macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install librtlsdrprovider-native install command
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Install librtlsdr with Homebrew
Use Realtek DVB-T dongles as a cheap SDR. Version 2.0.2 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Use Realtek DVB-T dongles as a cheap SDR
Project links
Commands and aliases
- rtl_adsb
- rtl_biast
- rtl_eeprom
- rtl_fm
- rtl_power
- rtl_sdr
- rtl_tcp
- rtl_test
history
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 posture
Risk level: green
library-like package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- library-like package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:library-like
Install behavior
- No Homebrew bottle metadata was recorded.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
rtl_adsb | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
rtl_biast | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
rtl_eeprom | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
rtl_fm | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
rtl_power | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
rtl_sdr | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
rtl_tcp | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
rtl_test | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-08-03
manager version2.0.2
manager updated
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:librtlsdr |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.0.2 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://osmocom.org/projects/rtl-sdr/wiki |
| Repository | https://github.com/steve-m/librtlsdr |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Service | none declared |
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation