Category: Amateur Radio

Decoding D-STAR Headers with the RTL-SDR

D-STAR or Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio is a digital voice and data protocol used in amateur radio. I was tweeted a link earlier which shows how the RTL-SDR can decode D-STAR text messages and headers (link is in Italian but Google translate can help, and the pictures show more than enough information). By using SDRSharp and stereo mix you can tune to a D-STAR signal, and pass the audio to a command line based decoding program (dstar.exe) which can be downloaded from the above link, which will then decode D-STAR text messages.

dstar7

Here is also an older video showing D-STAR decoding with HDSDR in action.

Review of the SDR UP-100 Upconverter

Akos from the SDR for mariners blog has written a review on the SDR UP-100 upconverter. The SDR UP-100 is a 50 USD upconverter for the RTL-SDR and similar software defined radios which is made by the same person behind the LNA4ALL low noise amplifier. Upconverters allow the RTL-SDR to receive between 0 and 30 MHz, where ham radio, military, marine and many other interesting signals exist.

In the review Akos tests the SDR UP-100 with a 6 meter random wire antenna and an RTL-SDR. His results show that the upconverter works well as expected. In the future he hopes to compare the SDR UP-100 with the Ham-It-Up Upconverter from Nooelec.

SDR UP-100

Rain Scatter 10 GHz Reception with the RTL-SDR

YouTube user feri67000 who last month showed us that the RTL-SDR can receive 10 GHz signals with a cheap avenger LNB PLL now shows an interesting experiment where he uses a technique known as rain scatter to receive a 10 GHz beacon with his satellite dish pointed in the opposite direction of the beacon transmitter.

Usually communications at 10 GHz are line of sight only, but by using the rain scatter technique, the 10 GHz signal can be bounced off a precipitation cloud and received with line of sight to the cloud, rather than the transmitter.

rain scatter 10ghz LX1DB beacon

Setting up an APRS iGate with the RTL-SDR

Over on Pawel Janowski’s blog (SQ7MRU) a writeup on how to set up an APRS iGate receiver with an RTL-SDR and cubieboard mini computer has been posted. The article has been written in Polish, but can be translated using Google Translate.

APRS stands for Automatic Packet Reporting System and is usually used by Amateur radio operators to broadcast the current GPS coordinates of something such as a transmitter site/car/boat or high altitude amateur balloon. These APRS packets are received by an iGate and then put onto the internet. Check out aprs.fi for an example.

To create an APRS iGate, Pawel runs a RTL-SDR compatible python program called pymultimonaprs which is used to receive and broadcast the APRS data on to the internet.

aprs_fi_rtlsdr

RTL-SDR Panadapter using RANVerter and Cheap Ham Radio

YouTube user ranickel and creator of the RANVerter HF upconverter for software defined radios has posted a video showing how to use an RTL-SDR dongle and RANVerter to create a panadapter for an old and cheap Heathkit HR-10 “beginners receiver” ham radio.

He connects the mixer stage of the HR-10 via a capacitor to his RANVerter which then connects to a RTL-SDR dongle.

RANVerter Panadapter

Cheap and Easy SDR Panadaptor for Older Receivers

KN0CK Miniature HF Upconverter Rev. 4 Now for Sale

Update: KN0CKs products are now available at http://www.kn0ck.com/HF_SDR/.

The fourth revision of the miniature HF upconverter for the RTL-SDR by KN0CK is up for sale, now that revision three has just sold out. Revision four has a 120 MHz oscillator, and is capable of receiving the 6m band.

Check out the release post over at KF7LZE’s blog, and the product sales page at the Easy-Kits store.

Receiver Opened Up

Receiving a 10GHz Beacon with RTL-SDR and an Avenger LNBF

In this video YouTube user feri67000 shows reception of a 10 GHz amateur beacon over 26km using the RTL-SDR, and an ‘Avenger LNBF‘, which we believe is this one which only costs $11. The LNB within the Avenger antenna converts the 10 GHz signal into a frequency that is receivable by the R820T RTL-SDR.

F0EQE reception F5ZWZ/b 10GHZ beacon rtl sdr R820T + SAT LNB PLL Avenger

Also, in this video by YouTube user EA5KGD reception of a voice signal is shown using the RTL-SDR and Avenger LNBF.

SDR RTL 2832U E4000 RX EB5EA on 10GHz beside Avenger LNB PLL (part 1)

RTL-SDR as a Cheap Panadapter

For people already with expensive ham radios, the RTL-SDR can be used as a cheap panadapter. A panadapter is device that allows you to visually see the RF spectrum and waterfall being received by the ham radio. There are multiple (expensive) commercial panadapters available, but combined with a PC or laptop, the RTL-SDR will work just as well.

In this video YouTube user akdude47 shows a tutorial on setting up the RTL-SDR as a panadapter for a Yaesu FT-857. The setup involves connecting the IF output of the radio to the RTL-SDR, and putting in some settings into HDSDR.

How to setup a RTL SDR with HDSDR and a FT-857 for a panadapter and second receiver.