Installing SDR software for the SDRplay RSP1A and HackRF One on Microsoft Windows

These instructions will guide you through installng SDR software on Windows. The Pothos preconfigured SDR software package installs many packages in one installer.

Install:

• Install SDRuno
  • Go to https://www.sdrplay.com/sdruno/
  • Download and install SDRuno, which will also install the latest API/hardware driver, the latest SDRplay and Community plugins.
• SDR-Console
  • Download and install it from https://www.sdr-radio.com/download
  • Requires several versions of Visual C++ and it will install them.
• SDR# (SDRSharp)
  • Go to https://airspy.com/download/
    • Prerequisites
      • Download .NET 5 Desktop x86 Runtime
      • Download SDR# Plugin SDK for .NET 5, zero-setup Visual Studio 2019 (VC16) solution with a few plugin examples from the main software distribution
    • Download Software Defined Radio Package (SDR#)
• CubicSDR
  CubicSDR is installed in the Pothos SDR development environment, but newer versions may be available.
  • Down the latest version here: https://github.com/cjcliffe/CubicSDR-WinBuild/releases
  • Uninstall any previous versions.
  • Run the installer.
• Pothos SDR development environment
  A suite of binaries are provided as part of the PothosSDR project. It hasn't been updated on over a year.
  They can be downloaded here
  • Some of the software included:
    • Qt 5.8
    • GNU Radio v3.9.2.0, GNU Radio Companion and GrOsmoSDR
    • Soapy SDR v0.8.0
    • GQRX v2.14.4
    • CubicSDR v0.2.6a
    • Inspectrum
    • Lime Suite
    • Pothos Flow
  • Download PothosSDR-2021.07.25-vc16-x64.exe or the latest version.
  • Download Install Python 3.9.13 for amd64 here.
    Note: Python 3.9.13 is the last version of Python 3.9 that has an installer.
  • Microsoft Visual C ++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2019 (VC16) 32 bit or 64 bit?
    Check to see if you already have this version.
    • https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/the-latest-supported-visual-c-downloads-2647da03-1eea-4433-9aff-95f26a218cc0
    • https://aka.ms/vs/16/release/vc_redist.x86.exe
    • https://aka.ms/vs/16/release/vc_redist.x64.exe
• HDSDR
  • Download HDSDR here: http://www.hdsdr.de/
  • Requires ExtIO.
    • Copy the SDRplay ExtIO dll file into the HDSDR directory, and select it when opening HDSDR.
    • Download the ExtIO_HackRF.dll here: ExtIO_HackRF
    • Copy the HackRF ExtIO dll file into the HDSDR directory, and select it when opening HDSDR.
• SDRangel
  • Prerequisite
    • Visual C++ runtime as previously installed for PothosSDR should work.
  • Download the latest Windows installer from https://github.com/f4exb/sdrangel/releases.
  • Starting with version 7, if you want to use SoapySDR, it is necessary to add --soapy to the command line that starts SDRangel.
    • The command line should be similar to this:
      "C:\Program Files\SDRangel\sdrangel.exe" --soapy
    • To add --soapy to the start menu shortcut
      • Right-click on the SDRangel shortcut. From the "More" menu that appears, select "Open file location". A folder with the icons will open.
        Right-click on the SDRangel icon and select "Properties".
        Select the "Shortcut" tab.
        In the "Target" field, add --soapy to the command line to look similar to "C:\Program Files\SDRangel\sdrangel.exe" --soapy
        Click "OK".
  • When using the Remote TCP input plugin, it may connect quicker if you deselect Connection settings near the lower right corner of the Rx device window. You may have to re-enter the frequency to get it to work. Start with Gain set near the center.
• Virtual Audio Cable
  Here are brief instructions to run audio from your SDR program to WSJT-X. Other applications will be similar. I will add details when I get time.
  • Use "VB audio cable" to share audio from SDRuno to WSJT-X
    Download VB audio cable
    Install "VB audio cable"
    
    Change the output from your SDR software to "CABLE Input (VB-Audio virtual cable)"
    In WSJT-X, go to File>Settings and click the Audio tab. For Soundcard Input: select "CABLE Output (VB-Audio virtual cable)". Click OK