Official bladeRF forum

Hello!

I'm using BladeRF to monitor mobile network signals, and while it generally functions, the sensitivity is quite low. I've added a MAX2615 LNA, which has improved performance, but it still doesn't match the sensitivity of a typical mobile phone. What steps can I take to further enhance the sensitivity?

try these, in order:

Improve the front end: place a low-noise, frequency-specific LNA right at the antenna (better NF than MAX2615 if possible) and use a band-pass filter to remove out-of-band blockers.

Minimize loss: use a high-quality antenna, short low-loss coax/adapters, and proper 50Ω matching.

Check gain staging: adjust bladeRF RX gain settings and LNA bias so you’re not overloaded by nearby strong signals (add a small attenuator if needed).

Reduce interference: add shielding, ferrites, and a notch filter for known strong local signals.

Calibration & sampling: ensure correct tuning, sample rate, and decimation settings; update firmware/FPGA drivers.

Do these and you should see sensitivity closer to a phone.
bitlife