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What SDR software do you use?

colporteur

What is your go-to SDR software?

 

I'm thinking about pitching an application for the Digilent 1x1 USB Software-Defined Radio Platform  RoadTest Review. Part of my research is to investigate what software is available for SDR. Here are some SDR application I have used GQRX, CubicSDR and GNURadio. I dabbled in RTL-SDR some two years ago. I recall at that time SDR#(SDRSharp) was popular but I seem to recall it was limited to Windows PC's. Being a Linux user Windows only applications are not something I look at.

 

I would like to investigate a few SDR applications but avoid the rabbit holes,  application you discover after much research they are no longer supported.

 

What is your software pick for SDR? In your response can you indicate your operating system preference and what frequency band you focus your SDR efforts on? Three responses:

  • What SDR application?
  • What operating system?
  • What frequency band of interest?
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  • 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 . 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.

  • in reply to 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.)

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  • in reply to 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.)

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  • in reply to baldengineer

    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.

  • in reply to colporteur

    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.