rtl-sdr for the win, i can talk about this stuff all day long. now for the software part, with windows systems, options are plenty. linux, hit and miss. gnu-radio is a lofty suite, but here for me, its gqrx. building your own antennas can be quite fun. i typically craft something every month or so, depending on my obsession at any given time, aircraft, satellite, amateur.

i also buy commercial grade hardware., as rtl-sdrs can be a little dodgy due to low tolerace components, so weak signals are hard to digout of a sound floor with cheapo dongles.