Amateur Radio Wiki - User contributions [en]

SDR FAQ

2012-08-24T13:35:08Z

Malvineous: First few questions

This FAQ covers the most commonly asked questions by people new to the world of SDR.

=== Can I use my TV tuner to do SDR? ===

'''Q: Hey, I see you guys are using a Realtek TV tuner to do SDR! I have a TV tuner! How do I do SDR with it?'''

'''A:''' This very common question stems from misunderstanding how the Realtek device works. The RTL2832 is a digital TV tuner, which also supports tuning FM radio. Because the two types of signals are very different, Realtek added a special SDR mode to the RTL2832. Their official drivers use this mode to tune and decode FM radio. The Osmocom driver simply makes this existing SDR mode available to more software. The only reason the Realtek TV tuner works with SDR, is because it *is* an SDR device, which also happens to tune TV signals.

Just because the Realtek SDR device can be used to watch TV, it doesn't mean any TV tuner can do SDR. The RTL2832 has a special SDR mode, so your TV tuner or other device will also need a special SDR mode too - otherwise it can't be used for SDR work.

'''Q: But my TV tuner might have a secret SDR mode too! How do I find out?'''

'''Short answer:''' It doesn't, don't bother. The RTL2832 can be had for $20, just buy one and save yourself a few months of probably fruitless effort.

'''Long answer:''' You will have to find datasheets for the tuner and demodulator ICs used on your card. Examine these, and look for anything that sounds like it does SDR. You will have to learn how to write drivers for your operating system, so you can write commands to the tuner and demodulator ICs. This is all done using the C compiler you already have installed on your system and are an expert in using. If your card is no longer available through normal retail channels, you will be unlikely to find anyone who can help you (unless you have a number of identical cards you can donate to other programmers.)

One big hint with the RTL2832 was that it did both '''digital''' TV and '''analogue''' radio. Since these are so different, it is no surprise they are handled by different circuitry. Most TV cards capable of tuning '''analogue''' TV can also do '''analogue''' radio, because the two schemes are practically the same (analogue TV channels use FM radio signals for their audio.) If you have a device that can work with very different signals, like the Realtek, you might have something worth investigating.

PowerSDR

2012-05-06T00:59:12Z

Malvineous: Add details and links to other versions

{{SDR App Infobox
| Cost = Free/Open Source
| Platforms = Windows
| ReceptionModes = AM/FM/SSB
| TransmissionModes = ?
| MaxBandwidth = ?
| Devices = FlexRadio devices only
| Homepage = [http://www.flex-radio.com/Products.aspx?topic=PowerSDRv2 flex-radio.com]
}}

'''PowerSDR''' is produced by FlexRadio to work with their SDR devices. The stock version only works with their own devices, but as the application is open source, others have extended it and added support for other devices.

{|class="wikitable"
! Version !! Description
|-
| [http://www.flex-radio.com/Products.aspx?topic=PowerSDRv2 Official] || Original version
|-
| [http://powersdr-sr40.sourceforge.net/ PowerSDR-sr40] || Support for SoftRock40 devices
|-
| [http://openhpsdr.org/wiki/index.php?title=PowerSDR OpenHPSDR PowerSDR] || Support for openHPSDR devices
|}

