RTLSDR Docker Image

Supported Tags and Architectures

This RTLSDR image supports the following tags for various platforms, such as Linux, Raspberry Pi, Pine64, etc.:

• latest

This image supports the following architectures:

• amd64 - For most desktop processors
• armv7 - For 32-bit ARM images (e.g., Raspbian on Raspberry Pi 1, 2, 3, and 4)
• arm64 - For 64-bit ARM images (e.g., Armbian on Pine64, etc.)
• 386 - For legacy desktop processors

Tools Included

This Docker image contains a build of RTLSDR. The following programs are included:

• rtl_adsb
• rtl_biast
• rtl_eeprom
• rtl_fm
• rtl_power
• rtl_sdr
• rtl_tcp
• rtl_test

Examples

You can run any RTLSDR command on your Docker host. To run the container in interactive mode, use the following command:

docker run -it --network host --device [YOUR_DVBT_DEVICE] legacycode/rtlsdr rtl_tcp -a [YOUR_HOST_IP] -p [YOUR_HOST_PORT]

If your Docker host is running on the IP address 192.168.0.1 and you want to use TCP port 1234 with your DVB-T stick at /dev/bus/usb, use the following command:

docker run -it --network host --device /dev/bus/usb legacycode/rtlsdr rtl_tcp -a 192.168.0.1 -p 1234

To listen on all interfaces (which allows connections from other machines), you can use -a 0.0.0.0 in your command:

docker run -it --network host --device /dev/bus/usb legacycode/rtlsdr rtl_tcp -a 0.0.0.0 -p 1234

Docker Compose:

services:
  rtlsdr:
    image: legacycode/rtlsdr  # The Docker image to use
    command: rtl_tcp -a 0.0.0.0 -p 1234  # The command to run inside the container
    network_mode: host  # Use the host network
    devices:
      - /dev/bus/usb  # Mount the USB device
    restart: unless-stopped  # Restart policy

After executing this command, use SDR# (SDRSharp) to connect to your Docker RTL_TCP server at IP 192.168.0.1 (or any reachable IP) and port 1234.

Troubleshooting

"Kernel driver is active" Error

If you see this error when running the container:

Kernel driver is active, or device is claimed by second instance of librtlsdr.
In the first case, please either detach or blacklist the kernel module
(dvb_usb_rtl28xxu), or enable automatic detaching at compile time.

usb_claim_interface error -6
Failed to open rtlsdr device #0.

The Linux kernel automatically loads the dvb_usb_rtl28xxu driver (for DVB-T reception) when it detects your RTL-SDR device. This driver claims the USB device before librtlsdr can access it.

Solution: Blacklist the kernel driver on your host system (not inside the container).

1. Create a blacklist file:

   sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-rtlsdr.conf <<EOF
   blacklist dvb_usb_rtl28xxu
   blacklist rtl2832
   blacklist rtl2830
   EOF

2. Unload the driver (or reboot):

   sudo rmmod dvb_usb_rtl28xxu

3. Run the container again.

Contribute

Feel free to contribute! You can find this project on GitHub!

License Information

This Dockerfile is provided under the MIT License.

License information about RTLSDR can be found in the official repository.

The Docker images are based on the Debian Docker image. Refer to the official Debian Docker image page for license information.