What SDR software do you use?

The larger and first question needs to be: what are you doing with the SDR? That question defines what software options to consider. For example, if you're primarily interested in listening to broadcast radio, you won't be considering GNURadio (despite the name.) If you want a spectrum analyzer then you might choose something else.

With that said, I generally use GNUradio with my SDRs, but that's because I'm usually exploring some RF concept or playing with modulation ideas. Something that GNUradio excels at doing.

For day-to-day playing around, I mostly use SDR Console on Windows. (I believe it is Windows only.)

This list on the RTL blog is a great starting point for looking at the options.

What would be really nice is if someone put together a chart. Maybe software on the Y-axis, Application Use on the X-axis, and OS markers in the middle. (I bet that would look *great* in a road test ...)

Hi colporteur

It would be GNU Radio for me. Once the driver is setup for your device, which from experience can be a bit hit and miss, you'll be able to see the SDR as a block in the GUI. Everything else is drag/drop and stitch together to create your bespoke RF system. There are even blocks for file read and write - perhaps saving something you wish to Tx like a audio track. GNU Radio only really works on a Linux OS - but you seem to have that covered . There are some awesome output modules available like frequency plot, oscilloscope, waterfall and constellation plots. When you exhaust the pre-built modules and your skills are even higher you can always create your own by diving deeper and scripting one using Python.

Actually you can download and play around with GNU Radio without actually having an SDR dongle attached (again read and display some files, generate some sinewaves etc), so I suggest installing it and seeing what you think and also apply for the roadtest. If you do, good luck

The software I've been using is called CubicSDR for Win32

https://www.nooelec.com/store/downloads/dl/file/id/57/product/265/cubicsdr_v0_2_5_win32.exe

>> What frequency band of interest? - All of it.

Scott

Hi,

I just recently got interested in SDR and investigated programs that were available for Linux. Here are a few that I haven't tried but may interest you:

Skywave Linux - this is a Linux distribution specifically made for SDR

CubicSDR - is a open source cross platform SDR application

Gqrx SDR - open source SDR receiver that uses GNU radio

You might also want to check out passion-radio.com which has lists of Linux, Windows, and Mac SDR software as well as other interesting information.

Really appreciate the replies folks.

I get weekly updates from https://www.rtl-sdr.com/ . I don't know why I never thought to scrape their site. 2014 is a long way back JW baldengineer . Thanks for the scrapings.

A few comments on GNURadio from members. I understand there are some SDR software application have GNURadio as their backend.  I think being able to assemble a simple AM/FM receiver using a SDR dongle is an ideal starting point for exploring RF. Commercial FM radio stations still seem to be propagating radio waves. Aircraft to air traffic control communication is AM.

I recognize some of the application with a sprinkling of new ones I'm going to investigate. The posts got no hits on SDR# (SDR-sharp) looks like it is still maintained https://airspy.com/download/ .

Hopefully some more posts will filter in. Again thanks for your responses.

colporteur  The only one I've used is SDR# - but it was on a Windows machine.  The frequencies were Amateur Radio frequencies - primarily 50MHz and 7MHz.

With the Pi4 being the powerhouse that it is, I have plans to try my RTL-SDR in it - but that project hasn't made it high enough on the order of merit list to be worked on.  In that application, I plan to use it for radio direction finding.

colporteur  wrote:

 

I think being able to assemble a simple AM/FM receiver using a SDR dongle is an ideal starting point for exploring RF.

Frankly, I think that answers your question. You want to use GNURadio. It allows you to "build" a digital radio with the SDR.

All (okay most) of the other software already has the pre-processing blocks designed into their algorithm. You can fiddle with some of the controls, but you're limited to their algorithm.

GNURadio, on the other hand, lets you design the blocks of the radio and experiment directly. (and then perhaps extend in a way that is interesting for experimentation.)

There website indicates an software upgrade was made in Feb. 202. This demonstrates to me support, which is ideal if you are going to invest in an application. Frustrating to discover there is no one working on issues.

Maybe I need to blow of the dust of blue screen of death and investigate.

My experience with GNURadio is that is not for the faint of heart.

I started exploring it when the software was in the upgrade throws of 3.7 to 3.8. Understanding context was most important. I recall there were components not being supported in the newer version. I seem to recall something about QX & WX widgets I think they were called. One was or had being deprecated.

Two years ago it took some culling on my part to find flowgraphs for working receivers. You needed some RF knowledge to even dabble. I suspect it has changed. Tutorial time it is.

Break...Break...

I did create a list of software from the link you provided. I'm working the data through a spreadsheet to make it more managable.

Ahhh okay, maybe I misunderstood what you meant by "assemble an AM/FM receiver." If you want to use an SDR as an AM/FM receiver, then one of the purpose-built software is definitely the way to go. But if you want to build a radio around an SDR, I still think GNUradio is the way to go. Or, more specifically, GNUradio Companion.

Yeah there is still some mix of the GUI widgets and you do need to understand datatypes, but it is a good path to "building an SDR receiver." Like any scientific or engineering software tool, it is complex but not insurmountable.

I've also found for most basic tasks, there are workflows already created like the AM/FM receiver and standard demodulation.