GSM Base Station Software Comparison
YateBTS
Professional-grade GSM base station software with excellent stability and comprehensive feature set for security testing.
- Excellent stability and reliability
- Comprehensive GSM protocol support
- Active development and community
- BladeRF Mini A4 optimized
- Professional documentation
Pros
- Best stability
- Professional support
- Security testing optimized
Cons
- Complex initial setup
- Requires compilation
Best For
Professional security testing, penetration testing, and production GSM deployments requiring maximum stability and reliability.
OpenBTS
Open-source GSM base station software with good community support and educational focus.
- Open source and free
- Good educational resources
- USRP hardware support
- Active community forums
- Limited BladeRF support
Pros
- Completely free
- Good documentation
- Educational focus
Cons
- Limited BladeRF support
- Less stable than YateBTS
Best For
Educational purposes, learning GSM protocols, and budget-conscious implementations with USRP hardware.
srsRAN
Modern 4G/5G base station software suite with excellent performance and next-generation cellular protocol support.
- 4G/5G LTE support
- Modern architecture
- Excellent performance
- Active development
- Limited 2G/GSM support
Pros
- 4G/5G capabilities
- Modern codebase
- High performance
Cons
- Complex setup
- Limited 2G support
Best For
4G/5G security testing, next-generation cellular research, and advanced mobile network penetration testing.
SDR Hardware for GSM Testing
BladeRF Mini A4
Price: $220-250 | The gold standard for GSM security testing with exceptional performance and reliability.
- 47MHz - 6GHz frequency range
- 56MHz bandwidth
- USB 3.0 SuperSpeed
- Excellent YateBTS support
- Professional-grade stability
Recommended For
Professional GSM security testing, penetration testing engagements, and production security research requiring maximum reliability.
LimeSDR Mini
Price: $139-159 | Cost-effective SDR with good performance for learning and basic testing.
- 10MHz - 3.5GHz frequency range
- 30.72MHz bandwidth
- USB 3.0 connectivity
- Good value for money
- Limited high-frequency stability
Recommended For
Educational purposes, learning GSM protocols, and budget-conscious security testing implementations.
HackRF One
Price: $350-400 | Popular entry-level SDR with wide community support but limited GSM capabilities.
- 1MHz - 6GHz frequency range
- 20MHz bandwidth
- Large community
- Good learning platform
- Limited GSM performance
Recommended For
RF learning, general SDR experimentation, and basic signal analysis. Not optimal for serious GSM security testing.
Complete Professional GSM Testing Toolkit
Software Stack
- YateBTS - Primary GSM base station
- Asterisk PBX - Call routing and management
- Wireshark - Protocol analysis and debugging
- GNU Radio - Signal processing and analysis
- Kalibrate-RTL - Frequency calibration
- OsmocomBB - Mobile station testing
Mobile Testing Tools
- QCSuper - Qualcomm baseband analysis
- Odin - Samsung firmware flashing
- Heimdall - Cross-platform firmware tool
- USSD Codes - Network diagnostics
- AT Commands - Modem control
- SIM Tools - SIM card programming
Network Analysis
- Nmap - Network discovery and scanning
- Metasploit - Penetration testing framework
- Burp Suite - Web application testing
- Aircrack-ng - Wi-Fi security testing
- Ettercap - MITM attack framework
- Bettercap - Modern MITM toolkit
Quick Start: Essential Tools Only
Minimum Viable Toolkit
Start GSM security testing with these essential tools:
Hardware
- Raspberry Pi 4 8GB
- BladeRF Mini A4
- 32GB MicroSD Card
Software
- Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
- YateBTS
- BladeRF Drivers
Testing
- Test Mobile Device
- Wireshark
- Basic USSD Codes