Template:SDR App Infobox

2012-05-06T00:58:50Z

Malvineous: Limit screenshot size and use correct SDR link

<div style="border-left: 1em solid white; float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="infobox" style="width: 330px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%; float: none; margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align:center; font-size: 120%;">'''{{PAGENAME}}'''</div>
<div id="app-infobox-image" style="text-align:center;">[[Image:{{{Image|{{PAGENAME}}.png}}}|320px]]<br />{{#ifexist: Image:{{{Image|{{PAGENAME}}.png}}}||''There is no image of this program in action — <span class="plainlinks">[{{fullurl:Special:Upload|wpDestFile={{{Image|{{PAGENAMEE}}.png}}}}} upload one]</span>!''<includeonly>[[Category:Need pictures]]</includeonly>}}</div>
<table>
<tr><th style="min-width: 12em;">Application type</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">[[Software Defined Radio (SDR)]]</td></tr>
<tr><th>Cost</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{Cost|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Platforms</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{Platforms|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Reception modes</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{ReceptionModes|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Transmission modes</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{TransmissionModes|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Max demod bandwidth</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{MaxBandwidth|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Supported devices</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{Devices|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Homepage</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{Homepage|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
</table>
</div></div><noinclude> 
<i>This template is used to display an information box containing details about a software program for working with software-defined radio. See [[HDSDR]] for example use.</i>

Valid parameters and examples are:
{|class="wikitable"
! Parameter/example !! Purpose !! Valid values
|-
| Platforms = Windows, Mac, Linux || Which platforms this application runs on || Free text
|-
| Cost = Free || Purchase price of the program || List approximate price or '''Free''' if the program is noncommercial
|-
| ReceptionModes = <nowiki>[[AM]], [[FM]]</nowiki> || What type of transmissions can the program receive? || Any transmission mode. Try to link to existing wiki pages where possible
|-
| TransmissionModes = <nowiki>'''None'''</nowiki> || What type of modulations can be transmitted with this program? || Same list as for ReceptionModes, or '''None''' if the program is receive-only
|-
| MaxBandwidth = 96kHz || Maximum bandwidth that can be demodulated (e.g. 96kHz is not quite enough to fully demodulate a [[WBFM]] signal, so a program that can only demodulate up to 96kHz cannot be used to reliably listen to consumer FM radio) || A value or <nowiki>'''Unlimited'''</nowiki>
|-
| Devices = <nowiki>[[RTL2832]]</nowiki> || What devices can this program work with? || List of SDR devices. Some common examples: <ul><li>'''<nowiki>[[Stereo sound card]]</nowiki>''' (any radio connected to an internal or USB sound card)</li><li>'''<nowiki>[[SDR capture file]]</nowiki>''' (if the program can record data to a file on disk for later examination)</li></ul>
|-
| Homepage = ''URL'' || Address of the program's homepage || Any URL
|}
Default values are shown if the parameter is omitted, so do not use any parameters unless the value is known (most of the defaults say "unknown")
[[Category:Infoboxes]]
</noinclude><includeonly>
[[Category:Programs for working with SDR]]
</includeonly>

File:PowerSDR.png

2012-05-06T00:57:58Z

Malvineous: Screenshot of official PowerSDR application. Taken from FlexRadio's home page. Category:Screenshots

Screenshot of official [[PowerSDR]] application. Taken from FlexRadio's home page.

[[Category:Screenshots]]

List of SDR programs

2012-05-06T00:50:21Z

Malvineous: Add PowerSDR

This is a list of programs capable of working with software-defined radio.

{|class="wikitable sortable"
! Name
! Focus
! TX?
! RX?
! Windows? !! Mac? !! Linux?
! Free/commercial
|-
| [[GNU Radio]]
| Research
| Y || Y
| Y || Y || Y
| Free
|-
| [[HDSDR]]
| Voice/CW reception
| Y || Y
| Y || N || N
| Free
|-
| [http://mixw.net/ MixW]
| Data decoding
| N || Y
| Y || N || N
| 15-day trial
|-
| [http://www.gsm-antennes.nl/PDW/ PDW]
| Pager decoding
| N || Y
| Y || N || N
| Free
|-
| [[PowerSDR]]
| Voice/CW/digital
| Y || Y
| Y || N || N
| Free/open source
|-
| [[WRplus]]
| Voice/CW reception
| N || Y
| Y || N || N
| Free
|-
| [[WXtoImg]]
| Weather satellite decoding
| N || Y
| Y || Y || Y
| Free + commercial
|}

[[Category:Software-defined radio]]

List of SDR programs

2012-05-02T11:12:56Z

Malvineous: Add MixW

This is a list of programs capable of working with software-defined radio.

