[Skimmertalk] Using Skimmer with RTL-Dongle SDR?

[John Ackermann N8UR]

A group of VHF contesters in the Ohio area are looking at the 
possibility of using Skimmer and RBN (or something like that) to monitor 
the CW and beacon segments of 2M, 222, 432, etc. to generate propagation 
information.  We're now looking at the hardware options.

It seems as though the inexpensive RTL-Dongle devices would be good for 
this application.  Has anyone looked into interfacing them to Skimmer?

If not, has anyone looked into this issue and come up with a different 
solution for VHF monitoring?

One possibility is using a Red Pitaya with VHF converters in front, but 
that adds hardware complexity and cost.  We'll take that route if 
there's no other reasonable alternative.

Thanks!

73,
John N8UR