Pluto Transceiver Control Software Part 1

With the envisioned 902 MHz SDR transceiver transmit/receive lineup and filtering coming together, it's time to consider how to operate and control the radio. This control landscape divides into two candidate groups: GNU Radio Companion (GRC) implementations and packages developed by others (including hams).

I have experience using GRC for basic SDR functions (receive and transmit) and developed my HamChallenge "Talk via a 10 meter repeater" solution using GRC to create a local 10 meter repeater here on my desktop with a Win10 ham laptop and a Pluto SDR. This used a GRC control program and external frequency up/down mixers to move a 10 meter repeater pair up by 100 MHz into the Pluto SDR's frequency range (> 70 MHz for lower limit). GRC is a super capable (bottom's up) capability with significant fun expected to add on GPIO and TX/RX controls via an undefined at the moment physical interface...

There are numerous off the shelf receive only software packages for SDR signal reception. There are far fewer that offer both receive and transmit functionality. One of these is a ham-developed package by F1ATB called Remote SDR. His software is designed to control a remotely located SDR system (RX only or RX/TX) and uses a small processor (Orange or Raspberry Pi) connected via USB to the SDR with control via a web browser interface at the control operator's location. His website includes many examples including multiple QO-100 radio systems made by other hams utilizing his Remote SDR software. Let's try Remote SDR and see how it goes!

Below is a Pluto SDR connected to a Raspberry Pi 5 that is communicating over Ethernet to a MacBook Air running a browser controlling the Pluto remotely.

This browser page allows setting all the needed controls to operate the Pluto SDR - including configuring transmit/receive GPIO states needed to control and perform as a remote TX/RX transceiver.

I am still figuring out all the details and will certainly be making further configuration changes in the software. Have had a listen to a local UHF radio in narrow FM mode (RX works!), and changed the RX/TX band limits from EU bands to USA bands so far.

This looks like a great package to control my 902 MHz Pluto SDR transceiver. Thanks to F1ATB for developing it and sharing with the Ham Radio community!

Expecting more fun ahead (now with remote control).

Click here to go to Part 2 of this posting.

All author photos captured with an iPhone 16e.