Category: Applications

Using RTL-SDR in Cognitive Radio Energy Detector MATLAB Experiments

Over on YouTube user Guilherme Dattoli Cirigliano Cortes has uploaded a video showing his use of the RTL-SDR in some MATLAB based cognitive radio experiments. Cognitive radio is a upcoming technology which aims to increase radio spectrum use efficiency by finding and using the intermittent periods of unoccupied frequency space.

The uploader explains his task below.

The fundamental task of each Cognitive Radio (CR) user in CR networks, in the most primitive sense is to detect the licenced users, also known as primary users, if they are present and identify the available spectrum if they are absent. This is usually achieved by sensing the RF environment, a process called spectrum sensing. Here we use one of the technique of spectrum sensing called energy detection.

Low Cost Hydrogen Line Telescope using the RTL-SDR

Amateur radio astronomer Y1PWE has uploaded a pdf document describing how he created a low cost hydrogen line telescope using an RTL-SDR dongle (links under heading 2. H-Line Receiver) . Hydrogen atoms randomly emit photons at a wavelength of 21cm (1420.4058 MHz). Normally a single hydrogen atom will rarely emit a photon, but since space and the galaxy is filled with many hydrogen atoms the average effect is an observable RF power spike at 1420.4058 MHz. By pointing a radio telescope at the night sky, a power spike indicating the hydrogen line can be observed in a frequency spectrum plot.

Y1PWE created a radio telescope using a quad 22 element yagi antenna, several LNA's and filters and an RTL-SDR dongle and laptop. Using this setup he can capture some raw IQ data from the RTL-SDR and then use an FFT averaging program to produce some plots. In his plots the hydrogen line is clearly visible.

Radio Telescope Overview
Radio Telescope Overview
Hydrogen Line Plots
Hydrogen Line Plots
Quad Yagi Array
Quad Yagi Array

RTL-SDR Easy HF Dongle Mod

Over on YouTube user crookedninja5 has uploaded a video showing what he calls the “Easy HF dongle mod”. The mod involves soldering a wire from Pin 1 on the RTL2832U chip to the static protection diode near the antenna input. At the same time he also uses the modified RTL-SDR dll file for SDR# which enables the “no hardware mod” direct sampling mode.

Using this mod he is able to get decent coverage of 0 – 14.4 MHz.

SDR Shortwave Radio Mod "easy HF dongle mod"

Making a Cheap Noise Figure Indicator with an RTL-SDR

Amateur radio hobbyists Frank Schmaling (DL2ALF), Wolf-Henning Rech (DF9IC) and Alexander Kurpiers (DL8AAU) have uploaded a pdf document containing slides which show how they made a cheap noise figure indicator using an E4000 RTL-SDR dongle. A noise figure indicator can be used to check the noise figure of various components used in RF applications.

The hardware of the device consists of an RTL-SDR, a MGZ 30889 preamp, a noise source, a 28V boost converter to power the noise source and a serial to USB converter to control the noise source. They also created their own custom software in C# to go along with the hardware.

Their results showed that this setup was comparable to a professional noise figure test set.

RTL-SDR based Noise Figure Indicator
RTL-SDR based Noise Figure Indicator
Noise Figure Indicator Software
Noise Figure Indicator Software

Hak5: Using A RTL-SDR To Learn About The GSM Network Around You

The popular YouTube electronics channel Hak5 has uploaded a video showing how they analyzed GSM signals using an RTL-SDR, Wireshark and Airprobe. In their video they use parts of our analyzing GSM tutorial and explain and show visually how to set up all the software.

Using these methods they were able to receive GSM data from a base tower and see various system information.

Using A RTL-SDR To Learn About The GSM Network Around You, Hak5 1621

Update to the RTL-SDR Transmitting at 1270 MHz

In our previous post we featured a video by OH2FTG which showed an RTL-SDR transmitting at 1270 MHz. Now OH2FTG has written in to give us some more information about the RTL-SDR transmitter. He has done a short writeup explaining how it’s done on his website. It turns out that the RTL-SDR is actually capable of transmitting a FSK morse beacon using it’s leaky oscillator.

In the video, code written by another ham OH2EAT is used. OH2EAT’s code essentially changes the frequency on the transmitting RTL-SDR at up to 300 times a second using a modified driver. This is used to create a Frequency Shift Keyed (FSK) transmission.

The modulating transmitter code is not yet available as it is not yet ready for release. In the future OH2FTG hopes to build an amplifier to boost the signal output for further experiments.

New AIS Decoder for the RTL-SDR: PNAIS

Over on our Forums xynium has told us about his recently released an AIS decoder called PNAIS which appears to directly connect to the RTL-SDR and decode AIS data. After decoding it then outputs the decoded NMEA data via UDP, which could then be received and used in map plotting software such as OpenCPN.

AIS is and acronym for Automatic Identification System and is a system used by ships to broadcast position and vessel information.

PNAIS
PNAIS Decoder

Receiving and Decoding FLARM (Tracking Gliders, Helicopters etc) using the RTL-SDR

Over on our Facebook page, a user has let us know about the Open Glider Network project which makes use of the RTL-SDR dongle to decode FLARM. FLARM is a low cost and low power consumption ADS-B alternative which is often used by small aircraft such as gliders and helicopters for collision avoidance. With the right antenna, receiver and decoder any aircraft transmitting a FLARM signal could potentially be tracked on a map.

FLARM signals are transmitted at 868 MHz and are effectively weaker by 100-1000 times compared to standard ADS-B signals. The project recommends use of a high gain collinear antenna for receiving the weak FLARM signals. The open glider network project wiki contains information on how to set up their Linux based FLARM decoder that relies on the RTL-SDR for various embedded devices.

Once the software is up and running, the received and decoded FLARM packets can be seen on http://cunimb.fr/live/ as real time glider positions (also at http://cunimb.fr/live/3D/ in a 3D Google Earth).

FLARM Gliders shown in real time on a map
FLARM Gliders received with the RTL-SDR shown in real time on a map