SDR Satellite Hub

Exploring the RF spectrum with Software Defined Radio

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Equipment Guide

Pick a goal. Build a rig.

Concrete parts lists, antennas, and front-end tips for common SDR missions. Each recipe shows cost, difficulty, and compatibility.

Browse Frequency Database
Airband / ACARS
118–137 MHz voice + ACARS data
RTL-SDR ok Discone / Airband whip
LEO Weather (APT/LRPT)
137 MHz NOAA/Meteor images
RTL-SDR ok QFH / Turnstile LNA + SAW
ADS-B / Mode-S
1090 MHz aircraft
RTL-SDR ok 1/4-wave + collinear LNA + 1090 SAW
Trunked / DMR / NXDN
700/800/900 MHz
RTL-SDR (2x better) Filters help
L-band Inmarsat
1530–1550 MHz
RTL/SDRplay ok Patch / Helix LNA + SAW
GEO HRIT images
1691–1695 MHz
Dish + LNB RSP/Airspy
Tier 1

Budget (RTL-SDR)

Great for airband, FM broadcast + RDS, AIS, APRS, ADS-B, NOAA/Meteor, trunked scanning (2x dongles).

  • Range: ~24–1766 MHz
  • Tip: add LNAs/filters for weak bands
Tier 2

Mid (Airspy/SDRplay)

Higher dynamic range & bandwidth. Ideal for HRIT IF, weak-signal work, and cleaner trunking.

  • Cleaner front end; better sensitivity
  • Pairs well with quality LNAs/filters
Tier 3

Advanced (HackRF/Pluto)

Covers higher bands / TX-capable dev boards. Use with downconverters for S/X-band experiments.

  • Great for experimentation
  • Add external filtering & LNAs

Build recipes

Airband voice + ACARS

Cost: $ Difficulty: Easy Compatibility: RTL-SDR ok

Tune 118–137 MHz; AM for voice, ACARS decoder for data.

See matching frequencies

  • Radio: RTL-SDR
  • Antenna: Airband whip / discone
  • Software: SDR++/SDR#, acarsdec
Starter kit
  • RTL-SDR USB dongle
  • Airband whip (or discone)
  • Coax + adapters (SMA ↔ BNC as needed)

NOAA/Meteor LEO (APT/LRPT)

Cost: $$ Difficulty: Intermediate Compatibility: RTL-SDR ok; Airspy/SDRplay recommended

137 MHz images from passing weather sats. Needs sky-facing omni and clean front end.

See matching frequencies

  • Radio: RTL-SDR (Airspy/SDRplay nicer)
  • Antenna: QFH / Turnstile / V-dipole
  • Extras: LNA + 137 MHz SAW near antenna
  • Software: SatDump
Starter kit
  • RTL-SDR (or Airspy/SDRplay)
  • QFH or Turnstile antenna (137 MHz)
  • Mast LNA + 137 MHz SAW filter
  • Low-loss coax + ferrites

ADS-B / Mode-S (1090)

Cost: $ Difficulty: Easy Compatibility: RTL-SDR ok

Track planes in real time; easy and rewarding.

See matching frequencies

  • Radio: RTL-SDR
  • Antenna: 1/4-wave 1090 + outdoor collinear
  • Extras: 1090 SAW + LNA
  • Software: dump1090 / readsb
Starter kit
  • RTL-SDR
  • 1/4-wave 1090 whip or collinear
  • 1090 SAW filter + LNA
  • Coax + lightning protection

Trunked radio (P25/DMR/NXDN)

Cost: $$ Difficulty: Intermediate Compatibility: 2× RTL-SDR ideal; Airspy/SDRplay great

Follow talkgroups on modern systems. Respect encryption & local laws.

See matching frequencies

  • Radio: 2× RTL-SDR (or Airspy/SDRplay)
  • Antenna: 700/800/900 MHz whip or discone
  • Software: SDRTrunk / OP25 / DSDPlus
  • Extras: Band-pass filters help a lot
Starter kit
  • 2× RTL-SDR (or Airspy/SDRplay)
  • Wideband/discone or 700/800/900 MHz whip
  • Band-pass filters for 700/800/900 MHz

Inmarsat L-band

Cost: $$ Difficulty: Intermediate Compatibility: RTL-SDR/SDRplay ok

Broadcast messages & safety channels; point a patch/helix at the GEO bird.

See matching frequencies

  • Radio: RTL-SDR / SDRplay
  • Antenna: L-band patch or helix
  • Extras: LNA + Inmarsat SAW
  • Software: SatDump
Starter kit
  • RTL-SDR / SDRplay
  • L-band patch or helix
  • LNA + SAW (Inmarsat)
  • Weatherproof mount + coax

GEO HRIT images (1691–1695)

Cost: $$$ Difficulty: Advanced Compatibility: SDRplay/Airspy recommended

High-rate weather imagery from GEO satellites. Requires dish + LNB front-end.

See matching frequencies

  • Radio: SDRplay/Airspy (clean IF)
  • Antenna: 60–90 cm dish
  • Front-end: LNB (IF 950–2150 MHz) + quality coax
  • Software: SatDump
Starter kit
  • SDRplay or Airspy
  • 60–90 cm satellite dish
  • Universal LNB (or band-specific)
  • Low-loss coax + weatherproofing

Antenna basics

  • Discone: wideband scanner antenna for VHF/UHF utility and trunked systems.
  • QFH / Turnstile: sky-facing omni for LEO satellites at 137 MHz (APT/LRPT).
  • Yagi: directional gain for satellites and weak signals.
  • Dish + LNB: required for HRIT and many microwave links; the LNB down-converts to IF.

Front-end extras

  • LNA: boosts weak signals; ideally mast-mounted near the antenna.
  • SAW/Band-pass filters: reject strong out-of-band signals (e.g., FM broadcast, cellular).
  • Downconverter: shifts S/X-band down to your SDR’s tuning range.
  • Quality coax + ferrites: reduce loss and common-mode noise.
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