Development · GitHub repo
nrsc5
NRSC-5 HD Radio receiver and decoder for RTL-SDR devices
nrsc5 is an open-source command-line decoder that receives digital NRSC-5 (HD Radio) signals via an RTL-SDR USB dongle or pre-recorded I/Q files. It decodes digital audio channels and extracts Advanced Application Services (AAS) broadcast data, such as station logos and weather images, completely offline.
How it works
To capture images transmitted over HD Radio:
1. Connect an RTL-SDR dongle to your computer with an antenna (even a paperclip bent into the connector).
2. Create an output folder (e.g., `mkdir paperclip_images`).
3. Run the CLI tool with the target FM frequency, stream index, and the file dumping flag:
`nrsc5 <frequency> <program_number> --dump-aas-files <destination_folder>`
Example: `nrsc5 104.9 0 --dump-aas-files paperclip_images`
What it's for
- Decode and listen to live digital HD Radio FM and AM broadcasts
- Extract transmitted broadcast files like album art and weather images using the AAS dump flag
- Record and replay raw radio I/Q sample files for analysis
- Build custom software-defined radio applications using its C or Python API
Features
- Receives live broadcast streams via RTL-SDR USB dongles or rtl_tcp network streams
- Supports both FM and AM digital NRSC-5 signals
- Extracts AAS broadcast data files (PNG, JPEG, etc.) directly to disk
- Streams decoded audio to speakers or outputs to WAV/raw files
- Reads and writes complex I/Q sample files for offline playback
- Includes C and Python APIs for custom tool development
Pricing
Open source
Details
- Type
- GitHub repo
- Category
- Development
- Topic
- Software-Defined Radio
- Open source
- Yes
- Platforms
- Command line, Linux, macOS, Windows, Code library
- For
- SDR hobbyists, radio enthusiasts, and developers working with digital radio signals
- Alternative to
- GQRX, SDR#
- Tags
- sdr, rtl sdr, hd radio, radio, cli, c
Why it was saved
- @wnyovertheair: Enables receiving digital broadcast streams offline, allowing you to capture live audio and broadcasted media files like station logos, album covers, and weather radar images.
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