Guide Contents
Guide Contents
Overview
SDR-Sharp for Windows
Download & Install Software
2
3
4
4
Driver Fix
SDR# FM Radio
SDR# NWR (Weather) Radio
Going forward
CubicSDR for mac os
Download & Install Software
Start the SDR Device
7
10
14
15
17
17
18
CubicSDR FM Radio
Signal Type
Center Frequency
19
19
20
CubicSDR NWR (Weather) Radio
Going forward
24
26
F.A.Q.
The SDR dongle seems to get hot!
What kind of computer do I need?
27
27
27
© Adafruit Industries
https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-started-with-rtl-sdr-and-sdr-sharp
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Overview
Software-defined radio (SDR) is a technique for turning a computer into a radio. But not just an AM/FM radio - by using
the computing power on your desktop you can listen and decode a wide variety of broadcasts. SDR can turn your
computer into a weather-band receiver, a police/fire report scanner, a music listening station, and more! Instead of
manually tuning inductors, its all done in software by chips fast enough to pick up and decode radio waves on the fly
If you've ever been curious about software defined radio (SDR), this USB stick is the easiest way possible to have fun
with a powerful, configurable receiver. Packed with the powerful RTL2832U and R820T tuner, it can tune into signals
from 24MHz to 1850MHz. That means you can use a computer (with Windows, Mac, or Linux) to tune into: FM Radio,
AM signals (but not AM radio), CW (morse code!), unencrypted radio signals (such as those used by many police and
fire departments), POCSAG pagers, and more.
In this tutorial we'll show how to get your very first listening adventure underway - listening to FM radio and decoding
the RDS/RBDS data signal that is sent along with many FM radio stations as well.
Wan't lots more info? There's hundreds of tutorials, posts and projects over at http://www.rtl-sdr.com/
Next, we'll set up the software -- if you're using windows, head to the next page --
SDR-Sharp for
Windows
(https://adafru.it/Cd6).
On mac os, jump to the page
CubicSDR for mac os
(https://adafru.it/Cd7).
To see some SDR action live, check out this episode of John Park's Workshop:
© Adafruit Industries
https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-started-with-rtl-sdr-and-sdr-sharp
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SDR-Sharp for Windows
Download & Install Software
We'll be using the awesome SDR# software for windows, which is really easy to use and very powerful as well! Visit
http://sdrsharp.com/
(https://adafru.it/dsT)
to download - we're using Rev 1243
If for some reason the site is down, we have a mirror of the install folder from 5/19/2014
(https://adafru.it/dsU)
We suggest downloading the latest version as there will be minor bug fixes, etc!
Save and uncompress the zip file
© Adafruit Industries
https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-started-with-rtl-sdr-and-sdr-sharp
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