Tagged: hdsdr

RTL-SDR and RDS Spy with HDSDR

On YouTube user pe1etr shows us a video where he uses his RTL-SDR combined with HDSDR, Virtual Audio Cable and RDS Spy to decode a distant RDS signal. RDS Spy is a free advanced software program capable of decoding weak RDS signals contained in many broadcast FM radio stations.

RDS stands for Radio Data System and is a digital signal embedded into broadcast FM signals. It is used by radio stations to display the name of the radio station and current song playing on an LCD screen.

HDSDR & RDS Spy side by side

Cheap Satellite Receive Station with RTL-SDR

Blogger and Amateur Radio enthusiast N4JTC has posted a guide on setting up a satellite receiving station with the rtl-sdr. Originally the guide was intended for receiving the PhoneSat test satellites, but they have now gone offline after a week as planned. But, the guide is still useful for any current and future satellites.

The recent launch of the PhoneSats got my SDR and satellite juices flowing again. This time I decided to automate things because work seems to get in the way of my satellite listening fun. I found a combination that works great and incorporates FREE software and inexpensive hardware.

PhoneSatImg (http://www.n4jtc.com)