🐋 rtl_433 Docker Image

Repository containing multiarch docker images definitions of rtl_433 utility from merbanan.

Default latest images include rtlsdr only with alpine linux as base to keep the final result as slim as possible.
There is also debian based images which include rtlsdr and sopysdr with all modules but are slightly bigger ~3mb vs ~50mb.

There are multiple flavours (alpine & debian based) built for multiple platforms (mainly x86, arm and more).

Usage

⚠️ Tags have been refactored to follow "a more logical" structure. ⚠️

hertzg/rtl_433:<rtl_433_git_ref>-<base>-<base_version>
hertzg/rtl433:<rtl_433_git_ref>-<base>-<base_version>
ghcr.io/hertzg/rtl_433_docker:<rtl_433_git_ref>-<base>-<base_version>

For convenience the latest version of alpine base is considered as "default" so you can just use

ℹ️ Keep in mind that only the **latest release** of rtl_433 (22.11 as of 2023-05-28) is considered :latest as <rtl_433_git_ref>. ℹ️

docker run hertzg/rtl_433:latest -V

# is the exact same image as

docker run hertzg/rtl_433:22.11 -V                       # as of 28 May 2023 the 22.11 is the latest released version
docker run hertzg/rtl_433:22.11-alpine -V                # shorthand for 22.11-alpine-latest
docker run hertzg/rtl_433:22.11-alpine-3 -V              # targets Alpine major version 3
docker run hertzg/rtl_433:22.11-alpine-3.18 -V           # targets Alpine minor version 3.18
docker run hertzg/rtl_433:22.11-alpine-3.18.0 -V         # targets Alpine patch version 3.18.0
docker run hertzg/rtl_433:22.11-alpine-latest -V         # targets latest Alpine version

💡 For Debian based builds you just use debian as <base> instead of alpine and provide a correct debian version.

If you want the latest master branch build use :master or :nightly for nightly builds. The following are

# for alpine based images
docker run hertzg/rtl_433:master -V
docker run hertzg/rtl_433:master-alpine -V
docker run hertzg/rtl_433:master-alpine-3 -V
docker run hertzg/rtl_433:master-alpine-3.18 -V
docker run hertzg/rtl_433:master-alpine-3.18.0 -V
docker run hertzg/rtl_433:master-alpine-latest -V

The tool itself is very versatile, you can run in multiple ways. The docker image uses the rtl_433 executable as ENTRYPOINT so all the command line arguments get passed to it when used together with docker run.

First you need to find the bus and device ids for your SDR device. Here I use lsusb to find the bus and device ids for my RTL2838 receiver.

Same approach should work for other USB devices as well.

pi@raspberry:~ $ lsusb
Bus xxx Device xxx: ID xxxx:xxxx ...
Bus xxx Device xxx: ID xxxx:xxxx ...
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:2838 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL2838 DVB-T
Bus xxx Device xxx: ID xxxx:xxxx ...
Bus xxx Device xxx: ID xxxx:xxxx ...

Based on the output my device can be referenced on usb bus 001 as device 003.

Next we need to start the container and share the /dev/bus/usb/001/003 device to it using the --device or -d flag.

Note: This device enumerator could (most likely will) change if you plug/unplug the device or the hub it's attached to, but in most cases if you use the bus path that was generated right after boot and leave the device untouched (don't re-plug) the device, the bus path might say the same. (#14)

pi@raspberry:~ $ docker run --device /dev/bus/usb/001/003 hertzg/rtl_433

The --device or -d flag will share the host usb device to the container it will most likely be unusable by the host or any other containers.

To use a specific version of rtl_433 use the docker image tags described from the table later down

pi@raspberry:~ $ docker run --device /dev/bus/usb/001/003 hertzg/rtl_433:master
pi@raspberry:~ $ docker run --device /dev/bus/usb/001/003 hertzg/rtl_433:latest
pi@raspberry:~ $ docker run --device /dev/bus/usb/001/003 hertzg/rtl_433:20.02
pi@raspberry:~ $ docker run --device /dev/bus/usb/001/003 hertzg/rtl_433:18.05
pi@raspberry:~ $ docker run --device /dev/bus/usb/001/003 hertzg/rtl_433:alpine-20.02
pi@raspberry:~ $ docker run --device /dev/bus/usb/001/003 hertzg/rtl_433:alpine-3-20.02
pi@raspberry:~ $ docker run --device /dev/bus/usb/001/003 hertzg/rtl_433:alpine-3.14-20.02
pi@raspberry:~ $ docker run --device /dev/bus/usb/001/003 hertzg/rtl_433:alpine-3.14.3-20.02
pi@raspberry:~ $ docker run --device /dev/bus/usb/001/003 hertzg/rtl_433:<flavour>-<flavour-version>-<rtl_433-version>

