Best application for the SDR-IQ on a MacBook Air?

I’m plotting travels soon and plan to take my RF Space SDR-IQ along for the ride.

I’ve noted a number of excellent open source applications that work with the SDR-IQ, but many of them don’t work on the Mac OS X operating system. Those that do work on Mac OS X seem to lack the ability to make spectrum and audio (AF) recordings.

I had considered installing Windows 7 on my MacBook Air (as a dual boot) and running an app like SDR#, but I simply don’t have the storage space to effectively house two operating systems on the Air’s solid state drive.

I’m curious if anyone has an SDR application recommendation. Please comment if you do!

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10 thoughts on “Best application for the SDR-IQ on a MacBook Air?”

Chad Greene October 24, 2014 at 2:57 pm

Recent GPRX can be installed with MacPorts. I use this install and it allows recording spectrum segments.
The big hurdle is getting macports installed once its installed the rest is very easy.

https://www.macports.org/install.php

then its just a matter of having an active internet connection and a simple command.

sudo port install gqrx or sudo port install gqrx-devel

Let it run and when its done you will have a very handy SRD front end with gnuradio backend.

https://www.macports.org/ports.php?by=name&substr=gqrx

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Greg Shoom August 13, 2014 at 11:30 pm

Another option, if you want to use Windows software, is to install a virtual machine tool on the Mac and run Windows 7 inside that. It should require less space than dual-booting would. I don’t know any of the Mac software for this, but I did something like that on my Windows 7 computer where I run VirtualBox to host a Linux virtual machine.

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John Teggatz August 12, 2014 at 10:43 am

SdrRx is superb: http://fyngyrz.com/?p=915

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Thomas Post authorAugust 12, 2014 at 12:03 pm

Hi, John,

I successfully installed SdrRX, but finding that it hangs up after a couple minutes of use. Hmmmm… Will keep trying different configurations.

-Thomas

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1. John Teggatz August 12, 2014 at 12:47 pm
  
  I know SdrRx is very picky about having the USB drivers set up, and the PDF guide is in error. The corrected instructions on the “New Installs” page of the online documentation – involving working in “Terminal” – must be followed *exactly.* http://fyngyrz.com/sdrdxdoc/newinstalls.html Good luck!
  
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Matthew Williams August 12, 2014 at 8:49 am

You’re in luck! It’s supported!

http://gqrx.dk/supported-hardware

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Thomas Post authorAugust 12, 2014 at 12:01 pm

Hi, Matthew,

Thanks for the recommendation! I’m trying to find the install files and documentation for GQRX, but having a difficult time locating them. Do you know the procedure to install? Does it require using the command line?

Cheers,
Thomas

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1. Paul VA3PAW August 12, 2014 at 2:31 pm
  
  I managed to install it on my MacAir a few months ago. I can’t remember the exact process but it was based mainly on this article: http://penturalabs.wordpress.com/2013/09/14/gnuradio-osx-installation-guide/
  
  It wasn’t straight forward due to Apple removing support for X and yes, it uses command line alot. I wish I documented the steps.
  
  GL & 73!
  
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2. AZ SW DXing August 12, 2014 at 4:24 pm
  
  I’m using the version 2.2.0 binary provided at the Gqrx sourceforge page:
  
  http://sourceforge.net/projects/gqrx/files/2.2.0/
  
  I can’t verify that this works with your SDR, but the binary inside the .dmg package was “plug and play” on my MacBook Air running OSX 10.9.3 with a RTL2832U/R820T-based USB dongle. However, I can’t guarantee that I didn’t have something else already installed that is required.
  
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