OnAirNetwork radios: rtl_tcp, SpyServer, SoapyRemote and more
Add a radio from the source list with Add network radio.
Adding one#
Pick Add network radio... in the source list, choose the type, type its address and press Connect. OnAir tries the connection for a few seconds and says why when it gets no answer. The radios you add are remembered and listed with the others (remove them in the same window).
| Type | Address | Port |
|---|---|---|
| PlutoSDR by IP | 192.168.2.1 (its USB network), or its address on your network | libiio's default |
rtl_tcp (an RTL-SDR shared by rtl_tcp -a 0.0.0.0) | the computer running rtl_tcp | 1234 |
SoapyRemote (any SoapySDR radio shared by SoapySDRServer --bind) | the computer running the server | 55132 |
| SpyServer (Airspy's server, as SDR# and SDR++ use it) | the computer running SpyServer | 5555 |
| Hermes Lite 2 | found by itself on your networks, or type its address | 1024 |
| Red Pitaya (SDR transceiver app, HPSDR protocol 1) | found by itself, or type its address | 1024 |
Notes per type#
- rtl_tcp carries 8-bit samples at up to about 2.5 Msps. When the connection drops OnAir connects again and counts the missed samples. With Auto server radio, rates above 2.56 Msps are allowed.
- SoapyRemote needs a build with SoapySDR and the SoapyRemote module on both computers. OnAir asks the server which radios it has and lists each one (sound cards are hidden). If it picks the wrong one or lists none, type the radio's driver (for example
mirisdr) in Remote driver. A slow server gets a 5 s network timeout. - SpyServer is spoken from the public protocol description (2.0.1700): OnAir asks for the full IQ stream (8-bit or 16-bit), takes the sample-rate list from the server's decimation stages, and controls frequency and gain. Do not confuse its port 5555 with the SoapyRemote port 55132. It has only been tested against a fake server written from that description, not a real SpyServer; tell us if yours misbehaves.
- Hermes Lite 2 receives up to 38.4 MHz at 48 to 384 ksps, so only HF and narrow modes fit; the N2ADR filter board's band filters are switched with the frequency.
- Red Pitaya (new in 0.2.6) is the same openHPSDR protocol 1 client for Pavel Demin's HPSDR-compatible SDR transceiver: one receiver at 48 to 384 ksps, tuning up to 61.44 MHz, no gain control. Written from that project's server source and tested only against a fake server, not a real board.
- PlutoSDR by IP on a real network is offered its full sample rate; what arrives depends on the network.
When a network radio drops, OnAir reconnects by itself and the status bar shows how many samples were lost. Servers are reached on the address you type; nothing is opened to the network by default.
Share my radio (0.2.6)#
View > Data feeds > Share my radio makes OnAir an rtl_tcp server for the radio it is running, so a second OnAir (Add network radio, rtl_tcp), SDR# or SDR++ can listen to the same signal. It sends 8-bit IQ at the rate the radio runs at. Only this computer can connect until you tick Let other computers connect (LAN), and clients can only change the frequency and gain when Allow remote control is ticked. The connected clients are listed.
Data feeds out#
All off until you turn one on: ADS-B SBS-1 and Beast (TCP), AIS NMEA (UDP), APRS-IS and KISS (TCP), ACARS and VDL2 JSON (UDP), GNSS NMEA (UDP), Bluetooth LE advertisement JSON (UDP) and LoRa / LoRaWAN / Meshtastic JSON (UDP). The TCP servers stay on this computer unless Let other computers connect (LAN) is ticked.