
You will need to install GNU Radio first in order to get RTL-SDR to work. Old Method using Airprobe (Click to Expand) You should now see the GSM data scrolling along in Wireshark.You may get an error when opening Wireshark but this can be ignored. Start Wireshark by using sudo wireshark -k -Y '!icmp & gsmtap' -i lo which will automatically start wireshark in the loopback mode with the gsmtap filter activated.In the new window tune to a GSM downlink frequency which you determined while browsing in SDR# and set the gain appropriately.Run grgsm_livemon by typing grgsm_livemon at the terminal. Plug in your RTL-SDR and connect it to your VM if necessary.$ sudo pybombs recipes add gr-etcetera git+ $ sudo pybombs recipes add gr-recipes git+ $ sudo pybombs config default_prefix default_prx $ sudo pybombs prefix init /usr/local -a default_prx

Pybombs will automatically install gr-gsm, and all the required dependencies including GNU Radio.

Note that virtual box is reported not to work well with the RTL-SDR, as its USB bandwidth capabilities are poor, so VMWare player should be used. You can download the various ready to go Ubuntu VMWare images from here, and the free VMWare player from here. For this tutorial we used Ubuntu 14.04 in a VMWare session. The rest of the tutorial is performed in Linux and we assume that you have basic Linux skills in using the terminal. Note down the strongest GSM frequencies you can find. Using NFM, it will sound something like the example audio provided below.

This is a non-hopping GSM downlink signal. Open up SDRSharp, and scan around the 900 MHz (or 850 MHz) band for a signal that looks like the waterfall image below. If you have an E4000 RTL-SDR, you may also find GSM signals in the 1800 MHz band for most of the world, and 1900 MHz band for the USA. For most of the world, the primary GSM band is 900 MHz, in the USA it starts from 850 MHz. RTL-SDR Tutorial: Analyzing GSM with Airprobe/GR-GSM and Wiresharkįirst, you will need to find out at what frequencies you have GSM signals in your area.

Measuring Filter Characteristics & VSWR.Performing Replay Attacks with RTL-SDR and RpiTX.QRP (FT8, JT9, WSPR etc) Monitoring Station.Decoding 433 MHz ISM Band Weather Stations.GOES 16/17 and GK-2A Weather Satellite Tutorial.
