Software Defined Radio - Revision history

Parker.link1: Add another link to Setting the Gain guide

2026-06-10T00:21:08Z

Add another link to Setting the Gain guide

Parker.link1: Add Basic Default RTL-SDR setup guide

2026-06-10T00:18:44Z

Add Basic Default RTL-SDR setup guide

Parker.link1: Mention USRP B210 as well

2026-05-17T21:46:03Z

Mention USRP B210 as well

Deckbsd at 09:28, 26 April 2025

2025-04-26T09:28:33Z

Deckbsd at 09:27, 26 April 2025

2025-04-26T09:27:14Z

Deckbsd at 09:26, 26 April 2025

2025-04-26T09:26:32Z

Acinonyx: Mark page as outdated.

2025-02-13T11:03:42Z

Mark page as outdated.

Kerel+satnogs: Airspy section: Add example station 1559 (DB2OS-VHF Omni)

2022-08-09T08:52:47Z

Airspy section: Add example station 1559 (DB2OS-VHF Omni)

Kerel+satnogs: airspy: Add comment on linearity and sensitivity

2022-02-06T17:55:22Z

airspy: Add comment on linearity and sensitivity

Pe2bz: typo specifing changed to specifying in HackRF Settings Field

2021-05-22T12:49:21Z

typo specifing changed to specifying in HackRF Settings Field

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 The RTL-SDR is based on two chips: the versatile [http://www.realtek.com.tw/products/productsView.aspx?Langid=1&PFid=35&Level=4&Conn=3&ProdID=257 RTL2832U chip], and the [https://rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/R820T_datasheet-Non_R-20111130_unlocked.pdf R820T tuner]. The RTL-SDR is currently the cheapest, most common, and best-performing budget solution available, in terms of general sensitivity in the frequency range of 24 – 1766 MHz.  A metal enclosure with SMA connector is preferred, along with a stable TCXO (low ppm).  HF coverage is optional.
-=== Basic Settings ===
+===Basic Settings===
 For a minimal RTL-SDR setup, use the following settings:
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
-These settings should be adequate for your first observations. Later, refer to the "E4000 Tuner Gain Settings" section below to improve the gain settings.
+These settings should be adequate for your first observations. Later, refer to the "E4000 Tuner Gain Settings" section below and the [[Omnidirectional Station How To#Setting the gain|Setting the Gain]] guide to improve the gain settings.
 ===Using RTL-SDR.com V3 Dongle's Bias-T Power Supply===
@@ Line 104: / Line 104: @@
 You should now schedule several observations to fine tune the <code>SATNOGS_RF_GAIN</code> value to get the best S/N performance for your station.   Some have reported needing zero RF gain, others have reported low RF gain required (between 5 and 10 db), and others have said they see little benefit even with very high gain. Each station will be different.
-====E4000 Tuner Gain Settings====
+===E4000 Tuner Gain Settings===
 The RTLSDR Driver exposes six (!) IF gain settings (IF1 through IF6) for the E4000 tuner, along with a TUNER gain setting, which is actually a combined LNA and Mixer gain control. Details on the gain stages are available in page 28 of the E4000 data-sheet here: https://www.nooelec.com/files/e4000datasheet.pdf
-When you follow the '[[Omnidirectional Station How To#Setting the gain|Setting the Gain]]' guide, all gain sliders (IF1 through IF6, and TUNER) should be presented in SoapySDR, allowing the user to adjust them to optimise for best performance. Once the correct values have been determined, you will need to define these specifically in satnogs-setup as follows:
+When you follow the [[Omnidirectional Station How To#Setting the gain|Setting the Gain]] guide, all gain sliders (IF1 through IF6, and TUNER) should be presented in SoapySDR, allowing the user to adjust them to optimise for best performance. Once the correct values have been determined, you will need to define these specifically in satnogs-setup as follows:
 *<code>SATNOGS_GAIN_MODE</code>=<code>"Settings Field"</code>
 *<code>SATNOGS_OTHER_SETTINGS</code>=<code>"IF1=6,IF2=3,IF2=2,IF3=0,IF4=0,IF5=2,IF6=3,TUNER=30"</code>
-(Replacing the values in the line above with the ones you determined)
+<br />
 ====R820T Gain Settings====
-Unfortunately librtlsdr only exposes a single gain control for the R820T/T2 tuners, even though multiple gain adjustments are available. Use the standard SATNOGS_RF_GAIN option, with a gain between 0 and 42 (dB), as optimised for your station via the '[[Omnidirectional Station How To#Setting the gain|Setting the Gain]]' guide.
+Unfortunately, librtlsdr only exposes a single gain control for the R820T/T2 tuners, even though multiple gain adjustments are available. Use the standard <code>SATNOGS_RF_GAIN</code> option, with a gain between 0 and 42 (dB), as optimised for your station via the [[Omnidirectional Station How To#Setting the gain|Setting the Gain]] guide.
 ==Airspy support==

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 ==RTL-SDR Support==
-The RTL-SDR is based on two chips -- the versatile [http://www.realtek.com.tw/products/productsView.aspx?Langid=1&PFid=35&Level=4&Conn=3&ProdID=257 RTL2832U chip] and the [https://rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/R820T_datasheet-Non_R-20111130_unlocked.pdf R820T tuner]. The RTL-SDR is currently the cheapest, most common, and most performing solution available in terms of general sensitivity having a frequency range of 24 – 1766 MHz.  A metal enclosure with SMA connector is preferred, along with a stable TCXO (low ppm).  HF coverage is optional.
+The RTL-SDR is based on two chips: the versatile [http://www.realtek.com.tw/products/productsView.aspx?Langid=1&PFid=35&Level=4&Conn=3&ProdID=257 RTL2832U chip], and the [https://rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/R820T_datasheet-Non_R-20111130_unlocked.pdf R820T tuner]. The RTL-SDR is currently the cheapest, most common, and best-performing budget solution available, in terms of general sensitivity in the frequency range of 24 – 1766 MHz.  A metal enclosure with SMA connector is preferred, along with a stable TCXO (low ppm).  HF coverage is optional.
-<br />
+=== Basic Settings ===
 ===Using RTL-SDR.com V3 Dongle's Bias-T Power Supply===

