OnAirTV · Experimental
Decode MAC with an SDR
OnAir receives MAC. MAC television (D2-MAC, D-MAC): the 1980s-90s European satellite TV, FM, about 27 MHz wide (20 Msps sees most of it).
What MAC is
D2-MAC and D-MAC were analogue-digital hybrid satellite television systems of the late 1980s and 1990s, with digital sound and data.
Frequencies and where it is used
D2-MAC and D-MAC satellite TV (FM, 27 MHz; 20 Msps sees most of it).
In OnAir the tuning shortcut is D2-MAC, D-MAC satellite; you can enter any frequency your radio reaches.
What OnAir shows for MAC
Picture (4:3 / 16:9), channel name, digital sound; EuroCrypt detected, not descrambled.
This receiver is built from the published specification and checked end to end on simulated signals. It has had little or no testing on real transmissions yet, so reports and recordings on Discord are welcome.
Which radio you need
Any radio that tunes this range works. An RTL-SDR covers roughly 24 MHz to 1.7 GHz, and every other radio in the radio guide reaches it too. Antenna height and a clear view of the transmitter matter most.
Questions about MAC
Can I decode MAC with an RTL-SDR?
Usually yes for narrowband signals, as an RTL-SDR tunes roughly 24 MHz to 1.7 GHz at up to about 2.4 Msps. Wide signals such as TV channels need a faster radio, and OnAir says next to the source what the selected radio can do.
Is it legal to receive MAC?
Receiving free-to-air broadcasts is legal in most countries. OnAir cannot decode encrypted or scrambled services, and does not try to.
Can I try MAC 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.
Try it without a radio
OnAir includes built-in synthetic test signals for most modes, so you can open this screen, see the layout and try the controls before you own a radio. The Tour button walks you through the app.