V1 built and validated · V2 prototypes being ordered Software-defined radio · full duplex

A real radio, wired straight into the Pi 5.

RFive is a software-defined radio add-on board that talks to the Raspberry Pi 5 over PCIe, not USB, transmits and receives at the same time, and timestamps every sample in hardware. Enough to run a cellular base station on a single-board computer.

Get notified at launch See what it runs

Rendering of the RFive board mounted on a Raspberry Pi 5, with RX and TX SMA connectors on the edge

Rendering of the V2 board, shown mounted on a Raspberry Pi 5 (not included). Final hardware may differ.

325 MHz – 3.8 GHzTransceiver tuning range, up to 20 MHz of bandwidth
Full duplexTransmit and receive at once, on separate SMA ports
PCIe ×1Direct to the Pi 5 · 122 MB/s measured on V1
Hardware timeOne sample counter for both directions

01 What it runs

Not a roadmap. Demonstrations, measured.

Every item below ran on the manufactured V1 board driven by a Raspberry Pi 5, unless it is marked as simulated. Work still in progress is marked as such.

LTE · NB-IoT · 5G NR

A cellular network on a single-board computer

NB-IoT base station (OpenAirInterface, Release 17): a commercial nRF9151 modem finds the cell, authenticates and receives an IP address. Five attach/detach cycles in a row, no failure.
LTE eNB on srsRAN, 50 PRB: cell confirmed on air, a test UE decodes its SIB1, and a 5-minute run drops no transmit frame.
LTE attach: not complete yet (the random-access response misses its window).
5G NR (OAI): attach and ping at 5 and 10 MHz in simulation only, through the board's real gateware and a model of the transceiver. Not on air.

Why it works: the FPGA meets transmit deadlines itself, so slot timing does not depend on Linux scheduling.

866 MHz · 8 MHz

Broadcast TV, sent and received by the same board

A standard 8 MHz DVB-T signal, transmitted and demodulated live on the Pi, then streamed to a web browser.

Decoded at 1.00× real time, 197 600 packets at 100 % sync.
Full duplex is not a line in a datasheet here: it is what the demo runs on.

Also: live H.265 video over the air from a lab transmitter, received by RFive: 100 frames decoded, none lost.

1090 MHz

Live aircraft map

ADS-B / Mode S decoding with readsb, the decoder the community already uses, served as a live map from the Pi.

One antenna switched between RFive and a USRP B200: 18 997 messages versus 19 489, a 2.6 % gap, inside the 12 % drift of air traffic measured over the session.

In short: on this test the two receivers are level.

Wideband receive

Everything you already use

OpenWebRX in the browser, GNU Radio flowgraphs, and any tool that speaks SoapySDR or the PlutoSDR interface.

PlutoSDR-compatible names: pyadi-iio (adi.Pluto()), SoapySDR and the IIO Oscilloscope work unmodified; SoapySDR also verified in full duplex.
15 of the 18 automated compatibility checks pass; the other 3 are libiio limits that fail the same way on a real PlutoSDR.

Day one: no new toolchain to learn.

DemonstratedIn progress or simulated

02 Why PCIe and timestamps

The Pi 5 grew a PCIe lane. RFive uses it.

The data goes over the Pi 5's PCIe connector through a flat cable. The 40-pin header carries only power and the ID EEPROM.

122MB/s

Measured link throughput

Receiving at 30.72 MSPS through the standard libiio path, with zero overflow, on V1. Full duplex has been tested up to 15.36 MSPS.

0dropped frames

Over 30 endurance runs

V1 passed its full acceptance plan, 73 cases out of 73. Every received frame carries the instant it was captured; every transmitted frame, the instant it must leave. Misses are counted, never hidden.

1counter

Shared by both directions

Receive and transmit live on the same clock, which is what slotted protocols such as LTE and NB-IoT require.

03 Specifications

Technical specifications

Measured figures come from the manufactured V1 board. Range and bandwidth are those of the transceiver chip. What is expected of V2 but not yet proven is labelled as such.

