RE: Need a starting point to learn RTL-SDR

As far as I understand, you do not need to write drivers or custom software, but you may be doing something not understood in your message. Radio Astronomy at 18-22 MHz is possible but not with any of those low cost Dongles, for 2 general reasons. The biggest is that there are none available for those frequencies; 18-22 MHz, the other is that they are noisy, with only 8bit conversion. Use the SoftRock for Astronomy (Antennas are more important). http://fivedash.com/ Radio Astronomy requires narrow band, high dynamic range, and high bit depth all of which these dongle do not provide. The same restrictions apply for the NAVSPASUR reception. After you build a very good antenna, NAVSPASUR monitoring for meteors requires a CW, 3k bandwidth, with moderately good frequency stability. Visit my web site for massive content. http://www.salsburg.com/NAVSPASUR/ From: osmocom-sdr-bounces(a)lists.osmocom.org [mailto:osmocom-sdr-bounces@lists.osmocom.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Mount Sent: Friday, August 09, 2013 9:25 AM To: osmocom-sdr(a)lists.osmocom.org Subject: Fwd: Need a starting point to learn RTL-SDR ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Andrew Mount Date: Friday, August 9, 2013 Subject: Need a starting point to learn RTL-SDR To: Andrew Back <andrew(a)carrierdetect.com>om>, "osmocom-sdr-request(a)lists.osmocom.org" <osmocom-sdr-request(a)lists.osmocom.org> Andrew, Thank you. I have two radio astronomy projects in mind. The first is a HF system that will enable me to pick or zoom into a narrow band of frequencies , say 20-22 mHZ from a larger 18 - 26 mHZ range ( currently scanned by a spectrograph) to study N type storm events from Jupiter. This will require coding on my part as I have to interface with pre-existing software in order to load data accepted by the NASA RADIO JOVE archive. The other application ( much easier) is to build an RTL based 220 mHZ range meteor scatter detection system. The meteor detection system is the current project. I have the computer, the RTL and am waiting on the antenna, ( due to arrive by 30 August). This has already been worked out software wise, it is a plug and chug type of project. The advantage is that I can be collecting meteor data by the end of the year and I will learn about RTL SDR in the process. In order to build my own custom SDR system, what is needed is knowledge of a more how to -and what is- type. I need to learn the technical language, what programs to use, how an RTL works, integration with a build ( i have access to Matlab? ) environment, how to write drivers, etc. I need to know how it works, how to speak the language and what are the prerequisite tools to get the job done. Any suggestions that would build proficiency in these areas would be invaluable for me. Thanks for responding so quickly and best wishes, Andy On Friday, August 9, 2013, Andrew Back wrote: On 9 August 2013 13:03, Andrew Mount <capeorion(a)gmail.com> wrote: RTL-SDR The top Google result looks promising: http://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-for-budget-radio-astronomy/ Regards, Andrew -- Andrew Back http://carrierdetect.com _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3211/6568 - Release Date: 08/10/13