2020.08.26 19:00 ET - Getting started with Software Defined Radio (SDR)

Getting started with Software Defined Radio (SDR)
https://www.meetup.com/hac-dc/events/272652705/

Hosted by Tayeb Zaidi, HacDC

Wednesday, August 26, 2020
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM EDT

Details:

Software defined radio is a way of handling radio transmission that puts the decoding of the signal into software components that can be readily modified. It is widely used in hobbyist circles because a single device can be used to receive and decode signals over a very wide frequency range allowing for great diversity in uses. For example, the same SDR device can be used to listen to FM radio, receive weather satellite data, and track planes all with only modifications to the software running on the connected computer.

I've been tinkering with Software Defined Radios (SDR) for a few years now, and have learned how to do a few interesting and fun things such as listening to trunked radio, decoding a garage-door remote, and rebroadcasting FM radio (at very low power). Most of these tutorials require a physical SDR device but the open-source software used to run these (GNU Radio) provides a great training platform even if you don't have a device. For this event, we'll start with a software-only approach so anyone can be involved and try this out themselves and at the end I'll show a demo using an actual SDR device.

Expected Setup Prior to event:

• This event will be starting from scratch so no prior experience in SDR is expected.
• Try to install GNU Radio on your computer prior to the event. This will be easiest on Linux, where GNU Radio is often available in the package repositories. We'll be using GNU Radio 3.8. For Windows, try to install Ubuntu using the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). I found this link online to help with installation, though I have not tested this myself: https://www.scivision.dev/gnu-radio-companion-windows-subsystem-for-linux/

Agenda:

• Get started with GNU Radio Companion basics like the Signal Source, Throttle, and the FFT sink
• Build a simulated RF signal to carry digital information using on-off keying
• Demo FM transmit and receive on a HackRF SDR

In the future I may continue this as a series with more advanced topics, so keep an eye out for future meetups.