{"id":22836094,"url":"https://github.com/Guenael/rtlsdr-ft8d","last_synced_at":"2025-08-10T21:31:47.651Z","repository":{"id":41826442,"uuid":"433632950","full_name":"Guenael/rtlsdr-ft8d","owner":"Guenael","description":"FT8 decoder of RTL devices","archived":false,"fork":false,"pushed_at":"2024-02-29T01:19:19.000Z","size":486,"stargazers_count":30,"open_issues_count":2,"forks_count":10,"subscribers_count":5,"default_branch":"main","last_synced_at":"2024-02-29T02:30:15.608Z","etag":null,"topics":["beacon","c","decoder","ft8","propagation","radio","rtl","rtl-sdr","sdr"],"latest_commit_sha":null,"homepage":"","language":"C","has_issues":true,"has_wiki":null,"has_pages":null,"mirror_url":null,"source_name":null,"license":null,"status":null,"scm":"git","pull_requests_enabled":true,"icon_url":"https://github.com/Guenael.png","metadata":{"files":{"readme":"README.md","changelog":"CHANGELOG.md","contributing":null,"funding":null,"license":null,"code_of_conduct":"CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md","threat_model":null,"audit":null,"citation":null,"codeowners":null,"security":null,"support":null}},"created_at":"2021-12-01T00:38:22.000Z","updated_at":"2024-01-09T15:47:26.000Z","dependencies_parsed_at":"2022-08-11T18:40:27.427Z","dependency_job_id":null,"html_url":"https://github.com/Guenael/rtlsdr-ft8d","commit_stats":null,"previous_names":[],"tags_count":7,"template":false,"template_full_name":null,"repository_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/Guenael%2Frtlsdr-ft8d","tags_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/Guenael%2Frtlsdr-ft8d/tags","releases_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/Guenael%2Frtlsdr-ft8d/releases","manifests_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/Guenael%2Frtlsdr-ft8d/manifests","owner_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/owners/Guenael","download_url":"https://codeload.github.com/Guenael/rtlsdr-ft8d/tar.gz/refs/heads/main","host":{"name":"GitHub","url":"https://github.com","kind":"github","repositories_count":229464309,"owners_count":18077035,"icon_url":"https://github.com/github.png","version":null,"created_at":"2022-05-30T11:31:42.601Z","updated_at":"2022-07-04T15:15:14.044Z","host_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub","repositories_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories","repository_names_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repository_names","owners_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/owners"}},"keywords":["beacon","c","decoder","ft8","propagation","radio","rtl","rtl-sdr","sdr"],"created_at":"2024-12-12T23:00:55.801Z","updated_at":"2024-12-12T23:01:55.278Z","avatar_url":"https://github.com/Guenael.png","language":"C","funding_links":[],"categories":["C"],"sub_categories":[],"readme":"# rtlsdr-ft8d -- FT8 daemon for RTL receivers\n\n![rtlsdr-wsprd](art/rtlsdr-ft8d-web.jpg)\n\n![Project Status](https://img.shields.io/badge/status-OK-green)\n![Workflow Status](https://img.shields.io/github/workflow/status/Guenael/rtlsdr-ft8d/CI)\n![Last commit](https://img.shields.io/github/last-commit/Guenael/rtlsdr-ft8d)\n![Commit activity](https://img.shields.io/github/commit-activity/m/Guenael/rtlsdr-ft8d)\n\n**PROJECT STALLED -- Need help to test this project (automated reporting disabled for now)**\n\n## TL;DR\n\nThis project aim at decoding [FT8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WSJT_(amateur_radio_software)#FT8) signals using an [RTL device](https://osmocom.org/projects/rtl-sdr/wiki/Rtl-sdr), usually connected to a [Raspberry Pi](https://www.raspberrypi.org/).\nTo install and use your dongle on a Raspberry Pi with a Raspberry Pi OS, follow these steps:\n\n```bash\necho \"== Install dependencies\"\nsudo apt-get update \u0026\u0026 sudo apt-get -y install build-essential clang cmake libfftw3-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev libcurl4-gnutls-dev ntp git\n\necho \"== Install rtl-sdr library (on RPi, don't use your distro package)\"\ngit clone https://github.com/steve-m/librtlsdr\ncd rtl-sdr\nmkdir -p make\ncd make\ncmake -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX:PATH=/usr -DDETACH_KERNEL_DRIVER=ON -DINSTALL_UDEV_RULES=ON -DENABLE_ZEROCOPY=ON -Wno-dev ..\nmake\nsudo make install\ncd ../..\n\necho \"== Install rtlsdr-ft8d\"\ngit clone https://github.com/Guenael/rtlsdr-ft8d\ncd rtlsdr-ft8d\ngit submodule update --init --recursive\nmake\nsudo make install\n\necho \"== Start/test rtlsdr-ft8d\"\nrtlsdr_ft8d -f 2m -c A1XYZ -l AB12cd -g 29\n```\n\n## Overview\n\nThis non-interactive application allows automatic reporting of FT8 messages on Internet with [PSKreporter](https://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html). The initial idea was to allow a small computer like a Raspberry Pi and a RTL-SDR device to send FT8 reports for [VHF/UHF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_frequency_allocations#Very_high_frequencies_and_ultra_high_frequencies) bands. This kind of lightweight setup could run continuously without maintenance and help to get additional propagation reports. This code is just a glue between RTL libs and an FT8 open source library based on [Karlis Goba (YL3JG) work](https://github.com/kgoba/ft8_lib).