Setting up MSI2500 SDR (RSP1 Clone) on Ubuntu – step-by-step instructions

This guide shows how to get an MSI2500 based SDR receiver (like RSP1 Clones) running on Ubuntu Linux with GQRX. The instructions are also suitable for beginners without much Linux experience.

What is the MSI2500?

The MSI2500 is an SDR receiver chip that is installed in many inexpensive SDR dongles. These devices are often sold as “RSP1 Clone” or “MSI2500 SDR” and offer excellent value for money for beginners and advanced users.

Technical data MSI2500

Property	Specification
Frequency range	1 kHz – 2 GHz (depending on hardware variant)
ADC resolution	12 Bit
Maximum Sample Rate	10 MSPS (Mega Samples per Second)
Bandwidth	Up to 10 MHz
USB Interface	USB 2.0
Power supply	Bus-powered (via USB)
Tuner	Zero-IF architecture

What is the MSI2500 suitable for?

✅ Well suited for:

• FM Radio (FM Broadcast): Excellent reception from 88-108 MHz, RDS decoding possible
• Aviation radio: Reception from 118-137 MHz (AM)
• Amateur radio reception: All amateur radio bands from HF to UHF (reception only!)
• PMR446 / Freenet: Monitoring of radio devices
• Weather satellites: NOAA APT images (137 MHz)
• ADS-B: Aircraft tracking on 1090 MHz
• DAB/DAB+: Digital radio reception
• Trunked Radio: Decoding with appropriate software
• POCSAG/FLEX: pager decoding
• Spectrum analysis: Up to 2 GHz for RF measurements
• Learning and experimentation platform: Ideal for SDR beginners

❌ Not suitable for:

• Send/Transmit: MSI2500 is only a receiver (RX only)
• Very wide bandwidths: Maximum 10 MHz (other hardware required for >10 MHz)
• Professional applications: Frequency stability is not comparable to high-end devices

Important information about the MSI2500

⚠️ Quality differences in clones

MSI2500-based devices are produced by various manufacturers. The quality can vary greatly:

• Frequency Accuracy: Some devices have larger PPM deviations
• Noise: Different levels depending on the build quality
• Casing: From cheap plastic to metal casing
• Connectors: SMA quality varies

Tip: Read reviews before buying and buy from reputable dealers!

What you need

• MSI2500 based SDR receiver (often sold as “RSP1 Clone”)
• Ubuntu Linux (20.04 or newer recommended)
• Internet connection
• Approx. 30-60 minutes time

Step 1: Open Terminal

Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open a terminal. This is where we will enter all the commands.

Tip: You can copy commands from this guide and paste them into the terminal using Ctrl + Shift + V.

Step 2: Update system

First we update the system to ensure all packages are up to date:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

You will be asked for your password. Type it in (it won’t appear) and press Enter.

Step 3: Install basic tools

We install the necessary development tools and libraries:

sudo apt install build-essential cmake git pkg-config libusb-1.0-0-dev -y

Step 4: Block kernel modules

The MSI2500 is normally recognized as a video device by the Linux kernel. We need to block these modules so that GQRX can access the device.

Create a blacklist file:

echo "blacklist msi2500" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-msi.conf
echo "blacklist msi001" | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-msi.conf

If the modules are already loaded, remove them:

sudo rmmod msi2500
sudo rmmod msi001

Note: If an error message “not currently loaded” appears, that’s okay – the modules were not loaded.

Step 5: Install libmirisdr

libmirisdr is the library that communicates directly with the MSI2500 hardware.

# Go to your home directory
cd ~

# Download libmirisdr
git clone https://gitea.osmocom.org/sdr/libmirisdr

# Go to the directory
cd libmirisdr

# Create build directory
mkdir build
cd build

# Configure with CMake
cmake ../ -DINSTALL_UDEV_RULES=ON

# Compile (this may take a few minutes)
make -j4

# Install
sudo make install

# Update the libraries
sudo ldconfig

Step 6: Set up USB permissions

So that you can use the device without root rights, we create a udev rule:

sudo nano /etc/udev/rules.d/66-mirics.rules

Insert this line:

SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="1df7", MODE="0666"

Save with Ctrl + X, then Y, then Enter.

Activate the rule:

sudo udevadm control --reload-rules
sudo udevadm trigger

Now disconnect your MSI2500 device from the USB and plug it back in.

Step 7: Install RTL-SDR with MSI2500 support

We install a special version of RTL-SDR that supports MSI2500:

# Go to the home directory
cd ~

# Download the RTL-SDR version with MSI2500 support
git clone https://github.com/old-dab/rtlsdr.git

# Go to the directory
cd rtlsdr

# Create build directory
mkdir build
cd build

# Configure
cmake ../ -DINSTALL_UDEV_RULES=ON -DDETACH_KERNEL_DRIVER=ON

# Compile
make -j4

# Install
sudo make install

# Update libraries
sudo ldconfig

# Update PATH
export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH
echo 'export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.bashrc

Step 8: Install GQRX

GQRX is the SDR software we will be using:

sudo apt install gqrx-sdr -y

Step 9: Test the device

Before we start GQRX, we check whether the device is recognized:

