It's all about the Software

While the genuine RTL dongle v3 is an upgrade on the originals introduced more than 10 years ago I rather feel the HF direct sampling is a poor introduction to HF. Especially with HF conditions as they are now spurious responses will be a problem. A large antenna and suitable filters may help. They ...

>Everything nearly points to SDR sharp# which I am not interested in using as SDRRadio is far advanced.

You do not have to stick to one software. Each have different features.
SDR# is not my first choice but it does have some unique advanced features that may suit you, or not:-)
Alan G4ZFQ

Seems to me the software is not liable to reduce signal pickup. You could by not setting the gain correctly. There is the possibility that a strong signal somewhere has desensed the dongle. A better antenna will show this, gain must be reduced considerably or filters added. The antenna/cable/dongle ...

Seems to me it is the way on-board sound works nowadays. If there is nothing plugged into the Mic socket then Windows is told there is no mic socket. I keep an extension plugged in then it thinks there is a mic even if there is not.
Alan

This group https://www.rtl-sdr.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1 is good for RTL advice. There are lots of examples for beginners on its main pages https://www.rtl-sdr.com/ and https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-quick-start-guide/ (This one is not really for general questions, is for SDR-Radio SDR software. ...

Mike, It's my guess that it is some mis-configuration in the software. This group is actually in support of SDR-Console software https://www.sdr-radio.com/ if you were using that then a good reply is guaranteed. Otherwise you may get someone who knows.. Or, maybe the CubicSDR software group, I assum...

I've now been running WSPR on a RTL dongle 24/7 with SDR Console 3.0.25 b1990/WSJT-X/Mushzenco for about 10 days. DT has not risen at all. However, before that with an identical test DT rose to a few seconds overnight. It was not computer timing, other instances of WSPR were unaffected. They run for...

I can't comment on the RTLs and WSPR.
But I use 3 simple Softrocks they all run WSPR for weeks with HDSDR/Mushenco/WSJT-X keeping a good DT on the same computer.
73 Alan G4ZFQ

It is impossible to receive two signals simultaneously that are not within the range available by the sample rate selected. Joanne, there is talk of the 60MHz being available without input filtering. Without referring to the developer's group I'm not sure if that is available on V2 or will be on V3....

Does it work with HDSDR and the recommended DLL?
This is the main software the developer uses.
I'm not sure if Simon has checked the Mk 2 version?
73 Alan