Tagged: iOS

RTL-SDR Running Directly on iPad without Jailbreak TestFlight Invitation

Back in June, we posted about work from Arved (DK5AV/M0KDS) that enabled RTL-SDR to run directly on iPad devices without requiring a jailbreak. Previously, RTL-SDRs couldn't run directly on any iOS device. The only workaround was to run an RTL-SDR remotely and connect to it over a network via rtl_tcp.

Arved recently received distribution entitlement from Apple, which now opens the door to submitting to the Apple App Store. However, Arved notes that he would like feedback from Beta testers before that happens, so he has shared a TestFlight link at https://testflight.apple.com/join/jUDtSBmb. 

We note that this currently will only work on iPad devices with a modern M-series chip. iPhones are not compatible because they use the A-series.

Arved also writes:

The host app also contains a few more features compared to last time. It has a diagnostics view to see if the driver talks to the SDR correctly. It also contains a built-in FM receiver (including stereo and RDS) for broadcast FM stations. But finally the most important feature on the iPad is probably the built in rtl_tcp Server which runs directly on the iPad itself. That way users can use any compatible rtl_tcp client already available on iOS with this driver. Examples would be CoronaSDR, VibeSDR etc.

In the driver I also added support for the V4 dongle (which didn’t work last time). Unfortunately I had to drop the FCxxxx tuners for now due to issues with the AppStore and its GPL license issues. The whole driver is now based on the open source GNURadio driver instead of librtlsdr due to licensing issues with the GPL. Maybe I can find a way to add the other tuners back at some point. The driver for the iPad is open source (same repo as last time). The API for this driver is also available as header so that other apps in the future can directly talk to this driver.

RTL-SDR Running Directly on iPad via USB — Demo with CoronaSDR, welle.io, SatDump & rtl_tcp (no JB)

Demod Updates: Adds Support for OpenWebRX, FT8 Decoding, CarPlay and an Android Version

Back in July, we posted about Demod, an iOS and iPadOS SDR receiver app that works as a client for rtl_tcp, SpyServer, and KiwiSDR. The developer, Alphonse, recently wrote in again to share updates. Alphonse writes:

Since the launch, Demod has added:

  • OpenWebRX support on top of KiwiSDR, SpyServer and rtl_tcp. Public receivers are browsable on a built-in map, so it can be tried without any hardware.
  • FT8, CW and RTTY decoding on the phone.
  • Identify. Tap an unknown signal and it measures it, checks the shortwave broadcast schedules against the receiver's location and the time, and names the likely station and how far away it is.
  • Live on-device transcription and translation of what you're listening to.
  • CarPlay, and a "car radio" Seek that jumps to the next real signal for the current mode and stops there (the next AM station, SSB voice or CW signal). It also works from headphones and the steering wheel. 
  • A band scanner, recording and 15-second rewind of live radio, and Siri ("Tune Demod", "Ask Demod what this signal is").
  • A three-pane iPad layout, a mains-hum filter, an auto-contrast waterfall and squelch that works on every source.

Android: Demod is now on Google Play, with the same receiver support and decoders. Android Auto support coming soon.

Alphonse has also decided to share with the community 15 free codes for each platform that let you download the app for free. These codes are first come, first served, so if a code no longer works, it will have already been claimed.

iOS (iPhone/iPad) — redeem in the App Store app: tap your profile photo → Redeem Gift Card or Code. Or tap the link directly: https://apps.apple.com/redeem?ctx=offercodes&id=6782193839&code=CODE1
KTKAWEXFT36F, LWPN4RNLTFMK, HMJKF39KLPN9, FM7JEHP7H7XA, 3F9PALW93KYM, MJ7TH3E9E3W9 ,P7P3NJR66XKT, K7WKYKNNRPMY, 94WLYNRLKNFR, 4XE7WAYHX4PN, 3KLPHAE9TTHX, MY64T9JWW3HA ,TXWWHNPMNYAX, LPJALTHR966K, EMRLANKKF7L6

Android — redeem in the Play Store app: profile icon → Payments & subscriptions → Redeem code. Or tap the link: https://play.google.com/redeem?code=CODE1
3SD4H680XKNUGNP9V6SXT8U, 68XKMWQEGUXLW2T6W41XEUR, 2N8E2KY22V9L49D92NQ86DX, VHG4UJPUJ6DGRVZGYGA331Z, 3N48JPPJ8F5RUA9S2E55C2N, 7N4BMSA3X1J893QQGC9H6ZM, VVQBLBGFBJED9GU7Y3UZQZK, NTC82UE8KT1RMSFF9GW1LVA, LBLKS33KUG3PQML1KYVK2P2, 9THCT76YXV61HAFK9ZY22J7, CMF62T6LA46V6PVCUZ4BYZG, S895G4U1E5FZ3QZA255FPU1, QQR944S4BUCA1XKCEBAJPPU, PDYWFXGWUJBV9C9UACTJ065, EXZRMG3RB3XJUEB42Z6KTZH

Demod iOS and Android Client for WebSDRs
Demod iOS and Android Client for WebSDRs

VibeSDR Jr: Apple Watch RTL-SDR, KiwiSDR, UberSDR Client now Available

Back in July, we posted about VibeSDR, an AI vibecoded open-source mobile SDR client for rtl_tcp and UberSDR/KiwiSDR/OpenWebRX servers developed for iOS and Android. In that post, Stuart also mentioned that he was developing an Apple Watch app version of VibeSDR that runs directly on an Apple Watch, allowing you to view and listen to the spectrum on your wrist.

