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Key Sponsors

Vodafone, a key global operator, is backing LimeNET and supporting us to take our software defined radio technology mainstream with operator deployments. Read the full update here.

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Our mission is to democratise wireless innovation. Last year, we launched the LimeSDR campaign as the first step towards this goal. Now, we are launching LimeNET, a new campaign that offers the community a line of pre-qualified hardware with integrated LimeSDR technology. There are three main LimeNET hardware stacks: Mini, Enterprise, and Base Station - all of them are pre-qualified to work with the recently announced Ubuntu App Stores, so you can easily find, share, and publish apps specifically written with LimeSDR technology in mind.

What’s New?

If you’ve been following the LimeSDR project, here’s a summary of what’s new in LimeNET:

• Complete, qualified systems of LimeSDR + commodity hardware that will work with the Ubuntu app store:
  • LimeNET Mini
  • LimeNET Enterprise
  • LimeNET Base Station
• A new, high-performance member of the LimeSDR family - the LimeSDR QPCIe board
• A cellular backhaul connectivity gateway
• Long-range power amplifier offered as part of LimeNET Base Station or on its own
• If you already have a LimeSDR, you can put it to use as an external peripheral with LimeNET hardware
• If you ordered a LimeSDR with Aluminum Kit before the launch of the LimeNET campaign, you get a generous discount on LimeNET Enterprise
• Out-of-the-box support for the HF band (LimeNET Mini only)

Read on for details!

Open Radio Stack

LimeNET extends LimeSDR’s open source software-defined radio ecosystem by offering an array of standard LimeSDR-based hardware configurations on which you can run Ubuntu Core to find, share, publish, and deploy pre-packaged applications (“snaps”). The idea is to replace specialized, closed equipment, software, and knowledge with open source software and commodity hardware. LimeNET is an open alternative to the incumbent, closed wireless model.

What is LimeNET For?

LimeNET is the next step in the evolution of software defined radio. What you actually use it for is completely up to your imagination (and the imagination of thousands of other developers). Broadly speaking, LimeNET is a great option for any application that is a convergence of wireless technologies, such as:

• IoT
• Media streaming
• Test & measurement
• Cellular base stations

For example, at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017, there was a demonstration of a complete 4G network running on a commodity laptop connected to a software-defined radio dongle (a LimeSDR!) streaming HD video to standard, off-the-shelf smart phones. Several aspects of this demo were unique:

• Complete LTE stack and EPC was running on low-cost, high-volume equipment
• The APIs and drivers for the radio were completely open source and available to developers worldwide
• None of the software or hardware came from incumbent cellular suppliers

This is just one example. There are plenty of others involving HAM, radio astronomy, AM/FM, GNSS, and more.

Hardware Offerings

In this campaign, we’re offering the LimeNET Mini, LimeNET Enterprise, LimeNET Base Station, and many of their constituent components.

LimeNET Mini

Complete with an integrated LimeSDR USB micro Type-B with added shielding, this mini PC will get you up and running with the LimeNET app store in no time.

• Mainboard
  • Form Factor: 105 x 110 mm
  • Processor: Intel Core i7-7500U, two cores, 2.7 GHz (3.5 GHz boost)
  • Memory: 32 GB (2 x 16 GB SO-DIMM) DDR4 2133 MHz
  • Storage: 512 GB SSD
  • Video
    • Intel HD Graphics 620
  • Mini DisplayPort 1.2: 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz
  • HDMI 2.0: 4096 x 2160 @ 60 Hz
  • Audio: Realtek ALC255
  • Connectivity
    • 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C
    • 1 x USB 3.1
    • 2 x USB 3.0
    • 1 x Gigabit Ethernet
  • Wi-Fi + Bluetooth (tentatively Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168)
• Power Supply
  • Power adaptor: 19 VDC input @ 3.42 A, 65 W
  • Cooling: single fan
• Enclosure
  • Material: injection molded plastic and stainless steel
  • Dimensions: 11.2 x 12.0 x 5.2 cm (exclusive of antennas)
  • Partitions: top (black) holds mini PC, bottom (green) holds LimeSDR
• Radio (Integrated)
  • Board: LimeSDR USB micro Type-B
  • Shielding: attached to LimeSDR
  • Antennas: five (of which one is dedicated for HF reception)
  • Cables: 5 x U.FL (internal and pre-installed)
  • Transmit Range: Approximately 15 meters for LTE
  • Power Amplifier: None
  • Filters: None
• Pricing & Availability
  • Estimated first shipment: October 2017
  • Pre-order: $2,399 USD
  • Retail: $2,599 USD

