Troubleshoot streaming and audio

Read the complete error notification before you change settings. It usually identifies the failed source or device action.

SDR capture stalled

Radio Bench stops a hardware stream after about eight seconds without samples. This prevents a silent frozen waterfall from appearing active.

1. Reconnect the SDR and start the stream again.
2. Use a direct USB port instead of an unpowered hub.
3. Test another data-rated USB cable.
4. Close every other SDR application.

An Airspy HF+ can restart automatically after some interruptions. Repeated failure after three attempts usually indicates an unreliable USB link.

Another program holds RTL-SDR

Close SDR applications and stale rtl_tcp helper processes. Reconnect the dongle after the other process releases it.

On Linux, confirm that permissions and the DVB-T kernel driver are correct. See RTL-SDR setup.

Audio test fails

Select the device again in Settings > Audio, then select PLAY TONE. Confirm the operating system can play other audio through that device.

On macOS, set a failing USB codec to a 24-bit format in Audio MIDI Setup. Some 16-bit configurations can trigger a CoreAudio rejection.

Audio lags with RTL-SDR

Low RTL-SDR sample rates increase USB block latency. Select 1.024 MS/s or more for a faster tuning response.

Create a support report when the problem continues.