[Discuss-gnuradio] Question regarding frequency offset correction

[Perper]

Hi all,

In many applications very good synchronization of carrier and sampling
frequencies is required.
Available sources of signal not always have good clock reference. One of
the examples is cheap RTL SDR receiver based on a DVB-T dongle.
Without any additional effort to correct frequency offset it is
impossible to decode GPS or GSM transmissions with such receivers.

The frequency offset cannot be calibrated once as it changes with time
and temperature. Good way to fight with it is to implement some
correction algorithm that continuously computes frequency offset
estimates and applies correction by:
- performing frequency shifting and re-sampling in software,
- or changing some hardware parameter that enables tuning of the
frequency of an internal oscillator (like 'ppm' option in RTL SDR source).

My question: is it possible to build working frequency correction with
available GNU Radio blocks? Can you point some successful example? Or if
not - can you share some ideas how it can be done? I'm especially
interested in situations where frequency offset correction and
estimation are in separate blocks i.e:

                        ______freq. offset_________
                        |                         |
                        v                         |
|sig.source|-->|freq.offset|-->(processing)-->|freq. offset|
               |correction  |                  |estimation  | 
             

--
Best Regards,
Piotr Krysik