Update: Due to incompatibilities with these images and newer Raspberry Pi hardware, we have removed them. We will not be updating them as we need to put our limited resources into SDRconnect which runs on Raspberry Pi. We have left this page here for reference.
Please note: All of these images contain the Raspbian Operating System and SDR software. They are intended for RPi 3B, 3B+, 4B (including 8GB version) and RPi-400. Writing the image to a micro SD card will wipe the micro SD card of any other data that is on there, so we recommend you make sure you have backed up any data on your existing micro SD card or you use a new micro SD card.
This video guide shows how easy it is to download the Raspberry Pi SD=card image and get up and running: https://youtu.be/K1UPFWlfoMM
Please also note the following:
1. This software is made available purely for the convenience of users to save them from having to build the software themselves from source code.
2. All software apart from ADS-B is provided by third party developers and SDRplay can take no responsibility for any faults or bugs and is unable to provide support. For any support for these applications, we recommend that users contact the original authors.
3. Where the RSPduo is supported by applications on the V0.6 image, it can only be used in single tuner mode.
4. The current version of SDRuno cannot access a remote Raspberry Pi running the server software on these images. This will be addressed in V1.42 – meanwhile there are alternatives such as VirtualHere (our YouTube video shows this) or the older “EXTIO” version of SDRuno can be used. Windows SDR software which supports an EXTIO interface, like HDSDR, can be used as long as you download and include the SDRplay “EXTIO” plugin in the directory used by your SDR software.
5. The images have had the OS updated and have been checked to work on RPi3B, RPi4B (including 8GB version) and the RPi-400 (updated: 23rd December 2020)
6. As an alternative to creating a dedicated SD card just for use with an RSP, we have released some installer scripts which allow you to add to an existing Raspberry Pi configuration – and the SDRplay related software will be appear alongside your other applications.
These installer scripts are available from https://www.sdrplay.com/downloads/ (select your RSP and choose ARM Raspberry Pi OS – then chooses API – you can then download the API Installation & these new installer Scripts).
V0.6 Image (RSP1, RSP1A, RSP2/2pro, RSPduo - single tuner mode)
Note: During our testing using GQRX, we noticed high CPU load and some audio stuttering using RPi3B/+ with sample rates of greater than 500 kHz, so we recommend not using the RPi3 if you want to use GQRX. None of these issues were seen using the RPi4
The list of software on this image is: SoapySDR/SoapySDRPlay, SoapyRemote, Cubic SDR, GNU Radio Companion, GQRX, ADSB (Dump1090), QT-DAB receiver and the updated RSP TCP Server
List of known issues:
SoapyRemote
Will only work over LAN connections and locally. It will not work over Wide Area Networks
GQRX
Some limitations with tuner hardware control
Audio only via USB and HDMI audio
CPU load is quite high and may cause audio stuttering
Note: To use the TCP server, the ExtIO client plugin should be v1.1 and can be downloaded here
Link removed
Checksum Information
Name: SDRplay_RPi_V0.6.img.xz
Size: 2395421684 bytes (2.23 GB)
SHA-256: 991EAC953DFC454BFEF0A8BA072BF805ED962B82619752A63AE3E6BDBD095DE4
V0.7 Image (RSPdx, RSPduo - master/slave mode)
This is the first build to support the RSPdx and RSPduo in master/slave mode. The image also supports RSP1, RSP1A and RSP2/2pro
The list of software on this image is: SoapySDR/SoapySDRPlay, SoapyRemote, Cubic SDR, ADSB (Dump1090), and the updated RSP TCP Server
GQRX and QT-DAB have not been included because we were unable to get them working with the current API. Gnu Radio source blocks are not available yet for the RSPdx. We expect to put Gnu Radio back onto the image when they become available.
List of known issues:
SoapyRemote
Will only work over LAN connections and locally. It will not work over Wide Area Networks
Note: To use the TCP server, the ExtIO client plugin should be v1.2 and can be downloaded here
Link removed
Checksum Information
Name: SDRplay_RPi_V0.7.img.xz
Size: 1868253108 bytes (1.73 GB)
SHA-256: 8C10F5BEA5661B662202C0ECB16A3A0853A5FD6F1FD0DDF33B574E10606BB0F5
Headless Server V0.1 (All RSPs)
Name Description
rsp_server_16bit RSP TCP Server running in 16 bit Extended mode
rsp_server_8bit RSP TCP Server running in 8 bit Extended mode
rtl_server RSP TCP Server running in 8 bit RTL compatible mode
soapy_server SoapyRemote Server, for LAN use only
(make sure the files have no file extension and are exactly as shown in the Name column above).
Then remove the SD card and put it into the SD card slot on the RPi. Boot the RPi as normal and the selected server will start.
Note: The files are looked for in that order, and the first one found will be used (even if there are others on the card).
Note: To use the TCP server, the ExtIO client plugin should be v1.2 and can be downloaded here
Link removed
Checksum Information
Name: SDRplay_RPi_HeadlessServer_V0.1.img.xz
Size: 473429772 bytes (451 MiB)
SHA-256: 63D6C31457A68A286FDCC4263C7445C588DB7600130832EFAFD65A68B91F446F
Put the micro SD card into the Raspberry Pi micro SD card slot and boot the system. Allow the system to fully boot and on the images that boot to a desktop, you will see a menu that will allow you to run each of the applications or read further information.
Alternatively. we have released some installer scripts which allow you to add to an existing Raspberry Pi configuration – and the SDRplay related software will appear alongside your other applications. These installer scripts are available from https://www.sdrplay.com/downloads/ (select your RSP and choose ARM Raspberry Pi OS – then chooses API – you can then download the API Installation & these new installer Scripts).
IMPORTANT – PLEASE NOTE: For remote operation, all of the images have SSH enabled.
Username: pi
Password: raspberry
So that the image can be used headless straight away, a key has been added. However it is recommended that you replace the key with a new one using this process…
sudo rm /etc/ssh/ssh_host_*
sudo dpkg-reconfigure openssh-server