--- title: LakeShark firmware turns LilyGO T-Display P4 into a... description: LakeShark is open-source firmware by Samuel Reynolds that transforms the ESP32-P4-based LilyGO T-Display P4 into a handheld SDR scanner when paired with an... canonical: https://daily.dev/posts/lakeshark-firmware-turns-lilygo-t-display-p4-into-a-handheld-esp32-p4-sdr-scanner-pccz99b7f twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:site: @dailydotdev og:type: website og:site_name: daily.dev og:title: LakeShark firmware turns LilyGO T-Display P4 into a handheld ESP32-P4 SDR scanner | daily.dev og:description: LakeShark is open-source firmware by Samuel Reynolds that transforms the ESP32-P4-based LilyGO T-Display P4 into a handheld SDR scanner when paired with an... og:url: https://daily.dev/posts/lakeshark-firmware-turns-lilygo-t-display-p4-into-a-handheld-esp32-p4-sdr-scanner-pccz99b7f og:image: https://api.daily.dev/og/posts/pccZ99b7F.png og:image:alt: LakeShark firmware turns LilyGO T-Display P4 into a handheld ESP32-P4 SDR scanner og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 630 og:locale: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # LakeShark firmware turns LilyGO T-Display P4 into a handheld ESP32-P4 SDR scanner **[CNX Software](https://daily.dev/sources/cnx-software)** · 5 min read · 0 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary LakeShark is open-source firmware by Samuel Reynolds that transforms the ESP32-P4-based LilyGO T-Display P4 into a handheld SDR scanner when paired with an RTL-SDR Blog V3 or V4 dongle. It handles P25 Phase I trunking, analog FM/AM, POCSAG pager decoding, and 1090 MHz ADS-B reception directly on the microcontroller without needing a PC, Raspberry Pi, or smartphone. The device also uses its onboard SX1262 for LoRa and MeshCore messaging, an L76K GPS for offline mapping, and an ESP32-C6 for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth. The latest v2.5.0 release (September 27, 2026) adds aircraft trails, MeshCore node display, range rings, map palettes, a night theme, spoken callouts, and RAM optimizations enabling simultaneous MeshCore and ADS-B reception. An optional Flipper Zero companion app and hardware keyboard extend functionality with CC1101, nRF24, and NFC support. The firmware is GPL-3.0 licensed, flashable via a web tool, and buildable with ESP-IDF 5.4.3. Total hardware cost runs around $245-$255 including the optional keyboard. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Questions this post answers ### What hardware do I need to build a handheld SDR scanner with the LilyGO T-Display P4 and LakeShark firmware? You need the LilyGO T-Display P4 with the 4.1-inch 568x1232 AMOLED display and 16MB flash, plus an RTL-SDR Blog V3 or V4 dongle connected via the board's USB-A port. An optional MIX-RF keyboard adds CC1101, nRF24, and NFC capabilities. Total cost runs roughly $245-$255 including the optional keyboard, with the board around $145 and the dongle $30-$40. _Builders piecing together DIY SDR rigs can track hardware and firmware updates like this on daily.dev._ ### What new features did LakeShark v2.5.0 add for ADS-B and mapping? Released September 27, 2026, LakeShark v2.5.0 adds aircraft trails, MeshCore node display, and user marks to the offline MAP app, along with FOLLOW, GO TO, range rings, and eight map palettes. It also introduces a Night theme, spoken callouts for aircraft and mesh messages, and RAM optimizations letting MeshCore keep receiving while ADS-B runs simultaneously. _Developers following SDR and embedded firmware releases can keep tabs on updates like this via daily.dev._ ### Can I use a HackRF instead of an RTL-SDR dongle with LakeShark firmware on the ESP32-P4? HackRF USB IQ support at 2 MSPS is currently experimental in LakeShark, so the recommended and fully supported radio dongle is the RTL-SDR Blog V3 or V4 connected via USB-A. P25 Phase II and some Sub-GHz replay functions are also still experimental and under development. _Anyone evaluating experimental SDR hardware compatibility can follow firmware progress through daily.dev._ ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [Handheld Scanner Is A Radio Multi-tool](https://daily.dev/posts/handheld-scanner-is-a-radio-multi-tool-qweb9hhl8) · Hackaday · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [An ESP32-C5 USB dongle with microSD card slot, optional 0.96-inch OLED](https://daily.dev/posts/an-esp32-c5-usb-dongle-with-microsd-card-slot-optional-0-96-inch-oled-bpovxk7aw) · CNX Software · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [This ESP32 flight tracker shows what's in the sky around you, and it installs from a browser](https://daily.dev/posts/this-esp32-flight-tracker-shows-what-s-in-the-sky-around-you-and-it-installs-from-a-browser-khbdvwuut) · XDA Developers · 1 upvotes · 0 comments - [A standalone ESP32-S3 MeshCore communication terminal with color LCD, QWERTY