The Apple Watch version, called VibeSDR Jr, is now available as a full standalone Apple Watch App, meaning that no iPhone is required. The app costs £0.99 (~US$1.35). As before, Stuart has provided us with 20 free giveaway codes for the VibeSDR Jr App, so be sure to comment on either this post, the Facebook post, or the X post for a chance to win one of the codes.

Stuart has also noted that he now has a live VibeSDR demo running at demo.vibesdr.net, allowing users to see VibeSDR's DSP and server functionality in action. Stuart writes, "There is an RTL-SDR V4C, SDRPlay RSP1B, and AirSpy HF running on that demo server, all connected to the same AirSpy YouLoop with LNA antenna setup. The RSP1B is locked to 2.8MHz - 10.8MHz and can handle 10 users and the RTL-SDR & AirSpy are unlocked frequencies but 1 user at a time, each user gets a 30 minute time slot to play with. All the built in decoders are available and for the FM-DXers there is a full advanced RDS suite measured against a professional broadcast analyser too."

He also notes the following to avoid confusion with the software in the VibeSDR family:

VibeSDR + Buddy: The Main VibeSDR app and the Apple Watch Remote control companion app for that app.
VIbeSDR Jr: The full standalone Apple Watch SDR client no iPhone required
VibeServer: Built in to Android and standalone apps which allow you to quickly and easily share your SDR’s on a network

Use VibeServer to connect your radio and serve it and then use Jr to listen to it on your wrist, or if you don’t have your own radio Jr is compatible with almost all the same servers as the main VibeSDR app, the only thing it cannot do due to bandwidth/processing requirements is anything that is RAW IQ such as RTL-TCP or SpyServer.

Finally, Stuart notes that the Android version is coming soon and is currently just pending acceptance on the Google Play Store.

VibeSDR Jr - SDR Client for the Apple Watch
VibeSDR Jr - SDR Client for the Apple Watch

Radio Silence: A Native iOS App for Listening to Public KiwiSDRs

Thank you to 'Radio Silence Dev' for writing in and sharing the beta release of his iOS native app, Radio Silence, designed for listening to public KiwiSDR receivers around the world on an iPhone or iPad.

The app streams live audio from the KiwiSDR network, with a live directory showing each node's signal quality, load, and online status. If a receiver drops out mid-session, the app will automatically fail over to another one. There is also a tap-to-tune live spectrum waterfall.

Radio Silence also includes CW, RTTY and FT8 decoders, which all run on-device rather than on the receiver, printing text under the dial as it comes in. Audio keeps playing with the screen locked, and captures are saved to a logbook tagged with frequency, mode, node, S-meter reading and UTC timestamp, with export to ADIF, CSV and WAV. Captures can also be shared as QSL-style reception report cards stamped with the solar flux and Kp index at the time of the catch. NAVTEX and SSTV decoders are in development.

The developer notes that the app is written to be a good citizen on the KiwiSDR network, releasing its channel slot when listening stops and handing it back automatically if playback is left running unattended. Streaming uses about 22 MB per hour.

Radio Silence is free during the beta, and listening is set to remain free at launch, with any future subscription covering software features only. Beta invites can be requested via radiosilencesdr.com.

Radio Silence: Waterfall View
Radio Silence: Waterfall View
Radio Silence: Decoding FT8
Radio Silence: Decoding FT8

VibeSDR Now Available on the Apple App Store + Running on an Apple Watch

Back in June, we posted about VibeSDR, an AI vibecoded free and open-source mobile SDR client for rtl_tcp and UberSDR/KiwiSDR/OpenWebRX servers developed for iOS and Android. Recently, Stuart Carr (Stuey3D) wrote in again to let us know that VibeSDR is now available on the Apple App Store for £2.99 and is soon to be available on the Android Play Store too.

In terms of updates, Stuart also notes that he's now developed VibeServer, which provides a more network-efficient way to share RTL-SDRs remotely via an Android phone. VibeServer compresses the data and transfers it at 120KB/s instead of the full 4.8MB/s required by rtl_tcp. 

Stuart has also developed an Apple Watch Buddy app version of VibeSDR which runs directly on an Apple Watch, allowing you to view and listen to the spectrum on your wrist. The watch version is still in beta, but Stuart notes that you can join the free beta on TestFlight.

As before, the latest open source code can be found on the VibeSDR GitHub https://github.com/stuey3d/vibesdr.

Finally, Stuart has provided us with 20 free promo codes to give away for the Apple App Store version of VibeSDR. To win a promo code, simply comment on this post (making sure to enter an email in the email field), reply to the X post, or comment on the Facebook Post (note that for Facebook you must montior your comment for a reply as Facebook does not allow private messages). 

