Modesdeco is a Windows/Linux/OSX/RPi compatible command line ADS-B Mode S decoder built for the RTL-SDR. It natively supports the BaseStation format and so can be used with the BaseStation software without the need for com port converters.
Modesdeco has recently been updated to allow for the simultaneous reception of Mode S and Mode A/C. Mode S provides location data for ADS-B while Mode A provides an identification code and Mode C provides the aircraft’s pressure altitude.
Over on YouTube user Adam Alicajic has posted a video showing the effect of a filter tuned for 1090 MHz used on ADS-B reception. Adam switches the filter in an out showing the difference in the number of received ADS-B frames. With the filter enabled he is able to receive around 1200 messages per second and without only around 800 messages per second.
A filter (aka preselector) can help to reduce out of band interference from strong signals.
Over on YouTube user Frank K2NCC has posted a video showing the reception of VDL2 (VHF Data Link mode 2). He uses MultiPSK to receive and decode VDL2 signals and VDL2-Display to nicely display the received messages.
VDL2 is a transmission mode used on aircraft for sending short messages, position data (similar to ADS-B) and also for allowing traffic controllers to communicate to pilots via text and data. Earlier we has a post about a VDL2 reception tutorial.
VE3MKC wrote code to first digitize then multiply the signal with a digital VFO before finally applying a low pass filter. He found that the Teensy’s microcontroller has sufficient CPU power to have an LCD RF spectrum display and process the audio output at the same time. Two videos of his project have been uploaded to YouTube.
TeensySDR - a Simple Software Defined Radio using the Teensy 3.1
The installer has automated OS detection and will choose the correct version of Zadig (XP or modern) for your PC. The script can also install SDR#, ADSB# and ADSBScope and create desktop shortcuts.
I would like to introduce a new installer i made. After many hours of tinkering. i came up with the following: Automated OS Detection (i need yet to confirm if win xp drivers work yes or no?) If no, someone please use zadig to extract Drivers for xp on thier xp machine and send to me and i will include it. If it works also let me know
*Automated installer for drivers This installer will: Detect OS Version and install driver automatically no more manual select using zadig Install unlimited dongles all in one click (no longer manually installing one by one using zadig) No longer accidental (wrong device selection) No longer will windows in some cases try to overwrite the driver with its default driver for “TV mode”
If desired you can opt to install the following with Basic settings pre-configured (handy for beginners): *Basic install with common settings of SDRSHARP (shortcut to desktop) *Install of ADSBSHARP and ADSBSCOPE pre-configured (shortcut to desktop) *Help file to get started(shortcut to desktop) *Uninstaller
The installer can be downloaded from here. Extract the files to a folder and then run the Setup batch file by double clicking on it. You may need to allow it to run if your get a warning from Windows.
A new super budget HF upconverter has appeared over on cosycave.co.uk, a UK based trading site. It is currently priced at £9.99. The budget HF upconverter uses a 50 MHz oscillator and an NE602AN double balanced mixer and oscillator integrated circuit. It is only suitable for use on the R820T and is incompatible with the E4000.
This circuit appears to have no preselection or filtering circuits.
Over on YouTube user Theo Faber has uploaded a video showing his adjustable multiband HF preselector project for his RTL-SDR dongle. The preselector covers the entire HF band. Theo designed and built his own homemade upconverter for this project as well.
Preselectors on the RTL-SDR can vastly improve reception quality. Without preselection, noise and strong images of other nearby stations can cause strong interference.
My project ‘pre selector’ for wideband radios and in particular the popular tv-sticks than can be used for SDR reception. The sticks are very cheap and the software free available on the internet. SDR Sharp in this case, is operating stable under XP and W7. Sticks are sensitive, however the input level can only vary +- 20dB. The sticks are easely overloaded and will produce cross and intermediation. So you need in front of the stick / converter band pass or tunable filters. Hopefully this inspired you to build your own set of filters, to fully benefit from the perfect performing of this affordable SDR.
for more info contact me on: t.faber87__AT__upcmail.nl
kind regards and 73’s
Hak5, a popular YouTube technology show has recently been dedicating a bunch of episodes to RTL-SDR projects. Recently we posted about their efforts with ADS-B, and some GNURadio tutorials. Their most recent video discusses AIS (Automatic Identification System) which is a system similar to ADS-B which ships use to transmit their location to create a modern GPS based radar system.
The Hak5 video discusses how AIS works and also shows how to use an RTL-SDR to receive it. In their tutorial they use SDR#, VBCable and ShipPlotter to receive and view AIS data on map. Note that we also have an AIS tutorial here.
Identify And Locate Ships Via AIS Transmissions!, Hak5 1610