The LimeNET Mini available both with and without the LimeSDR USB micro Type-B board and associated cabling and antennas pre-installed - complete and bare versions, respectively. You can use an external LimeSDR USB board with a bare version simply be using one of the LimeNET Mini’s external USB ports. However, internally integrating your own LimeSDR within the LimeNET Mini is not supported, as it requires careful soldering to add the RF shielding necessary to protect the integrity of the RF signals from noise from the mini PC. In fact, the bare version’s enclosure doesn’t even include room for an integrated LimeSDR.

Special Offer for LimeSDR Backers

As a token of appreciation to our early LimeSDR backers, we’re making available for a limited time the bare (i.e., without integrated LimeSDR) version of the LimeNET Mini computer at a $400 discount off its standard campaign price. This offer is only available to backers of the LimeSDR USB boards (Type-A, micro Type-B, Aluminum Kit, and respective early birds) who ordered before the launch of the LimeNET campaign (before May 23, 2017). You can take advantage of this discount by entering your original LimeSDR order number in the comments field of your order for a LimeNET Mini. This discount is available until July 13, 2017. Thank you for your early support!

LimeNET Enterprise

This high-performance PC comes with an external LimeSDR with Aluminum Kit.

• Mainboard
  • Processor: Intel Core i7-6700, four cores, 3.4 GHz (4 GHz boost)
  • Memory: 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4 2133 MHz
  • Storage: 1 TB HDD
  • Video: Ultra HD, 1 x DisplayPort + 1 x HDMI
  • Audio: headphone jack + microphone jack
  • Connectivity:
    • 2 x USB 3.0
  • 6 x USB 2.0
    • 1 x Gigabit Ethernet
• Power Supply
  • Power adaptor: 19 V @ 4.73 A, 90 W
  • Cooling: custom heat pipe cooling with two fans
• Enclosure
  • Material: metal
  • Dimensions: 16.5 x 19.0 x 4.3 cm
• Radio (External)
  • Board: LimeSDR with Aluminum Kit
  • Shielding: CNC-milled aluminum enclosure
  • Antennas: 4 x
  • Cables: 4 x U.FL (inside aluminum case)
  • Transmit Range: Approximately 15 meters for LTE
  • Power Amplifier: None
  • Filters: None
• Pricing & Availability
  • Estimated first shipment: October 2017
  • Pre-order without LimeSDR: $2,200* USD
  • Pre-order with LimeSDR: $2,899 USD
  • Retail: $2,999 USD

* The reduced-price version of LimeNET Enterprise without the LimeSDR with Aluminum Kit is available only to backers of the LimeSDR with Aluminum Kit who placed their order during the original LimeSDR campaign and pre-order period (April 28, 2016 - May 18, 2017). This special pricing is our way for thanking them for their early support and it is one small way we can try to make up for the late delivery of their units.

LimeNET Base Station

The LimeNET Base Station is a limited-edition, highly discounted combination of the LimeNET Core and LimeNET Amplifier Chassis detailed below. This is everything you need to set up your own cellular network, all in one compact package and with a savings of over $7,000.

LimeNET Core

A top-of-the-line gaming PC outfitted with a newly developed LimeSDR QPCIe board, the LimeNET Core is a software defined radio powerhouse.

