StratuxRTL-SDR Blog V4 on Stratux
Yes, the RTL-SDR Blog V4 works with the current Stratux image. Stratux v2.0 ships the librtlsdr 2.0.2 driver, and V4 support has been in that driver since 2023. So there's nothing extra you'll need to install. Before you buy one, check that it fits your case, and know that the V4 is out of production and fakes are common.
What the V4 is
The RTL-SDR Blog V4 is a USB software-defined radio built on the RTL2832U chip and the Rafael Micro R828D tuner. Its maker, RTL-SDR Blog, lists a 1 PPM TCXO, an SMA connector and switchable notch filters for broadcast AM, FM and DAB. The metal enclosure doubles as a heatsink. Its user guide adds a software-switched 4.5 V bias tee.
The R828D tuner covers 24 to 1,766 MHz on the V4, so it reaches 1090 MHz with room to spare. The dongle also tunes down to 500 kHz through its built-in HF upconverter. That matters, since not every R828D stick does. rtl-sdr.com's tuner table notes other R828D models may cut off around 1 GHz, which is below 1090.
Why the driver matters
The V4 needs an updated driver. Its maker says older drivers can give you no signals, wrong frequencies or garbled signals (V4 user guide). Here's where Stratux stands:
| Stratux image | librtlsdr | V4 support |
|---|---|---|
| v2.0 (Feb 2025), v2.0-pre5, v2.0-pre6 | 2.0.2, built by the stratux/rtlsdr repo | Yes |
| Europe Edition 1.6 (eu030 to eu032) | Built from the exact Osmocom commit that added V4 support (Aug 2023) | Yes |
Sources: the image build script image_build/stage2/10-stratux/01-run.sh in stratux/stratux at the v2.0-pre4, pre5 and pre6 tags. Then the Osmocom rtl-sdr history, where the commit "add rtl-sdr blog v4 support" is part of v2.0.0 and later.
Stratux doesn't check which tuner a stick has. It uses any working RTL-SDR and logs the tuner type, per the project's SDR docs. Those docs describe the current source tree, not a specific release. We haven't checked older Stratux images. If you're on one, update the software first.
Setting up a V4 as the 1090 radio
On current builds the V4 goes in as the 1090 MHz radio. The 978 MHz side is normally the red UATradio, covered in choosing radios.
- Check the fit. The standard case is built for nano-size sticks. The V4 isn't sold in a nano size, so measure your case or plan on a USB extension or a different case. See 3D-printed cases.
- Plug it in with the 1090 antenna on its SMA port.
- Open the Status page at 192.168.10.1 and check the SDR devices count and the 1090ES message bar. Do it outdoors with the antenna attached. On the ground, a low count can be normal.
- Optional: tag it. A serial like
stx:1090:0pins it to 1090. Untagged sticks still get used, so you can skip this. The Stratux toolsdr-tool.shwrites the tag withrtl_eeprom -s, which changes only the serial. That works on the Stratux itself only on v2.0-pre6. v2.0 and v2.0-pre5 left thertl_eepromtool off the image (issue #362, fixed in PR #442). On those, tag the stick on a Linux PC withrtl_eeprom -s stx:1090:0, or update to pre6 first.
Don't touch the manufacturer or product strings. The driver spots a V4 by RTLSDRBlog and Blog V4 in those fields, and the maker says they have to stay that way. So skip the -m and -p options of rtl_eeprom.
Stratux doesn't switch on the bias tee. It passes no bias-tee option to dump1090, and nothing else in its code turns it on. So an LNA that needs bias power won't get it from a stock image. You'd need to power it another way.
The V4L and fakes
RTL-SDR Blog ended V4 production in May 2026. Rafael stopped making the R828D, and the last batch of chips was faulty. The replacement is the V4L ("Lite") on the R828S tuner, also a limited run. The V3 stays in production.
The V4L is the open question for Stratux. Its driver support landed in librtlsdr 2.0.3 in August 2026. Every Stratux image so far, including v2.0-pre6 (Oct 2026), ships 2.0.2. On 2.0.2 the R828S shows up as a plain R820T/R860, so the V4L runs without its own driver code. We haven't seen a report either way. If you try one, post your 1090 message counts in the Discord.
Watch for fakes. The maker warns that many marketplace V4 listings are copies, often a V3-clone board in a V4-style case. It points buyers to the reseller list on its store page. To check a stick, run rtl_eeprom on a Linux PC. A genuine V4 reads Manufacturer: RTLSDRBlog and Product: Blog V4.
Is it worth it over a nano stick?
For Stratux, probably not, if a nano stick already fits your case. rtl-sdr.com rates the R820T2, R860 and R828D as "much more sensitive at 1090 MHz" than the older E4000. That puts the V4 in the same tuner group as any R820T2 or R860 stick. The V4's HF and broadcast filtering helps SDR hobbyists more than a cockpit receiver. It makes more sense in a home feeder or a custom build with room for a bigger stick.
Frequently asked questions
Does Stratux support the RTL-SDR Blog V4?
Yes. Stratux v2.0 and the later pre-releases ship librtlsdr 2.0.2, which includes the V4 support RTL-SDR Blog added in 2023. You don't need to install a separate driver.
Does the RTL-SDR Blog V4L work with Stratux?
Not known yet. The V4L driver support landed in librtlsdr 2.0.3 in August 2026. Every Stratux image so far ships 2.0.2, so the V4L runs without its own driver code. We haven't seen any reports yet.
Can I tag a V4 with a stx:1090 serial?
Yes, but you don't have to. On v2.0-pre6 the serial tool works on the Stratux itself. On v2.0 and pre5 the rtl_eeprom tool is missing, so tag it on a Linux PC. Change only the serial. The driver recognizes a V4 by its manufacturer and product strings.
Will a V4 fit in my Stratux case?
Check before you buy. The standard case is built for nano-size sticks, and the V4 isn't sold in a nano size.
Next step: plug the V4 in and check the 1090ES message bar on the Status page outdoors.
Get help
Ask in the Discord.