---
name: "radioctl"
section: "1"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/radioctl"
---

# radioctl(1)

control radio tuners

## NAME

**radioctl** – control radio tuners

## SYNOPSIS

**radioctl** \[**-anv**\] \[**-f** *file*\]

**radioctl** \[**-nv**\] \[**-f** *file*\] *name*

**radioctl** \[**-n**\] \[**-f** *file*\] *name*=*value*

## DESCRIPTION

The **radioctl** command displays or sets various variables that affect the radio tuner behavior. If a variable is present on the command line, **radioctl** prints the current value of this variable for the specified device. By default, **radioctl** operates on the */dev/radio* device.

The options are as follows:

- **-a**

  Print all device variables and their current values. This is the default, if no parameters are given to **radioctl**.

- **-f** *file*

  Specify an alternative radio tuner device.

- **-n**

  Suppress printing of the variable name.

- **-v**

  Show the possible values of queries.

- *name*=*value*

  Attempt to set the specified variable *name* to *value*.

Values may be specified in either absolute or relative forms. The relative form is indicated by a prefix of ‘+’ or ‘-’ to denote an increase or decrease, respectively.

The exact set of controls that can be manipulated depends on the tuner. The general format (in both getting and setting a value) is:

*name*=*value*

The *name* indicates what part of the tuner the control affects.

Write only controls:

- *search*

  Only for cards that allow hardware search. Can be ‘up’ or ‘down’.

Read-write controls:

- *channel*

  Specifies the TV channel. Integer value from 0 to 150. Using the *channel* control puts the tuner in “TV” mode.

- *chnlset*

  Specifies the TV channel set. The tuner uses the current channel set to derive a frequency from the *channel*. The following is a list of valid channel sets:

  - nabcst

    U.S.A. Broadcast

  - cableirc

    U.S.A. Cable IRC

  - cablehrc

    U.S.A. Cable HRC

  - weurope

    Western Europe

  - jpnbcst

    Japan Broadcast

  - jpncable

    Japan Cable

  - xussr

    Former U.S.S.R. and C.I.S. countries

  - australia

    Australia

  - france

    France

- *frequency*

  Specifies the FM frequency in MHz. Float value from 87.5 to 108.0. Using the *frequency* control puts the tuner in “radio” mode.

- *volume*

  Integer value from 0 to 255.

- *mute*

  Mutes the card (volume is not affected), ‘on’ or ‘off’.

- *mono*

  Forces card output to mono, ‘on’ or ‘off’. Only for cards that allow forced mono.

- *reference*

  Reference frequency. Can be 25 kHz, 50 kHz and 100 kHz. Not all cards allow the reference frequency to be changed.

- *sensitivity*

  Station locking sensitivity. Can be 5 mkV, 10 mkV, 30 mkV and 150 mkV. Not all cards allow the station locking sensitivity to be changed.

All the remaining controls (mode, signal, stereo and card capabilities) are read-only and can be viewed using option **-a**.

## ENVIRONMENT

The following environment variable affects the execution of **radioctl**:

- RADIODEVICE

  The radio tuner device to use.

## FILES

- */dev/radio*

  radio tuner device

## EXAMPLES

Print all device variables, along with their current values:

```
$ radioctl -a
volume=255
channel=0
chnlset=weurope
frequency=106.30MHz
mute=off
reference=50kHz
signal=on
stereo=on
mode: radio
card capabilities:
        manageable mono/stereo
```

## SEE ALSO

[radio(4)](/radio/4.md)

## HISTORY

**radioctl** command first appeared in OpenBSD 3.0.