What resources would you recommend to a person just starting out in RTL-SDR?
I have been bench testing configuring a Raspberry Pi 3B+ to support RTL-SDR. I have successfully displayed a local FM radio station signal using the CubicSDR application and had it play audio. The audio is rather choppy but it does play. I consider this a milestone of a working RTL-SDR setup on a Pi. I have tried using GQRX but became frustrated at failing to accomplish the same objectives I did on CubicSDR. Can GQRX play audio? How can I improve the audio quality produced from CubicSDR? Maybe using this software is just beating a dead horse so to speak.
I had an epiphany after reading some of the use cases posted for the new Pi4 offering . It appears a few of the members have some affinity for RTL-SRD. I am looking to accelerate my learning by tapping your experience.
What would you recommend to a person just starting out? What documentation have you found useful? What software public licensed or commercial do you use? What hardware have you used? What pitfalls would you have avoided?
To give you some you some context for responses, I have a background in radio frequency technology. I spent seventeen years maintaining ground based aviation navigation and communication ground based equipment before moving from electronics systems to computer systems. Yeah, it can be argued they are both electronics.
I don't know what I don't know! I am also looking to short circuit my learning curve. I have exhausted google searches for information. Much of the information is dated. Some software has been apt-get developed eliminating the need to compile. I have found little that is current to today. Ideally, I would like someone looking over my shoulder while I execute and discuss scenarios. What about manuals for the opensource software, do they exist? I am reluctant to further invest in software and hardware without gaining some knowledge. Having a working RTL-SDR setup to me is a starting point. My goal is to expand what I have done so far to include obtaining broadcasted aircraft data signals. I see reference to DUMP1090 software.
Do you have some RTL-SDR knowledge you are willing to share? I would like to sponge off you. Care to make a post?
Sean
