SDRs and Digital Decoding

As the use of SDRs grow, so does the list of possible applications. One that comes up from time to time is whether a particular SDR can copy digital signals on HF?

Well the answer is yes, although it takes a bit of work to get it done. In most cases, you will need to set up routing your SDR's audio to the decoding program of choice. This is done using applications such as Virtual Audio Cable or VB Cable. The program must be able to accept data in this way, and not all of them do.

The list of YouTube videos (and some PDFs) below demonstrate just a small handful of SDRs and applications that decode various modes. It's hardly complete, but it does show that decoding HF digital is quite possible. Note that a YouTube video can be deleted without warning, Additions to this list are solicited.

Links to various decoding applications can be found in our HF Software Decoders and HF Digital Amateur Radio pages. In addition, links to applications such as Virtual Audio Cable can be found in our HF Appendix article. The link for the Dream software (used in DRM decoding) along with other relevant DRM links can be found in our DRM article.

AFEDRI

• Decoding Weather FAX using MultiPSK
• BPSK Decoding
• Decoding Olivia using MultiPSK
• Decoding CW using MultiPSK
• Decoding DGPS using MultiPSK
• Decoding RTTY during Contest using FLDigi
• Decoding HFDL
• Basic Decoding with MultiPSK (several modes)
• Decoding DSC using MultiPSK
• Decoding Mil-Std-188-141A using MultiPSK
• Decoding DRM using Dream
• Decoding JT-65 using JT65-HF
• Decoding PACTOR-1 using MultiPSK
• Decoding NAVTEX using MultiPSK

Airspy

• Airspy HF+ decoding FT-8 using WSJT-X
• Airspy HF+ receiving HF FAX using FLDigi

Elad FDM-S2

• Navtex decoding using FDM-S2 and MultiPSK
• Feld Hell decoding using the FDM-S2
• Elad FDM-S2 decoding DRM
• ELad FDM-S2 MultiPSK decoding Olivia
• Elad FDM-S2 decoding DGPS using MultiPSK
• Elad FDM-S2 decoding HFDL

Funcube Dongle Pro Plus

• Funcube Dongle Pro+ and RTTY Decoding Programs

Perseus

• DSC Decoding using MultiPSK
• DRM Decoding using DREAM
• Hoka Code 3-32 controls Perseus
• Digital SSTV using EasyPal

SDRPlay

Utilities

• SDRUno basics - Virtual Audio Cable
• Creating Virtual Serial Ports with com0com
• Using SDRUno noise reduction feature on HF
• SDRUno with VAC - part 1
• Virtual Audio Cable and SDRUno part 2 - using MultiPSK
• Connect the SDRPlay RSPs via TCP IP to Multipsk

Decoding

• SDRUno basics - MultiPSK
• Receiving SSTV - Slow Scan TV
• Decoding DRM using Dream Decoder
• Decoding FT8 with WSJT-X
• Decoding MIL-ALE using SDRUno and MultiPSK (PDF)
• Decoding RTTY using DM780 (Digital Master) part of Ham Radio Deluxe
• Using Ham Radio Deluxe with SDRUno

WebSDRs and Digital Decoding

If you want to use a WebSDR and a digital decoding program like MultiPSK, you will need to be able to route the audio from the web to the input of the program. Depending on what OS you are using (Mac, Linux or Windows), the solution is rather different. Take a look at this article from Ham Radio and Vision for some selected utilities, based on the operating system of your PC.

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• Return to HF Digital Decoding
• Go to HF Software Decoders
• Go to HF Digital Amateur Radio
• Return to A Few Words on Receivers
• Go to A Discussion on Decoders
• Go to the HF Appendix
• Go to the DRM article