Nice gadget, but if you want to use it also for transmitting, then leave windows aside and use Linux! For rx in Windows use uSDR that works fine with it, I use it here myself standalone with a portapack as a kit on this unit, so you can use it without a laptop, be aware that this device is very broad band and therefore has a lot of trouble with birdies because there is hardly any filtering, So if you want to use it only for a certain frequency area choose a tuned rubber Duck antenna, this will also prevent you from blowing up 1 of the mmics by too much signal or misadjustment see various forums what you can do with it, the applications are almost limitless!