SIGpi is a "go-kit" for Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) enthusiasts with capabilities in the HF, VHF, UHF, and SHF spectrum. It includes a framework for simple installation and management of popular SIGINT applications and devices building/installing SIGINT tools on the following platforms:
Full Install
- Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (64-bit) on Intel or Rasberry Pi 4/5
- 4GB RAM, 32GB storage
Server Only
- Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (64-bit) on Intel or Rasberry Pi 3/4/5
The wiki goes deep on all things SIGpi.
- Login as pi or sudo user on supported platform
- From your home directory, create a directory called SIG and switch into it
- Clone the SIGpi repo
- Change directory into SIGpi
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt-get install -y build-essential cmake git
cd ~
mkdir ~/SIG && cd ~/SIG
git clone https://github.com/joecupano/SIGpi.git
cd SIGpi
Run the following command from $HOME/SIG/SIGpi to install
./SIGpi setup standard
Once started you will be given a menu of devices you can choose to install with RTLSDR and HackRF selected as default. Select the additional devices you would like to install and then click OK. For the next 15 to 20 minutes you will see messages scroll by as the SIGpi platform components are installed
After setup the system will reboot.
Don't worry about missing a device. Post install you can add it using SIGpi device install
Once setup, you can list the inventory of packages SIGpi includes as well as those already installed with the following
SIGpi list library
Note that ./ is no longer required for the SIGpi command after setup. An asterisk in the INSTALLED column indicates that package is already installed while those without asterisks have not been installed. For example, you will see SDRangel has not been installed. You can do so with the following
SIGpi install sdrangel
Go back and list again to install other packages of interest
Packages can be installed, removed and purged using the following commands respectively
SIGpi install <package>
SIGpi remove <package>
SIGpi purge <package>
Periodically new applications will be added to SIGpiand notifications sent to those watching the repo. To add applcations available for install into your SIGpi instance simple run run the following from within your /home/pi/SIG/SIGpi directory
git pull
You will see the new applications as available running the list library command
SIGpi list library
You can update packages in your existing SIGpi install. For example, if there is a SDRangel update you can run
SIGpi update sdrangel
Update 7.22.123 is available
SIGpi upgrade sdrangel
SIGpi includes a headless server option. From a fresh Ubuntu 22.04 LTS server install run the following
./SIGpi setup server
During setup you will have the option to run either RTL-TCP, SDRangel Server, or SoapySDR server on startup or choose not to start any of them. After setup system will reboot.
In this setup a 12V@17A switching supply powers all the kit. Since RPi4 are picky about getting 5.1V a set-up converter is added to power it. A 12V Rpi4 are picky about getting 5.1V. USB peripherals can be hungry so a powered USB hub is included. While 7 ports are available no more than three devices requiring power should be enabled since hub produces a maximum of 36 Watts ( 3 x 5V x 2.4A = 36 Watts)
Since this is a SIGINT platform we do not want to be generating any RF so onboard Bluetooth and WiFi should be disabled. If Internet is needed and only available via WiFi then so be it and use your onboard WiFi.
Only three USB devices requiring power should be enabled at a time. The range of devices depicted is only to demonstrate what you could potentially connect to it.