Gemtek W1700K Wi-Fi 7 Router Converted to 320 Msps Software Defined Radio Receiver

Router Repurposed as SDR

A Gemtek W1700K Wi-Fi 7 router has been reconfigured to operate as a wideband software-defined radio receiver. This modification leverages the router's internal MediaTek MT7996 radio, which is capable of capturing raw 14-bit IQ data at a rate of up to 320 Msps.

High-Speed Data Streaming

The router's Airoha AN7581 SoC facilitates streaming the captured radio data over a 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE) connection. This high-speed link transmits the data to a Linux host, where it can be processed and visualized.

Real-time Spectrum Analysis

On the Linux host, the streamed data is presented as a live spectrum and waterfall display within a web browser. This setup allows for real-time monitoring and analysis of radio frequencies, including the entire 2.4 GHz band at 320 Msps with corrected decimation roll-off.

Custom Firmware Implementation

The MT7996 radio operates using custom firmware, which includes a ROM patch and modules built from a public repository, without MediaTek's original code. This firmware manages the radio's initialization, calibration, and accepts commands for controlling parameters such as LO frequency, sample rate, gain, and filtering from the host system.

Hardware and Software Requirements

To replicate this setup, users need a W1700K router, a 3.3 V USB serial adapter, an Ethernet cable for installation, and a 10 GbE NIC on the host for the IQ stream. The process involves building the necessary software components, configuring network links, and installing the custom firmware onto the router.