Installing SDR++ for the SDRplay RSP1A and HackRF on a Raspberry Pi

This document will guide you through installing SDR applications on one of the OS platforms from this page
This installation will not work without one these basic OS installations.

RtAudio must be installed prior to this installation.
Note that SoapySDR is deprecated in current versions.

Install:

• Installing SDR++
  SDR++ is a cross-platform and open source SDR software with the aim of being bloat free and simple to use.
  • Prerequisites
    • RtAudio
      Should have been installed in the CubicSDR procedure.
    • Install:

      sudo apt install libglfw3-dev libglew-dev portaudio19-dev libzstd1 libzstd-dev libairspyhf-dev libiio-dev libad9361-dev libairspy-dev librtlsdr-dev libcodec2-dev

  • Install SDR++

    cd ~/
    git clone https://github.com/AlexandreRouma/SDRPlusPlus.git
    
    cd SDRPlusPlus
    mkdir build
    cd build
    cmake .. -DOPT_BUILD_SDRPLAY_SOURCE:BOOL=ON -DOPT_BUILD_NEW_PORTAUDIO_SINK:BOOL=ON -DOPT_BUILD_M17_DECODER:BOOL=ON
    make -j4
    sudo make install
    sudo ldconfig
    

  • To run SDR++, click the icon in the Start Menu Other group or type:

    sdrpp

  • There may be a problem where SDR++ runs with abnormally high CPU usage even without playing a radio.
    Scroll the Settings window on the left to the Debug section and expand it.
    If Framerate is less than 58-60 FPS, Video Hardware Acceleration is not working.
    For DietPi, the setting to fix this is on Installing drivers for the SDRplay RSP1A and HackRF One on 64-bit Raspberry Pi and DietPi in the GPU/RAM Memory Split and config.txt procedures.
    Raspberry Pi OS should work as is.
  • There is a problem where SDR++ crashes when starting HackRF with SoapySDR loaded.
    Additionally, your SDRplay device may not start, causing SDR++ to freeze.
    Try one of these solutions. I recommend the first solution, as it does not disable SoapySDR, which is needed for other applications.
    • Remove the SoapySDR device using the SDR++ Module manager.
      • Restart SDR++
    • Rename or delete /usr/share/sdrpp/plugins/soapy_source.so or /usr/lib/sdrpp/plugins/soapy_source.so depending on where it is in your system.
    • Instead of removing SoapySDR, which is used by other applications, you can use HackRF though SoapySDR.
  • To enable and use ALSA audio devices
    • Type Portaudio in the box at the bottom of the Module manager.
    • Click the down arrow.
    • Select new_portaudio_sink and click on the + to add it.
    • In the sinks section, under the Radio section, select New Audio.
    • Select an ALSA device. Note: [ALSA] default is Pulseaudio.
  • Add the M17 Decoder
    • Type M17 Decoder in the box at the bottom of the Module manager.
    • Click the down arrow.
    • Select m17_decoder and click on the + to add it.
  • Help resources
    • Manual
    • UI Controls
    • General overview video including how to set up multiple VFOs!
    • Multiple VFOs
      • To create an additional VFO
        Go to Module Manager.
        In the box below, type the name for the new Radio/VFO.
        In the pull-down menu, select Radio, m17_decoder, or whatever receiver you want.
        Click Plus to add the radio.
        In the VFO color section, assign a unique color for it.
        Go to sinks and select the new radio.
        Select Audio
        Select an audio sink for this radio.
        Expand the section named for the new radio and configure as needed.
        Click on the new VFO in the spectrum display to select it.
        You can create multiple instances of the sources that appears in the Module Manager.
      • To delete the additional VFO
        Find the new radio in Module Manager.
        Click Minus to delete it. Take care not to delete one of the other items by mistake.