Category: Applications

A Tutorial on Setting up a XHSI Cockpit Display with Live Data from an RTL-SDR Receiving ADS-B

Back in 2017, we first posted about using a program called RTL1090-XHSI which is used to display a simulated aircraft cockpit using live data acquired directly from an RTL-SDR receiving ADS-B flight data from nearby aircraft. The ADS-B signal provides not only position and heading data but also information about altitude and speed, which is then used to simulate the cockpit display.

Recently Al wrote in and wanted to share with us a step-by-step tutorial that he has created that shows how to set this up. The guide shows how to download, install and use all the software programs required.

XHSI Cockpit Display with Live ADS-B Data Received by an RTL-SDR
XHSI Cockpit Display with Live ADS-B Data Received by an RTL-SDR

Receiving Starlink Signals with an RTL-SDR and Ku-Band LNB

Over on YouTube, dereksgc has uploaded a new video showing how to receive signals from Starlink satellites using an RTL-SDR and a standard Ku band LNB. Note that this setup simply receives the raw signals, and it does not allow you to connect to the Starlink service.  

In the video, dereksgc first introduces Starlink satellites and explains what signals they transmit, referencing a paper on the structure of the Starlink Ku-band downlink by researchers at the University of Texas. He notes that the signals are strong enough that a single LNB without a dish is sufficient for receiving them. An LNB is a feedhorn antenna, low-noise amplifier, and downconverter all-in-one. It converts the ~10.950 GHz Ku band signal of the Starlink satellites down to a frequency that the RTL-SDR can receive.

In the rest of the video, he shows a timelapse of signals being received. The signal's doppler shift can be seen and heard as the satellite passes over.

Receiving Starlink signals with RTL-SDR

Open-Weather APT: Updates to the Web Based NOAA APT Image Decoder

Dr. Sasha Engelmann and Sophie Dyer, the team behind the Open-Weather project have recently announced the launch of their new version of open-weather apt, a web-based NOAA APT image decoder. The web-based program accepts a WAV file containing a NOAA satellite APT recording, demodulates and decodes it, and displays the resulting weather satellite image.

Sasha writes:

In our recent newsletter, we summarised the updates as follows:

Open-weather apt is the only public, maintained, browser-based decoder for Automatic Picture Transmissions (APT) from satellites NOAA-19, NOAA-18 and NOAA-15. It was developed to improve access to satellite signal decoding for all practitioners.

We are excited to share a new and improved version available here! The new version includes the following updates and additional features:

  • Improved accuracy in decoding and finding sync positions (locates more sync positions than other comparable decoders)
  • Upload a WAV file of any sample rate (no more re-sampling with Audacity!)
  • Option to see the ‘raw’ image without syncing, and to ‘Find the Syncs’
  • Option to Rotate 180 degrees, often useful for viewing images from nighttime passes
  • Go deeper in your analysis: explore Signal Value and Image Value Histograms
  • Upload directly from open-weather apt to the Public Archive

Open-weather apt is co-developed by open-weather with Rectangle (Lizzie Malcolm and Dan Powers), Bill Liles (NQ6Z) and Grayson Earle. We have had a lot of fun testing and experimenting. Please let us know if you have feedback!

Open-Weather APT Web Decoder
Open-Weather APT Web Decoder

PySpecSDR: A Text User Interface Based Python RTL-SDR Spectrum Analyzer and Signal Processor

Over on GitHub a new open-source program called 'PySpecSDR' by [xqtr] has recently been released. This is a full multipurpose SDR receiver program like SDR# or SDR++, but with the difference that it runs entirely with a text user interface.

PySpecSDR displays a real-time spectrum and waterfall via text user interface and has the ability to demodulate and play audio for FM, AM, and SSB signals. The software also includes features like a scanner, automatic signal classification (between digital, FM, AM), frequency bookmarks, AGC, recording capabilities, band presets, and a configurable display. It is completely controlled via keyboard shortcuts.

Currently, the first version supports RTL-SDR only, but there is another version being worked on in the repo called pyspecsdr-soapy.py. This version uses SoapySDR, and that should support almost every SDR. It appears that most SDRs should already be working, but there are still some quirks to be fixed.

Some PySpecSDR Screenshots
Some PySpecSDR Screenshots

A SDR++ CSV to JSON Frequency Bookmark Converter Python Script

Thank you to RTL-SDR.COM reader Steve Hagerman for writing in and sharing his Python script that allows SDR++ users to convert a CSV file of frequency bookmark information into a JSON file that SDR++ recognizes. Steve explains:

[In SDR++] one of the biggest issues is in making frequency bookmarks. SDR++ uses a JSON file to store frequency bookmarks which is hard to edit manually. While there is a direct means to enter bookmarks directly in SDR++, it is tedious and requires too many mouseclicks.

To fix this I wrote a Python script to take easily made XLSX Spreadsheet of frequencies to convert to a JSON file that can be used directly with SDR++.

Steve's CSV to JSON Python Script Flow Graph
Steve's CSV to JSON Python Script Flow Graph

DragonOS: Setting up AISMon with WINE and Virtual Audio Sink for HackRF and RTL-SDR

Over on his YouTube channel Aaron, creator of the DragonOS image (a Linux image with many built-in SDR compatible programs) has uploaded a new video showing how it is possible to run the Windows only AISMon software on Linux, using WINE. WINE is a Windows emulator for Linux which allows users to run some Windows software on Linux.

In the video Aaron shows how to set up WINE on the DragonOS Linux image, how to run AISMon with it, and how to set up the Virtual Audio Cable sink which is required to pass the audio from SDR++ to AISMon. He also shows how he tests his setup using the AIS-Simulator software with a HackRF, and an RTL-SDR for receiving.

DragonOS FocalX Setup AISMon with WINE + Virtual Audio Sink (HackRF, RTLSDR, SDR++, AIS-Simulator)

Setting up the Cheapest FlightAware ADS-B Feeder with RTL-SDR and Raspberry Pi 2W

Over on his YouTube channel, TAKEAPART has recently uploaded a new video showing how to set up a cheap ADS-B FlightAware feeder using an RTL-SDR Blog dongle, and a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W. The Raspberry Pi 2W is a US$15 computer that is capable of running the PiAware ADS-B feeding software which uploads ADS-B data to the FlightAware.com flight tracking service. If you are a contributor to this service, you can get a Premium FlightAware subscription for free.

In the video, TAKEAPART shows how to install the PiAware software on the Pi 2W, and how to configure the PiAware settings. Finally, he shows it in action, receiving flight data with a homemade 1/4 wave ground plane antenna.

Cheapest ADS-B feeder RTL-SDR and Raspberry Pi Zero 2W (PiAware/FlightAware)

Setting up an ADS-B Radar in a Vehicle Android Head Unit

Over on YouTube channel 'TAKEAPART' has uploaded a short video showing how he tracks aircraft via an RTL-SDR Blog V3 dongle and his car's Android head unit. The head unit is capable of running the ADS-B Radar App available on the Google Play store.

Once the app is installed, it's a simple matter of plugging in the RTL-SDR Blog V3 unit and running the app to start tracking aircraft.

How to ADS-B Radar in the CAR - Tracking Planes...