{|class="wikitable sortable"
! Name
! Focus
! TX?
! RX?
! Windows? !! Mac? !! Linux?
! Free/commercial
|-
| [[GNU Radio]]
| Research
| Y || Y
| Y || Y || Y
| Free
|-
| [[HDSDR]]
| Voice/CW reception
| Y || Y
| Y || N || N
| Free
|-
| [http://mixw.net/ MixW]
| Data decoding
| N || Y
| Y || N || N
| 15-day trial
|-
| [http://www.gsm-antennes.nl/PDW/ PDW]
| Pager decoding
| N || Y
| Y || N || N
| Free
|-
| [[WRplus]]
| Voice/CW reception
| N || Y
| Y || N || N
| Free
|-
| [[WXtoImg]]
| Weather satellite decoding
| N || Y
| Y || Y || Y
| Free + commercial
|}

[[Category:Software-defined radio]]

List of SDR programs

2012-05-01T09:51:50Z

Malvineous: Add PDW

This is a list of programs capable of working with software-defined radio.

{|class="wikitable sortable"
! Name
! Focus
! TX?
! RX?
! Windows? !! Mac? !! Linux?
! Free/commercial
|-
| [[GNU Radio]]
| Research
| Y || Y
| Y || Y || Y
| Free
|-
| [[HDSDR]]
| Voice/CW reception
| Y || Y
| Y || N || N
| Free
|-
| [http://www.gsm-antennes.nl/PDW/ PDW]
| Pager decoding
| N || Y
| Y || N || N
| Free
|-
| [[WRplus]]
| Voice/CW reception
| N || Y
| Y || N || N
| Free
|-
| [[WXtoImg]]
| Weather satellite decoding
| N || Y
| Y || Y || Y
| Free + commercial
|}

[[Category:Software-defined radio]]

GNU Radio

2012-04-29T02:24:53Z

Malvineous: Basic info

{{SDR App Infobox
| Cost = Free/Open Source
| Platforms = Windows, Mac, Linux
| ReceptionModes = Any
| TransmissionModes = Any
| MaxBandwidth = ''Unlimited''
| Devices = [[USRP]], [[RTL2832]], [[Stereo sound card]], [[SDR capture file]]
| Homepage = http://www.gnuradio.org
}}
'''GNU Radio''' is the most widely used and supported software package used with [[Software Defined Radio (SDR)]]. It is extremely powerful and primarily aimed at research into transmitting and receiving specialised signal types. For this reason it is quite complex and has a somewhat steep learning curve.

The GNU Radio suite is composed of a number of ''blocks'', each performing a specialised task (such as receiving data from an SDR device or demodulating a particular transmission mode.) By combining these blocks together into a ''flow graph'', a full demodulator/decoder can be built (starting from the radio device all the way to either audio output or displaying decoded digital data.)

The flow graphs are built in the Python programming language, however it is not necessary to know any Python to create them. GNU Radio includes a program called <tt>gnuradio-companion</tt> which provides a neat graphical interface allowing Python flow graphs to be built by simply dragging boxes around on the screen.

Category:Software-defined radio

2012-04-28T09:21:56Z

Malvineous: Blurb

This category lists all pages relevant to working with [[Software Defined Radio (SDR)]].

Transverters

2012-04-28T09:21:15Z

Malvineous: Add FunCube upconverter

'''Transverters''' are RF upconverters and downconverters. They allow a radio to transmit and receive on bands outside the range it normally operates on. See the [[Wikipedia:Transverter|Wikipedia article]] for more detail.

While these devices are less commonly used with ham equipment (which is designed to directly work on frequencies of interest), they are more common with specialised devices such as those used for [[Software Defined Radio (SDR)]], which often have a much more limited frequency range.

