RF-SDR101 Training
RF-SDR101 is a hands-on, five-day Software Defined Radio (SDR) and RF-security course. Students progress from the foundational physics of radio — the electromagnetic spectrum, antennas, propagation and baseband IQ data — through live signal analysis, GNU Radio DSP flowgraphs and custom embedded-Python blocks, into active RF transmission: jamming, replay and custom protocol attacks. The week culminates in a capstone that reverse-engineers and exploits a live hardware target. No prior RF experience required — the course begins with fundamentals.
Learning Objectives
- Understand foundational RF physics: the electromagnetic spectrum, wave propagation, antennas and baseband IQ data
- Explain SDR hardware architecture and how analog signals become digital samples (mixing, ADC, FFTs)
- Distinguish amplitude, frequency and phase modulation (AM/ASK, FM/FSK, PM/PSK)
- Capture, inspect and decode raw IQ signal files and extract binary payloads from RF transmissions
- Build custom GNU Radio DSP flowgraphs to filter, mix, resample and demodulate signals in real time
- Write custom embedded-Python GNU Radio blocks and integrate external decoders
- Execute active RF transmission techniques — jamming, replay and custom protocol attacks
- Apply advanced DSP (PSK, M-ary/4FSK, line coding) and reverse-engineer and exploit a live hardware target
Prerequisites
No prior RF experience required — the course begins with RF fundamentals and progresses to advanced DSP and exploitation over five hands-on days.
Course Outline
- Day 1: Intro RF Theory
- Foundational RF physics from the electromagnetic spectrum and wave propagation to complex numbers and baseband IQ data. Modules: 1.1 Electromagnetic Spectrum; 1.2 Antennas (gain, polarization, radiation patterns); 1.3 Radio Architecture (superheterodyne receivers, frequency mixing, the ADC); 1.4 Complex Numbers & IQ Data (quadrature sampling); 1.5 Modulating RF Waves (AM/ASK, FM/FSK, PM/PSK); 1.6 RF Network Topologies (point-to-point, repeaters, star, mesh); 1.7 RF Propagation (ground/sky waves, line-of-sight, link budgets).
- Day 2: SDRs and Signal Analysis
- Hands-on signal analysis with open-source tools — navigating the spectrum, capturing raw IQ, and decoding binary payloads. Modules: 2.1 Basic SDR Interfacing; 2.2 Hardware Hierarchy & FFTs (time/frequency resolution tradeoffs); 2.3 Capturing & Inspecting Raw Signal Files (avoiding clipping/aliasing); 2.4 Signals Analysis (preamble, sync word, payload; manual bit-level extraction); 2.5 Spectrum Scanning (sweeping, FFT stitching, baseline anomaly detection); 2.6 Day 2 Mini-capstone.
- Day 3: GNU Radio and DSP Flowgraphs
- Building custom flowgraphs to mathematically filter, mix, resample and demodulate signals in real time. Modules: 3.1 Introduction to GNU Radio (architecture, thread scheduler, complex data types); 3.2 Basic DSP Building Blocks; 3.3 Extending GNU Radio (Out-Of-Tree modules; external command-line decoders via named FIFOs and network sockets).
- Day 4: Custom Blocks and Transmitting
- Writing custom embedded-Python blocks and exploring active RF transmission and RF-security fundamentals. Modules: 4.1 GNU Radio Custom Blocks (embedded-Python DSP); 4.2 SDR Transmission Fundamentals (physical denial-of-service/jamming and signal replay attacks); 4.3 Protocol Attacks (generating modulated baseband files from raw data).
- Day 5: Advanced DSP and Course Capstone
- Advanced DSP concepts and a comprehensive capstone. Modules: 5.1 Advanced DSP Concepts (Phase Shift Keying, M-ary/4FSK modulation, Manchester and Differential line coding); 5.2 Course Review; 5.3 Capstone — a free-form, practical reverse-engineering and exploitation of a live hardware target using every technique from the week.
Related training topics
Justify your training
Use this sample request letter — copy it into an email to your manager and personalize the bracketed details to make the case for the time and budget.
Sample training request letter
Subject: Request for Networking & Wireless training from Applied Technology Academy
[Decision Maker Name],
I'm writing to request time and budget approval to complete Applied Technology Academy's course, RF-SDR101 Training. The information below outlines how this training benefits our organization, the tasks I'll be able to perform after completing it, and relevant cost and funding details.
Course Description
RF-SDR101 is a hands-on, five-day Software Defined Radio (SDR) and RF-security course. Students progress from the foundational physics of radio — the electromagnetic spectrum, antennas, propagation and baseband IQ data — through live signal analysis, GNU Radio DSP flowgraphs and custom embedded-Python blocks, into active RF transmission: jamming, replay and custom protocol attacks. The week culminates in a capstone that reverse-engineers and exploits a live hardware target. No prior RF experience required — the course begins with fundamentals. Applied Technology Academy is an award-winning, SBA-certified woman-owned training provider (est. 2008) whose instructors are active practitioners; the course is hands-on with virtual labs and a learn-by-doing methodology.
Course Objectives
Once I've completed the course, I'll be able to:
- Understand foundational RF physics: the electromagnetic spectrum, wave propagation, antennas and baseband IQ data
- Explain SDR hardware architecture and how analog signals become digital samples (mixing, ADC, FFTs)
- Distinguish amplitude, frequency and phase modulation (AM/ASK, FM/FSK, PM/PSK)
- Capture, inspect and decode raw IQ signal files and extract binary payloads from RF transmissions
- Build custom GNU Radio DSP flowgraphs to filter, mix, resample and demodulate signals in real time
- Write custom embedded-Python GNU Radio blocks and integrate external decoders
- Execute active RF transmission techniques — jamming, replay and custom protocol attacks
- Apply advanced DSP (PSK, M-ary/4FSK, line coding) and reverse-engineer and exploit a live hardware target
Expected Organizational Benefits
After completing this course, I will be better equipped to apply these skills directly to our projects, reduce our reliance on outside expertise, strengthen our team's capabilities, and share what I learn with colleagues.
Expected Cost & Funding
Course fee: [request an itemized quote at the link below]. Applied Technology Academy supports multiple funding paths that may reduce or cover this cost: GSA MAS purchasing and government purchase orders, military credentialing funding (Army CA, AF COOL, CG COOL), VA GI Bill and VR&E, ATA Flexible Spending, and student financing. Private team cohorts are available if colleagues should attend with me.
Conclusion
This training provides practical, hands-on experience I can apply immediately to strengthen our work in networking & wireless. Additional course information is available at https://appliedtechnologyacademy.com/rf-sdr101-training-applied-technology-academy/.
Thank you for your consideration,
[Your Name]
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