Tagged: SSB

Understanding Single Sideband Modulation Through GNU Radio and RTL-SDR

Thank you to Paul Maine for writing in and sharing his latest tutorial video, which explains how Single Sideband (SSB) modulation works. In the video, Paul explains the concept and mathematical principles behind SSB by showing how to create an SSB receiver using GNU Radio and an RTL-SDR.

Paul writes:

Paul Maine “ The SDR Guy” recently released a video about Single Side Band (SSB). 

The SDR Guy shows how to create a single sideband receiver using GNU Radio and an RTL-SDR. He also shows how to modulate SSB signals. Paul collaborated with Gary Schafer in the production of this video. Gary has created a must read blog post on SSB.

Paul answers the question: What is SSB and what’s the advantage when compared to Amplitude Modulation. He used SDR++ to capture an IQ file using an RTL-SDR and his HF antenna and is included in his resources. This allows you to use the resources he has provided to demodulate SSB even if you don’t have an HF antenna.

In fact, you don’t even need to have an SDR. A GitHub link is provided in the video description to all flowgraphs and IQ files discussed in the video. Lastly, The SDR Guy has included a complete Upper and Lower Side Band receiver that’s implemented in GNU Radio using an RTL-SDR!

Be sure to look at his YouTube Channel (paulmaine6433). He has many other SDR related videos.

E17 Create Single Sideband Receivers with GNU Radio and RTL-SDR

An SSB receiver in GNU Radio
An SSB receiver in GNU Radio

Step-by-step Guide to Creating a GNU Radio Based QO-100 SSB Receiver

Thank you to M Khanfar for submitting his video that shows a step-by-step tutorial on building your own SSB receiver in Windows GNU Radio for QO-100 satellite reception.  His tutorial includes adding several tuning sliders in the GNU Radio GUI as well.

QO-100 / Es'hail-2 is a geostationary satellite at at 25.5°E (covering Africa, Europe, the Middle East, India, eastern Brazil and the west half of Russia/Asia) providing broadcasting services. However, as a bonus it has allowed amateur radio operators to use a spare transponder. Uplink is at 2.4 GHz and downlink is at 10.5 GHz. We note that we are selling a "bullseye" LNB in our store which allows most SDR dongles to be able to receive the signal with high frequency accuracy.

GNU-RADIO QO-100 SSB Receiver

Building a Remote SSB Receiver with an RTL-SDR, OrangePi and GNU Radio

Over on his blog F1ATB has uploaded a post explaining how he created an RTL-SDR or HackRF based remote SSB receiver controllable with an internet browser. To set this up he uses an Orange Pi One Plus single board computer which runs several GNU Radio based digital signal processing flow graphs. Then a Python server serves a custom HTML and Javascript based web interface with waterfall that can be controlled remotely over the internet. In the post he explains the GNU Radio DSP flowgraphs that he's built, and notes that he will explain the HTML and Javascript side in another future article.

The SSB receiver block diagram
The SSB receiver block diagram

Receiving the FO-29 Amateur Satellite with RTL-SDR

In this video YouTube user Roland Zurmely (PY4ZBZ) shows communications with the FO-29 amateur satellite using his RTL-SDR and a 6 element UHF Yagi antenna. The Fuji-OSCAR-29 (FO-29 a.k.a JAS-2) is an amateur radio satellite that allows voice communication via single side band, and has a voice downlink frequency of 435.8 MHz and uplink frequency of 145.9 MHz.

In this video, the RTL-SDR was used as the satellite receiver, and a conventional FT857 radio with 4 element VHF Yagi was used to transmit to the satellite uplink.

Tutorial: HF Decoding Tour with the FUNcube Dongle Pro+

On the FUNcube Dongle blog/store amateur radio enthusiast DK80K (a.k.a Nils) has sent in a link to a 16 page pdf file showing a comprehensive tour on the FUNcube Dongle Pro+’s capabilities on the HF spectrum.

He gives an overview of many digital ham and HF utility modes including DRM, WSPR, RTTY, Olivia, MFSK16, PSK31, Pactor, Packet, Hellschreiben, ROS, SSTV, HF ACARS, SSB, CW, DSC/GMDSS, SITOR-A/B, Globe Wireless, Time Signals, ALE, Baudot, FAX and Stanag 4285.

The FUNcube is a software defined radio similar to the RTL-SDR, but with better sensitivity and noise performance, but at a higher price (around $200 USD). These modes can also be received with the RTL-SDR and an upconverter such as the Nooelec Ham-It-Up upconverter.

Download his pdf here (Mirror)