{|class="wikitable"
! Device
! Upconvert/transmit?
! Downconvert/receive?
! RF (real) band
! IF (converted) band
|-
| [http://www.george-smart.co.uk/wiki/FunCube_Upconverter FunCube Upconverter]
| N
| Y
| 0-64MHz
| 100-164MHz
|}

[[Category:Software-defined radio]]

Apparatus

2012-04-28T08:53:17Z

Malvineous: Add link to Transverters

For all manner of ham radio apparatus including the following:

* [[Amplifiers]]
* [[Antennas]]
* [[Antenna Tuners]]
* [[Attenuators]]
* [[Baluns]]
* [[Duplexer]]
* [[Feedlines]]
* [[Keys - Morse]]
* [[Microphones]]
* [[Radio/PC Interfaces]]
* [[Receivers]]
* [[Rotators]]
* [[Towers and Masts]]
* [[Transceivers]]
* [[Transverters]]
* [[Vintage Radio]]

== See also ==

* [[Videos]]
* [[User Groups]]
* [[Manufacturers Websites]]
* [[Reviews of ham radio gear]]
* [[Manuals]]
* [[Classifieds]]
* [[Suppliers]]

{{apparatus}}

List of SDR programs

2012-04-28T08:05:40Z

Malvineous: Add WRplus

RTL2832

2012-04-28T07:38:04Z

Malvineous: Add basic information about this device

The '''RTL2832''' is an IC produced by Realtek Corporation to demodulate DVB-T (digital TV) signals and send them to a host computer over the USB bus. It has an additional mode designed to allow reception of consumer FM radio, and this is achieved by capturing I/Q samples and forwarding them to the host computer for demodulation and playback.

This feature was discovered by a Linux kernel developer while writing a Linux driver for devices using this chip, and the discovery was quickly put to use by implementing drivers for SDR programs such as [[HDSDR]], turning these devices into cheap [[Software Defined Radio (SDR)]] receivers. As the devices have a wide tuning range (typically continuous from 64MHz to 1.7GHz) they are very flexible.

As so many devices have been produced based around this chip, it is difficult to reliably tell which devices are suitable for use with SDR. There is a community maintained list on Reddit documenting [http://www.reddit.com/r/RTLSDR/comments/s6ddo/rtlsdr_compatibility_list_v2_work_in_progress/ which devices are known to work].

== Capture bandwidth ==

The SDR mode of the chip is theoretically capable of capturing up to 3.2MHz of the RF spectrum at one time, however the largest sample rate successfully received without sample loss is 2.8MHz. This means any signal to be demodulated must fit within 2.8MHz of the RF spectrum. For comparison, a consumer FM radio signal has a bandwidth of around 120kHz, and a TV signal (with audio) is 6-8MHz.

== Frequency range ==

The '''RTL2832''' chip does not perform any RF tuning itself, so it must be paired with a suitable tuner chip to enable signal reception. At the time of writing, the available USB devices use one of the following tuner chips:

{|class="wikitable"
!rowspan=2| Tuner !!colspan=2| Advertised frequency !!colspan=2| Actual frequency
|-
! Min !! Max !! Min !! Max
|-
| Elonics E4000 || 64MHz || 1700MHz || ~30MHz || ~2100MHz
|-
| FC0012 || ? || ? || 30MHz || 945MHz
|-
| FC0013 || ? || ? || ? || ?
|-
| FC2580 || ? || ? || ? || ?
|}

As the tuner chip dictates the frequencies available for reception, the Elonics chip is typically favoured as it has the greatest frequency range.

== External links ==

* [http://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/rtl-sdr rtl-sdr] at the osmocom wiki
* [http://wiki.spench.net/wiki/USRP_Interfaces Balint Seeber's wiki] with instructions and downloadable installer for getting HDSDR working with an RTL2832 device under Windows

[[Category:Software-defined radio]]

Software Defined Radio (SDR)

2012-04-28T06:24:18Z

Malvineous: Add links to some of the new SDR pages

Related wiki pages : [[Digital Signal Processing (DSP)]], [[Transceivers]], [[Manufacturers Websites]]

A '''software-defined radio''' is one in which functions such as tuning, filtering and modulating/demodulating are performed by software rather than hardware. The ease with which this is now possible is due largely to advances in digital electronics.