Update: All promo codes have now been allocated, thanks!

AI-Disclaimer: This software was vibecoded with Claude.

VibeSDR Running on an Apple Watch
VibeSDR Running on an Apple Watch
Introducing VibeSDR Jr: A full SDR Client on your wrist.

Demod: An iOS/iPadOS Client for rtl_tcp, SpyServer and KiwiSDR

Thank you to Alphonse Romero for submitting news about the release of his new iOS and iPadOS SDR receiver app called Demod. Demod is a network client that connects to remote SDR servers, so it can be tried out immediately with no dongle needed at all. 

The app works as a client for rtl_tcp, SpyServer (Airspy and RTL-SDR), and KiwiSDR, all in a single app. It features a Metal-accelerated waterfall and spectrum display, AM/NFM/WFM/USB/LSB/CW demodulation, and adjustable bandwidth, gain, and squelch. Other features include frequency memories with CSV import and export, AirPlay and Lock Screen controls, and native layouts for both iPhone and iPad. It can also browse and connect to public SpyServers directly from within the app, which is how it can be used with no hardware of your own. The developer notes that it collects no data, with no ads or tracking.

Alphose writes that Demod is a solo project and is available on the US App Store for US$9.99. More information and screenshots can be found on the project website, and the app itself is available on the App Store.

The developer has also provided us with 15 free codes that we will be giving away in one week. To enter the giveaway, simply comment on this post (make sure to include your email address in the comment so that we can send you the code), the X post, or the Facebook post. (UPDATE: ALL CODES HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED NOW, THANKS!)

Demod iOS SDR App
Demod iOS SDR App

VibeSDR: A Mobile-First iOS and Android Receiver App for Remote SDR Servers and RTL-SDRs

Thank you to Stuart Carr (Stuey3D) for submitting news about his new software release, VibeSDR, a free and open-source mobile SDR client he has developed for iOS and Android. VibeSDR is designed to be touch-first rather than a desktop interface shrunk down to phone size. It is a fully native client for UberSDR, OpenWebRX/OpenWebRX+, and KiwiSDR with its own GPU-rendered waterfall and spectrum. It also supports local RTL-SDR dongles via RTL-TCP on both platforms and over USB on Android with no extra driver install required.

VibeSDR comes with a long list of features. The app has on-device decoders for RTTY, WEFAX, NAVTEX, SSTV, Morse, and FT8/FT4, plus access to server-supplied decoders, Leaflet-based HFDL and digital spot maps, FM stereo with RDS, a local bookmarks engine with daily EiBi schedule downloads, and full background audio. It also has band-aware blind tuning, where using lockscreen, headphone, or in-car media controls to tune across a band boundary automatically switches to the correct demodulator and step rate for that band and ITU region. The app also has Android Auto support with browsable bookmark and band plan lists and steering wheel tuning, and on iOS, it offers Siri voice commands to work around the current lack of full CarPlay approval.

Stuart is upfront and mentions that VibeSDR was AI vibecoded with Claude, hence the "vibe" part of the name. He notes that while he did not write code himself, he designed, extensively tested, and reported bugs over weeks of late nights. The app is not available on any app store at the moment, but he notes that the app will always be free and open source, with full source, APKs and IPAs available on the VibeSDR GitHub Releases page. He also plans to eventually list it on the App Store and Play Store for a fee of around £3 to cover store and development costs.

AI-Disclaimer: This software was vibecoded with Claude.

VibeSDR Screenshots
VibeSDR Screenshots

RTL-SDR Now Runs on iPad M-Series Devices Directly via USB Without Jailbreak

Thank you to Arved (DK5AV/M0KDS) for writing in and sharing with us some exciting news. Arved has just announced his USBDriverKit extension for RTL-SDRs over on X and released it as open-source code on GitHub.

This is an unofficial port of librtlsdr, created using USBDriverKit instead of libusb, which is not available on iOS. This now allows RTL-SDRs to run directly on iPad iOS devices via USB without any jailbreak requirements. Previously, RTL-SDRs were unable to run on iOS devices directly. The only way around this was to run an RTL-SDR remotely and connect to it over a network via rtl_tcp.

The one caveat at this stage is that this currently only supports iPads with an M-Series SoC. At this time, only iPads use M-series chips, whereas iPhones currently use A-series chips. It also appears that the Blog V4 is not yet compatible with this driver due to the required EEPROM strings not being read by the drivers yet. 

In the video embedded below Arved shows an RTL-SDR running on his M1 iPad, and demonstrates CoronaSDR, welle.io, SatDump and rtl_tcp running.

RTL-SDR Running Directly on iPad via USB — Demo with CoronaSDR, welle.io, SatDump & rtl_tcp (no JB)

Arved has also released a video (embedded below), demonstrating SatDump connecting to an RTL-SDR and receiving a signal from a Meteor M2 LRPT weather satellite. He first records the IQ data with SatDump, then uses SatDump to decode the recorded data into an image.

Meteor-M2 4 LRPT Reception on iPad with RTL-SDR via USB — SatDump Demo