# Install librtlsdr with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper Use Realtek DVB-T dongles as a cheap SDR. Version 2.0.2 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:librtlsdr ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install librtlsdr ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install rtl-sdr ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: science/rtl-sdr/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add librtlsdr ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: librtlsdr from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install librtlsdr-dev ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: librtlsdr-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install rtl-sdr ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: rtl-sdr from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#rtl-sdr ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: rtl-sdr from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S rtl-sdr ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: rtl-sdr from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install librtlsdr0 ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: librtlsdr0 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:librtlsdr - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 2.0.2 - **Source summary:** Use Realtek DVB-T dongles as a cheap SDR - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - rtl_adsb (cli) - rtl_biast (cli) - rtl_eeprom (cli) - rtl_fm (cli) - rtl_power (cli) - rtl_sdr (cli) - rtl_tcp (cli) - rtl_test (cli) - rtl_adsb (alias) - rtl_biast (alias) - rtl_eeprom (alias) - rtl_fm (alias) - rtl_power (alias) - rtl_sdr (alias) - rtl_tcp (alias) - rtl_test (alias) ## Dependencies - libusb ## Build dependencies - cmake - pkgconf ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 2.0.2 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/steve-m/librtlsdr - Upstream latest detected: v2.0.2 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## Project history and usage librtlsdr is the library and tool suite that turned inexpensive Realtek RTL2832U DVB-T USB receivers into general-purpose software-defined radio receivers. Its importance comes from making SDR experimentation cheap enough to become normal in amateur radio, security research, ADS-B tracking, and signal-analysis tutorials. ### Project history The Osmocom rtl-sdr wiki states that RTL2832U-based DVB-T dongles can be used as cheap SDR devices because the chip can transfer raw I/Q samples to the host. It credits Eric Fry with discovering that possibility and lists Steve Markgraf, Dimitri Stolnikov, and Hoernchen as developers, with contributions from Kyle Keen, Christian Vogel, and Harald Welte. The official wiki points to Osmocom source, source-release tarballs, and an official GitHub mirror with tagged releases. The GitHub repository was created in January 2013, and the signed v0.5.0 tag followed in June 2013. ### Adoption history Osmocom's wiki lists many applications and wrappers using librtlsdr directly or through GNU Radio, including gqrx, rtl_fm, rtl_adsb, dump1090, rtl_433, pyrtlsdr, python-librtlsdr, GNSS-SDR, and LTE-Cell-Scanner. That list shows how one hardware quirk became a shared base layer for many SDR applications. ### How it is used The installed tools cover testing, raw capture, TCP streaming, FM demodulation, ADS-B reception, EEPROM configuration, and bias-tee control. The library is also used through GNU Radio source blocks and language wrappers when applications need to stream samples instead of invoking command-line tools. ### Why package nerds care librtlsdr is package-nerd-famous because it converts commodity TV-tuner hardware into a science and radio tool. A small C library, libusb, udev rules, and several tiny executables made a whole class of cheap USB dongles useful beyond their advertised purpose. ### Timeline - 2013: The GitHub mirror was created in January and the signed v0.5.0 tag was made in June. - 2013: Osmocom documented source checkout, source tarballs, GNU Radio integration, and known applications around rtl-sdr. - 2023: Signed v0.6.0 and v2.0.0 tags were published in November. - 2024: Signed v2.0.2 was published in April. ### Related projects - Related projects include Osmocom, gr-osmosdr, GNU Radio, gqrx, dump1090, rtl_433, pyrtlsdr, python-librtlsdr, and Realtek RTL2832U tuner dongles. ### Sources - - - - ## Security Notes library-like package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - library-like package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** librtlsdr - **Aliases:** rtl-sdr - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - apk - librtlsdr - 2.0.2-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: librtlsdr from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Software defined radio receiver for Realtek RTL2832U | https://osmocom.org/projects/sdr/wiki/rtl-sdr - apk - librtlsdr-dev - 2.0.2-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: librtlsdr-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Software defined radio receiver for Realtek RTL2832U (development files) | https://osmocom.org/projects/sdr/wiki/rtl-sdr - apk - librtlsdr-doc - 2.0.2-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: librtlsdr-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Software defined radio receiver for Realtek RTL2832U (doc) | https://osmocom.org/projects/sdr/wiki/rtl-sdr - apk - librtlsdr-udev - 2.0.2-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: librtlsdr-udev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Software defined radio receiver for Realtek RTL2832U (udev rules) | https://osmocom.org/projects/sdr/wiki/rtl-sdr - apk - rtl-sdr - 2.0.2-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: rtl-sdr from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Software defined radio receiver for Realtek RTL2832U (tools) | https://osmocom.org/projects/sdr/wiki/rtl-sdr - MacPorts - rtl-sdr: installed executable or alias match | MacPorts ports tree: science/rtl-sdr/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Debian apt - librtlsdr-dev - 2.0.2-2+b1: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: librtlsdr-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Software defined radio receiver for Realtek RTL2832U (development) | https://osmocom.org/projects/rtl-sdr - Debian apt - librtlsdr0 - 2.0.2-2+b1: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: librtlsdr0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Software defined radio receiver for Realtek RTL2832U (library) | https://osmocom.org/projects/rtl-sdr - Debian apt - rtl-sdr - 2.0.2-2+b1: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: rtl-sdr from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Software defined radio receiver for Realtek RTL2832U (tools) | https://osmocom.org/projects/rtl-sdr - Nix - rtl-sdr: installed executable or alias match | nixpkgs package indexes: rtl-sdr from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix - Ubuntu apt - librtlsdr-dev - 2.0.1-2build1: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: librtlsdr-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Software defined radio receiver for Realtek RTL2832U (development) | https://osmocom.org/projects/rtl-sdr - Ubuntu apt - librtlsdr2 - 2.0.1-2build1: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: librtlsdr2 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Software defined radio receiver for Realtek RTL2832U (library) | https://osmocom.org/projects/rtl-sdr - Ubuntu apt - rtl-sdr - 2.0.1-2build1: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: rtl-sdr from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Software defined radio receiver for Realtek RTL2832U (tools) | https://osmocom.org/projects/rtl-sdr - dnf - rtl-sdr - 2.0.1-7.fc44: installed executable or alias match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: rtl-sdr from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | SDR utilities for Realtek RTL2832 based DVB-T dongles | http://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/rtl-sdr - dnf - rtl-sdr-devel - 2.0.1-7.fc44: installed executable or alias match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: rtl-sdr-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Development files for rtl-sdr | http://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/rtl-sdr - pacman - rtl-sdr - 1:2.0.2-1: installed executable or alias match | Arch Linux sync databases: rtl-sdr from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Driver for Realtek RTL2832U, allowing general purpose software defined radio (SDR) | https://osmocom.org/projects/rtl-sdr/wiki ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Scientific computing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/scientific-computing-tools/) - Matched scientific computing metadata. - [Documentation packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/documentation-tools/) - Matched documentation, manual, or publishing metadata. - [cmake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cmake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [dump1090-fa](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dump1090-fa/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [readsb](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/readsb/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [rtl_433](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rtl-433/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [wmbusmeters](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/wmbusmeters/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [limesuite](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/limesuite/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, radio, science, sdr, software-defined-radio. - [gnuradio](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gnuradio/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, radio, science, software-defined-radio. - [inspectrum](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/inspectrum/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, radio, science, sdr. - [luaradio](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/luaradio/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, radio, science, sdr. - [aamath](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aamath/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science. - [abpoa](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/abpoa/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science. - [abricate](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/abricate/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science. - [abyss](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/abyss/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/librtlsdr.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/librtlsdr.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph