Gqrx

Gqrx

Gqrx is a free and open source software defined radio receiver (SDR). It operates as a frontend using the hardware of an SDR to convert radio signals into a stream of digital data for processing by a computer.
Gqrx image
sdr software-defined-radio radio-receiver

Gqrx: Free and Open Source Software Defined Radio Receiver

Gqrx is a free and open source software defined radio receiver (SDR). It operates as a frontend using the hardware of an SDR to convert radio signals into a stream of digital data for processing by a computer.

What is Gqrx?

Gqrx is an open source software defined radio (SDR) receiver designed to operate with hardware SDRs like the RTL-SDR. As an SDR, Gqrx takes advantage of the computing power of modern PCs to process received radio signals that have been converted to a digital data stream by the SDR hardware.

Key features of Gqrx include:

  • Operates as a frontend for hardware SDRs like the RTL-SDR and Airspy
  • Supports demodulation of a variety of analog and digital radio signals such as AM, NBFM, WBFM, USB, LSB, and more
  • Displays FFT and waterfall displays for visualized signal analysis
  • Records baseband I/Q data to file for later playback and analysis
  • Open source software released under GPLv3, available for Linux, MacOS and Windows

Overall, Gqrx provides a powerful SDR interface that enables even hobbyists to leverage affordable SDR hardware to receive and process radio signals over a wide frequency range. Its open source model has enabled Gqrx to benefit from an active community supporting new features and updates as software defined radio technology continues advancing.

Gqrx Features

Features

  1. Software defined radio receiver
  2. Supports many common hardware SDRs
  3. Built on GNU Radio and the Qt GUI toolkit
  4. Works on Linux, Mac, and Windows
  5. Demodulates AM, FM, SSB, and digital modes
  6. Displays FFT and waterfall for signals
  7. Records IQ data to file
  8. Remote control through TCP and UDP

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Easy to use graphical interface

Supports many hardware SDRs

Cross-platform compatibility

Active development community

Cons

Limited built-in digital signal processing

Requires external SDR hardware

Some stability issues

Steep learning curve for advanced features


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