To pass arguments to rtl_433 executable use can use the docker commands by appending them at the end of the run command

pi@raspberry:~ $ docker run --device /dev/bus/usb/001/003 hertzg/rtl_433 -h
rtl_433 version 20.02 branch  at 202002171252 inputs file rtl_tcp RTL-SDR
Use -h for usage help and see https://triq.org/ for documentation.
Trying conf file at "rtl_433.conf"...
Trying conf file at "/root/.config/rtl_433/rtl_433.conf"...
Trying conf file at "/usr/local/etc/rtl_433/rtl_433.conf"...
Trying conf file at "/etc/rtl_433/rtl_433.conf"...
Generic RF data receiver and decoder for ISM band devices using RTL-SDR and SoapySDR.

Usage:
		= General options =
  [-V] Output the version string and exit
  [-v] Increase verbosity (can be used multiple times).
       -v : verbose, -vv : verbose decoders, -vvv : debug decoders, -vvvv : trace decoding).
  [-c <path>] Read config options from a file
		= Tuner options =
  [-d <RTL-SDR USB device index> | :<RTL-SDR USB device serial> | <SoapySDR device query> | rtl_tcp | help]
  [-g <gain> | help] (default: auto)
  [-t <settings>] apply a list of keyword=value settings for SoapySDR devices
       e.g. -t "antenna=A,bandwidth=4.5M,rfnotch_ctrl=false"
  [-f <frequency>] Receive frequency(s) (default: 433920000 Hz)
  [-H <seconds>] Hop interval for polling of multiple frequencies (default: 600 seconds)
  [-p <ppm_error] Correct rtl-sdr tuner frequency offset error (default: 0)
  [-s <sample rate>] Set sample rate (default: 250000 Hz)
		= Demodulator options =
  [-R <device> | help] Enable only the specified device decoding protocol (can be used multiple times)
       Specify a negative number to disable a device decoding protocol (can be used multiple times)
  [-G] Enable blacklisted device decoding protocols, for testing only.
  [-X <spec> | help] Add a general purpose decoder (prepend -R 0 to disable all decoders)
  [-l <level>] Change detection level used to determine pulses (0-16384) (0=auto) (default: 0)
  [-z <value>] Override short value in data decoder
  [-x <value>] Override long value in data decoder
  [-n <value>] Specify number of samples to take (each sample is 2 bytes: 1 each of I & Q)
  [-Y auto | classic | minmax] FSK pulse detector mode.
		= Analyze/Debug options =
  [-a] Analyze mode. Print a textual description of the signal.
  [-A] Pulse Analyzer. Enable pulse analysis and decode attempt.
       Disable all decoders with -R 0 if you want analyzer output only.
  [-y <code>] Verify decoding of demodulated test data (e.g. "{25}fb2dd58") with enabled devices
		= File I/O options =
  [-S none | all | unknown | known] Signal auto save. Creates one file per signal.
       Note: Saves raw I/Q samples (uint8 pcm, 2 channel). Preferred mode for generating test files.
  [-r <filename> | help] Read data from input file instead of a receiver
  [-w <filename> | help] Save data stream to output file (a '-' dumps samples to stdout)
  [-W <filename> | help] Save data stream to output file, overwrite existing file
		= Data output options =
  [-F kv | json | csv | mqtt | influx | syslog | null | help] Produce decoded output in given format.
       Append output to file with :<filename> (e.g. -F csv:log.csv), defaults to stdout.
       Specify host/port for syslog with e.g. -F syslog:127.0.0.1:1514
  [-M time[:<options>] | protocol | level | stats | bits | help] Add various meta data to each output.
  [-K FILE | PATH | <tag>] Add an expanded token or fixed tag to every output line.
  [-C native | si | customary] Convert units in decoded output.
  [-T <seconds>] Specify number of seconds to run, also 12:34 or 1h23m45s
  [-E hop | quit] Hop/Quit after outputting successful event(s)
  [-h] Output this usage help and exit
       Use -d, -g, -R, -X, -F, -M, -r, -w, or -W without argument for more help

