HF waveform ID SDR decoder

HF waveform ID: what kind of HF data signal this is (an estimate; identification only).

Group: HF utility
In the mode list: Identification only, HF

What HF waveform ID is

HF military / government waveform identifier (identification only): measures the band, baud rate, tone spacing, constellation order, repetition period and pilot tones of an HF signal and ranks candidate waveforms (STANAG 4285, MIL-STD-188-110, Link 11, ALE, MFSK families, the Buzzer). Estimates only: nothing is decoded, no message content is read, no encryption is touched.

Frequencies and settings

OnAir takes any frequency you type; the numbers above are the mode's starting point and the range its table describes. In the app the shortcut label is Identification only, HF.

What OnAir shows

Limits and what it was checked with

Checked with generated signals and impairments; recordings of real signals welcome.

Which radio you need

This is a shortwave mode, so the radio has to tune HF. An SDRplay, Airspy HF+ or an RTL-SDR in direct-sampling mode do that directly; with a HackRF an HF upconverter or a direct-sampling receiver is the usual route. A long wire or loop antenna matters more than the radio.

Receiving and the law

Receiving and the law. Some HF utility traffic belongs to governments or the military. Receiving is legal in many countries, but rules differ. Check them where you live. See also Legal.

Questions about HF waveform ID

Can I decode HF waveform ID with an RTL-SDR?

An RTL-SDR can receive HF only in direct-sampling mode, which OnAir offers in its radio settings; results depend on the antenna. SDRplay and Airspy HF+ radios are better suited.

Is it legal to receive HF waveform ID?

Some HF utility traffic belongs to governments or the military. Receiving is legal in many countries, but rules differ. Check them where you live.

Can I try HF waveform ID in OnAir without a radio?

Yes. Most modes include a built-in synthetic test signal, so you can open the screen and try the controls before you own a radio.

Datawell Buoy HF Link CODAR / HF ocean radar HF ALE HF beacons PACTOR-I