CaribouLite RPi HAT

A fully open source dual-channel SDR Raspberry Pi HAT with a tuning range up to 6 GHz

Oct 25, 2022

Project update 7 of 9

Production and Assembly Progress

by David M

Hello, CaribouLite Backers!

It has been a while since the last optimistic update, and you all must have noticed, we had another major delay in our plan. It was partly due to our euphoria, when we managed to secure the components on July 2022 (rather than on June 2023!).

Unfortunately, we need a little more of your patience.

The FPGAs (Lattice ICE40LP1K-QN84) and the LNAs (MACOM MAAM-011229) posed additional supply issues, and have been delayed. We managed to source all needed LNAs from a third party on time, but it didn’t solve the FPGAs problem.

Our status today:

  1. All Rev2.8 PCBs are ready, tested and kept in a secure environment before assembly.
  2. The last batch of components were shipped a few days ago to the CM by Crowd Supply (Mouser).
  3. Testing rigs, production procedures, and packing instructions (including all needed paperwork, safety-leaflets, labels, etc.) are ready and have been delivered to the CM.
  4. All production logistics, including payments and deliverables to the CM have been processed.

This week we are entering our final stretch in this crazy flight. To shorten the assembly period, we are dividing the total assembly batch into two sub-parts -

  1. Assembly for backers - this will be the first batch of production, and is expected to be shipped to Mouser's logistical centre in three-four weeks after testing.
  2. All the rest - this batch will be produced separately, as soon as the boards for the backers are shipped for final processing and delivery.

Mouser shall need another few weeks of processing to finalize the fulfillment to our backers.

Which brings us to start of December for fulfillment.

We truly hope we shall not have any additional surprises down the road, and we are eagerly waiting for our first testing batch as well.


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