{
 "slug": "rtl-sdr-blog-v4",
 "name": "RTL-SDR Blog V4",
 "maker": "RTL-SDR Blog",
 "category": "radio",
 "categoryLabel": "Radio & mesh",
 "status": "listed",
 "statusLabel": "Listed by maker",
 "description": "Start a receive-only software-defined radio setup over USB.",
 "goodFor": "Start a receive-only software-defined radio setup over USB.",
 "youNeed": "Compatible V4 driver, receiver software and a band-appropriate antenna.",
 "tradeoff": "V4, V4L and generic RTL-SDR dongles are different hardware.",
 "tags": [
  "radio",
  "sdr"
 ],
 "price": "US$37.95",
 "priceShort": "$37.95",
 "priceFrom": "rtl-sdr.com",
 "checked": "2026-09-15",
 "url": "https://gadgets.sh/devices/rtl-sdr-blog-v4/",
 "shortUrl": "https://gadgets.sh/rtl-sdr-blog-v4",
 "markdown": "https://gadgets.sh/devices/rtl-sdr-blog-v4.md",
 "image": "https://gadgets.sh/assets/rtl-sdr-blog-v4.jpg",
 "cutout": "https://gadgets.sh/assets/cutouts/rtl-sdr-blog-v4.webp",
 "shareCard": "https://gadgets.sh/og/rtl-sdr-blog-v4.jpg",
 "shops": [
  {
   "merchant": "RTL-SDR Blog",
   "label": "Buy from RTL-SDR Blog",
   "kind": "shop",
   "orderable": true,
   "url": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/buy-rtl-sdr-dvb-t-dongles/?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=rtl-sdr-blog-v4&utm_content=api",
   "note": null
  },
  {
   "merchant": "Amazon",
   "label": "Buy from Amazon",
   "kind": "shop",
   "orderable": true,
   "url": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CD745394?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=rtl-sdr-blog-v4&utm_content=api",
   "note": null
  }
 ],
 "specs": [
  {
   "group": "Receiver",
   "rows": [
    {
     "label": "Model",
     "value": "R828D tuner and 8-bit RTL2832U ADC; receive only.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/RTLSDR_V4_Datasheet_V_1_0.pdf"
    },
    {
     "label": "Coverage",
     "value": "500 kHz–1.766 GHz.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/RTLSDR_V4_Datasheet_V_1_0.pdf"
    },
    {
     "label": "Capture bandwidth",
     "value": "2.56 MHz stable; 3.2 MHz may drop samples.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/RTLSDR_V4_Datasheet_V_1_0.pdf"
    },
    {
     "label": "HF path",
     "value": "Built-in 28.8 MHz upconverter; compatible drivers handle the offset.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-blog-v4-dongle-initial-release/"
    },
    {
     "label": "Front end",
     "value": "HF/VHF/UHF triplexer with automatic broadcast-band notch filtering.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-blog-v4-dongle-initial-release/"
    },
    {
     "label": "Filtering trade-off",
     "value": "Launch measurements show reduced sensitivity on some bands; filters do not prevent all overload.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-blog-v4-dongle-initial-release/"
    },
    {
     "label": "Reference",
     "value": "1 ppm TCXO.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/RTLSDR_V4_Datasheet_V_1_0.pdf"
    },
    {
     "label": "RF port",
     "value": "SMA input, typically 50 Ω.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/RTLSDR_V4_Datasheet_V_1_0.pdf"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "group": "Power and antenna",
   "rows": [
    {
     "label": "USB",
     "value": "USB-A male; typical draw 250–270 mA.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/RTLSDR_V4_Datasheet_V_1_0.pdf"
    },
    {
     "label": "Bias tee",
     "value": "Software-switched 4.5 V, up to 180 mA.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/RTLSDR_V4_Datasheet_V_1_0.pdf"
    },
    {
     "label": "Bias-tee load",
     "value": "Do not enable into a directly connected DC-short antenna; follow the maker’s bias-tee wiring guide.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/v4/"
    },
    {
     "label": "Cooling",
     "value": "Aluminium enclosure and thermal pad dissipate heat.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/RTLSDR_V4_Datasheet_V_1_0.pdf"
    },
    {
     "label": "Package choice",
     "value": "V4 launched as dongle-only or antenna-set packages; confirm the exact seller bundle.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-blog-v4-dongle-initial-release/"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "group": "Software and revisions",
