Online SDR Receivers: Listen Around the World
Use public software-defined radio receivers to explore signals and propagation without transmitting.
What is an SDR?
A software-defined radio uses software to process radio signals. Public online receivers let you control a remote receiver through a web page or app, subject to the owner’s interface and usage limits.
Choose the right receiver
Look for a receiver with suitable frequency coverage, a useful location, a clear waterfall and an appropriate mode. Not every SDR covers 27 MHz or supports every demodulation mode.
Try listening around 27 MHz
Select a receiver that covers the 11-metre region, choose the appropriate mode and tune carefully. Allocations and uses differ by country.
Use SDR as a propagation tool
Compare what receivers in different locations hear at the same UTC time. Receiver antenna, local noise, gain and location affect what appears on screen.
Be respectful
Follow the SDR host’s terms and remember that receiving online does not grant permission to transmit.
Further reading
Always check current rules for the country and radio service you are using. A community convention or software feature is not proof that a transmission is authorised.
This guide is educational and may need updating as regulations, software and community information change. Check linked primary sources before relying on technical or regulatory details.