An SDR is essentiall a computer attached to an RF front end that performs the usual functions of detection and transmission of radio signals. The key physical component is perhaps the analogue to digital converter that connects the front end to the computer. Processing of the digital output is carried out by a CPU. This has a number of advantages:

* The need for special purpose hardware is greatly reduced
* New functions can be added to the radio by changing or adding to the software

The cost of SDR devices is continually falling, and it has recently (as of April 2012) reached the point where price is no longer an obstacle to the beginner. While high quality SDR transceivers still cost over US$1000, a fair quality (but very usable) plug-and-play receive-only software radio can be had for as little as US$11, in the case of the [[RTL2832]].

Other than a computer, a typical software radio requires these things:

* An SDR device to convert analogue RF signals into digital data. Wikipedia has a good [[Wikipedia:List of software-defined radios|list of SDR devices]].
* A computer program to demodulate the digital data. See the [[List of SDR programs]].
* An [[Antennas|antenna]] suitable for receiving RF bands of interest
* An optional [[Wikipedia:transverter|transverter]] or downconverter to "move" a section of the RF spectrum into a range the SDR device is able to tune to, if you wish to receive transmissions outside the SDR's native tuning range

== External links ==
* [http://www.flex-radio.com/Intro.aspx?topic=intro Flex Radio]. Manufacturers of SDR for amateur use.
* [http://www.sdrforum.org/ SDR forum] Not exclusively for amateur SDR.
* [http://hpsdr.org/index.html HPSDR] High Performancs Software Defined Radio
* [http://hpsdr.org/wiki/index.php?title=HPSDRwiki:Community_Portal HPSDR wiki]
* [http://www.rfspace.com/Home.html RF Space] manufacturers of the SQR-IQ, SDR-14 and SDR-IP software defined radios.
* [[Wikipedia:Software defined radio]]
* [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/ultra-cheap-sdr Ultra-cheap SDR] mailing list - with a focus on using cheap SDR devices like the [[RTL2832]]

{{apparatus}}

List of SDR programs

2012-04-28T05:15:14Z

Malvineous: Add some SDR programs

WXtoImg

2012-04-28T05:03:20Z

Malvineous: Basic info

{{SDR App Infobox
| Cost = Basic - Free, Premium - US$68 or US$100
| Platforms = Windows, Mac, Linux
| ReceptionModes = [[WXsat]] (analogue audio)
| TransmissionModes = ''None''
| MaxBandwidth = 50kHz
| Devices = [[Mono sound card]]
| Homepage = http://www.wxtoimg.com
}}
'''WXtoImg''' is an application designed to convert the audio signal from a weather satellite into a digital picture.

HDSDR

2012-04-28T03:28:05Z

Malvineous: Basic info

{{SDR App Infobox
| Cost = Free
| Platforms = Windows
| ReceptionModes = [[AM]], [[ECSS]], [[FM]], [[SSB]], [[CW]], [[DRM]]
| TransmissionModes = [[AM]], [[FM]], [[SSB]], [[CW]]
| MaxBandwidth = 96kHz
| Devices = [[ExtIO devices]], [[Stereo sound card]], [[SDR capture file]]
| Homepage = http://www.hdsdr.de
}}
'''HDSDR''' (High Definition Software Defined Radio) is an application designed to view a chunk of the RF spectrum in real-time, and allow signals within that to be selected, demodulated and heard.

