Logitech nano receiver teardown (USB DONGLE) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: sdttn
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2011, 12:46:54 pm
content: The chip (NRF LU1P18) from nordicsemi.http://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/2.4GHz-RF/nRF24LU1Phttp://img708.imageshack.us/img708/872/dscf1117n.jpghttp://img72.imageshack.us/img72/338/dscf1118y.jpghttp://img259.imageshack.us/img259/3795/dscf1119ei.jpghttp://img829.imageshack.us/img829/8793/dscf1120r.jpgThe links for larger images.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2011, 01:01:49 pm
content: For reference/comparison, here's what the cheap Deal Extreme bluetooth receiver looks likeDunno what the IC is, cant read it.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2011, 11:22:48 am
content: That is a Conwise CW6626M.(See page 24 of thedatasheet, the pinouts agree.)

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2011, 02:12:27 pm
content: is it that easy to build aUSB + 2.4GHz transceiver?!

author: lpc32
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2015, 03:24:16 am
content: Is that white component an antenna?And can the firmware be read?

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2015, 03:53:20 am
content: White component = 2.4GHz SMD ceramic antenna. Very common in miniature Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules and more predictable than PCB antennas on cheap FR4.Aurora

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2015, 07:46:09 am
content: I have a TrimSlice that came with a Bluetooth USB 2.0 Dongle, just plugged in in my system to see if Windows 7 recognized it and came up as CSR Bluetooth Chip. Device type: Bluetooth Radios, Manufacturer Realtek Semiconductor Corp.Hardware ID: USB\VID_0A12&PID_0001&REV_0134It looks the same as Psi but it's grey color, but I have not taking it apart. Internet searches for a Realtek Bluetooth USB 2.0 dongle shows them all with black plastic like Psi's.Totally forgot about it until I saw the picture on this threadI guess my desktop now has Bluetooth from now on

author: janekm
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 08, 2015, 08:27:04 am
content: Quote from: Aurora on January 08, 2015, 03:53:20 amWell I would argue that the usual reason for using a ceramic chip antenna is the smaller size that can be achieved (since the active element is folded in 3D space inside the ceramic, and a material with much higher dielectric constant compared to FR-4 can be chosen to further shorten the wavelength). The efficiency of a small ceramic chip antenna is considerably worse than a decent-sized (i.e. much larger) PCB antenna even without perfect control over the FR-4 dielectric constant.That tiny one on this dongle won't work great at all but it's enough for a mouse sitting next to the dongle or at most a few meters away.

author: lpc32
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2015, 03:18:36 pm
content: But it's not much of a size difference in the end. And it costs more.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2015, 04:22:06 pm
content: I have never used ceramic antenna as I always tend to use conventional monopole or dipole antenna and do not mess with PCB antennas very much in my transmitter designs. I found a useful little PDF that details antenna types and requirements.I attach it for your information. I was wrong about the ceramic antenna being better for poor dielectric FR4 applications. Apparently they need careful use with a good dielectric substrate and ground-plane !The only advantage I can see in them in small size.I do not see me designing using ceramic antennas any time soon.Aurora

author: lpc32
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2015, 12:32:50 am
content: Thanks.Now, if only someone tried modifying the firmware there...

author: Deckert
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2015, 07:30:20 pm
content: Hi,Did a quick opening of my Logitech nano receiver as well. Seems mine is possibly older, because it uses two discreet chips:NRF24L01- Ultra low power 2.4GHz RF Transceiver ICAT90USB162- Atmel 8-bit microFrom their site:Atmel 8-bit AVR RISC-based microcontroller combines 16KB ISP flash memory with read-while-write capabilities, 512B EEPROM, 512 bytes SRAM, 22 general purpose I/O lines, 32 general purpose working registers, two flexible timer/counters with compare modes and PWM, USART, programmable watchdog timerhttp://www.atmel.com/devices/at90usb162.aspxOscillator and antenna:Micro controller and 2.4GHz tranceiver chip:Some image processing to help highlight the Atmel chip number:

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 03:10:46 pm
content: The datecodes are from 2008 and that version looks quite hackable.

author: lpc32
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 05:18:54 pm
content: I found out recently that Logitech's "Nano" receiver is not the same as their "Unifying" one. Nothing like artificial limitations.