An Amateur’s amateur guide to

Software Defined Radio (SDR)

Presented by Ethan Waldo
KF5UFH
 About Me
• Learned from a co-worker about the existence of amateur
satellites and Cubesats around December 2012
– [Link]
slashdot-how-would-you-build-a-microsatellite
• Joined AMSAT on 1/23/2013
– Learned about the importance of amateur radio communication
• Ordered a Realtek TV Tuner commonly used for SDR on
2/3/2013
• Ordered the ARRL Tech license manual on 2/11/2013
• Took and passed the Tech exam on 3/2/2013 and received
FCC license on 3/7/2013
• Defined a functioning NFW SDR and successfully listened to
the Swapfest at 146.94 on 3/23/2013
What is Software Defined Radio (SDR)?
• A software-defined radio system, or SDR, is a
radio communication system where
components that have been typically
implemented in hardware (e.g. mixers, filters,
amplifiers, modulators/demodulators,
detectors, etc.) are instead implemented by
means of software on a personal computer or
embedded system. -Wikipedia
[Link]
defined_radio
 Why SDR?
• Provides a very low cost entry in to amateur radio
• Takes up little physical space
– Portability
• Mature software variety and operating flexibility
• Wide range of radio spectrum
• Can appeal to the novice all the way up and
beyond the radio engineer
• Usage is increasing in space
– FOX-1 in US
– Funcube in UK
 Equipment
• Realtek RTL2832U+R820T
– A USB device primarily intended for receiving DVB-T, FM, and DAB, but
Antti Palosaari discovered sample data was unlocked and
demodulation is performed in software
• [Link]
infrastructure/44461/focus=44461
– 24Mhz to 1.85Ghz range
• Lower HF bands available with upconverters
– [Link]
[Link]#.UVMdvBl8s4M
– [Link]
– $10-$12 including shipping on Ebay
• Most sold directly from China so 1-2 week wait typically
– Discontinued E4000 tuner very popular but frequency range not quite
as wide
– USB connection can be extremely flaky
Equipment
 Equipment
• Opek VU-1510 VHF/UHF Dual Band Magnet Monopole
Anenna from AARadio for about $20
• SMA Male to UHF Female jumper cable from AARadio for
about $15 (out of stock of the $6 connector and I couldn’t
wait)
• GlobalSat MCX-to-SMA Female jumper cable from Amazon
for about $8 (sadly AARadio doesn’t carry much MCX
currently)
• Acer C7 Chromebook running ChrUbuntu $200
• Char-Broil Red grill for ground plane: Priceless (or about
$400)

