Wow.
What fun!
After successfully getting my USB SDR to work on rtl_power I have some information to share. To my surprise, it took very little time.
Here’s the first example I’ve created using the rtl_power software combined with the Python heatmap.py script.
In continuation to my USB SDR post, installing GNU Radio was my first priority. GNU Radio (which I’m still very far from knowledgeable about) appears to allow my computer to recognize the USB SDR and grant me access to it. It can do much, much more, but that’s the extent of my knowledge so far.
sudo apt-get install gnuradioThis takes a while. Go get a cup of coffee.
Continue reading Installing GNU Radio & rtl_power on Ubuntu 14 LTS
It’s odd that I’m more excited about a sub-$20 USB Software Defined Radio (SDR) dongle than some of my more advanced (and pricey) radios. Ham radio and ‘home brew’ are synonymous. The idea of taking a pinch of hardware and applying a heaping portion of software to it gets me all worked up. I’ve decided to make this my ham radio goal for 2015.
Having never installed Linux next to Windows 8, I thought this would be a train wreck. I was pleasantly surprised to find it worked on the first try.
This guide written by Gary Newell gives you just about everything you would need. Gary’s Guide Here
In July of 2014 I was invited by Mike, KI6OID, of the Red Cross here in the Bay Area, to help with a unique HF (low frequency) antenna build. He and I have a mutual friend, Suresh (W6KTM), who started a non-profit organization in 2007 to create what’s called Radio Mala. Their goal is to implement technological leaps in communication in India to help protect and provide relief to its population in the event of natural disasters, which the area is very prone to on what seems to be a regular basis.
