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name: wavecap-controller description: Control WaveCap-SDR server via MCP tools. Use when the user wants to tune frequencies, start/stop captures, manage channels, or control P25 trunking systems.

WaveCap-SDR Controller

Control the WaveCap-SDR server using MCP (Model Context Protocol) tools. This skill enables AI-assisted radio tuning, capture management, and trunking system control.

Prerequisites

1. WaveCap-SDR server running at http://localhost:8087
2. MCP enabled in wavecapsdr.yaml:

   mcp:
     enabled: true
     api_key: your-secret-key
   

3. Environment variable set: export WAVECAP_MCP_KEY=your-secret-key

Available MCP Tools

Device Management

Tool	Description
list_devices	List available SDR devices with capabilities
refresh_devices	Rescan for connected devices
get_device_health	Check SDRplay API service health

Capture Control

Tool	Description
list_captures	List active RF captures
create_capture	Create new capture (device, freq, sample_rate, gain)
get_capture	Get capture details
start_capture	Start a capture
stop_capture	Stop a capture
update_capture	Update capture settings

Channel Control

Tool	Description
list_channels	List channels for a capture
create_channel	Create demodulation channel (mode, offset, squelch)
update_channel	Update channel settings
delete_channel	Remove a channel
get_channel_metrics	Get RSSI, SNR, S-meter readings

P25 Trunking

Tool	Description
list_trunking_systems	List configured trunking systems
start_trunking	Start a trunking system
stop_trunking	Stop a trunking system
get_active_calls	Get active voice calls
get_talkgroups	List talkgroups with aliases

Utilities

Tool	Description
get_recipes	List available capture recipes
identify_frequency	Identify radio service by frequency
get_system_health	Overall system health check

Usage Examples

Tune to NOAA Weather Radio

User: "Tune to NOAA weather on 162.475 MHz"

Steps:
1. Call create_capture with center_hz=162475000, sample_rate=250000
2. Call create_channel with offset_hz=0, mode="nbfm", name="NOAA Weather"
3. Call start_capture

Monitor Marine VHF Channel 16

User: "Listen to marine distress channel"

Steps:
1. Call create_capture with center_hz=156800000, sample_rate=250000
2. Call create_channel with offset_hz=0, mode="nbfm", name="Ch 16 Distress"
3. Call start_capture

Check Signal Quality

User: "How's the signal on my current channel?"

Steps:
1. Call list_captures to get capture ID
2. Call list_channels to get channel ID
3. Call get_channel_metrics to get RSSI, SNR, S-meter

Start P25 Trunking

User: "Start monitoring the SA-GRN trunking system"

Steps:
1. Call list_trunking_systems to find system ID
2. Call start_trunking with system_id
3. Call get_active_calls to see current activity

Frequency Reference

Common frequencies:

• NOAA Weather: 162.400-162.550 MHz (NBFM)
• Marine VHF Ch 16: 156.800 MHz (NBFM)
• Aviation Guard: 121.500 MHz (AM)
• FRS/GMRS: 462.5625-467.7125 MHz (NBFM)
• 2m Ham Calling: 146.520 MHz (NBFM)

Demodulation Modes

• nbfm - Narrowband FM (12.5-25 kHz, public safety, ham, marine)
• wbfm - Wideband FM (200 kHz, broadcast radio)
• am - Amplitude Modulation (aviation, shortwave)
• usb / lsb - Single Sideband (ham, marine HF)
• p25 - P25 Phase 1 digital voice
• dmr - DMR digital voice
• raw - Raw IQ samples

Troubleshooting

MCP Connection Failed

1. Verify server is running: curl http://localhost:8087/api/v1/health
2. Check MCP is enabled in config
3. Verify API key matches environment variable

No Devices Found

1. Call refresh_devices to rescan
2. Check get_device_health for SDRplay issues
3. Verify SDR is connected via USB

Poor Signal Quality

1. Use get_channel_metrics to check SNR
2. Increase gain via update_capture
3. Adjust squelch via update_channel