Total Cost sans Laptop and grill: $50-60

Equipment
 Equipment Disclaimer
• Bought BAOFENG UV-5RE and USB programming
cable from Amazon for about $65 to serve as
reference device
– recommendation from co-worker and a couple of
Austin Hams who can remain anonymous if they like
• Was difficult to verify my SDR was working
– 14cm monopole that came with RTL not great for
picking up 2m
– Didn’t expect 146.94 repeater to be so quiet
• sometimes no chatter for days at a time
– Knowledge from Internet and ARRL books not clear on
whether amateur 2m used WFM or NFM
Microsoft Windows Software
Software (SDRSharp)
 Software (SDRSharp)
• Somewhat Open Source SDR software
– GUI and plugin parts under MIT license
– DSP under MS-RSL (Boooo!)
• Download and install from [Link]
– Under “Important note for RTL-SDR users” download
[Link] instead for
quick install
• Follow instructions at [Link] for
Zadig to install special windows driver
Software (SDRSharp)
Software (SDRSharp)
Software (HDSDR)
 Software (HDSDR)
• Freeware closed source SDR software
– Formerly WinRad
• [Link]
– Click Download
– Download from Mirror
• [Link]
rIP_Setup.zip
– Unzip and install
• Choose at least libusb, VC++ Runtime,
EXTIO_USRP+FCD+RTL2832U + BorIP, and HDSDR
• Skip over Zadig installation since we already installed from
SDRSharp
 Software (HDSDR)
• Download EXTIO_RTL.dll from [Link] and
copy to HDSDR folder
– [Link]
[Link] and click “Raw”
Software (HDSDR)
Linux Software
Software (GnuRadio)
Software (GnuRadio)
 Software (GnuRadio)
• Completely Free/Open Source SDR software
• [Link]
o/wiki/InstallingGR
– Recommended: Using the build-gnuradio script
• Fedora and Ubuntu distros, Debian on the way
• wget [Link] &&
chmod a+x ./build-gnuradio && ./build-gnuradio
• Build dependency requirements may vary but
unfortunately outside the scope of presentation
 Software (GnuRadio)
• [Link] ([Link]
– Install Git
• “apt-get install git” for Ubuntu
• “yum install git” for Fedora
– git clone git://[Link]/[Link]
– Follow building the software section
• Gr-baz for additional GnuRadio blocks
– [Link]
• git clone [Link]
– [Link]
• GRC for example RX/TX radios
– [Link]
• git clone [Link]
• CGRAN for free open source 3rd party unsupported GnuRadio applications
– [Link]
• 146.94 compatible NFW receiver completed by Ethan Waldo (KF5UFH)
– [Link] (Right-click <>/View Raw and save link to download)
• [Link]
 Networking Radio
• Allows the physical radio device and
antennae/coax cable run to be located at a
different location from where the SDR
software runs without additional dB loss
• Wifi latency too high, recommend using wired
Ethernet or equivalent
• BorIP for GnuRadio and HDSDR
• rtl_tcp for GnuRadio and SDRSharp
 Networking Radio (BorIP)
• [Link]
– git clone [Link]
• Needs Python 2.7+
• Run “lsusb” to get VID/PID from RTL device
– i.e. Bus 002 Device 008: ID 0bda:2382 Realtek
Semiconductor Corp. RTL2832U DVB-T
• 0bda is VID, 2382 is PID
• Under gr-baz/apps modify borip_RTL.py
– [Link].set_vid(0xFFFF) #Where FFFF is VID
– [Link].set_pid(0xFFFF) #Where FFFF is PID
– [Link].set_sample_rate(2000000)
– Run “python borip_server.py –vrgc”
Networking Radio (HDSDR + BorIP)
Networking Radio (HDSDR + BorIP)
 Networking Radio (rtl_tcp)
• rtl_tcp should be installed when rtl-sdr is
installed
– [Link]
• Run “rtl_sdr –a <IP Address>” where <IP
Address> is the bound IP of the local ethernet
adapter you want the server to run on
Found 1 device(s).
Found Rafael Micro R820T tuner
Using Generic RTL2832U
Tuned to 100000000 Hz.
listening…
Networking Radio (GnuRadio + rtl_tcp)
 What next for me?
• Listen to my first satellite QSO
• Start recording and deciphering satellite telemetry
• Research RX/TX capable SDRs and make more serious purchasing decision
– Funcube Dongle Pro+ ([Link] $200
• 150kHz – 250Mhz & 420Mhz – 1.9Ghz at 192kHz bandwidth
– Noctar ([Link] $750-$850
• 100kHz – 4Ghz at 200Mhz RX/250Mhz TX bandwidth
– USRP ([Link] $650+-$1,700+
• DC – 6Ghz RX/TX with various daughterboards
– [Link]
• Continue to improve the audio quality and power usage of my SDR configurations
• Select a design and build a directional Yagi antennae from scratch
– Continue learning about antennae design
– Model my own antennae in EZNEC or appropriate software
• Build an operable ground station at my place of residence
• Upgrade to General Class and Extra Licenses
• Start making Satellite and Terrestrial contacts
Questions or Recommendations???
 Thank You
I would like to thank Andrew Duhan, Austin Hams,
ARRL, AMSAT, and various Internet denizens for making
this all possible. Feel free to contact me for any
questions or assistance and I will gladly help as I have
time available.
Ethan Waldo
KF5UFH
ewaldo@[Link]
[Link]