Software-Defined Radio 101

with RTL-SDR

Module 2: First steps

Wrap up
Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno
Module 2 summary

A quick summary of everything we have

learnt in this module 2
Hardware details of the RTL
MATLAB & simulink environments
Setup & config of the RTL drivers (!)
Starting to receive data from the air
Tracking planes (!)

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno

RTL-SDR

Belongs to 2nd SDR generation

RF IF in analog domain
IF BB in digital domain (I/Q)
BB Processing done in PC (i.e. MATLAB)
Uses the Realtek RTL2832U
Originally designed to receive DVB-T signals
Therefore, it ONLY RECEIVES
There are many signals available to receive!!

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno
 8 bit resolution in baseband (I/Q)
fs up to 2.8 MHz (even 3.2 MHz but non-lossless)
RF: from 25 MHz to 1.7 GHz (aprox.)
Two fundamental components of the RTL-
SDR:
RF Front-end (typic.: Rafael Micro R820T)
Demodulator, ADC, USB iface. Realtek RTL2832U

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno

Image credit: R. W. Stewart, K. W. Barlee, D. S. W. Atkinson, and L. H. Crockett, Software Defined Radio using MATLAB & Simulink and the RTL-SDR,
Published by Strathclyde Academic Media, 2015 (Softback ISBN 9780992978716, Hardback ISBN 9780992978723.

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno

From RF to baseband

Image credit: R. W. Stewart, K. W. Barlee, D. S. W. Atkinson, and L. H. Crockett, Software Defined Radio using MATLAB & Simulink and the RTL-SDR,
Published by Strathclyde Academic Media, 2015 (Softback ISBN 9780992978716, Hardback ISBN 9780992978723.

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno

Sampling and decimation

We can fix the rate at which we obtain the RTL-SDR

samples (output rate)
Actually, the ADC samples at 28.8 MHz and what
we adjust is the decimation factor M, to obtain
the sampling rate (2.8 MHz, 2.4 MHz, etc.)
For example: we decimate M=12, so
fs = 28.8/12 = 2.4 MHz
Nyquist Theorem fs > 2Bw

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno

MATLAB

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno

Simulink

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno
MATLAB functions for the RTL

>> y = step(h)
>> h = comm.SDRRTLReceiver
>> info(h)

Strong suggestions:
Use the help
Play with the parameters

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno
 Graphical outputs of the spectrum analyzer.

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno

 MATLAB prompt (c & p)
>> radio = comm.SDRRTLReceiver('0',...
ADS-B works at 1090
'CenterFrequency',1090e6,...
MHz
'EnableTunerAGC',false,...
'TunerGain',60,...
'SampleRate',2.4e6,...
'OutputDataType','single',...
'SamplesPerFrame',262144,... This is a built-in script
by Mathworks
'FrequencyCorrection',0)

>> ADSBExample

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno

Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno
If youre here, you know the basics of DSP,
MATLAB & Simulink, SDR, etc. You can do a lot of
things with this knowledge!

Now that we have learnt how to use the RTL, lets

get our hands dirty doing much more cool things

Lets go to Module 3
Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno
SDR101
Thanks for your attention!!!!

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Module 2: First steps MOOC: SDR 101 Prof. Juan Moreno