V1 · built and validated

Manufactured and running on a Raspberry Pi 5
Full acceptance plan passed: 73 of 73 cases, including 30 endurance runs with zero dropped frames
Every demonstration on this page, unless marked as simulated

V2 · heading to manufacture

Layout finished and design-rule checked
Faster FPGA speed grade: PCIe Gen2 becomes possible, not yet validated
LVDS data lines to the transceiver wired on the board; gateware still uses CMOS mode
Revised RF input matching
JTAG debug port on a Tag-Connect footprint, for AMD Vivado and its logic analyser

Transceiver	Analog Devices AD9363, 12-bit
Tuning range	325 MHz to 3.8 GHzTransceiver specification. Board-level performance above 3 GHz still to be measured.
Analogue bandwidth	Up to 20 MHz, receive and transmitTransceiver specification.
RF ports	2 × SMA: one receive, one transmit
Duplex	Full duplex
Sample rate	Receive only: 30.72 MSPS (V1, measured) Full duplex: tested up to 15.36 MSPS (V1)Higher full-duplex rates, through 12-bit sample packing or PCIe Gen2, are in development and not yet validated.
FPGA	AMD Artix-7
FPGA debug	JTAG on a Tag-Connect TC2030 footprint, plus four FPGA GPIO test pads beside itNothing to fit on the board: a standard TC2030-IDC-NL cable and TC-XILINX6-M adapter connect any Xilinx-compatible programmer to AMD Vivado, including the integrated logic analyser. The Pi configures the FPGA on its own; JTAG is only needed for debugging. V2 board.
Host link	PCIe ×1 to the Raspberry Pi 5, over a flat cableGen1 on V1, 122 MB/s measured. Gen2 possible on V2, not yet validated.
Timestamping	Hardware, both directions, shared sample counter
Power	5 V from the Pi's 40-pin header
Form factor	65 × 56 mm add-on board, with ID EEPROM and device-tree overlay
Host compatibility	Raspberry Pi 5 only (earlier models have no PCIe)
Noise figure, TX power	Not yet measured
Certification	Not FCC or CE certified at this stage

04 Bandwidth

Where the 20 MHz comes from

RFive's bandwidth is set by the transceiver chip, not by the Raspberry Pi or the PCIe link. Each layer of the data path has its own ceiling, listed here from the antenna to the CPU.

Transceiver chip	20 MHz of RF bandwidth, 325 MHz to 3.8 GHz. This is the AD9363's specification and the limit that applies today.The AD9361 and AD9364 share its package and pinout and are specified for 56 MHz.
PCIe link to the Pi 5	122 MB/s measured on V1 at PCIe Gen1. Full duplex has been tested up to 15.36 MSPS. Packing samples to 12 bits brings 30.72 MSPS in both directions to about 77 % of a Gen1 link.The V2 board supports PCIe Gen2, which doubles the link rate. Not yet validated.
Transceiver to FPGA	CMOS data interface in the current gateware.The V2 board routes these lines as LVDS pairs for higher sample rates. The gateware does not use them yet.
Pi 5 CPU	Four Cortex-A76 cores at 2.4 GHz run a 10 MHz LTE base station (50 resource blocks) and an NB-IoT base station in real time.Above a few tens of MSPS, filtering and decimation belong in the FPGA. That offload is planned.

05 Comparison

How it compares

Fifteen transceivers and one receive-only reference, from hobby boards to lab instruments. Of the boards listed, RFive is the only full-duplex transceiver built to mount on a Raspberry Pi 5 and use its PCIe link.

