. The RTL2832U is working well and is well suported in 
linux.

As GUI most people are using GQRX in linux, but I heard, some windows gui 
shall work with wine.

However, my personal success was most time with GQRX. 

Maybe you might want to take a deeper look at 2823U-dongles, there are two 
different kinds available: One is for 24MHz up to 1,8GHz, the other one is for 
100kHz up to 1,8GHz.

The difference between them ist, the one with shortwave capable got TWO 
tunerchips inside, one for only shortwave, the other one for vhf and uhf.

Shortwave might be intereresting if you are a radio amateur like me.

Besides, I personally got the one for shortwave not running. It is confirmed 
to be possible, the problem here is not the technics, but the operater (say: 
me).

Hope this helps a little bit.

Best

Hans

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#280447

FromRichard Owlett <rowlett@access.net>
Date2025-06-24 14:30 +0200
Message-ID<L1aWJ-cOIC-3@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280423
On 6/23/25 9:00 AM, Hans wrote:
> Am Montag, 23. Juni 2025, 13:53:35 CEST schrieb Richard Owlett:
>> I'm old enough to remember pocket radios of the fifties/sixties.
>> I looking for a USB device to plug into my laptop running Debian 12 so I
>> can listen to a local station while working. I'd also want to record as
>> MP3 for listening at a more convenient time.
>>
>> My web search turned up little relevant detail.
>>
>> Suggestions?
>>
>> TIA
> The chipset is important. The RTL2832U is working well and is well suported in
> linux.
> 
> As GUI most people are using GQRX in linux, but I heard, some windows gui
> shall work with wine.
> 
> However, my personal success was most time with GQRX.
> 
> Maybe you might want to take a deeper look at 2823U-dongles, there are two
> different kinds available: One is for 24MHz up to 1,8GHz, the other one is for
> 100kHz up to 1,8GHz.
> 
> The difference between them ist, the one with shortwave capable got TWO
> tunerchips inside, one for only shortwave, the other one for vhf and uhf.
> 
> Shortwave might be intereresting if you are a radio amateur like me.
> 
> Besides, I personally got the one for shortwave not running. It is confirmed
> to be possible, the problem here is not the technics, but the operater (say:
> me).
> 
> Hope this helps a little bit.

It does.
Searching for the various chips mentioned in this thread has been 
productive. I suspect a hobbyist has solved most of my problems.

Side Issue -- Google and DuckDuckGo seem more interested in quantity 
rather than quality. Any pointers to search engine with friendly Boolean 
search? TIA

> 
> Best
> 
> Hans
> 

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#280462

FromRichard Owlett <rowlett@access.net>
Date2025-06-25 16:20 +0200
Message-ID<L1z8J-d4LP-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280447
On 6/24/25 7:27 AM, Richard Owlett wrote:
> On 6/23/25 9:00 AM, Hans wrote:
>> Am Montag, 23. Juni 2025, 13:53:35 CEST schrieb Richard Owlett:
>>> I'm old enough to remember pocket radios of the fifties/sixties.
>>> I looking for a USB device to plug into my laptop running Debian 12 so I
>>> can listen to a local station while working. I'd also want to record as
>>> MP3 for listening at a more convenient time.
>>>
>>> My web search turned up little relevant detail.
>>>
>>> Suggestions?
>>>
>>> TIA
>> The chipset is important. The RTL2832U is working well and is well 
>> suported in
>> linux.
>>
>> As GUI most people are using GQRX in linux, but I heard, some windows gui
>> shall work with wine.
>>
>> However, my personal success was most time with GQRX.
>>
>> Maybe you might want to take a deeper look at 2823U-dongles, there are 
>> two
>> different kinds available: One is for 24MHz up to 1,8GHz, the other 
>> one is for
>> 100kHz up to 1,8GHz.
>>
>> The difference between them ist, the one with shortwave capable got TWO
>> tunerchips inside, one for only shortwave, the other one for vhf and uhf.
>>
>> Shortwave might be intereresting if you are a radio amateur like me.
>>
>> Besides, I personally got the one for shortwave not running. It is 
>> confirmed
>> to be possible, the problem here is not the technics, but the operater 
>> (say:
>> me).
>>
>> Hope this helps a little bit.
> 
> It does.
> Searching for the various chips mentioned in this thread has been 
> productive. I suspect a hobbyist has solved most of my problems.
> 

I've been following links which led to multiple levels more .....

Any suggested mailing lists or USENET groups to lurk on so this newbie 
would get an idea of what to search for?
Part of my problem I'm running into is too much fine detail.
Something similar to the ham radio group my father was in in the 50's.

