SDR figures
WiFi Router Functions as a Software-Defined Radio. The best-known software-defined radio (SDR) is the inexpensive RTL-SDR, adapted from a digital TV receiver. Now there is a new option: the MediaTek MT7996 chip in the Gemtek W1700K WiFi 7 router can also be turned into a capable SDR receiver. Code written by h0m3us3r streams data via the device’s SoC over Ethernet to a Linux machine running a web server.
GHz measurements
Depending on the version, the chip operates in the 2.4 GHz band, as well as the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands. This may not be enough for low-band users. Since a similar hack exists for 2.4 GHz on ESP32 radios, demand for upconverters is expected to arise. For now, WiFi packets can be observed in a waterfall display.