rtl_power
TLDR
Scan frequency range
$ rtl_power -f [88M:108M:125k] -g 50 -i 10 [output.csv]
Single measurement$ rtl_power -f [400M:410M:10k] -1 [output.csv]
Continuous scan$ rtl_power -f [118M:137M:25k] -i 60 [output.csv]
With exit time$ rtl_power -f [88M:108M:125k] -e [1h] [output.csv]
SYNOPSIS
rtl_power [options] filename
DESCRIPTION
rtl_power is a spectrum analyzer using RTL-SDR. It scans frequency ranges and outputs power levels to CSV, useful for finding active frequencies and spectrum analysis.
PARAMETERS
-f freqrange_
Frequency range (start:stop:step).-g gain
Gain (0=auto).-i interval
Integration time in seconds.-1
Single measurement.-e duration
Exit after duration.-d index
Device index.-p ppm
PPM error.
EXAMPLES
$ # FM broadcast band scan
rtl_power -f 88M:108M:125k -g 50 -i 10 fm_band.csv
# Airband scan
rtl_power -f 118M:137M:25k -i 30 airband.csv
# Single sweep
rtl_power -f 400M:500M:100k -1 sweep.csv
# Run for 1 hour
rtl_power -f 144M:148M:10k -e 1h -i 60 ham2m.csv
# Visualize with heatmap
rtl_power -f 88M:108M:125k -i 10 -e 1h output.csv
# Then use heatmap.py
rtl_power -f 88M:108M:125k -g 50 -i 10 fm_band.csv
# Airband scan
rtl_power -f 118M:137M:25k -i 30 airband.csv
# Single sweep
rtl_power -f 400M:500M:100k -1 sweep.csv
# Run for 1 hour
rtl_power -f 144M:148M:10k -e 1h -i 60 ham2m.csv
# Visualize with heatmap
rtl_power -f 88M:108M:125k -i 10 -e 1h output.csv
# Then use heatmap.py
OUTPUT FORMAT
CSV with: date, time, freqlow, freqhigh, step, samples, dB values...
CAVEATS
Requires RTL-SDR dongle. Large frequency ranges take time. Use heatmap.py for visualization.
HISTORY
rtl_power is part of rtl-sdr tools by osmocom for spectrum analysis with low-cost SDR dongles.
