Docker AirSpy SpyServer

Docker container for AirSpy SpyServer, with support for linux/arm/v7 and arm64 (Pi3b and Pi4). Connect over the lan from your PC with SDRSharp or your client of choice. Unlike other versions this gives full control to the client to change channel/frequency.

Copied from Lloyd Pick's version for AMD64 without which I couldn't have built this. Thanks Lloyd! If you have an AMD64 (windows) try Lloyd's repository (The last update at time of writing was 2019)

Summary

The container provides you with the SpyServer application running on port 5555. It has been tested with an RTL-SDR Generic RTL2832U OEM device on a Raspberry Pi4 and on Pi3b.

Configuration

All configuration for this Docker container is done via environmental variables with sane defaults. To change a setting, simply set the appropriate environment variable.

Environment Variable	Default Value	Notes
BIND_PORT	5555	Port to run SpyServer on
LIST_IN_DIRECTORY	1	List Server in the AirSpy Directory, 1 for yes, 0 for no
OWNER_NAME		Name in the directory
OWNER_EMAIL		Directory contact
ANTENNA_TYPE		Random Wire/Magnetic Loop/Mini-Whip/Inverted V/etc.
ANTENNA_LOCATION		Lat/Long, eg. 48.858332, 2.294560
GENERAL_DESCRIPTION		Description for the directory
MAXIMUM_CLIENTS	1	Maximum number of clients that can connect at a time
MAXIMUM_SESSION_DURATION	0	Maximum session duration in minutes. 0 for no limit
AlLOW_CONTROL	1	Allow clients to retune and change of gain of the device
DEVICE_TYPE	Auto	Possible Values: AirspyOne, AirspyHF+, RTL-SDR, Auto (Scans for the first available device)
DEVICE_SERIAL	0	Device Serial Number as 64bit hex eg. 0xDD52D95C904534AD. A value of 0 will acquire the first available device.
FFT_FPS	15	FFT Frames Per Second
FFT_BIN_BITS	16	FFT Bins, Bins = 2^fft_bin_bits
INITIAL_FREQUENCY	7100000	Initial Center Frequency
BUFFER_SIZE_MS	50	Buffer Size (in milliseconds)
BUFFER_COUNT	10	Buffer Count

Installation

To install on your Pi:

1. If you don't already have docker, install it: https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/raspberry-pi-os/

2. From your /home/pi directory or similar run: git clone [email protected]:t288msd/docker-spyserver.git This will create a directory called docker-spyserver and install several files, (only one of which you really need, docker-compose.yml)

3. cd to the docker-spyserver directory

4. adjust the docker-compose.yml to your required settings (defaults typically work)

5. Run: docker compose up -d which will build the image and start the container

6. Check the docker compose logs and fix the errors docker logs docker-spyserver ("[R82XX] PLL not locked!" is normal and not an error)

7. Start SDRSharp or similar on your PC. Change the Source to sdr://<pi ip address>:5555 eg. sdr://192.168.1.213:5555

and if all is well you can tune it the frequency of choice!

PS. be sure to blacklist the default drivers and install rtl-sdr specific drivers using instructions here https://sdr-enthusiasts.gitbook.io/ads-b/setting-up-rtl-sdrs/blacklist-kernel-modules