ADALM-Pluto SDR – A Practical Guide to Software Defined Radio

Software Defined Radio (SDR) has evolved over the past years from a niche technology into a core competence in modern wireless engineering, education, research, and hobby projects. Few devices have shaped this development as strongly as the ADALM-Pluto from Analog Devices.

The Pluto is small, affordable, flexible – and above all:
a true, fully open SDR based on the powerful AD936x RF-IC family.

Why the ADALM-Pluto?

The ADALM-Pluto combines modern RF technology with programmable flexibility.
It is not just a measurement or development tool, but an invitation to start your own experiments, analyze real radio signals, and truly understand the fundamentals of digital radio technology.

Who is this book for?

This book is intended for:

  • Students of electrical engineering and communications engineering

  • Technology enthusiasts and makers

  • Amateur radio operators

  • Software and hardware developers

  • Anyone interested in a practical introduction to modern SDR systems

The writing style is deliberately hybrid:
accessible for beginners, yet technically sound and sufficiently deep for advanced readers.

Content & Focus

The emphasis is clearly on hands-on practice:

  • Working with real radio signals

  • Python-based SDR experiments

  • Digital Signal Processing (DSP) fundamentals

  • Satellite and amateur radio applications

  • Measurement techniques, debugging, and analysis

  • GNU Radio, MATLAB, and custom workflows

Most examples can be reproduced directly on the ADALM-Pluto –
without expensive test equipment or specialized hardware.

Motivation

When I first held an ADALM-Pluto in my hands, it immediately became clear:
this small device offers an impressive combination of modern RF technology and experimental freedom.

This book was written with the goal of sharing that enthusiasm.

Wishing you many ideas, successful experiments – and above all: enjoy exploring SDR.

Friedrich Riedhammer, DJ2RF

📌 At a Glance

ADALM-Pluto SDR – A Practical Guide to Software Defined Radio

  • Hardware: ADALM-Pluto (AD9363 / AD936x RF-IC family)

  • Topics: Software Defined Radio, DSP, RF measurement techniques

  • Tools: Python, GNU Radio, MATLAB

  • Applications: Real-world radio signals, amateur radio, satellite reception

  • Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of electronics and signal processing recommended

  • Goal: Understand, analyze, and practically apply SDR systems

🔗 Additional Resources

📥 Downloads & Examples

Source code, Python snippets, GNU Radio flowgraphs, and supporting material for the book.

📚 Chapter Overview

A structured overview of the book’s chapters and topics.

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