Template:SDR App Infobox

2012-04-28T02:53:00Z

Malvineous: Add Homepage and Cost field

<div style="border-left: 1em solid white; float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="infobox" style="width: 330px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%; float: none; margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align:center; font-size: 120%;">'''{{PAGENAME}}'''</div>
<div id="app-infobox-image" style="text-align:center;">[[Image:{{{Image|{{PAGENAME}}.png}}}]]<br />{{#ifexist: Image:{{{Image|{{PAGENAME}}.png}}}||''There is no image of this program in action — <span class="plainlinks">[{{fullurl:Special:Upload|wpDestFile={{{Image|{{PAGENAMEE}}.png}}}}} upload one]</span>!''<includeonly>[[Category:Need pictures]]</includeonly>}}</div>
<table>
<tr><th style="min-width: 12em;">Application type</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">[[Software Defined Radio]]</td></tr>
<tr><th>Cost</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{Cost|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Platforms</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{Platforms|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Reception modes</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{ReceptionModes|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Transmission modes</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{TransmissionModes|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Max demod bandwidth</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{MaxBandwidth|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Supported devices</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{Devices|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Homepage</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{Homepage|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
</table>
</div></div><noinclude> 
<i>This template is used to display an information box containing details about a software program for working with software-defined radio. See [[HDSDR]] for example use.</i>

Valid parameters and examples are:
{|class="wikitable"
! Parameter/example !! Purpose !! Valid values
|-
| Platforms = Windows, Mac, Linux || Which platforms this application runs on || Free text
|-
| Cost = Free || Purchase price of the program || List approximate price or '''Free''' if the program is noncommercial
|-
| ReceptionModes = <nowiki>[[AM]], [[FM]]</nowiki> || What type of transmissions can the program receive? || Any transmission mode. Try to link to existing wiki pages where possible
|-
| TransmissionModes = <nowiki>'''None'''</nowiki> || What type of modulations can be transmitted with this program? || Same list as for ReceptionModes, or '''None''' if the program is receive-only
|-
| MaxBandwidth = 96kHz || Maximum bandwidth that can be demodulated (e.g. 96kHz is not quite enough to fully demodulate a [[WBFM]] signal, so a program that can only demodulate up to 96kHz cannot be used to reliably listen to consumer FM radio) || A value or <nowiki>'''Unlimited'''</nowiki>
|-
| Devices = <nowiki>[[RTL2832]]</nowiki> || What devices can this program work with? || List of SDR devices. Some common examples: <ul><li>'''<nowiki>[[Stereo sound card]]</nowiki>''' (any radio connected to an internal or USB sound card)</li><li>'''<nowiki>[[SDR capture file]]</nowiki>''' (if the program can record data to a file on disk for later examination)</li></ul>
|-
| Homepage = ''URL'' || Address of the program's homepage || Any URL
|}
Default values are shown if the parameter is omitted, so do not use any parameters unless the value is known (most of the defaults say "unknown")
[[Category:Infoboxes]]
</noinclude><includeonly>
[[Category:Programs for working with SDR]]
</includeonly>

Template:SDR App Infobox

2012-04-28T02:39:18Z

Malvineous: Add infobox to describe an SDR application

<div style="border-left: 1em solid white; float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em;">
<div class="infobox" style="width: 330px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%; float: none; margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align:center; font-size: 120%;">'''{{PAGENAME}}'''</div>
<div id="app-infobox-image" style="text-align:center;">[[Image:{{{Image|{{PAGENAME}}.png}}}]]<br />{{#ifexist: Image:{{{Image|{{PAGENAME}}.png}}}||''There is no image of this program in action — <span class="plainlinks">[{{fullurl:Special:Upload|wpDestFile={{{Image|{{PAGENAMEE}}.png}}}}} upload one]</span>!''<includeonly>[[Category:Need pictures]]</includeonly>}}</div>
<table>
<tr><th style="min-width: 12em;">Application type</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">[[Software Defined Radio]]</td></tr>
<tr><th>Platforms</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{Platforms|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Reception modes</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{ReceptionModes|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Transmission modes</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{TransmissionModes|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Max demod bandwidth</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{MaxBandwidth|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
<tr><th>Supported devices</th><td style="vertical-align: middle;">{{{Devices|''Unknown''}}}</td></tr>
</table>
</div></div><noinclude> 
<i>This template is used to display an information box containing details about a software program for working with software-defined radio. See [[HDSDR]] for example use.</i>

