SDR Hardware & Software

SDR is the technology of replacing radio hardware with software.

The SDR functionality is dependent on the software and hardware used.

By changing the software the SDR functionality changes.

SDR reduces the hardware and can result in low cost USB devices that are available for under $30.

There is a wide range of software that run of different operating systems and support different SDR hardware.

Below are David's, WA9ONY, project results, work in progress notes, learnings, references and resources used.

My primary projects are:

• Use SDRs with GNU Radio Companion to explore different modulation modes and how to use DSP.
• Use SDRs with various software for SWL on LF to SHF bands.
• Explore using the low cost Raspberry Pi computer with SDRs.

Index

1. Installing GNU Radio
2. Using GNU Radio Companion Software
3. DSP: Digital Signal Processing
4. SDR: Software Defined Radio
5. Great Scott Gadgets HackRF One SDR
6. RTL-SDR.COM RTLSDR RTL2832U DVB-T Tuner Dongles SDR
7. NooElec NESDR SDR
8. Airspy SDR
9. SDRplay RSPduo & RSP1 SDRs
10. Icom IC-7300 SDR
11. RFSpace SDR-IQ
12. NooElec NESDR Mini R820T SDR & DVB-T
13. SWL
14. SDRangle SDR software
15. Myriad LimeSDR-USB & LimeSDR-Mini SDRs
16. Pothos ware SDR software
17. SDR# SDR software
18. PLSDR SDR software
19. Gqrx SDR software
20. CubicSDR SDR software

1. Installing GNU Radio

In the summer of 2018 there are several ways to install GNU Radio.

Many years ago, I used GNU Radio live SDR environment ISO image to burn a DVD and it was used with a Windows 7 laptop to run GNU Radio Companion.

• 1.1: Raspberry Pi P3 Model B computer running GNU Radio Companion 3.7.5.
• Dell laptop with Intel i7 CPU running Window 8.1.
  • 1.2: Win64 binary GNU Radio Companion 3.7.11.
  • 1.3: Running virtual machine VirtualBox with USB extensions, Ubuntu18.04 LTS & GNU Radio 3.7.11. Warning: high speed USB operation may fail using SDR USB devices.
    • VirtualBox Installation.
    • Install VM VirtualBox Extension Pack in order to use USB SDRs.
    • Ubuntu Installation in VirtuaBox
      • Install stall Ubuntu 18.04 LTE.
      • Note: in the above instructions install the latest LTS, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, not 14.04 LTS.
    • Use Ubuntu 18.04 standard software install to find GNU Radio 3.7.11 and to install it.
  • 1.4: Create and run a bootable USB with Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and GNU Radio 3.7.11 live SDR environment.
    • I used HP USB 3.0 32 GB memory stick because it is faster than using DVD and I can save changes and files to the USB memory stick.
    • Create a bootable USB stick using Ubuntu 18.04 from above section 1.4.
    • Change the Dell laptop BIOS setting to allow booting from a USB device.
      • Enter Dell BIOS settings at power on with F2 key and F12 key for boot options.
      • UEFI secure boot is turned off.
      • Legacy boot is turned on to boot from USB memory device by pressing the F12 key at power-on.
  • Todo: try USB boot of Pentoo 2018.0 RC7.1

2. Using GNU Radio Companion Software

GNU Radio Companion is a graphical data flow programming environment used for SDR and DSP.

• 2.1: Videos
  • 2.1.1: 11 parts Software Defined Radio with HackRF by Michael Ossmann
  • 2.1.2: Four part GNU Radio Tutorial at ARRL TAPR 2012 DCC.
  • 2.1.3: Search for GNU Radio videos.
  • 2.1.4: GNU Radio examples by VE6EY
  • 2.1.5: GNU Radio Tutorials playlist (5) by balint256
  • 2.1.6: GNU Radio playlist (46) by HACKADAY
    • GETTING STARTED WITH GNU RADIO Info on PulseAudio which is used by the RPi.
• 2.2: Presentations
  • 2.2.1: Digital Modulation Primer using GNU Radio by Tom Rondeau
  • 2.2.2: GNU Radio Companion (GRC). by Tom Rondeau
  • 2.2.2: N5EG SDR from DC to (almost) Daylight. by Tom McDermott, N5EG SEA-PAC 2016
• 2.3: Articles, Blogs & papers
  • 2.3.1: Sharlene Katz at CSUN
    • Using GNU Radio Companion: Tutorial 1 PDF.
    • Using GNU Radio Companion: Tutorial 2 PDF.
    • Using GNU Radio Companion: Tutorial 3. Receiving AM Signals PDF.
    • Using GNU Radio Companion: Tutorial 4. Using Complex Signals and Receiving SSB PDF.
  • 2.3.2: MIMO basics for GNU Radio
  • 2.3.3: GNU Radio Tutorials by University of Victoria
  • 2.3.4: Suggested Reading from GNU Radio
  • 2.3.5: Welcome to the World of Software Defined Radio by Robert Putt
• 2.4: Books
  • 2.4.1: Free book Python list.
    • GNU Radio Companion graphical user interface uses Python to call C ++ routines.
• 2.5: Tutorial links
  • 2.5.1: GNU Radio tutorial by wiki.gnuradio.org
• 2.6: GNU Radio
• 2.7: wiki.gnuradio.org
• 2.8: GNU Radio Wikipedia
• 2.9: W7FU
• 2.10: GNURadio FM Receiver - Getting Started by VE6EY

