# KrakenSDR (KrakenRF)

> A five-channel coherent RTL-SDR on one clock, made for radio direction finding and passive radar.

- **Category:** Radio & mesh
- **Availability:** Listed by maker
- **Price:** US$775, checked 2026-09-18
- **Good for:** Finding where a signal is coming from, which a single SDR cannot do.
- **You'll need:** A Raspberry Pi 4, five antennas and space to place them.
- **Trade-off:** Expensive, and receive only.
- **Page:** https://gadgets.sh/devices/krakensdr/

## Where to buy

| Shop | Status | Link |
|---|---|---|
| KrakenRF | Orderable | https://www.crowdsupply.com/krakenrf/krakensdr?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=krakensdr&utm_content=api |
| KrakenRF | Orderable | https://www.krakenrf.com/product-page/krakensdr?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=krakensdr&utm_content=api |

## Blueprint

**Closed design.** KrakenRF publishes manuals, enclosure drawings, and 3D-printable antenna-array parts, but no schematic/PCB source for the 5-channel coherent receiver board.

### Design files

- manual: [KrakenSDR Datasheet (PDF)](https://github.com/krakenrf/krakensdr_docs/blob/main/paper_manual/KrakenSDR%20Datasheet.pdf) (PDF)
- enclosure: [KrakenSDR enclosure drawing (PDF)](https://github.com/krakenrf/krakensdr_docs/blob/main/drawings/KrakenSDR.Enclosure.Drawing.1.pdf) (PDF)
- 3d-model: [5-element antenna array arm (3D print, OBJ)](https://github.com/krakenrf/krakensdr_docs/blob/main/antenna_array/3DPrint_Antenna_Array_Arm.obj) (STEP)
- bom: [Antenna array size calculator (XLSX)](https://github.com/krakenrf/krakensdr_docs/blob/main/antenna_array/Antenna_Array_Size_Calculator.xlsx) (XLSX)

### Source repositories

- [krakenrf/krakensdr_docs](https://github.com/krakenrf/krakensdr_docs) — docs, ★199

### Key parts

| Part | Role | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|
| R820T2 (x5, via RTL2832U front ends) | SDR tuner front end |  |

_Notes:_ Checked every repo in the krakenrf GitHub account (krakensdr_docs, krakensdr_doa, krakensdr_suite, gr-krakensdr, heimdall_daq_fw) — all are software (DOA algorithms, DAQ firmware/drivers) or the docs repo above; no PCB schematic for the 5-tuner coherent receiver board was found, so it is treated as closed hardware. R820T2/RTL2832U have no official manufacturer-published datasheet (Rafael Micro/Realtek do not publish public datasheets), so no link is given — omitted rather than guessed.

## Specifications

### Core hardware

| | |
|---|---|
| Processor | Five RTL-SDR receivers sharing a single local oscillator, with coherence hardware |
| Display | None |
| Radio | 24 MHz to 1766 MHz tuning range (standard R820T2 range) · 4.5 V bias tee on each port |
| Power | USB-C, 5 V at 2.4 A or more |

### Details from the project page

| | |
|---|---|
| Channels | Five channels, coherent-capable, all clocked to one oscillator |
| Synchronisation | Automatic coherence synchronisation in hardware, managed by the supplied Linux software |
| Software | Core DAQ and DSP software is open source and designed for a Raspberry Pi 4 |
| Direction finding | Android app, free for non-commercial use |
| To get started | The unit, a USB-C cable, a 5 V 2.4 A supply and antennas |
| Antennas | A set of five magnet-mounted antennas is sold separately at US$259 |
| Price note | US$775 is the version with the aluminium case, the one listed on Crowd Supply today |

### Buying

| | |
|---|---|
| Price | US$775 on Crowd Supply |
| Availability | In stock on the day of review |

## Firmware & community

- [KrakenSDR Direction Finding](https://github.com/krakenrf/krakensdr_doa) — Five-channel coherent SDR direction finding and passive radar software with real-time mapping.

## Documentation

- [Crowd Supply project page](https://www.crowdsupply.com/krakenrf/krakensdr)
- [Crowd Supply](https://www.crowdsupply.com)

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Source: gadgets.sh · https://gadgets.sh/devices/krakensdr/ · JSON: https://gadgets.sh/api/v1/devices/krakensdr.json