sdr - Software Defined Radio

Overview of use cases and applications for software defined radios (SDR).

For educational purposes only. Please abide by the applicable laws in your region.

Note: Some use cases are focused on Germany and might not be applicable to other countries (e.g. due to a different utilization of the frequency spectrum).

Links

Wikipedia

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software-defined_radio
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_spectrum
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elektromagnetisches_Spektrum
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_spectrum
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequenzband

General

• https://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/
• https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-quick-start-guide/ - Installation guide for Windows and Linux
• https://www.rtl-sdr.com/category/applications/
• https://www.rtl-sdr.com/tag/applications-2/
• https://site.ieee.org/wnc/files/2014/04/IEEE_Frady_SDR_Mar_2014.pdf
• https://www.reddit.com/r/RTLSDR/comments/9gp9yp/more_things_to_do_with_an_sdr/
• https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/10-things-you-can-do-with-software-defined-radio
• https://www.ard-digital.de/
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHSPXEOe6VG78r8HTGHuu8w/videos - ARD Digital erklärt
• https://satellitenempfang.info
• https://fernseherfuchs.com/welches-antennekabel/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_software-defined_radios
• https://www.onesdr.com/
• https://www.onesdr.com/2020/01/15/what-is-software-defined-radio-used-for/
• https://support.nooelec.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005807694-NESDR-SMArt-Series - Device comparison
• http://www.csgnetwork.com/antennaedcalc.html - Antenna length calculator
• https://hackaday.com/2019/03/28/wopr-security-loses-some-of-its-obscurity/
• https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/woprsecure_sdr.png - Device comparison
• https://labs.bishopfox.com/industry-blog/ham-hacks-breaking-into-software-defined-radio - Device comparison
• https://www.qsl.net/w4hn/antennaCalc.htm - Antenna length calculator
• https://pysdr.org/
• https://github.com/pysdr/pysdr
• https://www.rtl-sdr.com/pysdr-a-free-guide-to-sdr-and-dsp-using-python/
• https://fosdem.org/2021/schedule/event/fsr_pysdr_guide_to_sdr_and_dsp_using_python/
• https://www.everythingrf.com/community/what-is-the-difference-between-a-monopole-and-dipole-antenna
• https://discover.hubpages.com/technology/The-Pros-and-Cons-of-Monopole-Antennas
• https://discover.hubpages.com/technology/The-Pros-and-Cons-of-Dipole-Antennas
• https://www.everythingrf.com/community/what-is-a-bias-tee
• https://www.everythingrf.com/community/what-is-dbi
• https://www.everythingrf.com/community/lte-frequency-bands
• https://www.everythingrf.com/community/5g-frequency-bands
• https://www.everythingrf.com/community/5g-nr-new-radio-frequency-bands
• https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27946947 Introduction to open source private LTE and 5G networks
• https://ubuntu.com/blog/introduction-to-open-source-private-lte-and-5g-networks
• https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Main_Page
• https://www.golem.de/news/radio-wie-gut-darf-dab-klingen-2202-162616.html Radio: Wie gut darf DAB+ klingen?
• http://www.websdr.org
• http://kiwisdr.com

Software

• SDRsharp / SDR#: https://airspy.com/download/
• Zadig: https://zadig.akeo.ie/ - Install drivers for the RTL-SDR
• Gqrx: https://github.com/gqrx-sdr/gqrx
• Gqrx: https://gqrx.dk/
• Gqrx: https://wiki.ubuntuusers.de/Gqrx/
• GNU radio: https://github.com/gnuradio/gnuradio
• SDRangel: https://github.com/f4exb/sdrangel
• SDRPlusPlus / SDR++: https://github.com/AlexandreRouma/SDRPlusPlus
• Universal Radio Hacker (URH): https://github.com/jopohl/urh
• HackRF: https://github.com/greatscottgadgets/hackrf
• HackRF Spectrum Analyzer: https://github.com/pavsa/hackrf-spectrum-analyzer
• RedhawkSDR (by NSA): https://github.com/RedhawkSDR/redhawk
• rtl_433: https://github.com/merbanan/rtl_433
• rtlamr: https://github.com/bemasher/rtlamr
• welle.io: https://github.com/AlbrechtL/welle.io
• qt-dab: https://github.com/JvanKatwijk/qt-dab
• QIRX: https://qirx.softsyst.com/
• DVBViewer: https://www.dvbviewer.com/en/index.php and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVBViewer
• Tvheadend: https://tvheadend.org/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tvheadend
• Tvheadend: https://github.com/tvheadend/tvheadend
• Kaffeine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaffeine and https://wiki.ubuntuusers.de/Kaffeine/
• Norasector Turbine: https://github.com/norasector/turbine
• GR Tempest: https://github.com/git-artes/gr-tempest
• SDR Enthusiasts: https://github.com/orgs/sdr-enthusiasts/repositories

