This document provides an overview of RTLSDR, a low-cost software defined radio receiver that can receive radio frequency signals from frequencies like FM radio and convert them to digital signals that can be processed on a computer. It discusses the hardware component, several software programs that can be used like GNU Radio Companion and Gqrx, and examples of projects and talks involving RTLSDR.
- Linux driver developers discovered it … freq range (about 20MHz-2GHz), etc.
- typical cost $10-20
- maybe brief comparison to HackRF, FUNcube, USRP, etc.
GNU Radio (and Companion)
Good instructions for getting started with GRC can be found at http://gnuradio.org/redmine/projects/gnuradio/wiki/GNURadioCompanion and http://www.csun.edu/~skatz/katzpage/sdr_project/sdrproject.html
Multimode
Made for Windows, but OK in Linux.
See http://pastebin.com/tgYwRBQt and/or
http://rtlsdr.org/softwarelinux for build instructions.
Not just for WFM radio
other apps too (e.g. Wavesink)
DEF CON 21: Melissa Elliott https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N1C3WB8c0o (LCD, microphone, keyboard, signature pad in a checkout aisle, …) and NYC E-ZPass http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2013/09/12/e-zpasses-get-read-all-over-new-york-not-just-at-toll-booths/ (no RTLSDR, but could use one. other RFID/NFC apps?)
ToorCon 15: TPMS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKqiq2Y43Wg
Blackhat 2010: GSM cracking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hjn-BP8nro doesn't use RTL-SDR, because it's newer than that
Pros/cons: cheap/cheap, everything in software / everything in software, wide range / not 2.4GHz, etc. Con: no xmit…Pro: educational prequel to USRP
“Cheap”: {use a different one for every project, use several at once for scanning, etc.} vs. {poor default antenna, low sample rate, etc.}
Image source: http://www.pstracks.com/pauls-posts/double-edged-sword/6517/