# Your RTL-SDR isn’t broken: the first-signal setup guide for when nothing works
You plugged it in and got nothing. Before you blame the hardware, here are the five places RTL-SDR setup actually breaks, and how to get past each one.
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SDR++ vs SDR# vs GQRX: which software should you use with your RTL-SDR?
All three are free. All three work with the RTL-SDR V4. Here’s which one actually fits your setup and how to stop wasting time on the wrong one.
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The beginner’s guide to RTL-SDR: what you can hear for $40 and a USB dongle
You don’t need a license, a tower, or a thousand-dollar radio. You need a $40 USB dongle and a curiosity about what’s actually moving through the air around you.