CSV output prints only headers

[HaxtonFale]

I'm trying to capture the signals from my weather sensor outside so I tried running the following invocation:

$ rtl_433 -v -F csv:weather/sdr.csv -R 19

The problem is that it produced the following file:

$ cat weather/sdr.csv
time,msg,codes,model,id,channel,battery_ok,temperature_C,humidity
time,msg,codes,model,id,channel,battery_ok,temperature_C,humidity
time,msg,codes,model,id,channel,battery_ok,temperature_C,humidity
time,msg,codes,model,id,channel,battery_ok,temperature_C,humidity
time,msg,codes,model,id,channel,battery_ok,temperature_C,humidity
time,msg,codes,model,id,channel,battery_ok,temperature_C,humidity
time,msg,codes,model,id,channel,battery_ok,temperature_C,humidity
time,msg,codes,model,id,channel,battery_ok,temperature_C,humidity
time,msg,codes,model,id,channel,battery_ok,temperature_C,humidity
time,msg,codes,model,id,channel,battery_ok,temperature_C,humidity

This feels less than ideal.

I'm using RTL-SDR V4 with Debian 12 (bookworm), rtl_433 version 22.11 (2022-11-19) from the repo.

[gdt]

You didn't say what version of rtl_433. If not the most recent release or git master, please upgrade.

You didn't say what happens if you don't give any arguments (beyond -v). It would help to sort out a general problem from a specific decoder.

[HaxtonFale]

I mentioned the version at the bottom, but it is indeed out of date (22.11). I downloaded the most recent release binary and tried using it.

If I don't specify any parameters, it seems to... not pick anything up, for some reason. It's very close to a digital clock that reads the same sensor, so I'd expect it to be fine even if I don't use the largest antenna I can for the radio. Are there any libraries I might want to upgrade as well?

[zuckschwerdt]

Each new start will produce a header and append that. The csv file looks like expected.
Try to run with -Y autolevel -M level -M noise to get an idea what the reception levels are.

hi HaxtonFale,
on bookworm try gqrx (gui version) -(should be in repo)
check if your RTL-SDR V4 was found and any signal at all at 433.9M

Next try -with -R2 and -R19, > rtl_433 -f 432.85M -s1024k -R2 -R19 -M level
without -F !
-R2 Rubicson and -R19 nexus use the same decoder, so one or both should find the meter.
and give an output.
the -F json variant gives me:
{"time":"2025-03-17 10:53:17","model":"Rubicson-Temperature","id":134,"channel":1,"battery_ok":1,"temperature_C":14.6,"mic":"CRC","mod":"ASK","freq":432.89728,"rssi":-0.544018,"snr":34.61048,"noise":-35.1545}

now test with -F csv

have fun

[HaxtonFale]

Each new start will produce a header and append that. The csv file looks like expected. Try to run with -Y autolevel -M level -M noise to get an idea what the reception levels are.

Seems like the program settles on noise being at ca. -31 dB if I use all the options you listed. Other than that, if I ask it to be a bit extra verbose (-vv) it (maybe) reads some data but most of them fail:

[markisol_decode] bits_per_row[0] = 1
[risco_agility_decode] Preamble not found

And so on.

hi HaxtonFale, on bookworm try gqrx (gui version) -(should be in repo) check if your RTL-SDR V4 was found and any signal at all at 433.9M

Next try -with -R2 and -R19, > rtl_433 -f 432.85M -s1024k -R2 -R19 -M level without -F ! -R2 Rubicson and -R19 nexus use the same decoder, so one or both should find the meter. and give an output. the -F json variant gives me: {"time":"2025-03-17 10:53:17","model":"Rubicson-Temperature","id":134,"channel":1,"battery_ok":1,"temperature_C":14.6,"mic":"CRC","mod":"ASK","freq":432.89728,"rssi":-0.544018,"snr":34.61048,"noise":-35.1545}

now test with -F csv

have fun

I'll check out gqrx shortly. As for the rest of your reply: see above for picking up any signals; I was able to see the signals on my Windows PC via SDR# (and decode with the rtl_433 plugin that's how I identified the protocol as Nexus) so I'm pretty confident the hardware can see it, and I just need to figure out how to configure it properly or work around obsolete dependencies (like I had to fix in URH). I ran rtl_433 with the parameters you provided, with timeout after 2 minutes (I know my sensor sends every ~70 seconds), and nothing arrived.

[HaxtonFale]

Running gqrx shows me a sea of noise.

sorry, i didnt know , u already checked it with sdr# on Windows.
the sea of noise (red noise) is normal, but there should be some signal from time to time, even some heavy pilot, jammers or TPMS signals.
for the depencies:
check the "BUILDING.md"

on Debian:
sudo apt-get install libtool libusb-1.0-0-dev librtlsdr-dev rtl-sdr build-essential cmake pkg-config
is all u need.

CMake:
git clone https://github.com/merbanan/rtl_433.git

cd rtl_433/
cmake -B build
cmake --build build --target install

or, if your CMake is V 3.13 or older:
( i startet this way years ago with DEB 10 )
cd rtl_433
mkdir build (if not present)
cd build
make
sudo make install.
done, now run rtl_433.

start rtl_433 -f433.85M -s1024k -M level -g +20 -S unknown.
-g +20 gives a fix gain of +24dB (see the start messages of rtl_433)

view the cus on https://triq.org/iqs/ to get an overview.

[markisol_decode] bits_per_row[0] = 1
[risco_agility_decode] Preamble not found
or
Possible Oregon Scientific v2.1 message, but sync nibble wasn't found. Raw
codes : {24}555555
inFactory, nor-tec, FreeTec NC-3982-913 temperature humidity sensor
codes : {40}f780641362

all these "errors" are normal -vv debug outputs, u will get a lot of them, no problem, but in between
there should be a message like this:

time : 2025-03-13 22:41:08
model : Oregon-v1
SID : 3
Channel : 2
Battery : 1
Temperature: 21.7 C
Integrity : CHECKSUM

or

time : 2025-03-17 23:41:11
model : Rubicson-Temperature
Channel : 1
Battery : 1
Temperature: 6.1 C
Integrity : CRC

im shure, the cracks here will help u more..

GN8

[HaxtonFale]

Yeah, the constant noise was weird because there was nothing that I have seen in SDR#, such as various regular signals or even the sensor talking. That's why I'm thinking that maybe some radio-specific dependency on my system is obsolete, since I had a similar problem with Universal Radio Hacker on Windows because it had an obsolete rtlsdr.dll that couldn't understand the V4 radio. I'll try building as soon as I'm able.

R19_nexus_433.92M_250k.cu8.zip

i made a very noisy "cu" of my -R19 Nexus

R19_nexus_433.92M_250k.cu8.zip)
open the cu8 with rtl_433 R19_nexus_433.92M_250k.cu8
it should show
-R2 Rubicson
or
-R19 nexus-TH

even a solight uses the same decoder for it

if no success, try a live version of Debian, bullseye, and install rtl_433 with the commands above.
tip: use another USB-port , and check if a DECT phone is in range, it can disturb your sdr dongle

have fun and success.