Build, Tune, Explore with Openwebrx+

Build a web-connected software-defined receiver with OpenWebRX+ software, a Raspberry Pi, and an RTL-SDR USB stick. Explore and share the radio spectrum!

Take one Raspberry Pi, an inexpensive Software-Defined Radio USB stick, and OpenWebRX+ software, and you have the makings of a powerful web-connected radio receiver. Listen to it on your mobile device, from anywhere in the world, and share your receiver online so that your friends can listen in as well. But that's not all: you can decode data transmissions of all kinds, and share that data too. Join an international community of radio enthusiasts exploring the hidden world of radio communications: aviation, ham radio, maritime, military, weather facsimile, digital modes, and more. The radio spectrum is out there for the taking—what are you waiting for?

Turn your Raspberry Pi into a powerful, browser-based radio receiver, and discover the world of software-defined radio (SDR), one signal at a time. With just a Pi, an RTL-SDR dongle, and this book, you’ll build a fully functional OpenWebRX+ web-connected radio receiver—no prior experience needed! You'll watch the airwaves spring to life with OpenWebRX+’s dynamic spectrum waterfall, a vibrant display of frequency, time, and signal strength that makes exploring the airwaves both visual and intuitive.

Designed for curious beginners and experienced radio hobbyists alike, this hands-on guide walks you through every step: setting up your Raspberry Pi, installing OpenWebRX+ connecting your SDR hardware, and configuring your receiver to explore everything from AM/FM broadcasts to shortwave and amateur radio, and data transmissions everywhere. You’ll learn about radio signals, where they lurk, the secrets they hold, and how to uncover them. The fun doesn't stop there: you can open your Open WebRX+ receiver to the world, so you and your friends can tune in on your mobile devices, from anywhere on the planet.

Are you ready to surf the airwaves? Together, let’s build something amazing!

What You Need:

You will need a copy of the free OpenWebRX+ software, and a computer to run it (we'll use a Raspberry Pi); an SD card and card writer; and SSH client software to communicate with the Pi. For the radio hardware, an inexpensive RTL-SDR dongle is a good start, though OpenWebRX+ supports other platforms. An antenna is essential: the type will depend on what you want to listen to, but an inexpensive VHF/UHF dipole kit will get you started, or even a long piece of wire.