RTLSDR-Airband

RTLSDR-Airband

Docker app from grtgbln's Repository

Overview

This container runs an Icecast audio server that RTLSDR-Airband can connect to so that you can use an RTLSDR dongle to listen to Air Traffic Control VHF radio communications, as well as some additional kinds of NFM modulated transmissions (see NFM) via a web browser or audio playback program.

Runtime arguments

Network
bridge
Privileged
false
Extra Params
--device=/dev/bus/usb

Template configuration

API PortPorttcp

Container Port: 8000

Target
8000
Default
8000
Value
8000
RTLSDR - DongleDevicero

USB device to use for the RTLSDR

Target
/dev/bus/usb
Default
/dev/bus/usb
Value
/dev/bus/usb
RTLSDR - GainVariable

Gain to use for the RTLSDR

Target
RTLSDRAIRBAND_GAIN
Default
25
Value
25
RTLSDR - CorrectionVariable

Use this if your dongle has a non-zero frequency tuning error, which requires correcting. Put correction value in ppm here. If the dongle tunes too high, this value shall be positive, negative otherwise.

Target
RTLSDRAIRBAND_CORRECTION
Default
0
Value
0
RTLSDR - SerialVariable

Used to have rtlsdr-airband use the correct dongle if more than one present. Enter the serial of the dongle to be used. Leave empty otherwise.

Target
RTLSDRAIRBAND_SERIAL
RTLSDR - ModeVariable

If you are tuning a single frequency, set multichannel. If you are tuning more than one, set as scan

Target
RTLSDRAIRBAND_MODE
Default
multichannel|scan
RTLSDR - FrequencyVariable

If you are setting multichannel for your mode, enter a single frequency. If you are setting mode as scan, enter a comma separated list of frequencies you want to scan.

Target
RTLSDRAIRBAND_FREQS
RTLSDR - Stream NameVariable

Name of the stream

Target
RTLSDRAIRBAND_NAME
Default
Tower
Value
Tower
RTLSDR - Stream GenreVariable

Genre of the stream

Target
RTLSDRAIRBAND_GENRE
Default
ATC
Value
ATC
RTLSDR - Stream DescriptionVariable

Description of the stream

Target
RTLSDRAIRBAND_DESCRIPTION
Default
Air traffic feed
Value
Air traffic feed
RTLSDR - Show MetadataVariable

If not set, the Icecast server will receive updated metadata (either frequency or a specific label) of the frequency that is being received, and will show in playback clients. It might be advantageous to disable this because updated metadata will clutter up the Icecast server logs. To disable, set to any value. Not applicable to multichannel mode.

Target
RTLSDRAIRBAND_SHOWMETADATA
RTLSDR - LabelsVariable

If Show Metadata is set to true, you can set this variable to a comma separated list of labels associated with the frequencies you are listening to. If set, the metadata on the icecast server will be updated to show the label associated with the frequency that is currently being received. If not set, the Icecast metadata will be updated with the frequency.

Target
RTLSDRAIRBAND_LABELS
RTLSDR - Mount PointVariable

The custom part of the stream URL. Streams will be accessible at serverip:PORT/MOUNTPOINT

Target
RTLSDRAIRBAND_MOUNTPOINT
Default
GND.mp3
Value
GND.mp3
Prometheus - EnableVariable

Set to any value to enable rtlsdr-airband generation of Prometheus formatted channel usage statistics

Target
ENABLE_PROMETHEUS
Prometheus - PortVariable

Port for the Prometheus server to listen on

Target
PROMETHEUS_PORT
Default
8001
Value
8001
Icecast - DisableVariable

Set to any value to disable Icecast functionality

Target
ICECAST_DISABLE
Icecast - HostnameVariable

Icecast hostname

Target
ICECAST_HOSTNAME
Default
localhost
Value
localhost
Icecast - Admin UsernameVariable

Icecast admin username

Target
ICECAST_ADMIN_USERNAME
Default
admin
Value
admin
Icecast - Admin PasswordVariable

Icecast admin password

Target
ICECAST_ADMIN_PASSWORD
Default
rtlsdrairband
Value
rtlsdrairband
Icecast - Admin EmailVariable

Icecast admin email

Target
ICECAST_ADMIN_EMAIL
Value
test@test.com
Icecast - LocationVariable

Icecast location

Target
ICECAST_LOCATION
Default
earth
Value
earth
RTLSDR - Build PlatformVariable

On the container's first run, the rtl_airband binary will be built with platform-specific optimisation if this is set. It can be set to rpiv2, generic or native

Target
RTLSDRAIRBAND_BUILD_PLATFORM
RTLSDR - Radio TypeVariable

Type of dongle that is providing the radio tuning

Target
RTLSDRAIRBAND_RADIO_TYPE
Default
rtlsdr
Value
rtlsdr
RTLSDR - Log Scanned ActivityVariable

rtlsdr-airband can output what frequencies it has received traffic on. Set this to any non-blank value to enable

Target
LOG_SCANNED_ACTIVITY
RTLSDR - FFT SizeVariable

This value controls the general audio quality. A larger value means increased CPU usage. Accepted values are powers of two in the range of 256-8192, inclusive.

Target
FFT_SIZE
Default
2048
Value
2048
RTLSDR - Sample RateVariable

Set the sample rate of the audio stream.

Target
SAMPLE_RATE
Default
2.56
Value
2.56
RTLSDR - NFM SupportVariable

Set to any value to build the rtl_airband binary with NFM support.

Target
NFM_MAKE
Icecast - Max ClientsVariable

Max Icecast listeners

Target
ICECAST_MAX_CLIENTS
Default
100
Value
100
Icecast - Max SourcesVariable

Maximum number of clients that can provide a stream to the Icecast server

Target
ICECAST_MAX_SOURCES
Default
4
Value
4

Details

Repository
ghcr.io/sdr-enthusiasts/docker-rtlsdrairband:latest
Last Updated2026-06-01
First Seen2025-04-27

Run RTLSDR-Airband on Unraid.

RTLSDR-Airband is listed in Community Apps for Unraid OS. Explore Unraid to build a flexible home server, NAS, or homelab.