AB9IL.net: RTL-SDR Dongle Power Consumption

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Unmodified RTL-SDR Dongles

Unmodified RTL-SDR dongles typically consume between 200-500mA of current at 5V.

Circuit Modifications to Reduce Power Consumption

Several circuit modifications can reduce power consumption:

Power Consumption of Modified RTL-SDR Dongles

Modified RTL-SDR dongles can achieve significantly lower power consumption:

By implementing these modifications, RTL-SDR dongles can achieve much lower power consumption while maintaining their functionality for software-defined radio applications.



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