Clik here to view.
Using Multiple RTL-SDR’s to Capture a Trunking System
An RTL-SDR dongle has a maximum usable bandwidth of about 2.4 MHz which most often isn’t enough to capture an entire trunking system that may be spread out over a larger bandwidth. In order to get...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Review: FlightAware 1090 MHz ADS-B Antenna and Filter
In this post we will review the FlightAware ADS-B Antenna and their 1090 MHz band pass filter. The FlightAware ADS-B antenna is a collinear type antenna, with 5.5 dBi of gain, a rugged weatherproof...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Finding GPS Signals from within the Noise Floor with an RTL-SDR
If you were to try to simply spot a GPS signal at 1.575 GHz in the spectrum on a waterfall in a program like SDR# you would probably fail to see anything. This is because GPS signals are very weak, and...
View ArticleBuilding a simple NOAA APT Antenna out of an Umbrella
In order to optimally receive NOAA weather satellite images a special satellite antenna tuned for 137 MHz should to be built. Generally either a QFH or turnstile antenna is recommended as these receive...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Creating a FSK SSDV data system for High Altitude Balloons
David and Mark are building a 115 kbit/s FSK SSDV (slow scan digital video) data system for high altitude balloons. In their system, on the balloon transmit side they use a Raspberry Pi, Raspberry Pi...
View ArticleClik here to view.
RTLSDR4Everyone: Raspberry Pi guide & choosing your first dongle
Over on his blog rtlsdr4everyone author Akos has recently uploaded three new posts. The first post is about the Raspberry Pi minicomputer and the post discusses the merits of using the Raspberry Pi...
View ArticleInspectrum: A New Tool for Analysing Captured Signals
Inspectrum is a Linux and OSX based tool that can be used for analysing captured signals. It is compatible with the IQ files generated from SDRs, such as the RTL-SDR or HackRF. Over on YouTube user...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A GNU Radio Based ISDB-T and RTL-SDR Compatible 1Seg Decoder
In most parts of the world the DVB-T standard is used to air digital HDTV. In the USA the ATSC standard is used, and in China DTMB is used instead. In other countries such as Brazil, Peru, Argentina,...
View ArticleBuilding a 28.8 MHz TCXO for the RTL-SDR
For accurate frequency tuning even amongst large temperature in an SDR, a Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator (TCXO) should be used as the main oscillator. Standard RTL-SDR dongles used a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Meteor M-N2 now active again
According to various reports the Russian Meteor M-N2 satellite appears to be active again once more. The Meteor M N-2 is a polar orbiting Russian weather satellite that was launched in July 2014. It...
View ArticleClik here to view.
FlightAware ProStick: A new ADS-B optimized RTL-SDR with built in LNA
The FlightAware team have today announced the release of the “ProStick”, an RTL-SDR dongle that they write has been modified for improved ADS-B reception. The new FlightAware RTL-SDR’s main defining...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Radio Astronomy Tool rtl_power_fftw Updated
The rtl_power program allows you to use the RTL-SDR to perform a power scan over an arbitrarily large portion of the frequency spectrum (within the RTL-SDR’s supported frequency range) by hopping over...
View ArticleClik here to view.
RTLSDR4Everyone: ADS-B with an LNA and more Comparisons
Over on the RTLSDR4Everyone blog author Akos has uploaded two new posts. In the first post he discusses his opinion on the recently announced FlightAware ADS-B Optimized ProStick, which is an RTL-SDR...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Recent Updates to the JAERO L-Band and C-Band AERO Decoder
JAERO is a program by Jonti that was released late last year which allows us to use a SDR such as an RTL-SDR to receive L-band and C-Band AERO messages. AERO is essentially the satellite based version...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A new TETRA voice and multiframe SDS decoder
Recently Marek Sebera of ITDS Consulting wrote in to let us know about two new TETRA decoders that they have released. TETRA is a trunked radio communications system that stands for “Terrestrial...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Using an RTL-SDR on a high powered rocket to capture GPS data
Over on the SDRGPS blog Philip Hahn and fellow aerospace engineer Paul Breed have been working together to try and use an RTL-SDR to help get accurate GPS data for tracking small high powered rockets....
View ArticleClik here to view.
AISRec Updated to Version 2.1
AISRec is an RTL-SDR (and now Airspy) compatible AIS (automatic identification system) dual channel decoder. AIS is an acronym for Automatic Identification System and is a system used by ships to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Review: FlightAware ADS-B RTL-SDR + LNA Positioning
Recently FlightAware released a new RTL-SDR dongle sold at zero profit at $16.95 USD. It’s main feature is that it comes with an ADS-B optimized low noise amplifier (LNA) built directly into the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Partial Discharge Detection using an RTL-SDR
Partial discharge is the situation in which electricity arcs through an insulating dielectric material when high voltages above the rated voltages for the insulator are applied. Continued partial...
View ArticleSetting up a Raspberry Pi Based AIS Receiver with an RTL-SDR
Over on YouTube user Tobias Härling has uploaded a video showing how he used a Raspberry Pi and RTL-SDR dongle to set up an AIS receiver. AIS stands for Automatic Identification System and is a radio...
View Article