3. DSP: Digital Signal Processing

DSP is one of the foundation technologies used in SDRs.

Understand DSP is needed to fully understand how to use GNU Radio Companion for SDR and DSP.

• 3.1: DSP at Wikipedia.
  • 3.1.1: Modulation
  • 3.1.2: Demodulation
  • 3.1.3: Filter (signal processing)
  • 3.1.4: Finite impulse response filter
  • 3.1.5: Infinite impulse response filter
  • 3.1.6: Frequency mixer
  • 3.1.7: Frequency multiplier
  • 3.1.8: Discrete Fourier transform
  • 3.1.9: Time domain
  • 3.1.10: Frequency domain
  • 3.1.11: In-phase and quadrature components
  • 3.1.12: Complex number
  • 3.1.13: Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem
  • 3.1.11: Theory: The Frequency Domain look down the web page.
  • 3.1.12: Theory: Vectors and I/Q Data look down the web page.
• 3.2: Videos
  • 3.2.1: W2AEW tutorials
    • 170: Basics of IQ Signals and IQ modulation & demodulation - A tutorial.
    • 171: IQ Signals Part II: AM and FM phasor diagrams, SSB phasing method.
    • 262: IQ Modulator Basics: Operation, measurements, impairments.
• 3.3: Books
  • 3.3.1: Digital Signal Processing Demystified, James D. Broesch book.
    • This book does a good job in reviewing the math basics needed to understand DSP.
    • This book provides the first step in learning about filters which is key to using SDRs in GNU Radio Companion.
    • It is a good starting point and good value if you find it as a used book for less than $10.
  • 3.3.2: Free book The Scientist & Engineer's Guide to Digital Signal Processing, 1999 by Steven W. Smith, Second Edition.
  • 3.3.3: Free book Digital Signal Processing (DSP), Sound and Imaging Processing list.

4. SDR: Software Defined Radio

• 4.1: Vides
  • 4.1.1: Nontechnical introduction to Software Defined Radios for Beginners by Jacek Radzikowski, KW4EP.
  • 4.1.2: Software Defined Radio - An Introduction by Schuyler St. Leger
  • 4.1.3: GRCon16 - Why Doesn't My Signal Look Like the Textbook?, Matt Ettus video.
  • 4.1.4: 2011 DCC - Practical Software Radio, Matt Ettus video.
  • 4.1.5: Michael Ossmann: Simple RF Circuit Design vido.
  • 4.1.6: GRCon16 - Whole Packet Clock Recovery, Michael Ossmann.
    • Demo of inspectrum for one of decode. GRC demo
    • Clocking decoding
    • Burst tag triggering.
    • Python
• 4.2: Presentation
  • 4.2.1: SEA-PAC 2018 Introduction to Software Defined Radio by Steve Brightman from SDRPlay.
  • 4.2.2: SEA-PAC 2016 SDR from DC to (almost) Daylight by Tom McDermott, N5EG.
• 4.3: Articles & papers
  • 4.3.1: SDR at Wikipedia.
  • 4.3.2: List of SDRs at Wikipedia.
  • 4.3.3: About RTL-SDR at RTL-SDR.COM. RTL-SDR.COM.
  • 4.3.4: RTL-SDR: Block Diagram
  • 4.3.5: Software-Defined Radios
    • The Realtek RTL2832U and Raphael Micro R820T.
  • 4.3.6: SDR Introduction by ARRL. This web page has many links to SDR and DSP articles.
  • 4.3.7: Cheap and Easy SDR January 2013 by ARRL.
  • 4.3.8: RTL-SDR and GNU Radio with Realtek RTL2832U [Elonics E4000/Raphael Micro R820T] software defined radio receivers/A>.
    • The Realtek RTL2832U, Elonics E4000, and Raphael Micro R820T are ICs found in may low cost SDR dongles.
• 4.4: Email list, etc
  • 4.4.1: SDR-Radio.com (SDR Console).
  • 4.4.2: SDRangel.

