RTL-SDR Radio

Disclaimer

  • Please do not transmit anything on a frequency you are unlicensed or unauthorized to transmit on. I am not responsible for your actions.

Find Frequencies

Install Dependencies

  • I am using an RTL-SDR V3

  • sudo apt-get install gqrx-sdr rtl-sdr

FM Radio

  • Tune to your correct frequency

rtl_fm -f 101.1M -M wbfm -s 200k -r 48000 - | aplay -r 48000 -f S16_LE
  • -f 101.1M: Set the frequency to 101.1 MHz.

  • -M wbfm: Set the mode to wideband FM.

  • -s 200k: Set the sample rate to 200 kHz.

  • -r 48000: Resample to 48 kHz, which is standard for audio playback.

  • aplay -r 48000 -f S16_LE: Play the audio using the ALSA player (aplay).

FM Radio Wrapper Script

#!/bin/bash

# Check if the correct number of arguments is provided
if [ "$#" -ne 1 ]; then
    echo "Usage: $0 <frequency>"
    echo "Example: $0 101.1M"
    exit 1
fi

frequency=$1

# Run rtl_fm with the specified frequency
rtl_fm -f "$frequency" -M wbfm -s 200k -r 48000 - | aplay -r 48000 -f S16_LE
  • Example usage, this is the frequency for NOAA in Baltimore, MD

./fmradio.sh 162.40M
Found 1 device(s):
  0:  Realtek, RTL2838UHIDIR, SN: 00000001

Using device 0: Generic RTL2832U OEM
Found Rafael Micro R820T tuner
Tuner gain set to automatic.
Tuned to 162716000 Hz.
Oversampling input by: 6x.
Oversampling output by: 1x.
Buffer size: 6.83ms
Allocating 15 zero-copy buffers
Sampling at 1200000 S/s.
Output at 200000 Hz.
Playing raw data 'stdin' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 48000 Hz, Mono
underrun!!! (at least 327.957 ms long)

Fun Frequencies

  • Baltimore City Fire Dispatch

./fmradio.sh 46.460M
  • NOAA Baltimore

./fmradio.sh 162.40M
  • The Fan Baltimore Sports Radio

./fmradio.sh 105.7M
  • Classical!

./fmradio.sh 91.5M

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