Kaushlesh "KD9VFU" Chandel's SDRDock Is a Pocket-Sized Software-Defined Radio Powerhouse
Built around a Raspberry Pi and an Airspy HF+ SDR dongle, the SDRDock includes a custom ESP32-powered physical user interface.
Radio ham Kaushlesh "KD9VFU" Chandel is putting together a pocket-sized device designed to make it easier to play with software defined radio (SDR) on-the-go: the Raspberry Pi-powered SDRDock.
"Built on a Raspberry Pi platform, SDRDock aims to enhance the SDR experience by integrating all essential hardware components onto a single, streamlined PCB," Chandel claims of his creation. "With the convenience of 3D-printable enclosures and compatibility with various SDR dongles, this device is both accessible and versatile. What sets it apart is its tactile interface, featuring user-friendly knobs and buttons that transform complex SDR tasks into an intuitive and engaging experience."
That interface is immediately visible on the very front of the device. Where most software-defined radio work is done on a laptop or desktop with a keyboard and mouse, Chandel wanted something more streamlined — so developed what is, in effect, a custom mixing deck-style user interface based on 3D knobs and sliders. These are then mapped to actions in the SDR software running on the Raspberry Pi — meaning it's possible to hone in on an interesting signal with no keyboard or mouse in sight.
For other interactions, the build includes a 7" color touchscreen display, connected to a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B. There's a battery management board with a 1Ah lithium-ion battery, an Espressif ESP32 module to handle the hardware inputs, a heatsink and fan to keep everything cool, and an Airspy HF+ software-defined radio module — though Chandel nots others are also compatible.
The hardware is housed in a 3D-printed chassis, which is currently undergoing a redesign to allow the carry handle and stand to pull triple-duty as an antenna. The software, too, is undergoing some work, with Chandel yet decided whether to rely on mapping the physical controls to keyboard inputs or creating a plugin for the SDR software. "The selection will be based on compatibility and ease of customization with SDR software," he explains.
More information on the project is available on Chandel's Hackaday.io page; 3D-printable files for the case had not yet been released at the time of writing.