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 *[[Software Defined Radio#USRP support|USRP devices]]
-**[https://www.ettus.com/product/category/USRP-Bus-Series USRP B200]
+**[https://www.ettus.com/product/category/USRP-Bus-Series USRP B200] and B210
 *[[Software Defined Radio#Airspy support|Airspy]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:28, 26 April 2025
Line 153:		Line 153:

	<code># Block AirSpy kernel module from loading</code>		<code># Block AirSpy kernel module from loading</code>
		+
	<code>blacklist airspy</code>		<code>blacklist airspy</code>

@@ Line 165: / Line 165: @@
 If you need to add it to the <code>plugdev</code> group, run this command <code>sudo usermod -a -G plugdev satnogs</code>
-Finish with a reboot
+Finish with a reboot.
 ==SDRPlay support==

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:26, 26 April 2025
Line 144:		Line 144:
	Bit packing ("Enable packing 4 12-bit samples into 3 16-bit words for 25% less USB trafic.") could be enabled with <code>SATNOGS_DEV_ARGS</code>=<code>"bitpacking=true"</code> (untested). Device arguments can be concatenated with comma as delimiter.		Bit packing ("Enable packing 4 12-bit samples into 3 16-bit words for 25% less USB trafic.") could be enabled with <code>SATNOGS_DEV_ARGS</code>=<code>"bitpacking=true"</code> (untested). Device arguments can be concatenated with comma as delimiter.

		+	===Troubleshooting===
		+
		+	Sometimes some more configuration steps are needed to use an Airspy device. If when you run <code>SoapySDRUtil --probe=“driver=airspy”</code> you get a "missing id" error you probably need the following :
		+
		+	First a configuration file that will block the kernel driver from loading:
		+
		+	<code>/etc/modprobe.d/airspy-blacklist.conf</code>
		+
		+	<code># Block AirSpy kernel module from loading</code>
		+	<code>blacklist airspy</code>
		+
		+	Second a configuration file that will recognize the device when inserted.
		+
		+	<code>/etc/udev/rules.d/52-airspy.rules</code>
		+
		+	<code>ATTR{idVendor}=="1d50", ATTR{idProduct}=="60a1", SYMLINK+="airspy-%k", MODE="660", GROUP="plugdev"</code>
		+
		+	Make sure the satnogs user is member or the group <code>plugdev</code>. You can check running this command <code>sudo -H -u satnogs id</code>
		+
		+	If you need to add it to the <code>plugdev</code> group, run this command <code>sudo usermod -a -G plugdev satnogs</code>
		+
		+	Finish with a reboot

	==SDRPlay support==		==SDRPlay support==

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:03, 13 February 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	{{Outdated}}
		+
	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

@@ Line 110: / Line 110: @@
 required SoapySDR module: [https://github.com/pothosware/SoapyAirspy/wiki SoapyAirspy]
 '''Note than none of the settings below should be entered with the "  " around the value. This is only for better readability in the Wiki !'''
@@ Line 138: / Line 141: @@
 If you want to activate the integrated bias tee, set <code>SATNOGS_DEV_ARGS</code>=<code>"biastee=true"</code>.
 Bit packing ("Enable packing 4 12-bit samples into 3 16-bit words for 25% less USB trafic.") could be enabled with <code>SATNOGS_DEV_ARGS</code>=<code>"bitpacking=true"</code> (untested). Device arguments can be concatenated with comma as delimiter.
 ==SDRPlay support==

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:55, 6 February 2022
Line 123:		Line 123:

	For reference see also the Airspy driver library linearity gain settings in [https://github.com/airspy/airspyone_host/blob/bceca18f9e3a5f89cff78c4d949c71771d92dfd3/libairspy/src/airspy.c#L117-L122 libairspy/src/airspy.c#L117-L122].		For reference see also the Airspy driver library linearity gain settings in [https://github.com/airspy/airspyone_host/blob/bceca18f9e3a5f89cff78c4d949c71771d92dfd3/libairspy/src/airspy.c#L117-L122 libairspy/src/airspy.c#L117-L122].
		+
		+	The airspy driver offers "Linearity" and "Sensitivity" gain settings, using a look-up table to configure all three gain stages from a single value (optimized for linearity and gain respectively). Those modes are unfortunately not available through the SoapyAirspy module (see [https://github.com/pothosware/SoapyAirspy/pull/14 SoapyAirspy#14]).
		+
		+	The "Overall" gain mode is a soapy-specific driver-independent mode to configure all gain stages based on the single gain value from <code>SATNOGS_RF_GAIN</code>. It tries to evenly distribute the gain, potentially resulting in non-optimal configuration. Thus for achieving optimal results the "Settings Field" mode is recommended, where all three gain stages can be configured separately.

	===Sample rates===		===Sample rates===

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:49, 22 May 2021
Line 212:		Line 212:


−	"Settings Field", ~~specifing~~ the individual gains.	+	"Settings Field", specifying the individual gains.

	*<code>SATNOGS_GAIN_MODE</code>=<code>"Settings Field"</code>		*<code>SATNOGS_GAIN_MODE</code>=<code>"Settings Field"</code>