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FOSDEM PWA

VRT IQ tools at the Dwingeloo Radio Telescope

K.3.601 | Day 2 | 15:35 - 16:20 | Speakers: Thomas Telkamp

VRT IQ tools at the Dwingeloo Radio Telescope
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Notes

Abstract

At the Dwingeloo Radio Telescope, we've developed a suite of tools that stream IQ data from SDRs using VRT (VITA 49.0 Radio Transport) over ZeroMQ to multiple clients simultaneously. This architecture enables us to run various applications—including SigMF recording, spectral analysis, pulsar dedispersion, correlation, and more—on the same data stream in real time.

Using this setup, we have successfully received signals from Voyager 1, conducted lunar radar experiments in a bi-static configuration with Astropeiler Stockert, and even achieved a Venus radar bounce.

These tools are highly generic and have found applications beyond radio astronomy. In this talk, we'll provide an overview of the design philosophy and practical usage of these tools, illustrated with examples from our work at the Dwingeloo Radio Telescope.

https://github.com/tftelkamp/vrt-iq-tools/

Speakers

Thomas Telkamp

Thomas Telkamp is an active volunteer at the historic Dwingeloo Radio Telescope in the Netherlands. There, he contributes to various radio astronomy and deep space communication projects. Recent highlights include the measurement of several Radio Recombination Lines, the reception of Voyager 1, and receiving an echo from Venus. All software developed and data collected in these projects is openly available to the public. Thomas is also co-founder of Lacuna Space, a new-space company pioneering global Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity via satellite.

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