Youtube

• Youtube: Getting Started with the RTL-SDR (Software Defined Radio) - ModernHam
• Youtube: The Coolest Radio You've Probably Never Heard Of - Tom the Dilettante
• Youtube: The Beginner's Guide To Software Defined Radio RTL-SDR - Tech Minds
• Youtube: 5 Cool Things You Can Do With An RTL SDR Receiver - Tech Minds
• Youtube: 5 Cool Things You Can Do With An AIRSPY SDR Receiver - Tech Minds
• Youtube: Installing RTL-SDR & SDR Sharp on Win10 Made Easy - TheSmokinApe
• Youtube: How does Software Defined Radio (SDR) work under the Hood? SDR Tutorial #286
• Youtube: 2020 SDR Guide Ep 1 : The Incredible World of Software Defined Radio (RTL-SDR, Airspy, SDRPlay etc.)
• Youtube: SDRsharp für RTL SDR Stick auf Windows 10 installieren - Anleitung deutsch Howto

Reddit

• https://www.reddit.com/r/RTLSDR/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/sdr/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/HamRadio/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/rfelectronics/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/amateursatellites/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/ADSB/

Electromagnetic Radiation

• https://www.reddit.com/r/RTLSDR/comments/ow9k9l/electromagnetic_spectrum/
• http://unihedron.com/projects/spectrum/index.php
• http://unihedron.com/projects/spectrum/moreinfo.php
• http://unihedron.com/projects/spectrum/downloads/
• http://unihedron.com/projects/spectrum/downloads/spectrum-20190805.pdf - The Electromagnetic Radiation Spectrum Map

Overview of Use Cases

FM broadcasting

• Radio, terrestrial, analog
• also known as UKW-Radio
• VHF-Band II, 87.5 - 108 MHz
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/UKW-Rundfunk
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrakurzwelle#Verwendung_des_UKW-Frequenzspektrums
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Band_II
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B6rfunk
• https://radiomap.eu/de/berlin - Actual frequencies
• https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-started-with-rtl-sdr-and-sdr-sharp/sdr-number-fm-radio
• SDRsharp / SDR#

DABplus

• Radio, terrestrial, digital
• also known as DAB+
• VHF-Band III, 174.160 - 229.840 MHz
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Broadcasting
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-DAB-Frequenz
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHF-Band_III
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_DAB-Sender_in_Deutschland
• http://www.digitalradio-in-deutschland.de/bayern/ - Actual frequencies
• welle.io (see Software section)
• qt-dab (see Software section)

DVB-T

• Television, terrestrial
• also known as DVB-T / DVB-T2 / DVB-T2 HD
• 470 - 690 MHz
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVB-T2
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVB-T2_HD
• https://www.ndr.de/der_ndr/empfang_und_technik/dvbtzweidatenblatthhsh100.pdf
• https://tvhelfer.de/dvbt2/de/hh - Actual frequencies
• http://www.dehnmedia.de/?page=sender&subpage=tsender6
• https://www.hauppauge.de/site/products/data_solohd.html
• https://www.hauppauge.de/site/products/data_dualhd.html
• https://www.hauppauge.de/site/products/data_wintv_v10.html
• DVB-T2 supports bandwidths of 1.7, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 MHz, while DVB-T only supports a bandwidth of 6, 7 and 8 MHz. Source: https://www.lokalkompass.de/duesseldorf/c-ratgeber/unterschied-dvb-t-und-dvb-t2-vom-experten-erklaert_a815969
• DVB-T2 Bandwidth UHF 8 MHz. Source: https://download.hr.de/services/empfang-und-verbreitungswege/dvb-t2-hd/technische-parameter-dvb-t-zwei-100.pdf
• https://www.dvbtstick.de/ratgeber/dvb-t-software
• https://www.enensys.com/technologies/dvb-t2/
• https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/DVB-T2_USB_Devices

DVB-S

• Television, satellite
• also known as DVB-S / DVB-S2
• Satellite frequency: 10.7 - 11.75 GHz or 11.8 - 12.75 GHz
• LNB: 950 - 2175 MHz (Low-noise block downconverter)
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVB-S
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rauscharmer_Signalumsetzer
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellitenrundfunk
• https://www.hauppauge.de/site/products/data_nova-s2.html
• https://www.hauppauge.de/site/products/data_wintv_v10.html
• https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/DVB-S_USB_Devices
• https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/DVB-S2_USB_Devices

