LimeSDR: Flexible, Next-generation, Open Source Software Defined Radio - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: Abdu
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 05:04:00 pm
content: Hackaday"What makes LimeSDR interesting is that it is using Snappy Ubuntu Core as a sort of app store. Developers can make code available, and end-users can easily download and install that code."Electronics Weekly"Crowd-funding changing the game for chip firms"Microwave Journal"Learn and test new communications techniques, unleash new applications and open up new markets using the powerful LimeSDR platform"Electronic Engineering Journal"...a low cost, app-enabled software defined radio (SDR) base station that can be programmed to support any type of wireless standard – putting significant power at the disposal of anyone who wants to innovate in the world of wireless"EE Times - Europe"Lime Microsystems have built a wide range of open source support tools and resources...from the outset"Wireless - Electronic Specifier"Create and deploy wireless network infrastructure almost anywhere at a fraction of today’s costs"Features & SpecificationsRF Transceiver:Lime Microsystems LMS7002M MIMO FPRF (Datasheet)FPGA:Altera Cyclone IV EP4CE40F23 - also compatible with EP4CE30F23Memory:256 MBytes DDR2 SDRAMUSB 3.0 controller:Cypress USB 3.0 CYUSB3014-BZXCOscillator:Rakon RPT7050A @30.72MHz (Datasheet)Continuous frequency range:100 kHz – 3.8 GHzBandwidth:61.44 MHzRF connection:10 U.FL connectors (6 RX, 4 TX)Power Output (CW):up to 10 dBmMultiplexing:2x2 MIMOPower:micro USB connector or optional external power supplyStatus indicators:programmable LEDsDimensions:100 mm x 60 mmBlock DiagramComparisonsHackRF One Ettus B200 Ettus B210 BladeRF x40 RTL-SDR LimeSDRFrequency Range 1MHz-6GHz 70MHz-6GHz 70MHz-6GHz 300MHz-3.8GHz 22MHz-2.2GHz 100kHz-3.8GHzRF Bandwidth 20MHz 61.44MHz 61.44MHz 40MHz 3.2MHz 61.44MHzSample Depth 8 bits 12 bits 12 bits 12 bits 8 bits 12 bitsSample Rate 20MSPS 61.44MSPS 61.44MSPS 40MSPS 3.2MSPS 61.44MSPS (Limited by USB 3.0 data rate)Transmitter Channels 1 1 2 1 0 2Receivers 1 1 2 1 1 2Duplex Half Full Full Full N/A FullInterface USB 2.0 USB 3.0 USB 3.0 USB 3.0 USB 2.0 USB 3.0Programmable Logic Gates 64 macrocell CPLD 75k 100k 40k (115k avail) N/A 40kChipset MAX5864, MAX2837, RFFC5072 AD9364 AD9361 LMS6002M RTL2832U LMS7002MOpen Source Full Schematic, Firmware Schematic, Firmware Schematic, Firmware No FullOscillator Precision +/-20ppm +/-2ppm +/-2ppm +/-1ppm ? +/-1ppm initial, +/-4ppm stableTransmit Power -10dBm+ (15dBm @ 2.4GHz) 10dBm+ 10dBm+ 6dBm N/A 0 to 10dBm (depending on frequency)Price $299 $686 $1,119 $420 ($650) ~$10 $299 ($199 early bird)

author: arekm
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 20, 2016, 08:14:26 pm
content: Almost finished ->https://www.crowdsupply.com/lime-micro/limesdrClose but still needs 50 k$.

author: matseng
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 09:20:29 am
content: Yesterday there was two pledges at the $99,000 -level, today there's only one. I guess both of them are either fake or shills....

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 04:24:18 pm
content: Im not sure how much it matters here but may be relevant if this is fake. A while ago I was looking for some kind of broadband receiver chips for SDR and I came across either a company or a chip called lime. This by far was the best chip out there I could find... it was 16 bits I think had a ton of bandwidth range along with a nice IF bandwidth 20 or 30mhz I think, AND 2x MIMO. Anyways I e-mailed these guys and explained that I wanted to use there chip in an SDR I asked for a sample but also told them I had no problem buying a few of them.Anyways I never received an e-mail back from the company, I cant even remember how I found these lime chips to begin with, but they looked to good to be true.Kind of off but I know the airspy uses the realtek r280t2 chips found in dongles, how does one wanting to get an SDR get access to chips like this? Air spy has shown that the realtek stuff makes a good SDR if you ditch the controller chips and add a nice transverter. The USRP and HackRF are the only broadband usb SDR's that use chips you can actually buy. Well maybe the funcube does but I haven't looked much in to the funcube considering its crappy IF bandwidth, id assume its an audio codec. Being a home brewer and consultant I have no idea how this businesses stuff work when it comes to trying to prototype with a chip that you cant just buy of digikey or at least sample/buy from the manufacturer like realtek, broadcom, and lime.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 07:00:49 pm
content: Quote from: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin on June 21, 2016, 04:24:18 pmhttp://www.digikey.nl/product-search/en?mpart=LMS6002DFN

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2016, 11:38:09 pm
content: Well I feel pretty stupid now.... I don't recall the site listing distributors or any where to buy links though. I had never hear of lime so I guess I just didn't even bother checking distributors.Im glad you gave me the link though Im defiantly going to give the datasheet a read and maybe pick one of these bad boys up!What about the realtek chips, how would one go about procuring those? I know the AirSpy/SDR# guys use them but im sure if I sent them an e-mail they probably wouldn't want to answer my question because I would have less of a reason to buy there product. I would imagine these are easier to get started with compared to the lime, #1 there not QFN and there much cheaper than 30 dollars per unit.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2016, 07:30:32 am
content: Quote from: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin on June 21, 2016, 11:38:09 pmI have not searched for that one, but if you want to experiment a bit just get yourself one of those cheap dongles and take the chip off.

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2016, 04:14:59 pm
content: I have thought about that, but there are two issues.... the R802t2 doesnt have a proper data sheet with register list, unless you sign an NDA I would guess. Secondly... if I build an SDR from scratch that isn't audio based you bet your butt Im going to try to make it much better than an Rtl stick and try to get it to around 50 bucks then sell it on tindie... cant do that with one chip :/

author: zl2wrw
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2016, 05:52:10 am
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on June 21, 2016, 07:00:49 pmI believe that the LMS6002DFN is the chipset used successfully in the BladeRF - IMHO Lime probably know what they are doing as far as producing SDR chips is concerned.PS: I am a backer of the LimeSDR crowdsupply campaign.

author: rfbroadband
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2016, 09:31:04 pm
content: I have characterized the Lime Chips in detail. They are ok but the ADI RF SDR chips have much better performance.