Device	Price (USD), status	Tuning range	Max bandwidth	ADC / DAC	Channels	Host link	HW timestamps	FPGA	Standalone	Open source
Hobby & entry
RFive V2, Pi 5 add-on board	To be announcedIn development; not FCC/CE certified	325 MHz – 3.8 GHz	20 MHz30.72 MSPS RX; full duplex tested to 15.36 MSPS (V1)	12-bit	1 RX + 1 TX, full duplex	PCIe ×1 to the Pi 5Gen1, 122 MB/s measured (V1); Gen2-capable	Yes, RX and TX on one counter, timed TX	Artix-7 XC7A25T	Yes, with the Pi 5	To be announced
ADALM-PLUTO PlutoSDR	$253 DigiKey; in production	325 MHz – 3.8 GHz	20 MHz	12-bit	1 RX + 1 TX, fullRev C/D: second pair on internal u.FL, unofficial	USB 2.0	No stock firmware	Zynq-7010 SoC	Yes, on-board ARM + Linux	Yes
HackRF One	~$330–340 last reseller price; being replaced by HackRF Pro	1 MHz – 6 GHz	20 MSPS	8-bit	1 port, half duplex	USB 2.0	No	CPLD (CoolRunner-II)	Limited with PortaPack add-on	Yes, hardware and software
HackRF Pro	$400 US resellers; shipping	100 kHz – 6 GHztunable to 7.1 GHz	20 MSPS40 MSPS at 4-bit	8-bit16-bit at low rates	1 port, half duplex	USB 2.0 (Type-C)	not documented	FPGA part not published	Limited standalone mode	Yes, hardware and software
CaribouLite RPi HAT	$119 / $69 ISM no longer available	30 MHz – 6 GHz+ sub-1 GHz channel	2.5 MHz4 MSPS	13-bit	2 channels, each half duplex	Pi SMI busnot supported on Pi 5	not documented	iCE40LP (1.28k LE)	Yes, with a Pi 4 or earlier	Yes
LimeSDR Micro	$249 pre-order, ships Dec 2026	30 MHz – 3.8 GHz	50 MHz FDD100 MHz TDD	not stated	1 TX + 2 RX	M.2 2280, PCIe Gen3 ×1	not stated	None NXP LA9310 DSP	No, needs a PCIe host	Yes, hardware and software
LimeSDR Mini 2.0	$600 Crowd Supply; in stock	10 MHz – 3.5 GHz	30.72 MSPS40 MHz RF bandwidth	12-bit	1 RX + 1 TX, full	USB 3.0	Yes	Lattice ECP5 (44k)	No	Yes, hardware and software
AntSDR E200 AD9363 / AD9361	$449–489 AD9361: $689–729; Crowd Supply	325 MHz – 3.8 GHzAD9361: 70 MHz – 6 GHz	20 MHzAD9361: 56 MHz	12-bit	2×2 MIMO, full	Gigabit Ethernet	With UHD firmware not with libiio firmware	Zynq-7020 SoC	Yes, on-board ARM	Schematics, firmware
AntSDR E310 AD9363 / AD9361	No maker price resellers vary widely	325 MHz – 3.8 GHzAD9361: 70 MHz – 6 GHz	20 MHzAD9361: 56 MHz; 10 MSPS to host	12-bit	2×2, half or full	Gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0	not documented	Zynq-7020 SoC	Yes, on-board ARM	Firmware, documentation
Pro & lab
bladeRF 2.0 micro xA4 / xA9	$540 / $860 Nuand store	47 MHz – 6 GHzRX from 70 MHz	56 MHz61.44 MSPS	12-bit	2×2 MIMO, full	USB 3.0	Yes	Cyclone V (49k / 301k LE)	No	HDL, firmware, host; schematics published
LimeSDR XTRX	$960 Crowd Supply; in stock	30 MHz – 3.8 GHz	120 MHz120 MSPS SISO, 90 MIMO	12-bit	2×2 MIMO, full	Mini PCIe	Yes	Artix-7 XC7A50T	No, needs a PCIe host	Yes, hardware and software
USRP B200mini	$1,503 Ettus/NI store	70 MHz – 6 GHz	56 MHz	12-bit	1 RX + 1 TX, full	USB 3.0	Yes	Spartan-6 XC6SLX75	No	Driver, FPGA; schematics published
USRP B200	$1,462 board only; Ettus/NI store	70 MHz – 6 GHz	56 MHz	12-bit	1 RX + 1 TX, full	USB 3.061.44 MS/s benchmarked	Yes	Spartan-6 XC6SLX75	No	Driver, FPGA; schematics published
USRP B210	$2,387 board only; Ettus/NI store	70 MHz – 6 GHz	56 MHz	12-bit	2×2 MIMO, full	USB 3.0	Yes	Spartan-6 XC6SLX150	No	Driver, FPGA; schematics published
Rincon Raptor	On request Rincon Research commercial price list	70 MHz – 6 GHz	56 MHz	12-bit	2×2 MIMO, full	2× USB 3.0	Yes 1 PPS, NMEA, NTP and 10 MHz inputs	Zynq UltraScale+ XCZU9EG	Yes, embedded Arm cores	Board support package
Receive-only reference
Airspy R2	~$169 dealers; varies	24 – 1700 MHz	10 MSPS IQ	12-bit ADC	1 RX, no transmit	USB 2.0	–	None	No	Host software

Where RFive leads

A transceiver board for the Pi 5. It plugs onto the Pi and talks PCIe. CaribouLite, the other transceiver board for the Pi, uses a bus the Pi 5 does not have, runs half duplex at 2.5 MHz, and is no longer sold.
Hardware timestamps with timed transmit, from one counter shared by RX and TX. Cellular stacks need this. The PlutoSDR's stock firmware does not have it.
A complete station with no PC. The Pi 5 is the host, over a link measured at 122 MB/s on V1. That is more than a USB 2.0 bus can carry.
PlutoSDR-compatible software from day one: libiio, pyadi-iio, SoapySDR and GNU Radio.

