Software-defined radio (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.
RTLSDR-compatible software
(This list is very incomplete, please consider adding to it! - Other software lists exist at: Osmocom, CGRAN/Gnuradiohttp://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/GrOsmoSDR#KnownApps and others. )
SDR Software
Software | Supported Modes | OS | Cost/License | Features/Limitations |
---|---|---|---|---|
multimode - the Gnuradio app | AM, WFM, NFM, SSB, CW, RAW/DIGITAL, Scanning | Linux/OSX | GPL/Free | General purpose multi-mode communications receiver, extensible, works on both GR 3.6 and 3.7, runs under wxpython |
rtl_fm, rtl_tcp, rtl_sdr | AM, WFM, NFM, SSB, CW, RAW/DIGITAL | Linux/OSX/Win | GPL/Free | core command line tools, swiss army knife functionality, good for scripting use |
SDR Touch | AM, WFM, NFM, SSB, DSB, CW | Android | Freemium, Closed | supports RTL_TCP and USB OTG, FFT times out after 30 seconds on free version |
glSDR | AM, WFM, NFM, SSB, DSB, CW, DIG(?), SPEC(?), SAM(?), DRM | Android | Free, GNU/GPL | UI for ghpsdr servers |
SDR-Radio v2 | Windows | Free possibly paid out of beta, Closed | Beta, Feature packed, supports RTL_TCP | |
SDR# | AM, NFM, WBFM,SSB,CW,RAW | Windows, plus Linux and OSX using mono and monodevelop (slower) | Free, MS-RSL/MIT | Popular, supports multiple DSP modalities, FFT algorithms, filter settings, Along with Linrad has the most configurable and flexible options, without building your own (Gnuradio) or adapting an existing flowgraph (multimode, others) |
HD-SDR | AM, NFM, SSB, CW, I/Q/RAW | Windows | Free, Closed | Will run on older hw., has special features for unknown signal analysis, supports ExtIO (SDR over TCP-IP) |
GQRX | AM, WFM, NFM, SSB, CW, AFSK1200 | Win,Lin,Mac | Free, GNU/GPL | Runs on GNU Radio, Intuitive UI, Easy to use, good performance, Stable Uses QT |
GNU Radio Toolkit | 'everything' | Linux, OSX,Win (unsupported, but said to work, see Ettus Research site) | Free, GNU/GPL | Tools to build your own receiver. Versatile, larger learning curve. Most flexible software radio toolbox available outside of closed source/government/mlitary |
Linrad | AM,Coherent AM/AM Stereo,NFM,SSB,CW,WFM? | Win,Lin,Mac | Free, OSS | Supports ppb,enhanced gain modes,runs well on older hw., has multiple waterfall displays, noise blankers, AM notch filter, Sensitive, Flexible (Used extensively for moonbounce with JT65 and other digital modes) |
Studio1 | Paid,Closed Source | Formerly WRPLUS | ||
SDR-J | AM,WFM,NFM,SSB,DAB,CW,DIG | Win,Lin | Free | Has separate dedicated WBFM and DAB receiver, main app supports many digital modes natively, with no need for an external decoder, as well |
Simple FM Rcv | WBFM (FM Stereo with RDS) | Linux/OSX | Free/GPL | Wideband/Broadcast FM |
SDRangelove | Data Visualization/Capture | Linux/OSX | GPL | See web page/README file |
GNSS-SDR | GPS | Linux,OSX | Free | See this paper for overview Requires Gnuradio, May require harder to find and more expensive e4000 dongle, Requires bias-tee and active GPS antenna or LNA and passive RHCP antenna |
Plugins for SDR#
Purpose | Software | Cost/License |
---|---|---|
Scan and log various frequencies | Frequency Manager + Scanner plugin | Free, OSS |
Tune SDR# to the approprate voice channel | Trunking plugin for SDR# | Free, OSS |
Bootable LiveDVDs and CDs (Complete OS and SDR apps on bootable filesystem, requires no installation, does not write anything to disk)(under construction)
Decoding
HF Digital
Purpose | Mode | Software | OS | Cost/License | Common Frequency |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Digital decoding on HF | CW, Domino, Hell, MFSK, PSK, OLIVIA, RTTY, Throb, Thor, WWV | Fldigi | Win,Lin,Mac | Free, GNU/GPL | 0-30MHz AM |
HF amateur radio codec | FreeDV, Codec2 | FreeDV | Win,Lin,Mac | Free, GNU/GPL | 0-30MHz AM |
Digital broadcast shortwave | DRM | Dream | Win,Lin,Mac | Free, GNU/GPL | 0-30MHz AM |
Sending images over HF, commonly QSLs | Robot, AVT, Scottie, Martin | MMSSTV | Windows | Free, OSS | 0-30MHz AM |
Purpose | Mode | Software | OS | Cost/License | Frequency |
---|
Purpose | Mode | Software | OS | Cost/License | Frequency |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ADSB Plotting in 3D, decoding ADS-B | ADS-B | gr-air-modes | Linux/Mac OSX (requires gnuradio) | GPL/Free | 1090MHz AM |
Plane-spotting, decoding ADS-B | ADS-B | ADSB# | Windows | Free, MIT | 1090MHz AM |
Decodes ADSB# data + Plot planes on a map | AVR-BEAST | VirtualRadar Server | Windows | Free, OSS | 1090MHz AM |
Alternative to ADS-B# | ADS-B | RTL1090 | Windows | Free, Closed | 1090MHz AM |
Purpose | Mode | Software | OS | Cost/License | Frequency |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amateur packet radio incl. GPS location | AX.25, AFSK, APRS | AFSK1200 | Win,Lin,Mac | Free, GNU/GPL | 144-145MHz FM, Varies |
Purpose | Mode | Software | OS | Cost/License | Frequency | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Decode control channel data | P25, EDACS48, EDACS96, Motorola, MPT1327 | Unitrunker | Windows | Free, Closed | Usually 400MHz, 760,860,933MHz FM | |
Decode digital voice | P25p1, ProVoice, X2-TDMA, DMR/MOTOTRBO, NXDN | DSD | Win,Lin,Mac | Free, BSD | Usually 400MHz, 760,860,933MHz FM | |
Decode LTR data | LTR | LTR Analyzer | Windows | Free, Unknown | ~400-500MHz |
Purpose | Mode | Software | OS | Cost/License | Frequency | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Decode NOAA WX images | APT, WEFAX | WxtoIMG | Win,Lin,Mac | Freemium, Closed | ~137MHz FM | Track Live |
Purpose | Mode | Software | OS | Cost/License | Frequency |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Analog television decoder, no sound | NTSC, PAL | TVSharp | Windows | Free, OSS | Any AM (including ISM security cameras) |
Purpose | Mode | Software | OS | Cost/License | Frequency |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Decode various pager formats | POCSAG, FLEX | PDW | Windows | Free, GNU/GPL | 35-45MHz, 152-160MHz, 455-463MHz, 928-932MHz FM |
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[Satellite Tracking Software]
Purpose | Software | OS | Cost/License | Features |
---|---|---|---|---|
Track orbits of satellites of interest | Gpredict | Linux and OS X using macports | Free/GPL | Can also control motorized trackers and some ham radio receivers/transmitters |
[Audio FFT Software]
Purpose | Software | OS | Cost/License | Features |
---|---|---|---|---|
Allow fine grained analysis of audio modulation of signals | baudline | Linux,OSX | Free | Spectrogram/Time v. Frequency graphing/Unknown signal analysis |
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