# Check if the USB device is visible
lsusb | grep 1df7

You should see a line like:
Bus 001 Device XXX: ID 1df7:2500 SDRplay RSP1

Clear the command cache:

hash -r

Step 10: Configure and start GQRX

Start GQRX:

gqrx

When you start it for the first time, a configuration window appears:

1. Device: Select “Mirics MSi2500 default (e.g. VTX3D card)”
2. Device string: Leave it at miri=0 or empty
3. Input rate: Choose 2048000 (2,048 MSPS) – this prevents buffer overflows
4. Bandwidth: You can leave it at 0.000000 MHz (automatic)
5. Click OK

Step 11: Test initial reception

Now you can test GQRX:

1. Click on the “Power” button (Play symbol) at the top left
2. Enter a frequency, e.g. 100000000 for 100 MHz (FM radio)
3. Select “WFM (stereo)” mode for FM radio
4. You should now see the spectrum and waterfall chart

If you see a lot of “OOOO” messages in the terminal:
These are buffer overflows. Reduce the sample rate to 2,048 MSPS or lower in the settings.

Step 12: Create desktop shortcut (optional)

To be able to easily start GQRX from the desktop:

# Create desktop entry
nano ~/.local/share/applications/gqrx.desktop

Insert this content:

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=GQRX SDR
Comment=Software Defined Radio Receiver
Exec=gqrx
Icon=gqrx
Terminal=false
Categories=HamRadio;Network;
Keywords=sdr;radio;hamradio;

Save with Ctrl + X, then Y, then Enter.

# Update desktop database
update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applications

# Optional: Copy shortcut to desktop
cp ~/.local/share/applications/gqrx.desktop ~/Desktop/
chmod +x ~/Desktop/gqrx.desktop
gio set ~/Desktop/gqrx.desktop metadata::trusted true

Troubleshooting

Problem: “No supported devices found”

Solution:

1. Check whether the kernel modules are loaded: lsmod | grep msi
2. If yes, remove it: sudo rmmod msi2500; sudo rmmod msi001
3. Disconnect and reconnect the USB device
4. Test again: lsusb | grep 1df7

Problem: “Failed to open mirisdr device”

Solution:

1. Check USB permissions: ls -l /dev/bus/usb/001/*
2. Add your user to the video group: sudo usermod -a -G video $USER
3. Log out and log back in (or restart)

Problem: Many “OOOO” messages (buffer overflows)

Solution:

1. Stop GQRX
2. Open the settings (gear icon)
3. Reduce the sample rate to 2,048 MSPS or 1,024 MSPS
4. Restart GQRX

Problem: No audio

Solution:

1. Check whether the correct demodulator is selected (WFM for FM radio)
2. Check the volume in GQRX (controller on the right)
3. Check the system volume
4. In GQRX: File → I/O Devices → Audio output: Select “Default”

Recommended settings for various applications

FM radio (FM broadcast)

• Frequency: 88 – 108 MHz
• Mode: WFM (stereo)
• Bandwidth: 200 kHz

Aviation radio

• Frequency: 118 – 137 MHz
• Mode: AM
• Bandwidth: 12 kHz

Amateur radio 2m FM

• Frequency: 144 – 146 MHz
• Mode: Narrow FM
• Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

PMR446 / Freenet

• Frequency: 446 MHz / 149 MHz
• Mode: Narrow FM
• Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz

Technical Notes

Supported frequency ranges

The MSI2500 typically supports:

• 1 kHz – 2 GHz (depending on hardware variant)
• Maximum sample rate: 10 MSPS
• Recommended sample rate: 2 – 4 MSPS for stable performance

Performance tips

• Use USB 3.0 ports if possible
• Connect the device directly (not via USB hub)
• Use lower sample rates on weaker computers
• Close unnecessary programs during operation

Related resources

• GQRX Official Website
• Osmocom RTL-SDR Wiki
• RTL-SDR.com Blog

Summary of the most important commands

System updates

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Start GQRX

gqrx

Check device

lsusb | grep 1df7

Remove kernel modules (if necessary)

sudo rmmod msi2500
sudo rmmod msi001

Reload libraries (after installing new software)

sudo ldconfig

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Does this also work with other MSI2500 based devices?

A: Yes, this guide works with all MSI2500 based SDR receivers, including various RSP1 clones and similar devices.

Q: Can I use multiple SDR devices at the same time?

A: Yes, but you have to select the correct device in GQRX. The device ID then changes, for example, to miri=1 for the second device.

Q: Do I need an antenna?

A: Yes, you need a suitable antenna for good reception. For initial tests, a piece of wire is often sufficient as an emergency antenna.

Q: Does this also work on Ubuntu derivatives like Linux Mint?

A: Yes, this guide also works on Ubuntu-based distributions like Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, etc.

Q: Can I also send (transmit)?

A: No, the MSI2500 is purely a receiver. To send you need another SDR device like HackRF or LimeSDR.

License and Disclaimer

This manual is provided without warranty. The use of SDR devices is subject to respective national laws. Find out about the applicable regulations in your country.

In Austria the following applies: Reception is generally permitted as long as no encrypted messages or messages not intended for the public are listened to.

73 de OE8YML

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Last updated: December 2025
Tested on: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
License: Feel free to share and modify this guide. Credit is appreciated!