TIA

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#280463

FromDan Purgert <dan@djph.net>
Date2025-06-25 16:40 +0200
Message-ID<L1zs5-d4T9-11@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280462

[Multipart message — attachments visible in raw view] — view raw

On Jun 25, 2025, Richard Owlett wrote:
> On 6/24/25 7:27 AM, Richard Owlett wrote:
> > On 6/23/25 9:00 AM, Hans wrote:
> > > Am Montag, 23. Juni 2025, 13:53:35 CEST schrieb Richard Owlett:
> > > > I'm old enough to remember pocket radios of the fifties/sixties.
> > > > I looking for a USB device to plug into my laptop running Debian 12 so I
> > > > can listen to a local station while working. I'd also want to record as
> > > > MP3 for listening at a more convenient time.
> > > > 
> > > > My web search turned up little relevant detail.
> > > > 
> > > > Suggestions?
> > > > 
> > > > TIA
> > > The chipset is important. The RTL2832U is working well and is well
> > > suported in
> > > linux.
> > > 
> > > As GUI most people are using GQRX in linux, but I heard, some windows gui
> > > shall work with wine.
> > > 
> > > However, my personal success was most time with GQRX.
> > > 
> > > Maybe you might want to take a deeper look at 2823U-dongles, there
> > > are two
> > > different kinds available: One is for 24MHz up to 1,8GHz, the other
> > > one is for
> > > 100kHz up to 1,8GHz.
> > > 
> > > The difference between them ist, the one with shortwave capable got TWO
> > > tunerchips inside, one for only shortwave, the other one for vhf and uhf.
> > > 
> > > Shortwave might be intereresting if you are a radio amateur like me.
> > > 
> > > Besides, I personally got the one for shortwave not running. It is
> > > confirmed
> > > to be possible, the problem here is not the technics, but the
> > > operater (say:
> > > me).
> > > 
> > > Hope this helps a little bit.
> > 
> > It does.
> > Searching for the various chips mentioned in this thread has been
> > productive. I suspect a hobbyist has solved most of my problems.
> > 
> 
> I've been following links which led to multiple levels more .....
> 
> Any suggested mailing lists or USENET groups to lurk on so this newbie
> would get an idea of what to search for?

I don't know of any offhand -- I've got a couple of ham buddies I
usually bounce questions off of on a closed IRC channel, because
otherwise you find yourself buying gold-plated monster cables or
something; since it seems that's become a thing (or well, "just buy
stuff" rather than "build stuff").

You can shoot me an email offlist if you want.

-- 
|_|O|_| 
|_|_|O| Github: https://github.com/dpurgert
|O|O|O| PGP: DDAB 23FB 19FA 7D85 1CC1  E067 6D65 70E5 4CE7 2860

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#280501 — More effective searching (was: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available?)

FromJan Claeys <lists@janc.be>
Date2025-06-30 13:20 +0200
SubjectMore effective searching (was: Linux friendly FM tuner on USB device - available?)
Message-ID<L3kIh-edQH-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280447
On Tue, 2025-06-24 at 07:27 -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
> Side Issue -- Google and DuckDuckGo seem more interested in quantity 
> rather than quality. Any pointers to search engine with friendly
> Boolean search? TIA

"You" "can" "try" "putting" "double" "quotes" "around" "every" "word"
AND "word group" OR -use -dashes -to -exclude

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/20-tips-use-google-search-efficiently.html
https://www.lifewire.com/bing-advanced-search-3482817

... might also be useful (DDG is based on Bing)


-- 
Jan Claeys

(please don't CC me when replying to the list)

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#280502 — Re: More effective searching

From"Loris Bennett" <loris.bennett@fu-berlin.de>
Date2025-06-30 14:10 +0200
SubjectRe: More effective searching
Message-ID<L3luF-eep7-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280501
Jan Claeys <lists@janc.be> writes:

> On Tue, 2025-06-24 at 07:27 -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
>> Side Issue -- Google and DuckDuckGo seem more interested in quantity 
>> rather than quality. Any pointers to search engine with friendly
>> Boolean search? TIA
>
> "You" "can" "try" "putting" "double" "quotes" "around" "every" "word"
> AND "word group" OR -use -dashes -to -exclude
>
> https://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/20-tips-use-google-search-efficiently.html
> https://www.lifewire.com/bing-advanced-search-3482817
>
> ... might also be useful (DDG is based on Bing)

In the past with DDG '-' excluded and '+' included, but now that is no
the case.  Rather, to quote from

  https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/results/syntax
 
the meaning is the following:

  cats -dogs	Fewer dogs in results
  cats +dogs	More dogs in results

Just after this change was made several years ago, I found that in some
cases, adding 

  '-foo'

actually lead to more results containing 'foo' than when 'foo' was
omitted completely, presumably because less 'foo' is potentially still
more than no 'foo'.  I did complain to DDG at the time and I have the
impression that the issues has now been fixed.

Cheers,

Loris

-- 
This signature is currently under constuction.