Where others lead

Frequency range. The AD9363 covers 325 MHz – 3.8 GHz. HackRF, bladeRF, the USRP B-series and the AD9361 versions of AntSDR reach 6 GHz.
Bandwidth. RFive has 20 MHz. Boards built on the AD9361 or AD9364 have 56 MHz, and the XTRX has 120 MHz.
Channels. RFive has one receive and one transmit channel. There is no 2×2 MIMO, which AntSDR, bladeRF, the B210 and the XTRX offer.
Price and maturity. RFive's price is not set. CaribouLite sold for $69–119, the LimeSDR Micro is on pre-order at $249, and the PlutoSDR costs about $253. RFive works only with a Pi 5, is not certified, and its noise figure and TX power are not yet measured.

Specifications are from manufacturers' published data, accessed in October 2026. Where a maker publishes no figure, the cell says so. Prices are in US dollars, before tax and shipping, from the maker's own store or Crowd Supply where one exists, and from authorized resellers otherwise. Prices change; check them before you buy. RFive figures are measured on the V1 board, and the V2 may differ. PlutoSDR is the common name of Analog Devices' ADALM-PLUTO. The AMD ZCU102 evaluation kit with an Analog Devices FMC radio card (AD-FMCOMMS series) is the common lab reference platform; it is not a stand-alone SDR product, so it is not listed.

06 Software

Open interfaces, familiar tools

A Linux kernel driver on the Pi, a C library, and adapters for the interfaces the SDR world already uses.

SoapySDR

Native driver=rfive module with hardware timestamps on receive and transmit.

GNU Radio

Flowgraphs through gr-soapy; used for the DVB-T demonstration.

PlutoSDR compatibility

pyadi-iio, SoapyPlutoSDR and the IIO Oscilloscope see a PlutoSDR-compatible device.

OpenAirInterface

NB-IoT eNB with a driver written for this board; 5G NR gNB in simulation only.

srsRAN 4G

LTE eNB through SoapySDR; cell on air, attach still in progress.

OpenWebRX · readsb

Web receiver and ADS-B decoding, running on the Pi.

# SoapySDR, Python
import SoapySDR
sdr = SoapySDR.Device("driver=rfive")
sdr.setSampleRate(SoapySDR.SOAPY_SDR_RX, 0, 15.36e6)
sdr.setFrequency(SoapySDR.SOAPY_SDR_RX, 0, 1090e6)
sdr.hasHardwareTime()   # True

07 Gallery

The V2 board

Renderings of the V2 design on a Raspberry Pi 5. For sustained streaming, the Pi 5 keeps its official Active Cooler: a tall factory-fitted 40-pin socket and 19 mm standoffs lift the board above it, no riser needed. Photographs of the first V2 boards will replace these renderings.

RFive board mounted on a Raspberry Pi 5 — Mounted on a Raspberry Pi 5

The PCIe flat cable looping from the RFive board to the Raspberry Pi 5 — PCIe ribbon to the Pi 5

RFive board above a Raspberry Pi 5 fitted with the official Active Cooler, raised by its tall 40-pin socket and 19 mm standoffs — With the Active Cooler

Side view of the stack: Raspberry Pi 5, Active Cooler, tall 40-pin socket, 19 mm standoffs, RFive board and PCIe ribbon — Tall socket + 19 mm standoffs

Close-up of the Active Cooler fan under the RFive board — Fan under the board

08 Launch

Coming to crowdfunding

The first board (V1) has been built and validated; the V2 layout is complete and has passed its design checks, and the first V2 prototypes are being ordered ahead of a crowdfunding campaign. Dates and pricing will be announced when they are firm.

Price to be announcedDevelopment hardware, not certified for sale to end users yet.