path: root/md/writeup/rtlsdr_usage.md

title:Using RTLSDR
keywords:linux,rtlsdr,gqrx

# RTLSDR usage

## Setup rtlsdr


By rtlsdr usually call RTL2832U chip based tv-tunners which
can be used for not just receiving DVB-T frequencies but much more
and yes price is ~$10 it mean that anyone can just buy and try
without "loosing" money. None of examples below requires any modifications
or extra hardware to run.  


As of 2022 the version r820t2 that is commonly available.

### Get sources


Main development repository is on http://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/rtl-sdr
on github you can find more repos with experimental 
features (https://github.com/keenerd/rtl-sdr).

Getting sources from git:
```sh
  git clone git://git.osmocom.org/rtl-sdr.git
```
I prefer using plain binaries without any kind of installation. Just
compile and use binary without any troubles.
Build:
```bash
cmake .
make
```
All binaries is in src dir.

| Util | Desc | 
| --- | --- |
| _rtl_adsb_ | recieve plain ADSB plain packets |
| _rtl_eeprom_ | read |   
| _rtl_power_ | log power over frequency range  |
| _rtl_fm_ | demodulate signals  |
| _rtl_sdr_ | output raw rtlsdr data |  
| _rtl_tcp_ |  remote rtlsdr server |
| _rtl_test_ |  test rtlsdr |

### Drivers


Linux kernel have some drivers for rtl