🚀 Complete Guide to YateBTS on Raspberry Pi 4: Build Your Own GSM Base Station

Learn how to build a complete GSM base station with YateBTS on Raspberry Pi 4. This comprehensive guide covers everything from hardware setup to advanced configuration, perfect for emergency communication, research, or educational purposes.

🎯 What You'll Learn

• Complete hardware requirements and setup
• Step-by-step YateBTS installation process
• BladeRF Mini A4 configuration and optimization
• Network configuration and security setup
• Performance tuning and troubleshooting
• Real-world use cases and applications

📋 Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

• Raspberry Pi 4 (8GB RAM recommended)
• BladeRF Mini A4 SDR device
• GeeekPi DeskPi Lite Case with cooling
• M.2 SSD (2TB recommended)
• Ubuntu 22.04 LTS installed
• Basic Linux command line knowledge

🔧 Hardware Setup

Raspberry Pi 4 Configuration

The Raspberry Pi 4 with 8GB RAM provides sufficient processing power for YateBTS operations. Here's how to optimize it:

# Enable GPU memory split
sudo raspi-config
# Advanced Options > Memory Split > 16

# Enable SPI and I2C
sudo raspi-config
# Interface Options > SPI > Enable
# Interface Options > I2C > Enable

BladeRF Mini A4 Setup

The BladeRF Mini A4 is our recommended SDR device for its excellent performance and compatibility:

# Install BladeRF drivers
sudo apt update
sudo apt install bladerf

# Verify device detection
bladeRF-cli -p
# Should show: Found a bladeRF with device identifier: 0x0100

Cooling and Power Management

Proper cooling is essential for stable operation:

• Enable PWM fan control in the GeeekPi case
• Monitor CPU temperature during operation
• Use a quality 5V/3A power supply
• Consider active cooling for extended use

💻 Software Installation

System Preparation

Start with a clean Ubuntu 22.04 LTS installation:

# Update system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Install essential packages
sudo apt install -y build-essential cmake git wget curl
sudo apt install -y libusb-1.0-0-dev libfftw3-dev
sudo apt install -y libbladerf-dev libbladerf2

YateBTS Installation

Install YateBTS from source for best performance:

# Clone YateBTS repository
git clone https://github.com/yatebts/yatebts.git
cd yatebts

# Configure and build
./autogen.sh
./configure --enable-bladerf
make -j4
sudo make install

Configuration Files

Create essential configuration files:

# Create YateBTS configuration directory
sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/etc/yatebts

# Copy default configurations
sudo cp yatebts.conf /usr/local/etc/yatebts/
sudo cp radio.conf /usr/local/etc/yatebts/

⚙️ Network Configuration

GSM Network Settings

Configure your GSM network parameters:

# Edit yatebts.conf
sudo nano /usr/local/etc/yatebts/yatebts.conf

# Set network parameters
[GSM]
MCC=001
MNC=01
ShortName=RFS-BTS
LongName=RFS Portable BTS
LocationAreaCode=1
CellID=1

Radio Configuration

Configure the BladeRF radio settings:

# Edit radio.conf
sudo nano /usr/local/etc/yatebts/radio.conf

# Set radio parameters
[Radio]
Device=bladerf
Frequency=900000000
Bandwidth=200000
Gain=40

🔒 Security Configuration

Authentication Setup

Configure SIM authentication for security:

# Create authentication database
sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/var/lib/yatebts
sudo sqlite3 /usr/local/var/lib/yatebts/auth.db

# Create authentication table
CREATE TABLE auth (
    imsi TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
    ki TEXT NOT NULL,
    opc TEXT,
    amf TEXT
);

Firewall Configuration

Secure your system with proper firewall rules:

# Configure UFW firewall
sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw allow ssh
sudo ufw allow 5060/udp  # SIP
sudo ufw allow 5060/tcp  # SIP
sudo ufw allow 10000:20000/udp  # RTP

🚀 Performance Optimization

System Tuning

Optimize your Raspberry Pi for YateBTS:

# Set CPU governor to performance
echo performance | sudo tee /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu*/cpufreq/scaling_governor

# Increase network buffer sizes
echo 'net.core.rmem_max = 16777216' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
echo 'net.core.wmem_max = 16777216' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
sudo sysctl -p

BladeRF Optimization

Optimize BladeRF performance:

# Set optimal gain settings
bladeRF-cli -g 40

# Configure sample rates
bladeRF-cli -s 2000000

# Enable bias tee if needed
bladeRF-cli -b 1

🧪 Testing and Validation

System Tests

Verify your installation:

# Test BladeRF connection
bladeRF-cli -p

# Test YateBTS startup
sudo yatebts -c /usr/local/etc/yatebts/yatebts.conf

# Check system resources
htop
iostat -x 1

Network Testing

Test your GSM network:

• Use a GSM phone to scan for networks
• Verify your BTS appears in network list
• Test call establishment and quality
• Monitor signal strength and coverage

📊 Monitoring and Maintenance

System Monitoring

Set up monitoring for your BTS:

# Monitor CPU temperature
watch -n 1 'cat /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp'

# Monitor memory usage
watch -n 1 'free -h'

# Monitor network traffic
watch -n 1 'iftop'

Log Management

Configure proper logging:

# Configure YateBTS logging
sudo nano /usr/local/etc/yatebts/yatebts.conf

# Set log levels
[Logging]
Level=info
File=/var/log/yatebts.log
MaxSize=10MB
MaxFiles=5

🎯 Real-World Applications

Emergency Communication

Your portable BTS can provide critical communication during emergencies:

• Natural disaster response
• Remote area communication
• Temporary event coverage
• Research and testing

Educational Use

Perfect for learning about mobile networks:

• GSM protocol understanding
• SDR technology exploration
• Network security research
• Telecommunications education

🔧 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Here are solutions to common problems:

BladeRF Not Detected

# Check USB connection
lsusb | grep -i blade

# Reload USB modules
sudo modprobe -r usb-storage
sudo modprobe usb-storage

High CPU Usage

# Check for thermal throttling
cat /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp

# Optimize cooling
sudo apt install fancontrol
sudo pwmconfig

Poor Signal Quality

• Check antenna connections
• Verify frequency settings
• Adjust gain settings
• Check for interference

📚 Additional Resources

Documentation

• Getting Started Guide
• Hardware Specifications
• Troubleshooting Guide
• API Reference

Community Support

• Discord Community
• YateBTS GitHub
• BladeRF Documentation

🎉 Conclusion

Congratulations! You now have a complete GSM base station running on Raspberry Pi 4. This setup provides a powerful platform for emergency communication, research, and education.

Remember to:

• Follow local regulations for radio transmission
• Use appropriate antennas for your use case
• Monitor system performance regularly
• Keep your system updated and secure

For more advanced configurations and optimizations, check out our Performance Guide and Security Guide.