Decoding software for sdr-rtl dongle.

[DeKP]

Hello all,
I am looking for software that will decode rtty and cw with a sdr-rtl (it can receive HF) dongle using the sound card and at this point have gotten no where. I use SDR# as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Keith.

 

[ka3jjz]

There is very little baudot RTTY anymore (apart from a few hams that still use it), but CW is still very prevalent. However not everyone uses the International alphabet.

However there are quite a number of things you can decode (apart from hams). Take a look at this article;

Testing Your New Setup - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

As for software, there's quite a list - many can be used by the RTL but you will need a virtual audio cable to make the audio connection between SDR# and whatever software you choose...

HF Software Decoders - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

and for Virtual Audio cables, see that section here...

HF Appendix - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Now where to find recent logs? Easy - check the Utility DXers Forum (UDXF) reflector on groups.io...joining up is easy...

UDXF groups.io Group

The Utility DXers Forum - UDXF is centered around the exchange of news and information relating to "utility" radio stations and signals, below 30 MHz. What kind of stations are covered? Actually everything in the range of 0- 30 MHz with the exception of Broacasting Stations, Pirate Stations...

groups.io

and finally...

The BIG List of RTL-SDR Supported Software

That oughta keep you busy for awhile....Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

MultiPSK can directly interface with the RTL, but you need a couple of things to make this happen. The MultiPSK groups.io reflector is a good place to find out about this...

multipsk groups.io Group

*A resource and discussion forum related to the software Multipsk by Patrick F6CTE .* *Une ressource et un forum de discussion liés au logiciel Multipsk de Patrick F6CT * t * *

groups.io

It covers a TON of modes. If you can get around the interface - which is very crowded - it's probably one of the most powerful hobby level software apps there is for decoding. Sorcerer is another one that some folks use.

However there are a lot of modes out there that software supports that are simply not used anymore. That's why you need something like the UDXF to focus on what has been heard and can be copied

Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

You use a sound card with an external radio like a desktop or a portable radio. SDRs use a virtual audio cable as mentioned above...Mike

 

[DeKP]

Thanks for the info, I've be from the audio out of SWL for years now. I've messed with VAC in the past using DSD. I guess I'll need to brush up on it. Back in the day I had a Sony ICF and some sort of box that could decode from the audio out. It worked great and I used it for years, then one day it just stopped decoding. So I'll give this a try. Thanks again!

 

[GB46]

Back in the day I had a Sony ICF and some sort of box that could decode from the audio out. It worked great and I used it for years, then one day it just stopped decoding.

I wonder if it looked like this device, which I found on Universal Radio's discontinued list:


I bought one of these in the late 80s at a ham supply store in Ballard, Seattle. It worked fine, but even then I could find relatively few baudot RTTY stations, except for frequent English broadcasts from North Korea's news agency (KCNA). It was just above the 20m. ham band.

Decoding CW was a bit dicey depending on the sender's keying skills, but there was no trouble with messages from coastal stations. One example was VAI in Vancouver (it was decommissioned years ago). I always liked the code for VAI, because its rhythm was so musical that it could easily inspire a song: di-di-di dah di-dah di-dit.