Valid parameters and examples are:
{|class="wikitable"
! Parameter/example !! Purpose !! Valid values
|-
| Platforms = Windows, Mac, Linux || Which platforms this application runs on || Free text
|-
| ReceptionModes = <nowiki>[[AM]], [[FM]]</nowiki> || What type of transmissions can the program receive? || Any transmission mode. Try to link to existing wiki pages where possible
|-
| TransmissionModes = <nowiki>'''None'''</nowiki> || What type of modulations can be transmitted with this program? || Same list as for ReceptionModes, or '''None''' if the program is receive-only
|-
| MaxBandwidth = 96kHz || Maximum bandwidth that can be demodulated (e.g. 96kHz is not quite enough to fully demodulate a [[WBFM]] signal, so a program that can only demodulate up to 96kHz cannot be used to reliably listen to consumer FM radio) || A value or <nowiki>'''Unlimited'''</nowiki>
|-
| Devices = <nowiki>[[RTL2832]]</nowiki> || What devices can this program work with? || List of SDR devices. Some common examples: <ul><li>'''<nowiki>[[Stereo sound card]]</nowiki>''' (any radio connected to an internal or USB sound card)</li><li>'''<nowiki>[[SDR capture file]]</nowiki>''' (if the program can record data to a file on disk for later examination)</li></ul>
|}
Default values are shown if the parameter is omitted, so do not use any parameters unless the value is known (most of the defaults say "unknown")
[[Category:Infoboxes]]
</noinclude><includeonly>
[[Category:Programs for working with SDR]]
</includeonly>

Amateur Radio Wiki:Forum

2012-04-28T02:37:59Z

Malvineous: /* Wiki extension request */ Admin request

This is the new Amateur radio wiki forum! It's designed to be integrated within the wiki so that you can easily link to articles.

Please keep the conversation on specific topics within those pages discussion pages, by clicking on the discussion tab. For example, if you want to have a discussion about the [[Propagation]] page, you need to consult the [[Talk:Propagation]] page. (Similarly, if you want to discuss the Forum itself, use the [[Project_talk:Forum]] page :).

The old forum is still online on http://amateur-radio-wiki.net/forum.

== Wiki extension request ==

Would it be possible to get a couple of extensions installed, to provide a little more functionality? I'd like to create some information boxes to describe some software radio applications, but this isn't easily doable without [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:ParserFunctions ParserFunctions] providing basic logic (if then else, etc.) Also, I notice there are a lot of spammy accounts in [[Special:ListUsers]]. You may want to run <tt>[http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:RemoveUnusedAccounts.php maintenance/removeUnusedAccounts.php]</tt> from the MediaWiki installation directory to clear them all out. -- [[User:Malvineous|Malvineous]] 19:08, 27 April 2012 (PDT)
: One other thing. Would it be possible to add me to the administrator group? I'd like to be able to edit pages like [[MediaWiki:Common.css]] (again for infobox formatting and setting other styles.) If not that's fine, but could I then send you some code to add there? Thanks! -- [[User:Malvineous|Malvineous]] 19:37, 27 April 2012 (PDT)

== Software Radio ==

With the recent surge in interest about software radio (thanks to the cheap receivers) I'm just wondering whether this wiki would be a suitable place for SDR-related information? A lot of it would seem to be unrelated to amateur radio (like what programs to use to decode transmissions, and reception on non-ham bands) so I'm just wondering whether you would welcome this sort of information or not? -- [[User:Malvineous|Malvineous]] 22:41, 24 April 2012 (PDT)

:Definitely. SDR is very applicable to amateur radio and even if some of the software is generic, that certainly doesn't mean its not useful information to the amateur community. We have lots of generic information (eg, morse code is used more widely than just ham radio). [[User:Hardaker|Hardaker]] 06:51, 25 April 2012 (PDT)