5. Great Scott Gadgets HackRF One SDR

HackRF One, Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and GNU Radio Companion

SDR HackRF One operate half duplex in receiving and transmitting from 1 MHz to 6 GHz.

• User Documentation.
• Updating Firmware.
• Tips and Tricks.
• Software Support.
• Handling HackRF data.
• mossmann hackrf.

HackRF One is supposed by libhackrf library and hackrf-tools command line interface.

• hackrf-tools
  • hackrf_transfer
  • hackrf_spiflash
  • hackrf_cpldjtag
  • hackrf_info
  • hackrf_debug
  • hackrf_clock
  • hackrf_sweep
  • hackrf_operacake

• 5.1: The HackRF-dev Archives.
  • 5.1: Subscribing to HackRF-dev.
• 5.1: HackRF One specifications on Great Scott Gadgets.
• 5.2: HackRF One on Wikipedia.
• 5.3: HackRF One SDR for $317.95 with free shipping on Amazon.
• 5.4: On Linux computer use terminal window command hackers_info to check the operation of HackRF One.
• 5.5: HackRF One transmit power measurements.
• 5.6: HackRF One, Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and GNU Radio Companion.
• 5.7: OSB2013 - Michael Ossmann - HackRF: Software Defined Radio for Software People.
• 5.8: HackRF One and accessories on Amazon.
• 5.9: HackRF One software.
• 5.10 Video 11 lessons by Micheal Ossman.
• 5.11 Transmitting NTSC/ATSC Video With the HackRF One and Gnuradio video.
  • ATV.
• 5.12 How to Install RTL-SDR and HackRF Drivers For Windows 7/10 | Part 1 video.
• 5.13 Installing SDR Console For The RTL-SDR or HackRF | Part 2 video.
• 5.14 FAQ.
  • I can't seem to access my HackRF under Linux
  • Hackrf_set_sample_rate fails
  • What is this big spike in the center of my received spectrum?
  • How do I deal with the DC offset?
  • Purchasing HackRF
  • Making sense of gain settings
  • System requirements
  • LEDs
  • Half-Duplex, Full-Duplex
  • What is the receive sensitivity of HackRF?
• 4.4.2: GNU Radio, One Step at a Time search HackRF.

6. RTL-SDR.COM RTLSDR RTL2832U DVB-T Tuner Dongles SDR

RTL-SDR.COM

RTL-SDR.COM RTLSDR RTL2832U DVB-T Tuner Dongles V3 is a good entry level 8-bit SDR USB dongle that receives from 500 kHz to 1.75 GHz.

RTL-SDR.COM is a great website to learn about SDRs.

• 6.1: Feature of the RTL-SDR.COM SDR at BUY RTL-SDR DONGLES (RTL2832U)
• 6.2: RTL-SDR.COM data sheet
• 6.3: RTL-SDR.COM V3 SDR for $26.95 with free shipping on Amazon.

7. NooElec NESDR SDR

Image credit: NooElec

NooElec NESDR SMArt fits great in the USB ports of a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B computer and that is way I got one.

The NESDR is a good entry level 8-bit SDR USB dongle that receives from 25 MHz to 1.75. GHz.

• 7.1: Feature of the NESDR SDR.
• 7.2: NESDR getting started guide
• 7.3: NooElec NESDR V3 SDR for $23.95 from Amazon.

8. Airspy SDR

Image credit: Airspy.us

My Airspy SDR has been discontinue and has been replaced by the Airspy R2.

The Airspy R2 is a high end 12-bit 10 MS/s I/Q data rate SDR USB device that receives from 24 MHz to 1.7. GHz.

Airspy works great with SDR# and for years it has been my favorite SDR setup for its frequency range.

• 8.1: Look over the feature of the Airspy R2 SDR.
• 8.2: Airspy works great with SDR#, one of my favorite SDR software programs.
• 8.3: Airspy R2 SDR on sale for $169.00 from Airspy.us.

9. SDRplay RSPduo & RSP1 SDRs

RSPduo

RSP1

Image credit: SDRplay

SDRplay makes a family of SDRs that are sold by HRO.

The SDRplay RSPduo launch in spring of 2018 is a high performance 14-bit 10 MS/s I/Q data rate USB SDR with two receivers.
One of the receivers cover from 1KHz to 2 GHz.

RSP1 is not available and it has be replaced by the RSP1A.

• 9.1: Feature of the SDRplay SDRs.
• 9.2: SDRplay RSPduo video.
• 9.3: SDRplay RSPduo SDR for $279.95 with free shipping from HRO.