keyboard](https://daily.dev/posts/a-standalone-esp32-s3-meshcore-communication-terminal-with-color-lcd-qwerty-keyboard-ql0wkedk8) · CNX Software · 1 upvotes · 0 comments - [This ESP32 project shows you what's flying overhead from the comfort of your desk](https://daily.dev/posts/this-esp32-project-shows-you-what-s-flying-overhead-from-the-comfort-of-your-desk-nvbtov26c) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#hardware](https://daily.dev/tags/hardware), [#iot](https://daily.dev/tags/iot), [#embedded](https://daily.dev/tags/embedded), [#lora](https://daily.dev/tags/lora) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/lakeshark-firmware-turns-lilygo-t-display-p4-into-a-handheld-esp32-p4-sdr-scanner-pccz99b7f) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization","name":"daily.dev","url":"https://daily.dev","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://daily.dev/apple-touch-icon.png","width":180,"height":180},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/dailydotdev","https://github.com/dailydotdev","https://www.linkedin.com/company/daily-dev-ltd"]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://daily.dev/#website","url":"https://daily.dev","name":"daily.dev","publisher":{"@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization"},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://daily.dev/search?q={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TechArticle","headline":"LakeShark firmware turns LilyGO T-Display P4 into a handheld ESP32-P4 SDR scanner","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/lakeshark-firmware-turns-lilygo-t-display-p4-into-a-handheld-esp32-p4-sdr-scanner-pccz99b7f","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://daily.dev/posts/lakeshark-firmware-turns-lilygo-t-display-p4-into-a-handheld-esp32-p4-sdr-scanner-pccz99b7f"},"datePublished":"2026-10-01T09:08:03.464Z","dateModified":"2026-10-01T09:08:27.233Z","description":"LakeShark is open-source firmware by Samuel Reynolds that transforms the ESP32-P4-based LilyGO T-Display P4 into a handheld SDR scanner when paired with an...","image":"https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/posts/7f852646ce7af4a86fcff173f85c3203?_a=AQAEuop","thumbnailUrl":"https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/posts/7f852646ce7af4a86fcff173f85c3203?_a=AQAEuop","isAccessibleForFree":true,"articleSection":"CNX Software","inLanguage":"en","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"daily.dev","url":"https://daily.dev","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://daily.dev/apple-touch-icon.png","width":180,"height":180}},"author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"CNX Software","logo":"https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/s--xozLJZc---/f_auto,q_auto/v1780213507/logos/cnx-software?_a=BAMAMiWQ0","url":"https://daily.dev/sources/cnx-software"},"commentCount":0,"discussionUrl":"https://daily.dev/posts/lakeshark-firmware-turns-lilygo-t-display-p4-into-a-handheld-esp32-p4-sdr-scanner-pccz99b7f","interactionStatistic":[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":0},{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":{"@type":"CommentAction"},"userInteractionCount":0}],"keywords":"hardware,iot,embedded,lora","timeRequired":"PT5M"} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://daily.dev"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"CNX Software","item":"https://daily.dev/sources/cnx-software"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"LakeShark firmware turns LilyGO T-Display P4 into a handheld ESP32-P4 SDR scanner"}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://daily.dev/posts/lakeshark-firmware-turns-lilygo-t-display-p4-into-a-handheld-esp32-p4-sdr-scanner-pccz99b7f#faq","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What hardware do I need to build a handheld SDR scanner with the LilyGO T-Display P4 and LakeShark firmware?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"You need the LilyGO T-Display P4 with the 4.1-inch 568x1232 AMOLED display and 16MB flash, plus an RTL-SDR Blog V3 or V4 dongle connected via the board's USB-A port. An optional MIX-RF keyboard adds CC1101, nRF24, and NFC capabilities. Total cost runs roughly $245-$255 including the optional keyboard, with the board around $145 and the dongle $30-$40. Builders piecing together DIY SDR rigs can track hardware and firmware updates like this on daily.dev."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What new features did LakeShark v2.5.0 add for ADS-B and mapping?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Released September 27, 2026, LakeShark v2.5.0 adds aircraft trails, MeshCore node display, and user marks to the offline MAP app, along with FOLLOW, GO TO, range rings, and eight map palettes. It also introduces a Night theme, spoken callouts for aircraft and mesh messages, and RAM optimizations letting MeshCore keep receiving while ADS-B runs simultaneously. 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