ESP32 Gets Working Software-Defined Radio, Including Transmit
Hackers found a debug mode in ESP32 chips that exposes raw IQ data, and one integrated transmit support with the osmosdr toolchain, Hackaday reports.
Hackers have found software-defined radio capabilities inside the ESP32 family of chips, including working transmit functionality, according to Hackaday. A debug mode in the chips gives direct access to raw IQ data from the WiFi radio, turning the microcontroller into a receive-capable SDR.
The receive side was spotted independently by two hackers, Espargos and h0m3us3r, according to the report. On the transmit side, a hacker known as marble got TX working on the ESP32 and integrated it with the standard osmosdr data flow. Two others, jochenhammes and z1000biker, had TX-capable ESP32 hacks running at the same time.
Users have already put the ESP32’s SDR abilities to work broadcasting digital TV signals, voice signals and what the report describes as FM Hell. The Hackaday podcast co-host Tom discussed the work on the show, and a commenter, douyarou, was quoted in the coverage.
A separate find in an LR2021 LoRa chip
The same report notes a find in the LR2021 LoRa chip, described as a radio with 16-bit resolution covering 150 MHz to 960 MHz. It was reported by Samson1te. The facts do not describe any software-defined radio capability in that chip.
The ESP32 results echo earlier hobbyist radio work: in the early days of the RTL-SDR project, competent receive-only SDR functionality was found in USB TV-tuner dongles, which led to a wave of radio software and projects such as tracking aircraft.
Quick answers
Can the ESP32 transmit as a software-defined radio?
Yes. According to Hackaday, a hacker known as marble got transmit functionality working on the ESP32 and integrated it with the standard osmosdr data flow, and two other hackers had TX-capable ESP32 hacks running at the same time.
How does the ESP32 expose raw radio data?
Through a debug mode in the ESP32 chip family that gives direct access to raw IQ data from the WiFi radio, as reported by Hackaday.
What did hackers find in the LR2021 LoRa chip?
A find was reported in the LR2021, a radio with 16-bit resolution covering 150 MHz to 960 MHz. The facts do not describe any SDR capability in that chip.