:: Sounds great! In that case, I'll start making some 'bold' edits in the coming days :-) -- [[User:Malvineous|Malvineous]] 17:03, 26 April 2012 (PDT)

::: Fantastic! Hopefully I'll learn something at least. I keep meaning to go dabble with SDR, but haven't had the time yet. [[User:Hardaker|Hardaker]] 07:17, 27 April 2012 (PDT)

== I hope I'm doing good here! ==

I have spent a good few hours trying to improve the structure of this wiki. I have been very bold, but I felt the wiki needed some help, and I just couldn't stop. :) I hope I will not have create trouble for anyone! -- [[User:TheAnarcat|TheAnarcat]] 12:04, 3 October 2010 (CDT)

All fine

== your topic here! ==

You can add your own topics here, of course!

: And replies can be indented by adding a colon at the beginning of the line... You can sign your comment with 4 tildes (~).

Amateur Radio Wiki:Forum

2012-04-28T02:08:52Z

Malvineous: Request to install ParserFunctions extension

This is the new Amateur radio wiki forum! It's designed to be integrated within the wiki so that you can easily link to articles.

Please keep the conversation on specific topics within those pages discussion pages, by clicking on the discussion tab. For example, if you want to have a discussion about the [[Propagation]] page, you need to consult the [[Talk:Propagation]] page. (Similarly, if you want to discuss the Forum itself, use the [[Project_talk:Forum]] page :).

The old forum is still online on http://amateur-radio-wiki.net/forum.

== Wiki extension request ==

Would it be possible to get a couple of extensions installed, to provide a little more functionality? I'd like to create some information boxes to describe some software radio applications, but this isn't easily doable without [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:ParserFunctions ParserFunctions] providing basic logic (if then else, etc.) Also, I notice there are a lot of spammy accounts in [[Special:ListUsers]]. You may want to run <tt>[http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:RemoveUnusedAccounts.php maintenance/removeUnusedAccounts.php]</tt> from the MediaWiki installation directory to clear them all out. -- [[User:Malvineous|Malvineous]] 19:08, 27 April 2012 (PDT)

== Software Radio ==

With the recent surge in interest about software radio (thanks to the cheap receivers) I'm just wondering whether this wiki would be a suitable place for SDR-related information? A lot of it would seem to be unrelated to amateur radio (like what programs to use to decode transmissions, and reception on non-ham bands) so I'm just wondering whether you would welcome this sort of information or not? -- [[User:Malvineous|Malvineous]] 22:41, 24 April 2012 (PDT)

:Definitely. SDR is very applicable to amateur radio and even if some of the software is generic, that certainly doesn't mean its not useful information to the amateur community. We have lots of generic information (eg, morse code is used more widely than just ham radio). [[User:Hardaker|Hardaker]] 06:51, 25 April 2012 (PDT)

:: Sounds great! In that case, I'll start making some 'bold' edits in the coming days :-) -- [[User:Malvineous|Malvineous]] 17:03, 26 April 2012 (PDT)

::: Fantastic! Hopefully I'll learn something at least. I keep meaning to go dabble with SDR, but haven't had the time yet. [[User:Hardaker|Hardaker]] 07:17, 27 April 2012 (PDT)

== I hope I'm doing good here! ==

I have spent a good few hours trying to improve the structure of this wiki. I have been very bold, but I felt the wiki needed some help, and I just couldn't stop. :) I hope I will not have create trouble for anyone! -- [[User:TheAnarcat|TheAnarcat]] 12:04, 3 October 2010 (CDT)

All fine

== your topic here! ==

You can add your own topics here, of course!

: And replies can be indented by adding a colon at the beginning of the line... You can sign your comment with 4 tildes (~).

Amateur Radio Wiki:Forum

2012-04-27T00:03:44Z

Malvineous: /* Software Radio */ Thanks

Amateur Radio Wiki:Forum

2012-04-25T05:41:58Z

Malvineous: Is software radio relevant to this wiki?