Pi Pico SDR on a Breadboard

Creating a fully standalone Software-Defined Radio (SDR) is more accessible than you might think, especially with the guide provided by 101 Things. The project demonstrates how you can use a breadboard, a Raspberry Pi Pico, and two common chips to build a functional SDR that can handle a range of radio frequencies.

The core of the design revolves around a Tayloe demodulator, a simple and effective circuit for demodulating radio signals. The user interface is managed through an encoder and an OLED display, allowing you to easily tune the radio and monitor settings. For audio output, a pair of PC speakers can be connected to enhance the sound quality.

One impressive aspect of this project is the careful construction on the PCB breadboard, which is essential for ensuring that the device can operate at higher frequencies without interference. Despite its simplicity, the SDR can decode various signal types, including AM, FM, and Single Side Band (SSB), and it tunes up to around 30 MHz.

The software for the project is available on GitHub and is quite mature, thanks to its development over several iterations. If you’re not interested in modifying the code, precompiled firmware is available for download, making it easy to get started quickly.

This project is not just functional but also customizable, with a 3D-printed case design available to house your SDR. While the build is straightforward, you may need to order some specific components, so it’s wise to plan ahead. All in all, it’s a great weekend project for anyone interested in radio and DIY electronics.

Read more: Pi Pico SDR on a Breadboard