   "rows": [
    {
     "label": "Required drivers",
     "value": "Use a V4-aware library; older applications may need their RTL-SDR DLL replaced.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/RTLSDR_V4_Datasheet_V_1_0.pdf"
    },
    {
     "label": "Windows driver",
     "value": "Quickstart installs WinUSB for the RTL interface, normally Bulk-In Interface 0; verify USB ID 0BDA:2838:00.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-quick-start-guide/"
    },
    {
     "label": "Application selection",
     "value": "Select RTL-SDR USB as the SDR# source after driver setup.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-quick-start-guide/"
    },
    {
     "label": "Linux and macOS",
     "value": "V4 guide covers current librtlsdr installation; packaged old drivers can lack V4 support.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/v4/"
    },
    {
     "label": "Android",
     "value": "Maker documents V4 support through updated SDR Driver and supported SDR applications.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/v4/"
    },
    {
     "label": "HF settings",
     "value": "Use the upconverter path; V3 direct-sampling setup is not the V4 workflow.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-blog-v4-dongle-initial-release/"
    },
    {
     "label": "V4L is different",
     "value": "V4L uses R828S and a diplexed front end; its software-support requirements differ.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/buy-rtl-sdr-dvb-t-dongles/"
    },
    {
     "label": "Stock boundary",
     "value": "The 2023 launch page’s production forecast is historical, not a current V4 stock guarantee.",
     "source": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-blog-v4-dongle-initial-release/"
    }
   ]
  }
 ],
 "docs": [
  {
   "label": "V4 datasheet v1.0",
   "url": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/RTLSDR_V4_Datasheet_V_1_0.pdf"
  },
  {
   "label": "V4 design and launch details",
   "url": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-blog-v4-dongle-initial-release/"
  },
  {
   "label": "V4 platform and bias-tee guide",
   "url": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/v4/"
  },
  {
   "label": "Windows and SDR quickstart",
   "url": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-quick-start-guide/"
  },
  {
   "label": "Maker store and model distinction",
   "url": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/buy-rtl-sdr-dvb-t-dongles/"
  },
  {
   "label": "V4L introduction",
   "url": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-blog-v4l-lite-now-available-for-purchase/"
  }
 ],
 "blueprint": {
  "openness": "closed",
  "opennessLabel": "Closed design",
  "summary": "RTL-SDR Blog publishes a short datasheet/quick-start PDF with specs but no schematic, PCB, or BOM for the V4 dongle.",
  "files": [
   {
    "kind": "datasheet",
    "label": "RTL-SDR Blog V4 datasheet (PDF, quick-start style)",
    "url": "https://www.rtl-sdr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/RTLSDR_V4_Datasheet_V_1_0.pdf",
    "format": "PDF"
   }
  ],
  "repos": [],
  "parts": [
   {
    "part": "Realtek RTL2832U",
    "role": "DVB-T COFDM demodulator / USB 2.0 ADC",
    "datasheet": "https://www.realtek.com/Product/Index?id=615"
   },
   {
    "part": "Rafael Micro R828D",
    "role": "Tri-band (HF/VHF/UHF) tuner front end"
   }
  ],
  "notes": "Fetched the datasheet PDF directly: it is a short spec/quick-start sheet, not an engineering schematic. R828D has no public manufacturer datasheet page (Rafael Micro doesn't publish one); the Realtek product-index page was confirmed live for the RTL2832U.",
  "checked": "2026-09-27"
 },
 "sourceFiles": null,
 "firmware": [
  {
   "name": "RTL-SDR Drivers & Tools",
   "url": "https://github.com/osmocom/rtl-sdr",
   "tag": "Driver & SDK",
   "description": "Primary software defined radio receiver drivers, spectrum utilities, and raw I/Q capture tools."
  },
  {
   "name": "Gqrx SDR",
   "url": "https://github.com/gqrx-sdr/gqrx",
   "tag": "SDR GUI",
   "description": "Open source software defined radio receiver GUI powered by GNU Radio and Qt."
  }
 ],
 "chips": [
  "rtl2832u",
  "r820t2"
 ]
}