OpenWebRX+ Resources

SDR Resource Guide · vk6ada.com.au

OpenWebRX+ · Primary Websites & Resources

Web-based Software Defined Radio — The Enhanced Fork

OpenWebRX+ is an enhanced community fork of the original OpenWebRX web-based software-defined radio application. It extends the upstream project with additional demodulators, a built-in scanner, noise reduction, keyboard shortcuts, improved maps, and decoders for a wide range of digital communication protocols — all accessible from any modern web browser with no client software required.[1]

The two codebases — original and plus — are separate projects with independent maintenance. Binary packages for OpenWebRX+ are designed to cleanly replace the original OpenWebRX packages on Debian and Ubuntu Linux systems.[2]

OpenWebRX+ — The Enhanced Fork

Resource
URL & Notes
Documentation & Home Page
https://fms.komkon.org/OWRX/
Primary documentation site. Covers hardware device setup, decoder configuration, PSKReporter/WSPRnet integration, and OpenWebRX+ specific features. Maintained by Marat Fayzullin.[3]
Package Repository (PPA)
https://luarvique.github.io/ppa/
Binary packages for Ubuntu and Debian Linux, Raspberry Pi SD card images, and Docker images (x64/arm32/arm64). Includes GPG key and apt source instructions.[4]
GitHub — Primary Fork (9A4AM)
https://github.com/9A4AM/openwebrx-
Source code repository. 9A4AM is a Croatian amateur radio callsign; this operator maintains the actively developed branch. Development occurs in the master branches of related repos: csdr, pycsdr, owrx_connector, openwebrx.[5]

OpenWebRX+ Feature Additions

The following features are present in OpenWebRX+ but absent from the original upstream release:

Built-in Decoders
  • FAX, SSTV, AIS, FLEX, POCSAG
  • ISM, RDS, CW, RTTY, SITOR-B, SAM
  • HFDL, VDL2, ADSB, ACARS (aviation)
  • DTMF, EEA, EIA, CCIR, ZVEY SELCALL
  • Background SSTV & FAX to browser
UI & Operator Features
  • Adjustable noise filtering (spectral subtraction)
  • Tunable step sizes & keyboard shortcuts
  • Built-in scanner over bookmarks
  • Built-in MP3 recorder for received audio
  • Built-in chat between receiver users
  • Admin user connection monitoring & banning
  • Auto-generated shortwave broadcast bookmarks

Original OpenWebRX — Upstream Project

The upstream OpenWebRX project (by jketterl) focuses on simplicity, multi-user fairness, and browser-native decoding. Its last release was October 2023. The OpenWebRX+ fork builds on this base but diverges significantly in scope.[6]

Official Website
GitHub (jketterl)
License
GNU Affero GPL v3 (AGPL-3.0) · Commercial licence available on request

Related Resources

ReceiverBook
https://www.receiverbook.de/
Global directory of public OpenWebRX and KiwiSDR online receivers. Browse by region or band.
Telegram Channel
Community discussion, news, and support. Linked from the PPA page at luarvique.github.io/ppa/
sdrx.io (Related)
https://www.sdrx.io/
Listed on vk6ada.com.au as the OpenWebRX+ reference link in the SDR menu.

Ubuntu / Debian Installation — Quick Reference

The following command sequence adds the OpenWebRX+ PPA and installs the package. Run all commands as root or with sudo:

# Add OpenWebRX+ GPG key and repository (Ubuntu example) curl -s https://luarvique.github.io/ppa/openwebrx-plus.gpg | \ sudo gpg –yes –dearmor -o /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/openwebrx-plus.gpg sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/openwebrx-plus.list <<<\ “deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/openwebrx-plus.gpg] \ https://luarvique.github.io/ppa/ubuntu ./” # Also add the original OpenWebRX repo (provides dependency packages) curl -s https://repo.openwebrx.de/debian/key.gpg.txt | \ sudo gpg –yes –dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/openwebrx.gpg sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/openwebrx.list <<<\ “deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/openwebrx.gpg] \ https://repo.openwebrx.de/ubuntu/ jammy main” sudo apt update && sudo apt install openwebrx

⚠ Note: Read the PPA instructions in full before installation. Ubuntu 24.04 support is listed as experimental. Replace jammy with your actual release codename as appropriate. For RTL-SDR and SDRPlay hardware, additional driver packages may be required.

Station Notes — VK6ADA

OpenWebRX+ is of direct relevance to the VK6ADA station SDR programme. The CASCADE-390 SDR waterfall kit, RX-888, and Web-888 hardware used here are all supported via the standard SoapySDR framework. The decoder suite — particularly HFDL, ACARS, and the digital HF modes (FT8, WSPR, JS8Call) — aligns with ongoing HF monitoring activities.[7]

For Hermes Lite 2 integration, OpenWebRX upstream added HPSDR device support in its 1.2.x cycle. OpenWebRX+ inherits this support and extends it through SoapySDR module compatibility.

Footnotes & Sources
  1. OpenWebRX+ documentation home, Marat Fayzullin. https://fms.komkon.org/OWRX/
  2. OpenWebRX+ PPA — installation instructions. https://luarvique.github.io/ppa/
  3. Marat Fayzullin — OpenWebRX+ documentation author. No amateur radio callsign publicly associated with this handle; known primarily through his OWRX and ColecoVision emulator projects.
  4. Package repository for Ubuntu and Debian, SD card images by Stanislav LZ2SLL (Bulgarian callsign), and Docker images maintained by the same contributor. https://luarvique.github.io/ppa/
  5. GitHub fork: 9A4AM — Croatian amateur radio callsign (9A = Croatia prefix, District 4, Class A). Primary active development branch. https://github.com/9A4AM/openwebrx-
  6. Original OpenWebRX by jketterl (Jakob Ketterl). Last release October 2023 (security hotfix). https://www.openwebrx.de/news.php
  7. VK6ADA station SDR programme — CASCADE-390, RX-888, Web-888, and Hermes Lite 2 hardware. See vk6ada.com.au and r-390a.net
Author Mike Peace VK6ADA r-390a.net Administrator vk6ada.com.au

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