Author Topic: Cheap Software Defined Radio  (Read 4524 times)

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Offline compu

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Cheap Software Defined Radio
« on: August 30, 2013, 02:30:16 pm »
So, do you guys know about RTL-SDR?
Basically it turns cheap DVB-T-Sticks into a Software Defined Radio with a frequency range of 52-2200 MHz / 24-1766 MHz (depending on tuner).

You can do some cool stuff with it, like getting images from weather satellites or listening to unencrypted voice transmissions (e.g. pilots talking to ground stations etc.)

A compatible DVB-T-Stick costs $10-$20, so it is really cheap for what you can do with it.
You can find more information (and more possible use cases) on rtl-sdr.com.

I attached a screenshot showing the position, speed, altitude, etc. of nearby aircrafts by receiving ADS-B signals at 1090 MHz using my Terratec T-Stick Plus (with E4000 tuner). I can receive transmissions from planes that are up to 120km away from me using the supplied antenna.

Offline Keoni29

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Re: Cheap Software Defined Radio
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2013, 02:37:34 pm »
That is pretty cool to be able to watch air traffic from your living room :D
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Offline Lionel Debroux

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Re: Cheap Software Defined Radio
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2013, 02:43:17 pm »
Yup, I have one such stick as well, also from Terratec and based on an E4000 chip, and once in a while, I do listen to unencrypted voice transmissions (among other things) as well :)
But the ADS-B signals I receive are usually pure garbage (or so says the decoder program I'm using).
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Offline Adriweb

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Re: Cheap Software Defined Radio
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2013, 04:15:19 pm »
Ah !
I do also have a DVB-T stick, although a cheap model I found, not a Terratec one.

I'll try that (if my dongle is compatible...) , it seems very cool :D
« Last Edit: August 30, 2013, 04:17:23 pm by adriweb »
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Offline ElementCoder

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Re: Cheap Software Defined Radio
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2013, 04:59:59 pm »
Looks like a cool little device to have, especially the pilots talking to ground stations part :)

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Offline DJ Omnimaga

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Re: Cheap Software Defined Radio
« Reply #5 on: September 02, 2013, 04:24:17 pm »
Interesting. Just be careful to not get caught accidentally accessing top secret govt/police info or something. :P
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Offline Sorunome

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Re: Cheap Software Defined Radio
« Reply #6 on: September 02, 2013, 04:55:42 pm »
Ha, that is kinda cool! ^^

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Offline Eiyeron

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Re: Cheap Software Defined Radio
« Reply #7 on: September 02, 2013, 06:28:39 pm »
Is that legal? It seems pretty interesting!

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Re: Cheap Software Defined Radio
« Reply #8 on: September 02, 2013, 06:45:36 pm »
I didn't notice until now that that was germany x.x

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Offline Lionel Debroux

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Re: Cheap Software Defined Radio
« Reply #9 on: September 03, 2013, 01:13:18 am »
The dongles, and RTL-SDR, work in every country :)
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Offline Sorunome

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Re: Cheap Software Defined Radio
« Reply #10 on: September 03, 2013, 03:51:39 am »
The dongles, and RTL-SDR, work in every country :)
I thought that, but then again you are supposed to notice your own country you live in :P

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Offline compu

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Re: Cheap Software Defined Radio
« Reply #11 on: September 03, 2013, 11:14:54 am »
Is that legal? It seems pretty interesting!
I guess receiving ADS-B is legal, otherwise websites like flightradar24 wouldn't be possible, right?
Also I got a free premium account for feeding my ADS-B data to them ;)

Interesting. Just be careful to not get caught accidentally accessing top secret govt/police info or something. :P
Well, I can only receive, transmitting is not possible. So I'm not leaving any traces :P

But the ADS-B signals I receive are usually pure garbage (or so says the decoder program I'm using).
I can receive ADS-B pretty well. Currently I have 1300 frames/min :)