Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] RTL2832 ($20 USB SDR) support now in gr-baz

[Balint Seeber]

Hi Patrik,

Firstly I should point out that the underlying I2C code has come from the
rtl-sdr tool: http://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/rtl-sdr

Which in turn (I believe) uses the tuner control source from the Linux
kernel RTL2832 V4L/USB DVB drivers. That source is also found at
https://github.com/mbarbon/rtl2832.git (works with 2.6) and
https://gitorious.org/rtl2832 (looks like 3.0, and potential IR support).

Unfortunately I understand the datasheets for both the demod and tuner chips
are under NDA, so we can only go on what is already out there. This is a
real shame, because I get the feeling there are some other mysteries in the
demod chip's signal chain that ought to be switched off to get the most out
of this as a cheap SDR receiver. All we can do at the moment is experiment
with the available source and see what happens...

If anyone else knows more, please spill the beans! :)

Kind regards,
Balint

PS: I'm just in the process of adding support for more tuners, e.g. FC0012.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Patrik Tast [mailto:address@hidden
> Sent: Sunday, 1 April 2012 9:19 PM
> To: Balint Seeber; address@hidden
> Subject: Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] RTL2832 ($20 USB SDR) support now in gr-
> baz
> 
> Hi Balint,
> 
> Good job!
> 
> Would it be possible to also git the I2C command document that you used to
> "tame" the RTL2832 or a link to it in the README?
> 
> Thanks,
> Patrik
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Balint Seeber" <address@hidden>
> To: <address@hidden>
> Sent: Friday, March 30, 2012 4:43
> Subject: Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] RTL2832 ($20 USB SDR) support now in gr-
> baz
> 
> 
> > Hi Rafael,
> >
> > The intention for upstream submission is certainly there, however time
> is
> > not quite... hopefully soon.
> >
> > Some blocks need optimisation, cleaning and re-styling - if anyone
> wishes
> > to
> > help by sending a patch, that would be wonderful (I just received my
> first
> > a
> > little while ago!).
> >
> > Re: getting the dongle, I happened to get lucky on eBay. I can only
> > suggest
> > to keep searching! Good luck.
> >
> > Kind regards,
> > Balint
> >
> > PS: Lots happening here: http://www.reddit.com/r/RTLSDR/
> > And
> >
> http://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/rjp8v/20_ultracheap_software
> _d
> > efined_radio_with_rtl2832/
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: address@hidden
> >> [mailto:address@hidden On Behalf
> >> Of
> >> Rafael Diniz
> >> Sent: Friday, 30 March 2012 3:43 AM
> >> To: address@hidden
> >> Subject: Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] RTL2832 ($20 USB SDR) support now in
> gr-
> >> baz
> >>
> >> Indeed, F****ng awesome!
> >> Do you plan to submit upstream your gr-baz?
> >>
> >> People, in dealextreme store the dongle is sold out.
> >> I do not want to start an off-topic trend, but could you please mail me
> >> in
> >> private where are you buying such dongle?
> >>
> >> Best regards,
> >> Rafael Diniz
> >>
> >> > Awesome! I'm still waiting on my RTL-based card to arrive via
> >> > snail-mail from an unknown factory on the other side of the world.
> >> > Will test when it arrives!
> >> >
> >> > From: address@hidden
> >> > [mailto:address@hidden
> >> > On Behalf Of Balint Seeber
> >> > Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 11:22 AM
> >> > To: address@hidden
> >> > Subject: [Discuss-gnuradio] RTL2832 ($20 USB SDR) support now in
> >> > gr-baz
> >> >
> >> > Hi folks,
> >> >
> >> > I've just added RTL2832 support to gr-baz with support for both
> tuners
> >> > (Elonics E4000 and Fitipower FC0013).
> >> >
> >> > If you're not aware, this is sold as a DVB-T USB receiver for ~$20,
> >> > which is a pretty decent price for a device that can do general
> >> > purpose SDR at
> >> > 3.2 MHz and 8-bits! The journey starts with Antti
> >> > Palosaari<http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.drivers.video-input-
> infr
> >> > astructure/44461/focus=44461> who discovered it can be put in a mode
> >> > where it streams baseband data directly over USB (for analog FM
> >> > demodulation in software). This resulted in Steve Markgraf's
> >> > rtl-sdr<http://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/rtl-sdr>
> >> > user-space capture utility over at Osmocom (see the Osmocom page to
> >> > find compatible devices).
> >> >
> >> > I've taken that source and created a fully-featured GNU Radio Source
> >> > block
> >> > 'baz.rtl_source_c'<http://wiki.spench.net/wiki/Gr-baz#rtl_source_c>
> >> > (with GRC block) that outputs complex values, and allows adjustment
> of
> >> > frequency, sample rate and LNA gain. There is also an optional
> >> > automatic tuner mode control for the E4000. If you also like using
> >> > Winrad/HDSDR/WRplus, my ExtIO
> >> > plugin<http://wiki.spench.net/wiki/USRP_Interfaces> now has support
> >> > for the device too. The Source block performs internal multi-threaded
> >> > buffering for smoother performance (this might be over-engineered,
> but
> >> it seemed to help with the ExtIO plugin).
> >> >
> >> > You can get the source code from my
> >> > SVN<http://svn.spench.net/main/gr-baz/> or
> >> > github<https://github.com/balint256/gr-baz> (though please visit the
> >> > info page<http://wiki.spench.net/wiki/Gr-baz#rtl_source_c> first for
> >> > more info/pre-reqs - e.g. libusb-1.0, etc). It's experimental, and
> not
> >> > the prettiest because I actually ported it back from the ExtIO
> plugin,
> >> > but it works for me and if you want to help test/clean it up then
> that
> >> > would be very much appreciated!
> >> >
> >> > To see it in action, have a peek here: http://youtu.be/FUQd9HOVTk8
> >> >
> >> > Balint @spenchdotnet<http://twitter.com/spenchdotnet>
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > Discuss-gnuradio mailing list
> >> > address@hidden
> >> > https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss-gnuradio
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
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