Many have tried to put together an easy package for running software defined radio packages on the Mac. Not many have succeeded the way [Elias]’ port of the gqrx SDR package has. It’s simply the easiest way to get a software defined radio up and running on the mac.
gqrx is a front end for the very popular GNU Radio software defined radio toolkit. Originally designed for the FUNcube SDR dongle, gqrx can also be made to work with one of the many, many USB TV tuners that have come out of China this past year for use as a software radio.
[Elias]’ port of gqrx isn’t the first app to put software defined radio on the Mac, but it certainly is the easiest. Simply by downloading [Elias] disk image, plugging in a TV tuner dongle, and starting the app, I was able to have a software radio receiver on my MacBook Air in less than a minute.
Everything required by GNU Radio and gqrx is already included, making this the easiest way to get SDR on a Mac. Very awesome work from [Elias], and we thank him.
Is there anything similar for windows?
Try hdsdr.de or sdrsharp.com.
The windows world is full of options. Try sdrsharp.com or hdsdr.de.
It is not, it just feels that way.
What’s the least expensive working/reliable dongle out there for this. I’d like to play with this a little bit. I have an idea for a project I’d like to make real.
I’ve had excellent luck with, as others have said, searching on ebay for “RTL2832U e4000”. the one I like (got 3 identical(? usb hw ids are all the same anyway) sticks from 3 different vendors) is black with 2 rounded corners and labeled “DVB-T-DAB-FM” – comes with a remote control and tiny antenna – packaging is white/green and labeled “mini digital tv stick”
can be had for <$20 incl shipping, I think I paid slightly more in each case just for better vendor reviews/ratings.
also, take a look at connecting to better antennas.
a right-angle male MCX to male FME is pretty useful – FME can then be connected to a lot of things, has a high duty cycle, rated for surprisingly high frequency response for such a tiny connector, very nice when you don’t want to put a giant hole in the wall to external antenna etc.
or go male MCX to whatever your chosen antenna, BNC, or PL-259 (ugh) etc.
“slim jim” style j-pole antennas are inexpensive, nicely portable and work fairly well.
a j-pole (N9TAX made in usa, ~$27) and a right-angle MCX to female BNC (free shipping from e asia, ~$3) is not a bad addition.
out of curiousity , why PL259 “Ugh” and not BNC Ugh? Pl259 really opens up your options for mounts and availability as well its about 200x easier to end a cable than goddamn BNC, -granted i havent worked with the smaller stuff but i’d imagine pl259 is substantially easier than N or MCX as well
(sorry to keep responding to self but 70cm/2m is a good choice for a j-pole. or something more generic like a discone antenna, also cheap. I’ve even had luck using the directional HD antenna on top of our house (impedance mismatch, but not a big deal since it’s not transmitting; and obviously the directional aspect is limiting.) and one of my sticks works pretty well with no antenna at all, not sure if that’s a bug or feature.)
Answer to the “what’s cheapest” question changes week by week. Over at (http://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/rtl-sdr), they link to a Reddit group that’s been keeping a list here: http://www.reddit.com/r/RTLSDR/comments/s6ddo/rtlsdr_compatibility_list_v2_work_in_progress/
Thanks cmholm. This was exactly what I was looking for. I found a $20ish version fulfilled by Amazon so it should get here in a reasonable amount of time.
-Thanks!
I understand what SDR is, but I don’t understand what the interest is? Am I missing something? Is it purely for analysing high frequency data (from satellites?)
I am right with you. I don’t understand what all the hype rises for? But the more and more projects I see about it the more I want to get into it.
I’m no amateur radio operator but here is how I see it:
It is just a cheaper way for (receiving) wideband radio. In other words, you don’t need to buy dedicated hardware. However, because decoding is performed with software you are not limited by the protocols that your hardware can decode (as in the hardware radio). Software is also easier to hack..
So yeah, basically now everyone can implement their own decoders to listen to radio communication that used to be “hidden” in the spectrum (because hardware radio decoders were either not existent or too expensive).
Muhaha…?
Play with a SDR online here:
http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901
No affiliation, but play with it for a little while and it makes the whole SDR ‘thing’ far more interesting.
Works on MacBook Pro with Mountain Lion on “Realtek RTL2832U & Elonics E4000-Based USB DVB-T Receiver” from nooelec on ebay. Listening to FM station.
Placed my order , thanks cliff