It's all about the Software

Absolute newbie, I have just installed SDR Console and I think I have successfully selected my RTL-SDR USB dongle radio, this one: https://www.nooelec.com/store/sdr/sdr-r ... smart.html

I am following a Youtube quickstart guide, which shows a Radio control section in the RX panel after "Filter", eg. see here:
In my installation, I have started the radio, but I don't see a Radio section in the left-hand panel. The frequency window and waterfall appear to be showing transmissions.
Google Gemini AI suggested I reset the layout, but I don't see the option in Tools > Options, or elsewhere.
Anything else I can look at? (I tried to add a screenshot, but I get an "HTTP error")

iantresman wrote: Thu Dec 25, 2025 10:52 pm In my installation, I have started the radio, but I don't see a Radio section in the left-hand panel. The frequency window and waterfall appear to be showing transmissions.

The "Radio" panel (which is the controls for the individual hardware parameters) appears in different locations depending on the radio mostly due to how Simon has to implement the API supplied by the manufacturer for each specific radio.

The video you have shown is for the Airspy Mini where the Radio controls are implemented inside the RX DSP panel.

For the RTL-SDR the Radio controls are not there, but instead they appear at the top of the screen in the main Ribbon Bar as highlighted here:
See here for information specific to the RTL-SDR dongles:

https://www.sdr-radio.com/rtl-dongles

Max

Actually in the video around 12 min 45 sec he switches SDR to the RSP1A and again, you will see that the Radio panel switches to the Ribbon bar (top left) in the same location for the RTL-SDR. You will also see each radio has it's own specific set of hardware controls depending on the hardware structure/signal path in that specific radio, and as I said previously, on the supplied API for that specific radio.

Just in case you missed it the radio in use is stated in the Windows title bar at the top of the SDR Console Window.

Max