Correcting the frequency offset

If you already know the frequency offset

TBD

Using kalibrate-rtl

Setting up kalibrate-rtl

git clone https://github.com/steve-m/kalibrate-rtl
cd kalibrate-rtl
./bootstrap
./configure
make
sudo make install

This will install the kal utility to your computer.

Step #1 is to scan for GSM channels:

kal -g30 -sGSM900 -v

Note #1: you may have to set the band (-s) regarding your location, country. Available bands: GSM850, GSM-R, GSM900, EGSM, DCS, PCS

Note #2: you can use the stock antenna of the tuner.

The output of this command should look like this:

$ kal -g30 -sGSM900  -v
Found 1 device(s):
  0:  Generic RTL2832U OEM

Using device 0: Generic RTL2832U OEM
Found Rafael Micro R820T tuner
Exact sample rate is: 270833.002142 Hz
Setting gain: 30.0 dB
kal: Scanning for GSM-900 base stations.
channel detect threshold: 177539.149349
GSM-900:
	chan: 17 (938.4MHz - 39.314kHz)	power: 206788.59
	chan: 19 (938.8MHz - 20.338kHz)	power: 370862.81
	chan: 23 (939.6MHz - 38.748kHz)	power: 655194.63
	chan: 27 (940.4MHz - 39.563kHz)	power: 433641.10
	chan: 31 (941.2MHz - 39.213kHz)	power: 787826.26
	chan: 36 (942.2MHz + 25.174kHz)	power: 474684.41
	chan: 60 (947.0MHz + 25.120kHz)	power: 298079.65
	chan: 83 (951.6MHz - 24.438kHz)	power: 430946.94
	chan: 112 (957.4MHz + 24.397kHz) power: 857829.53

Step #2 is to select the most powerful channel, and use it to calculate the PPM value:

chan: 112 (957.4MHz + 24.397kHz) power: 857829.53

...so we use channel 112:

kal -g30 -c112 -v

The output of this command should look like this:

$ kal -g30 -c112 -v
Found 1 device(s):
  0:  Generic RTL2832U OEM

Using device 0: Generic RTL2832U OEM
Found Rafael Micro R820T tuner
Exact sample rate is: 270833.002142 Hz
Setting gain: 30.0 dB
kal: Calculating clock frequency offset.
Using GSM-900 channel 112 (957.4MHz)
	offset   1: 24292.79
	offset   2: 24233.90
	offset   3: 24300.03
	offset   4: 24252.50
	offset   5: 24212.21
	offset   6: 24287.63
	offset   7: 24237.00
    (...)
	offset  96: 24244.24
	offset  97: 24327.92
	offset  98: 24260.77
	offset  99: 24314.49
	offset 100: 24262.83
average		[min, max]	(range, stddev)
+ 24.268kHz		[24218, 24319]	(100, 28.573065)
overruns: 0
not found: 0
average absolute error: -25.348 ppm