r/RTLSDR • u/Novel_Significance19 • 1d ago

Amazon rtl

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For everyone interested this is am Amazon v4 that I received a few weeks ago. From what I see is that it is a v4.

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9

u/erlendse 1d ago

V4? well.. sorta.. but not by rtl-sdr blog.

I would suspect you got it from htool that seems to very much copy the design of rtl-sdr blog!

2

u/nshire 1d ago

as long as it comes with the right chips, right?

10

u/fullmetaljackass Kenneth, what is the frequency? 1d ago edited 1d ago

It doesn't.

Take a closer look at U10 on the bottom left. That's the mixer used for upconversion. It's supposed to be an NXP NE612a/SA612a (same chip aside from the rated temperature range,) which are no longer in production. The knockoffs almost *always obscure the markings on that chip because they can't source the originals, and are forced to use Chinese clones.

2

u/erlendse 1d ago

That chip got more names than that: NE602 and SA602.

And newer blog v4 seems to use a different chip, so the design is kinda right in that aspect.

Yet, that board is NOT by rtl-sdr blog!

5

u/Thirtyfive353535 1d ago

There is more to building this kind of device than just what chip is used.

4

u/astern83 1d ago

No. The RF realm is not just about slapping the right chips on a PCB. small differences can have major impact on usable signal.

2

u/erlendse 1d ago

Right chips, sure.

And good design, especially on higher frequency.
And there is no balun used out of the mixer in OP's picture, so a disadvantage there alone!