Software Defined Radio
Software-defined radio (SDR) is a radio communication system where components that have been typically implemented in hardware (e.g. mixers, filters, amplifiers, modulators/demodulators, detectors, etc.) are instead implemented by means of software on a personal computer or embedded system. While the concept of SDR is not new, the rapidly evolving capabilities of digital electronics render practical many processes which used to be only theoretically possible.
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Software
Tier zero (driver)
- main driver is RTL-SDR from the fine Osmocom guys.
Tier one (SDR to voice/data)
- General receiver linrad (see tutorial in Hungarian attached) also see linrad for newcomers
- receive air traffic identification: gr-air-modes
Tier two (voice to data, using the above)
Hardware
Receiver
2832 chipset with e4000, fc0012,fc0013, R820T/T2 tuner chip seems eligible. Recommended tuners are e4000 and R820T/T2. Covers 52MHz to 2.2GHz (depending on tuner chip). Linrad has special alternative gain setting method for e4000/r820t maybe worth experimenting with it.Other SDR HW is listed here
Upconverter
Extends your frequencies by converting lower frequencies to a range receivable by the receiver.Buy it, Build it.
Low Noise Amplifier
Antenna
Try some coax TV antenna.For shortwave try these:
Radio Weather
embeddable widgetFrequencies
Digital Modes
Related links
- http://dangerousprototypes.com/2013/05/22/tutorial-kali-linux-with-gnu-radio-gqrx-and-rtl-sdr-dongle/
- http://hackaday.com/2013/05/23/listening-to-aircraft-transponders-with-a-raspberry-pi/
- http://hackaday.com/2012/07/08/adding-more-frequencies-to-you-software-defined-radio/
- http://hackaday.com/2012/06/11/balint-is-starting-a-software-defined-radio-tutorial-series/
- http://hackaday.com/2012/05/14/improving-a-software-defined-radio-with-a-few-bits-of-wire/
