Buying guideChoosing & buying3 min read
ATS Mini starter kit: everything you need
The complete ATS Mini starter kit, item by item: the radio, a data-capable USB-C cable, an antenna and counterpoise, earphones — what each part is for, what it roughly costs, and what can wait.
The ATS Mini needs surprisingly little around it. The radio, one correct cable, a small antenna upgrade and a decent pair of earphones make a complete shortwave station that fits in a jacket pocket. This page is the checklist; every item comes from the hand-picked gear catalogue, where each one has its own write-up and listing link.
The essential kit
- 1. The radio
- Buy the current V4 revision, or the older V3S to save money — both run the same firmware and work identically with this app. Avoid a plain V3 (early boards drain the battery when off) and treat any "V5" listing as fake. Details in receiver versions and the version comparison.
- 2. A data-capable USB-C cable
- The single most common snag. The radio charges, flashes firmware and runs this site’s USB remote over one USB-C port, and many bundled or cheap cables carry power only. A known-good short data cable removes the guesswork. If the app will not connect, suspect the cable before the radio.
- 3. An antenna beyond the stock whip
- The bundled whip covers FM well; shortwave wants more. Start with a longer telescopic whip or a clip-on reel wire for the field. The antenna guide matches a pick to your situation.
- 4. A counterpoise wire
- A few metres of clip-on ground wire — the cheapest item in the kit and, per dollar, the most effective. Clipped to the radio’s ground, the outer metal of the antenna socket, it lifts shortwave signal and SNR more than extra whip length does.
- 5. Earphones
- Shortwave and SSB live down in the noise, and the built-in speaker only goes so far. A cheap tunable set like the KZ Castor plugs into the radio’s 3.5 mm output and lets you hear into the noise instead of past it.
What the kit roughly costs
Prices on AliExpress move around, so treat these as ballpark figures, not quotes — the gear pages show current prices for each pick. As a rough guide: the radio is the main cost (a V3S typically less than a V4), the cable, whip and counterpoise are a few dollars each, and the earphones sit in the middle.
| Item | Rough price |
|---|---|
| ATS Mini receiver (V3S or V4) | $30–55 |
| Short USB-C data cable | $2–5 |
| Telescopic whip or reel wire antenna | $3–10 |
| Counterpoise / ground wire | $2–5 |
| KZ Castor earphones | $15–20 |
In total: everything for roughly $55–95, with the radio itself accounting for well over half. Skipping the earphones and re-using a wire you already own brings a working kit under $50.
Worth adding later
- A 3D-printed stand to prop the radio at a readable angle — check it fits your case revision.
- A YouLoop passive loop if you listen indoors in a noisy building.
- An SMA adapter only when you have a specific antenna to bridge — the jack is SMA female, so the adapter end must be SMA male.
- A pouch or small hard case, and a screen protector trimmed to the 1.9-inch display.
First hour with the kit
- Charge the radio and update the firmware to 2.34 or newer with the data cable — that unlocks Bluetooth control and fast tuning. See firmware versions.
- On the radio, set USB Port → Ad hoc (or Bluetooth → Ad hoc), then connect it to this app.
- Clip on the counterpoise, extend the whip, and let seek or the EiBi schedule browser find you something to listen to.
Recommended gear
- ATS Mini Amnvolt V4BReceiverItem one: the current revision, and the version most listings sell. No solder mod needed for on-device CW/RTTY decoding.
- Short USB-C data cableAccessoryItem two, and the one people skip: a known-good data cable. A charge-only lead is the usual reason the app never sees the radio.
- Crocodile-clip leads for a counterpoiseAntennaA few metres of clip-on wire — the cheapest thing in the kit and, per dollar, the most effective.
- KZ Castor in-ear earphonesAccessoryEarphones to hear into the noise with, driven by the proper headphone amplifier behind the radio’s 3.5 mm jack.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to start with an ATS Mini?
Five things: the radio itself (V4, or V3S on a budget), a data-capable USB-C cable, a better antenna than the stock whip, a counterpoise wire, and earphones. Together they run roughly $55–95, with the radio making up most of it.
Why do I need a special USB-C cable?
The cable is not special — it just has to carry data, and many cheap USB-C cables carry only power. The ATS Mini flashes firmware and talks to this app over that port, so a charge-only cable is the most common reason a radio "won’t connect".
Is the stock antenna good enough?
For FM and strong mediumwave stations, yes. For shortwave, a counterpoise wire plus a longer whip or a reel wire antenna makes an immediate, audible difference for a few dollars.
Do I need earphones, or is the speaker enough?
The built-in speaker is fine for strong broadcasters. For weak shortwave and SSB signals, earphones let you hear detail the small speaker buries — and the radio has a proper headphone amplifier behind its 3.5 mm jack to drive them.
How much does a complete ATS Mini setup cost?
Roughly $55–95 for radio, cable, antenna, counterpoise and earphones, depending on the radio version and seller. Prices move, so check the gear pages for current figures rather than relying on any fixed number.