legacycode/rtlsdr repository overview

⁠RTLSDR Docker Image

⁠Supported Tags and Architectures

This RTLSDR image supports the following tags for various platforms, such as Linux, Raspberry Pi, Pine64, etc.:

• latest⁠

This image supports the following architectures:

• amd64 - For most desktop processors
• armv7 - For 32-bit ARM images (e.g., Raspbian on Raspberry Pi 1, 2, 3, and 4)
• arm64 - For 64-bit ARM images (e.g., Armbian on Pine64, etc.)
• 386 - For legacy desktop processors

⁠Tools Included

This Docker image contains a build of RTLSDR. The following programs are included:

• rtl_adsb
• rtl_biast
• rtl_eeprom
• rtl_fm
• rtl_power
• rtl_sdr
• rtl_tcp
• rtl_test

⁠Examples

You can run any RTLSDR command on your Docker host. To run the container in interactive mode, use the following command:

docker run -it --network host --device [YOUR_DVBT_DEVICE] legacycode/rtlsdr rtl_tcp -a [YOUR_HOST_IP] -p [YOUR_HOST_PORT]

If your Docker host is running on the IP address 192.168.0.1 and you want to use TCP port 1234 with your DVB-T stick at /dev/bus/usb, use the following command:

docker run -it --network host --device /dev/bus/usb legacycode/rtlsdr rtl_tcp -a 192.168.0.1 -p 1234

To listen on all interfaces (which allows connections from other machines), you can use -a 0.0.0.0 in your command:

docker run -it --network host --device /dev/bus/usb legacycode/rtlsdr rtl_tcp -a 0.0.0.0 -p 1234

Docker Compose:

services:
  rtlsdr:
    image: legacycode/rtlsdr  # The Docker image to use
    command: rtl_tcp -a 0.0.0.0 -p 1234  # The command to run inside the container
    network_mode: host  # Use the host network
    devices:
      - /dev/bus/usb  # Mount the USB device
    restart: unless-stopped  # Restart policy

After executing this command, use SDR# (SDRSharp) to connect to your Docker RTL_TCP server at IP 192.168.0.1 (or any reachable IP) and port 1234.

⁠Troubleshooting

⁠"Kernel driver is active" Error

If you see this error when running the container:

Kernel driver is active, or device is claimed by second instance of librtlsdr.
In the first case, please either detach or blacklist the kernel module
(dvb_usb_rtl28xxu), or enable automatic detaching at compile time.

usb_claim_interface error -6
Failed to open rtlsdr device #0.

The Linux kernel automatically loads the dvb_usb_rtl28xxu driver (for DVB-T reception) when it detects your RTL-SDR device. This driver claims the USB device before librtlsdr can access it.

Solution: Blacklist the kernel driver on your host system (not inside the container).

1. Create a blacklist file:

   sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-rtlsdr.conf <<EOF
   blacklist dvb_usb_rtl28xxu
   blacklist rtl2832
   blacklist rtl2830
   EOF
   

   Copy

2. Unload the driver (or reboot):

   sudo rmmod dvb_usb_rtl28xxu
   

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3. Run the container again.

⁠Contribute

Feel free to contribute! You can find this project on GitHub⁠!

⁠License Information

This Dockerfile⁠ is provided under the MIT License⁠.

License information about RTLSDR can be found in the official repository⁠.

The Docker images are based on the Debian Docker image⁠. Refer to the official Debian Docker image⁠ page for license information.