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Quick Start — Tier 1 BYOD

Get your Azimuth node running in minutes with minimal hardware.

1. Hardware

Get an RTL-SDR V4 USB dongle (~$30, available from rtl-sdr.com or Amazon). Any computer with a USB 2.0 or higher port running Windows 10+ or Linux will work.

2. Antenna

The stock dipole antenna included with the RTL-SDR V4 works for getting started. For better results:

  • Wideband discone antenna — covers all target frequencies simultaneously
  • Magnetic mount antenna — easy to place near a window or on a metal surface
  • Place the antenna near a window or outdoors for best reception

3. Software — Windows

  1. Download the Azimuth daemon installer (link available at launch)
  2. Run the installer and follow the prompts
  3. Plug in your RTL-SDR dongle
  4. Launch Azimuth from the Start menu

4. Software — Linux

# Install script (available at launch)
curl -sSL https://azimuth.day/install.sh | bash

Plug in your RTL-SDR dongle, then start the daemon:

azimuth start

5. Create Your Account

Open the local dashboard at http://localhost:8080 in your browser. Create your Azimuth account and link your wallet address to receive rewards.

6. Verify

The dashboard shows signal acquisition status. You should see LTE cell IDs appearing within 60 seconds if cell towers are in range. The signal list updates in real time.

7. Optimize

  • Window placement: Moving the antenna to a window dramatically improves signal count
  • Rooftop placement: Outdoor antennas see 3–5x more signals than indoor
  • Elevation: Higher placement generally means more signals
  • Multiple signal types: A wideband antenna captures LTE, DTV, and FM simultaneously

Hardware Compatibility

DeviceStatus
RTL-SDR V4Recommended
RTL-SDR V3Supported
Other RTL2832U donglesMay work with reduced performance
Airspy / SDRplayFuture support planned

Troubleshooting

No signals detected:

  • Ensure the antenna is connected and the dongle is plugged in
  • Move the antenna closer to a window
  • Check that no other software is using the SDR device

USB errors:

  • Try a different USB port (preferably USB 3.0)
  • On Windows, install the Zadig USB driver if prompted
  • On Linux, ensure your user is in the plugdev group

Driver conflicts (Windows):

  • If you have SDR# or other SDR software installed, it may have conflicting drivers
  • The Azimuth installer will attempt to configure drivers automatically