Creating a Linear Transponder with an RTL-SDR, HackRF and Raspberry Pi

A linear transponder is essentially a repeater that works on a range of frequencies instead of a fixed frequency. For example, a normal repeater may receive at 145 MHz, and repeat the signal at 435 MHz. However, a linear transponder would receive a wider bandwidth, and add a set frequency offset to the received signal. For example a signal received by a linear transponder that receives from 145 - 145.5 MHz, may receive a signal at 145.2 MHz and it would translate that up to 435.2 MHz. Another signal received at 145.4 MHz would translate up to 435.4 MHz. Hence the received frequency linearly translates to the transmitted frequency.

Over on his blog ZR6AIC has shown that it is possible to create a linear transponder using an RTL-SDR for receiving, a Raspberry Pi for processing the signal, and a HackRF for re-transmitting the signal. 2M and 70cm band bandpass filters are also used. For software he uses a GNU Radio flowchart that simply moves the IQ data from the RTL-SDR to the HackRF.

In the video below he demonstrates the linear transponder in action with two handheld radios.

A Linear Transponder made with HackRF, Raspberry Pi and RTL-SDR.
A Linear Transponder made with HackRF, Raspberry Pi and RTL-SDR.
Building a Linear Transponder with Gnu Radio, rtl dongle and hackRF module..

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Roman

Can’t the hackrf do the whole job on its own? Why is a raspberry pi needed? Can the hackrf do the processing and Rx/tx?

IdiotPatrol

Well you see my very novice friend… the hackrf is half duplex. Techincally you COULD repeat with it, but it wouldn’t be in realtime as it would have to listen/record your entire transmission, then switch to the output frequency and ‘play’ it over the air. Also I’m reasonably certain it wouldn’t be able to even do that just as a standalone device.

I’m not an expert on it, but I think a limesdr could do it in realtime, but you’d still need the raspberry pi to actually use the radio.