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gqrx-sdr

Graphical SDR receiver — waterfall, demodulators and a bookmark list

What it does

A general-purpose SDR receiver with a waterfall display, the usual analogue demodulators, recording, and a remote-control interface other software can drive.

Why you would want it

It is the receiver most people are pointed at first, it works with anything gr-osmosdr or SoapySDR reaches, and its remote-control interface lets satellite tracking software steer it for Doppler correction.

Before it will work

A supported receiver and its driver. Audio output through PulseAudio or PipeWire.

How it installs

  • apt: gqrx-sdr

Known problems

Built on GNU Radio, so it inherits GNU Radio's version sensitivity. The apt install this manifest performs is insulated from that in the steady state — the archive rebuilds gqrx-sdr against its own GNU Radio — but a partial upgrade that moves GNU Radio before the rebuilt gqrx-sdr arrives can leave it unable to start until the archive catches up. On Wayland the waterfall can be slow; AHRL's guidance to prefer X11 for ham applications applies here.

Keeping it current

  • probe: apt policy
  • strategy: apt_upgrade

Source: catalog/packages/gqrx-sdr.yaml