\n\nThis application written in C does:\n\n- A time alignment (15 sec, required NTPd to run on the OS)\n- Start the reception using the RTL lib\n- Decimate the IQ data (2.4Msps to 3200 sps)\n- Decode FT8 signals\n- Report any spots on PSKreporter (disable for now!)\n- Repeat, again and again...\n\n\n## Installation\n\n  1. Install a Linux compatible distro on your device.\n\n     For Raspberry Pi, you can download official images [here](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/).\n\n  2. It's a good practice to update your OS. With Pi OS, run this command as usual:\n     ```bash\n     sudo apt-get update \u0026\u0026 sudo apt-get upgrade\n     ```\n\n  3. Install dependencies \u0026 useful tools (for example, [NTP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_Time_Protocol) for time synchronization). Example with a Debian based OS, like Rasbian, or Raspberry Pi OS:\n     ```bash\n     sudo apt-get update \u0026\u0026 sudo apt-get -y install build-essential clang cmake libfftw3-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev libcurl4-gnutls-dev help2man ntp git\n     ```\n\n  4. Install `rtl-sdr` library manually. **Do not use the `librtlsdr-dev` package on Raspberry PiOS**. There is a know bug with this lib and rtlsdr_wsprd will not be able to get enough samples (don't decode anything \u0026 100% CPU pattern).\n     ```bash\n     git clone https://github.com/steve-m/librtlsdr\n     cd rtl-sdr\n     mkdir -p make\n     cd make\n     cmake -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX:PATH=/usr -DDETACH_KERNEL_DRIVER=ON -Wno-dev ..\n     make\n     sudo make install\n     cd ../..\n     ```\n  Note: You may have to re-plug you dongle if it was already connected, or play with `udev` if not automatically detected.\n\n  5. Clone this repository:\n     ```bash\n     git clone https://github.com/Guenael/rtlsdr-ft8d\n     cd rtlsdr-ft8d\n     git submodule update --init --recursive\n     ```\n\n  6. Build the application:\n     ```bash\n     make\n     sudo make install\n     ```\n\n  7. Finally, start the application with the right parameters/options for you (frequency, callsign, locator etc... Fake example below):\n     ```bash\n     rtlsdr_ft8d -f 2m -c A1XYZ -l AB12cd -g 29\n     ```\n\n## Container Image\n\nAs an alternative to the above steps, a pre-built container image containing rtlsdr-ft8d is available for use with [Docker](https://www.docker.com/) or [Podman](https://podman.io/).\n\nThe RTL DVB kernel modules must first be blacklisted on the host running the container. RTL-SDR itself is not required on the host running the container. This can be permanently accomplished using the following commands:\n\n```bash\necho 'blacklist dvb_usb_rtl28xxu' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-dvb_usb_rtl28xxu.conf\nsudo modprobe -r dvb_usb_rtl28xxu\n```\n\nIf the `modprobe -r` command errors, a reboot is recommended to unload the module.\n\nYou can then start the container with the right parameters/options for you (frequency, callsign, locator etc... Fake example below):\n\n```bash\ndocker run --rm -it --pull=always --device=/dev/bus/usb ghcr.io/guenael/rtlsdr-ft8d:latest -f 2m -c A1XYZ -l AB12cd -g 29\n```\n\n\n## Tips (for your Raspberry Pi and SDR dongles)\n\n  - Use ferrite bead on the USB cable to limit the QRN\n  - Use an external clean power supply\n  - Cut off the display (could help to reduce QRN)\n    ```bash\n    /opt/vc/bin/tvservice -o\n    ```\n  - Remove unused modules (for example, /etc/modules: #snd-bcm2835)\n  - Use an enclosure, and ground it\n\n## Crystal stability\n\nMost of RTL dongles use a cheap crystal, and frequency drift can effect the decoding \u0026 performance. The use of no-name RTL dongle for VHF/UHF bands usually require crystal modification, for a better one. External clock could be also used, like GPSDO or rubidium reference clock, aligned on 28.8MHz.\n\nSome manufacturers integrate a 0.5ppm TCXO. It's the best second option, after an external clock. Based on my personal experience:\n\n- NooElec NESDR SMART : Works fine out of the box\n- RTL-SDR Blog 1PPM TCXO : Works with some drift, require additional mass, or a better enclosure\n- Other no-name like : RT820, E4000, FC0012, FC0013, can work, but require modification and usually drift a lot\n\n## Performance \u0026 hardware tests\n\nSome performance tests using:\n- Raspbian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye) for Raspberry Pi devices\n- rtlsdr-ft8d version 0.3.4\n- Build with `clang -O3 -std=gnu17`\n\n| Hardware      | Supported          | RX Load | Decode burst |\n| ------------- | ------------------ | ------- | ------------ |\n| RPi-1         | :heavy_check_mark: | 24.4%   | 650ms        |\n| RPi-2         | :heavy_check_mark: | 13.9%   | 290ms        |\n| RPi-3         | :heavy_check_mark: |  9.4%   | 210ms        |\n| RPi-4         | :heavy_check_mark: |  6.3%   | 120ms        |\n| PC (i7-5820K) | :heavy_check_mark: |  1.8%   |  18ms        |\n","project_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/projects/github.com%2FGuenael%2Frtlsdr-ft8d","html_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/projects/github.com%2FGuenael%2Frtlsdr-ft8d","lists_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/projects/github.com%2FGuenael%2Frtlsdr-ft8d/lists"}