• Mainboard
  • Form factor: ASUS X99-M WS micro-ATX
  • Processor: Intel Core i7-6950X, 10 cores, 20 threads, 3 GHz (3.5 GHz boost), 25 MB smart cache
  • Memory: 64 GB (4 x 16 GB) DDR4 2133 MHz
  • Storage: 1 TB SATA 3 M.2 SSD
  • Video: GIGABYTE GV-N210SL-1GI graphics card with NVIDIA GeForce 210
  • Audio: 8-channel Crystal Sound 2 and 12,000-hour capacitors
  • Connectivity
    • 2 x USB 3.1
    • 4 x USB 3.0
    • 2 x USB 2.0
    • 8 x SATA 6 Gb/s
    • 2 x Gigabit Ethernet
    • 3x3 802.11ac Wi-Fi
    • 1 x Bluetooth 4.0
• Power supply
  • Internal PSU: Corsair CX750M, 750 W
  • Cooling: six fans
• Enclosure
  • Material: coated aluminum
  • Dimensions: 26.5 x 27.0 x 26.0 cm
• Radio (Internal)
  • Board: LimeSDR QPCIe
  • Shielding: CNC-milled aluminum enclosure
  • Antennas: 4 x
  • Cables: 4 x U.FL (inside aluminum case)
  • Transmit Range: Approximately 15 meters for LTE
  • Power Amplifier: None, but compatible with LimeNET PA Module
  • Filters: None, but compatible with LimeNET PA Module
• Pricing & Availability
  • First Shipment: November 2017
  • Pre-order: $8,099 USD
  • Retail: $8,499 USD

The following image shows the current internal components of the LimeNET Core. The exact make and model of the RAM and SSD components may change based on availability at the time of manufacture.

LimeNET Amplifier Chassis

Designed to mate perfectly with LimeNET Core, the LimeNET Amplifier Chassis provides the necessary hardware to turn your SDR setup into a long range wireless network.

• Chassis
  • Material: thick, monolithic aluminum body
  • Dimensions: 42 x 29 x 25 cm (aluminum body only)
• Amplifier
  • Set of two (MIMO) 10 W RF output power amplifier + duplexer + antenna
  • Choice of band: 700 MHz, 1.8 GHz, 2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz
• Pricing & Availability
  • Estimated first shipment: February 2018
  • Pre-order: $13,999 USD
  • Retail: $14,999 USD

LimeSDR QPCIe

Whereas the LimeNET Mini and LimeNET Enterprise are based on the original LimeSDR USB boards (micro Type-B and Type-A, respectively), the LimeNET Core, and therefore the LimeNET Base Station, are based on the entirely new LimeSDR QPCIe board. This new board is a much more sophisticated version of the original LimeSDR PCIe board. In particular, it has two LMS7002 transceiver chips instead of one, which allows for a 4x4 MIMO configuration instead of a 2x2 MIMO configration.

Note: While you can use the LimeSDR QPCIe board with other computers, LimeNET Core and, by extension, LimeNET Base Station are the only complete systems we’ve tested and pre-qualified as part of the LimeNET ecosystem. Of course, we encourage developers to integrate LimeSDRs of all flavors into new hardware configurations, but our ability to support and maintain hardware configurations is currently limited to those in the LimeNET family.

LimeNET Gateway

LimeNET Gateway is a complete, certified, high-bandwidth cellular gateway that provides Wi-FI and Ethernet Internet connectivity backed by a connection to a 2G, 3G, or 4G macrocell. It provides users with downlink and uplink throughput of 150 and 50 Mbps, respectively, and can connect to any operator network with a SIM card (not included). Save $100 off the retail price.

• Downlink: 150 Mbps
• Uplink: 50 Mbps
• Cellular connectivity: 2G, 3G, 4G
• Dimensions: 190 x 120 x 30 mm
• Weight: 400 g
• Accessories: antennas (2), power adaptor, Ethernet cable

LimeNET Gateway Example

Software, Drivers, and App Store

LimeNET is built on a robust, community-driven software stack, including:

Check out our Ubuntu app stores for more information:

• https://limenet.limemicro.com/
• https://limesdr.limemicro.com/

Manufacturing Plan

As with the original LimeSDR campaign, which has already delivered thousands of software-defined radios to developers worldwide, we will continue to use our established network of trusted manufacturing and assembly partners in Taiwan and the UK.

Shipping & Fulfillment

All LimeNET products have free worldwide shipping. Orders being shipped to the EU will ship from the UK. Orders being shipped outside of the EU will ship from Crowd Supply’s US-based fulfillment facility. The recipient is responsible for all import fees and duties. You can find out more about fulfillment in the Crowd Supply Guide.

Risks & Challenges

A lot of time went into developing and testing everything offered in this campaign, so we are confident there is minimal risk involved. We of course face the usual risks associated with manufacturing (e.g., parts shortages).