To see all the output formatters you can pass -F without arguments

$ docker run hertzg/rtl_433 -F
rtl_433 version 20.02 branch  at 202002171252 inputs file rtl_tcp RTL-SDR
Use -h for usage help and see https://triq.org/ for documentation.
/usr/local/bin/rtl_433: option requires an argument: F
Trying conf file at "rtl_433.conf"...
Trying conf file at "/root/.config/rtl_433/rtl_433.conf"...
Trying conf file at "/usr/local/etc/rtl_433/rtl_433.conf"...
Trying conf file at "/etc/rtl_433/rtl_433.conf"...
/usr/local/bin/rtl_433: option requires an argument: F
                = Output format option =
  [-F kv|json|csv|mqtt|influx|syslog|null] Produce decoded output in given format.
        Without this option the default is KV output. Use "-F null" to remove the default.
        Append output to file with :<filename> (e.g. -F csv:log.csv), defaults to stdout.
        Specify MQTT server with e.g. -F mqtt://localhost:1883
        Add MQTT options with e.g. -F "mqtt://host:1883,opt=arg"
        MQTT options are: user=foo, pass=bar, retain[=0|1], <format>[=topic]
        Supported MQTT formats: (default is all)
          events: posts JSON event data
          states: posts JSON state data
          devices: posts device and sensor info in nested topics
        The topic string will expand keys like [/model]
        E.g. -F "mqtt://localhost:1883,user=USERNAME,pass=PASSWORD,retain=0,devices=rtl_433[/id]"
        With MQTT each rtl_433 instance needs a distinct driver selection. The MQTT Client-ID is computed from the driver string.
        If you use multiple RTL-SDR, perhaps set a serial and select by that (helps not to get the wrong antenna).
        Specify InfluxDB 2.0 server with e.g. -F "influx://localhost:9999/api/v2/write?org=<org>&bucket=<bucket>,token=<authtoken>"
        Specify InfluxDB 1.x server with e.g. -F "influx://localhost:8086/write?db=<db>&p=<password>&u=<user>"
          Additional parameter -M time:unix:usec:utc for correct timestamps in InfluxDB recommended
        Specify host/port for syslog with e.g. -F syslog:127.0.0.1:1514

You can also use -d, -g, -R, -X, -F, -M, -r, -w, or -W without argument for more help on their usages as described in the help.

Example Usages

Use rtl_433 to capture 433Mhz traffic, decode it and send to your local MQTT broker.

pi@raspberry:~ $ docker run --device /dev/bus/usb/001/003 hertzg/rtl_433 -Fmqtt://127.0.0.1:1883

same as above and also send the data to influxdb

pi@raspberry:~ $ docker run --device /dev/bus/usb/001/003 hertzg/rtl_433 -Mtime:unix:usec:utc -Fmqtt://127.0.0.1:1883 -Finflux://127.0.0.1:8086/write?db=rtl433

same as above but with extra information like signal, protocol information and system stats

pi@raspberry:~ $ docker run --device /dev/bus/usb/001/003 hertzg/rtl_433 -Mtime:unix:usec:utc -Mbits -Mlevel -Mprotocol -Mstats:2:300 -Fmqtt://127.0.0.1:1883 -Finflux://127.0.0.1:8086/write?db=rtl433

same as above but for docker-compose.yaml using MQTT and InfluxDB from the same compose stack

version: "3"
services:
  rtl433:
    image: hertzg/rtl_433:latest
    devices:
      - "/dev/bus/usb/001/003"
    command:
      - "-Mtime:unix:usec:utc"
      - "-Mbits"
      - "-Mlevel"
      - "-Mprotocol"
      - "-Mstats:2:300"
      - "-Fmqtt://mosquitto:1883,retain=1"
      - "-Finflux://influxdb:8086/write?db=rtl433"

  mosquitto: ...

  influxdb: ...

Multi-arch

Images are ready to run on different architectures. Due to popularity of small "credit card" sized devices and such each tag has multi-arch manifest supporting following platforms:

Architecture	Alpine	Debian
linux/386	✔️	➖
linux/amd64	✔️	✔️
linux/arm/v5	️❌	➖
linux/arm/v6	✔️	❌️
linux/arm/v7	✔️	✔️
linux/arm64/v8	✔️	✔️
linux/mips64le	❌️	✔️
linux/ppc64le	✔️	✔️
linux/s390x	⚠️	✔️

Legend

• ✔️ : Supported and built for
• ⚠️ : Not buildable
• ➖ : Not supported (think of it as ❌️)
• ❌️ : Not supported by the base image