10. Icom IC-7300 SDR

Image credit: HRO

The Icom IC-7300 is a closed SDR transceiver that you cannot change its internal software.

You can use different software to control it using the CAT interface.

The IC-7300 is my favorite transceiver for 160m to 6m CW and voice modes.

• 10.1: Feature of the IC-7300 .
• 10.2: QST product review summary table product review summary table by www.pa0q.nl
• 10.3: ARRL IC-7300 review video
• 10.4: IC-7300 SDR transceiver on sale for $1,349.95 with free shipping from HRO.

11. RFSpace SDR-IQ

Image credit: RFSpace

In 2014 I used the SDR-IQ for radio astronomy to record radio emissions from the Sun.

The SDR-IQ has been discontinue.

• 11.1: Look over the feature of the SDR-IQ SDRs.
• 11.2: Sun Type III/2 Radio Burst June 13, 2014, 2014 UT.
• 11.3: Sun Type III/2 Radio Burst June 13, 2014, 1815 UT.
• 11.4: Sun Type III/2 Radio BurstJune 13, 2014, 1521 UT.
• 11.5: Sun Type V/2 and III/3 Radio Burst June 13, 2014, 0033 UT.
• 11.6: Sun Type III/2 Radio Burst May 11, 2014, 2237 UT.
• 11.7: Sun Type V/2 Radio Burst May 10, 2014, 1753 UT.

12. NooElec NESDR Mini R820T SDR & DVB-T

Image credit: NooElec

The NooElec NESDR Mini R820T SDR & DVB-T was one of the first SDR RTL dongle that I acquired back in 2014.

In 2014 I used it for radio astronomy to record radio emissions from the Sun as shown in the below video.

The NESDR is a low cost entry level 8-bit SDR USB dongle that receives from 25 MHz to 1.750. GHz.

• 12.1: Look over the feature of the NESDR Mini R820T SDR & DVB-T SDR.
• 12.2: Used with SDR# software, Sun Type III/3 Radio Burst April 30, 2014, 2339 UT.
  • UT20140430_2339sun.mov video
    • Notice the rapid onset solar radiation as shown by the increase of background noise level and its slower decay.
    • Scroll through the video frame by frame to see each spectrum trace.
• 12.3: NooElec NESDR Mini USB RTL-SDR & ADS-B Receiver Set, RTL2832U & R820T Tuner, MCX Input. Low-Cost Software Defined Radio Compatible with Many SDR Software Packages. R820T Tuner & ESD-Safe Antenna Input for $19.95 from Amazon.

13. SWL

United States Frequency Allocation Chart (Click on map to download PDF)

SWL using SDRs to listen to the world.

• 13.1 Bands & Frequencies Tables
  • 13.1.1: Shortwave bands.
  • 13.1.2: United States Frequency Allocations Chart by NTIA.
  • 13.1.3: USA Amateur Radio bands by ARRL.
  • 13.1.4: The Considerate Operator's Frequency Guide by ARRL.
  • 13.1.5: World Radio TV Handbook.
  • 13.1.6: The radio frequencies are a part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
    • 13.1.6.1: My favorite Electromagnetic Radiation Spectrum Poster Free PDF by Unihedron in the Canada.
• 13.2: ELF 3 Hz - 30 Hz
• 13.3: SLF 30 Hz - 300 Hz
• 13.4: ULF 300 Hz - 3 kHz
• 13.5: VLF 3 kHz - 30 kHz
• 13.6: LF 30 kHz - 300 kHz
• 13.7: MF 300kHz - 3 MHz
• 13.8: HF 3 MHz - 30 MHz
• 13.9: VHF 30 MHz - 300 MHz
  • 13.9.1: NOAA weather radio
    • NOAA Radio Coverage for Oregon
      • WXL96 Salem 162.4 75 MHz modulation mode NFM
      • KIG98 Portland 152.550 MHz modulation mode NFM
    • NOAA Radio Coverage for Washington
      • WNG604 Davis Peak 162.525 MHz modulation mode NFM
• 13.10: UHF 300 MHz - 3 GHz
  • 13.10.1: Aircraft 1090 MHz mode S transponder location
    
    
    
    
  • Aircraft 1090 MHz mode S transponder showing the aircraft location around Portland, OR USA
    • Automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast
    • ADS-B Broadcast Services
    • RTL-SDR Tutorial: Cheap ADS-B Aircraft Radar
    • ADSB - Tracking Aircraft With SDRplay RSP1A Running Dump1090 and Virtual Radar Server video
    • Software
      • RTL 1090
      • Virtual Radar Server
    • Hardware
      • RTL-SDR.COM RTLSDR RTL2832U DVB-T Tuner Dongles V3
      • Scanner Ant-Base 30-1300 MHz