Air band

• also known as Flugfunk
• 108 - 137 MHz
• 108 - 117.95 MHz, 50 kHz steps, reserved for navigational aids
• 118 - 136.975 MHz, 25 kHz steps, AM
• 117.975 - 137 MHz
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flugfunk
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airband
• https://skyvector.com/airports
• SDRsharp / SDR#

ADS-B

• Aircraft positioning
• also known as Mode S. ADS-B is an extension of the older Mode S protocol.
• 1090 MHz
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Dependent_Surveillance
• https://www.rtl-sdr.com/adsb-aircraft-radar-with-rtl-sdr/
• https://www.rtl-sdr.com/signalseverywhere-ads-b-aircraft-tracking-with-rtl-sdr-dump1090-and-virtual-radar-server/
• https://www.virtualradarserver.co.uk/
• https://github.com/antirez/dump1090
• https://globe.adsbexchange.com/
• https://www.flightradar24.com
• https://www.radarbox.com
• https://flightaware.com/live/
• https://github.com/adsbxchange/adsb-exchange
• https://github.com/jprochazka/adsb-receiver
• https://github.com/mikenye/docker-readsb
• https://github.com/mikenye/gitbook-adsb-guide

Marine band

• Marine VHF radio
• 156 - 162 MHz
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobiler_Seefunkdienst_(Ultrakurzwelle)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_VHF_radio

AIS

• Marine vessel positioning
• AIS 1: 161.975 MHz (Channel 87B)
• AIS 2: 162.025 MHz (Channel 88B)
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Identification_System
• https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-tutorial-cheap-ais-ship-tracking/
• https://www.marinetraffic.com
• https://www.vesselfinder.com
• https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26625908 Vessel Finder
• https://github.com/OpenCPN/OpenCPN
• https://openmarine.net/openplotter

GNSS

• General positioning
• GPS (USA), Galileo (EU), Glonass (Russia), Beidou (China), Navic (India), QZSS (Japan)
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globales_Navigationssatellitensystem
• https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-tutorial-gps-decoding-plotting/
• https://gnss-sdr.org/
• https://github.com/gnss-sdr/gnss-sdr
• https://www.onesdr.com/list-of-gnss-frequency-and-accuracy/
• https://berthub.eu/articles/posts/galmon-project/
• https://galmon.eu/
• https://www.everythingrf.com/community/gps-frequency-bands

Amateur radio

• also known as HAM radio
• 144 - 146 MHz
• 430 - 440 MHz
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateurfunkdienst
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notfunk
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-Meter-Band
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/70-Zentimeter-Band

Citizens band radio

• also known as CB-Funk
• 26.565 - 27.405 MHz (80 channels)
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/CB-Funk
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_band_radio
• CB-Funk vs. Amateurfunk: http://www.jan-pawlowski.de/funktechnik.html , https://www.amateurradio.uni-halle.de/glossary/funk-faq.de.html

Weather station

• Local consumer weather station
• 433 MHz or 868 MHz
• https://www.kompf.de/weather/rtlsdrsensor.html
• https://github.com/skaringa/weather-sdr-decode
• rtl_433 (see Software)

Weather satellite

• NOAA
• 137 MHz
• Youtube: How to Pull Images from Satellites in Orbit Part 1 (NOAA 15,18,19 and METEOR M2) - The Thought Emporium
• Youtube: Receiving Images From Satellites Part 2: Decoding and Demodulating NOAA and METEOR Transmissions - The Thought Emporium
• https://old.reddit.com/r/RTLSDR/comments/nfueyb/i_am_going_to_get_hated_for_even_asking_this/gyo77on/
• https://noaa-apt.mbernardi.com.ar/guide.html
• https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-tutorial-receiving-noaa-weather-satellite-images/

Related topics

• Television: DVB-C (Cable)
• IPTV
• IP Radio
• Streaming / Mediathek

Todo

• https://rickcaylor.websitetoolbox.com/post/using-rtlsdr-for-dvbs2-10128573
• https://forum.amsat-dl.org/index.php?thread/101-software-dvb-s-demodulator/
• https://www.rtl-sdr.com/demodulating-dvb-s-digital-amateur-tv-with-sdrangel-on-windows-with-an-sdr/
• https://www.rtl-sdr.com/transmitting-and-receiving-datv-with-a-limesdr-and-a-modified-20-dvb-s-receiver/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_in_Germany
• Radio over DVB-S (e.g. Bayerischer Rundfunk)
• PMR446, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMR446
• https://www.teltarif.de/iptv-fernsehen-online-tv-streaming/news/84833.html - IPTV und Online-TV-Streaming
• https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29945181 GNU Radio