Capture (IQ Recorder)
Record raw radio to SD
What it does
SimpleThis is like a video recorder, but for radio. It saves the exact radio waves onto the memory card so you can study them later or play them back. It only records — it never sends anything out.
Recording is the first step of a really powerful workflow: catch a signal once, then take your time examining it or, for your own gadgets, replaying it — instead of having to catch the live signal over and over.
How it works
SimpleThe device turns the radio wave into a stream of numbers that describe its exact shape, and writes those numbers to the memory card. Later, those same numbers can be turned back into the wave — like saving a song so you can play it again.
How to use it, step by step
Simple- Open the 'Capture' app.
- Tune to the signal you want to save.
- Press record and let it save to the card.
- Stop when you're done.
- Find your recording later in the File Manager.
Examples
Capture a 433 MHz burst, then open it in the IQ viewer to inspect the pulse timing.
Record an intermittent signal once so you can analyse it without waiting for it to repeat.
Keep captures of interesting signals to compare and learn from later.
Tips & things to try
- IQ files are big — narrow the sample rate to just cover your signal to save space.
- Note the centre frequency and sample rate; you'll need them to make sense of the file later.
- It's the start of the record → analyse → replay chain; everything else builds on a good capture.