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Portable SDR Kit Designed for Student Learning in Radio Operations


Authors : Iburan, Joram Rolf T.; Amistad, Vixen V.; Panganiban, B-Jay A.; Sulog, Rayyan M.; Ditucalan, Tommy A.

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 3 - March


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/2tv6tyay

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/yv4z9h4j

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26mar1880

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.


Abstract : Hands-on learning in radio communications remains limited in various engineering institutions in the Philippines due to outdated laboratory tools, bulky equipment, and the high cost of modern RF instrumentation. To address this gap, this study developed a Portable Software-Defined Radio (SDR) Kit designed to provide Electronics Engineering students with an accessible, low-cost platform for practical experimentation in radio operations. The kit integrates an SDR module, Raspberry Pi 4B, TinySA, mini oscilloscope, signal generator, Wi-Fi modem, antennas, and essential electronic components, all supported by a custom web-based application for real-time spectrum visualization, demodulation, and frequency tuning. The prototype was evaluated through technical performance tests, including software responsiveness, antenna reception capability, and signal strength precision, as well as pre- and post-assessment of student learning. Results showed that the SDR kit performed reliably in receiving and demodulating AM and FM signals, demonstrated stable single-band reception using basic antennas, and yielded signal strength readings consistent with a standard spectrum analyzer. Moreover, students exhibited improved cognitive understanding of key RF concepts, supported by positive usability and functionality ratings. The findings confirm that the portable SDR kit provides an effective, user-friendly alternative to traditional laboratory setups. Its affordability, compact design, and real-time visualization capabilities make it a practical tool for bridging theoretical instruction and real-world radio communication applications within engineering education.

Keywords : SDR, Web-Application, Radio, Spectrum, Signal, RPi, Learning.

References :

  1. R. Ramos et al., “Affordable and portable software-defined radio systems for engineering laboratory education,” Electronics, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 1–15, 2024.
  2. R. Goyal et al., “Software-defined radio as an educational platform for modulation and spectrum analysis,” Int. J. Commun. Syst., vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 1–12, 2024.
  3. ShareTechnote, “Software Defined Radio (SDR) Basics and Applications,” 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.sharetechnote.com/html/SDR_Intro.html
  4. San Diego Community College District – CITD, “Training and Workforce Development for Wireless Communication Technologies,” 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.sdccd.edu/citd/
  5. J. Bradford et al., “Enhancing communication engineering education using GNU Radio-based SDR laboratories,” IEEE Access, vol. 11, pp. 55620–55635, 2023.
  6. A. Popescu and G. Vida, “Software-defined radio platforms for real-time modulation analysis in engineering instruction,” Educ. Inf. Technol., vol. 27, no. 5, pp. 6321–6340, 2022.
  7. K. Skrimponis et al., “User acceptance evaluation of portable educational prototypes,” Comput. Educ. J., vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 45–55, 2020.
  8. M. Gabunilas, “Practical RF laboratory exposure through low-cost spectrum analysis tools,” Int. J. Eng. Pedagogy, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 77–89, 2022.
  9. J. Garcia et al., “Modernizing wireless communication laboratories through SDR integration,” in Proc. ASEE Annu. Conf., 2022, pp. 1–8.
  10. A. Freitas et al., “Performance evaluation of low-cost software-defined radios for spectrum monitoring,” IEEE Commun. Lett., vol. 25, no. 9, pp. 2871–2875, 2021.
  11. P. Inthama et al., “Effects of hands-on SDR-based learning on student performance in communication systems,” IEEE Trans. Educ., vol. 67, no. 2, pp. 145–153, 2024.

Hands-on learning in radio communications remains limited in various engineering institutions in the Philippines due to outdated laboratory tools, bulky equipment, and the high cost of modern RF instrumentation. To address this gap, this study developed a Portable Software-Defined Radio (SDR) Kit designed to provide Electronics Engineering students with an accessible, low-cost platform for practical experimentation in radio operations. The kit integrates an SDR module, Raspberry Pi 4B, TinySA, mini oscilloscope, signal generator, Wi-Fi modem, antennas, and essential electronic components, all supported by a custom web-based application for real-time spectrum visualization, demodulation, and frequency tuning. The prototype was evaluated through technical performance tests, including software responsiveness, antenna reception capability, and signal strength precision, as well as pre- and post-assessment of student learning. Results showed that the SDR kit performed reliably in receiving and demodulating AM and FM signals, demonstrated stable single-band reception using basic antennas, and yielded signal strength readings consistent with a standard spectrum analyzer. Moreover, students exhibited improved cognitive understanding of key RF concepts, supported by positive usability and functionality ratings. The findings confirm that the portable SDR kit provides an effective, user-friendly alternative to traditional laboratory setups. Its affordability, compact design, and real-time visualization capabilities make it a practical tool for bridging theoretical instruction and real-world radio communication applications within engineering education.

Keywords : SDR, Web-Application, Radio, Spectrum, Signal, RPi, Learning.

Paper Submission Last Date
30 - April - 2026

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