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#280505 — Re: More effective searching

FromRichard Owlett <rowlett@access.net>
Date2025-06-30 16:10 +0200
SubjectRe: More effective searching
Message-ID<L3nmN-efJ5-3@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280502
On 6/30/25 6:42 AM, Loris Bennett wrote:
> Jan Claeys <lists@janc.be> writes:
> 
>> On Tue, 2025-06-24 at 07:27 -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
>>> Side Issue -- Google and DuckDuckGo seem more interested in quantity
>>> rather than quality. Any pointers to search engine with friendly
>>> Boolean search? TIA
>>
>> "You" "can" "try" "putting" "double" "quotes" "around" "every" "word"
>> AND "word group" OR -use -dashes -to -exclude
>>
>> https://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/20-tips-use-google-search-efficiently.html
>> https://www.lifewire.com/bing-advanced-search-3482817
>>
>> ... might also be useful (DDG is based on Bing)
> 
> In the past with DDG '-' excluded and '+' included, but now that is no
> the case.  Rather, to quote from
> 
>    https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/results/syntax
>   

Thanks for the link. I'll be exploring it.
Also, the headings at https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/ are 
intriguing. Will also explore them.


> the meaning is the following:
> 
>    cats -dogs	Fewer dogs in results
>    cats +dogs	More dogs in results
> 
> Just after this change was made several years ago, I found that in some
> cases, adding
> 
>    '-foo'
> 
> actually lead to more results containing 'foo' than when 'foo' was
> omitted completely, presumably because less 'foo' is potentially still
> more than no 'foo'.  I did complain to DDG at the time and I have the
> impression that the issues has now been fixed.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Loris
> 

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#280504 — Re: More effective searching

FromRichard Owlett <rowlett@access.net>
Date2025-06-30 16:00 +0200
SubjectRe: More effective searching
Message-ID<L3nd8-efpy-7@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280501
On 6/30/25 5:59 AM, Jan Claeys wrote:
> On Tue, 2025-06-24 at 07:27 -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
>> Side Issue -- Google and DuckDuckGo seem more interested in quantity
>> rather than quality. Any pointers to search engine with friendly
>> Boolean search? TIA
> 
> "You" "can" "try" "putting" "double" "quotes" "around" "every" "word"
> AND "word group"

I had discovered that some time ago finding it more predictable than 
attempting to use capitalized AND in it's Boolean sense.

> OR -use -dashes -to -exclude

Didn't know that. Thanks.

> 
> https://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/20-tips-use-google-search-efficiently.html
> https://www.lifewire.com/bing-advanced-search-3482817
> 

Interesting links. Will experiment to see how well they match with how 
well they match with my goals for using  DuckDuckGo.
I rigorously avoid *ANYTHING* Google related whenever physically possible.

> ... might also be useful (DDG is based on Bing)
> 
> 

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#280427

FromVan Snyder <van.snyder@sbcglobal.net>
Date2025-06-24 03:00 +0200
Message-ID<L10aZ-cHMS-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280418

[Multipart message — attachments visible in raw view] — view raw

On Mon, 2025-06-23 at 06:53 -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
> I'm old enough to remember pocket radios of the fifties/sixties.
> I looking for a USB device to plug into my laptop running Debian 12
> so I 
> can listen to a local station while working. I'd also want to record
> as 
> MP3 for listening at a more convenient time.
> 
> My web search turned up little relevant detail.
> 
> Suggestions?

Many FM radio stations now have an app or web site to listen to them. I
listen to KUSC.org

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#280432

From🦓 <czyborra@gmail.com>
Date2025-06-24 06:30 +0200
Message-ID<L13sd-cK6n-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280427
Op di 24 jun 2025 om 04:05 schreef 🦓 <czyborra@gmail.com>:
> arent sum chip antennae good enough to decode fm radio?  didya ask rms@gnu.org?

(i was talking software radio hacking your libre foss bluetooth driver
without any usb dongles
  (since wifi antennae have been observing colleagues thru tel aviv
university walls
  )
)

> Van Snyder digressed:
> > Many FM radio stations now have an app or web site to listen to them. I listen to KUSC.org
> i particularly like fm939.wnyc.org/wnycfm-npr and hydra.cdnstream.com/1532_128

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#280440

FromRichard Owlett <rowlett@access.net>
Date2025-06-24 13:00 +0200
Message-ID<L19xE-cNJv-7@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#280427
On 6/23/25 7:53 PM, Van Snyder wrote:
> On Mon, 2025-06-23 at 06:53 -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
>> I'm old enough to remember pocket radios of the fifties/sixties.
>> I looking for a USB device to plug into my laptop running Debian 12
>> so I
>> can listen to a local station while working. I'd also want to record
>> as
>> MP3 for listening at a more convenient time.
>>
>> My web search turned up little relevant detail.
>>
>> Suggestions?
> 
> Many FM radio stations now have an app or web site to listen to them. I
> listen to KUSC.org
> 

I'm aware of that. One of the things I'm interested in is games of local 
minor league baseball team. Also listening to programs via web eats into 
my data cap - I use my provider's least expensive plan. It wasn't all 
that long ago that I abandoned my acoustic coupler based connection.[grin]

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