This page is an archive of the original crowdfunding campaign for this project. It may not be up-to-date with the latest updates and product availability. Return to the current project page.
"This is a power amplifier that augments the existing LimeSDR. It covers all the HAM, mobile, and wide-band frequencies."
"Users of the LimeSDR platform may be interested in a new piece of hardware launched by Lime Microsystems this month in the form of the LimeRFE."
"Compatible con redes HAM, celulares y de banda ancha, este front end RF para SRD otorga flexibilidad de diseño."
"As anyone will know, designing broadband RF hardware is often quite difficult or expensive (Amateur radio amplifiers and LNAs are usually designed for a single band), so packing all this into a single unit is a considerable feat."
The Lime RF Front End (LimeRFE) is an open hardware power amplifier (PA) module with appropriate filtering and support circuitry to augment the LimeSDR, LimeSDR Mini, and LimeNET Micro platforms, providing a complete solution that addresses real life applications ranging from HAM radio to standards-compliant cellular network implementations.
LimeRFE will enhance any LimeSDR based wireless project by providing:
A single LimeRFE covers three very different sets of bands: HAM, cellular, and wideband. The exact band used at any given time is software-selectable. By making the RF front end definable in software, LimeRFE is the next step in the evolution of software-defined radio.
LimeRFE render front (left) and back (right)
No. | Name | Frequency (MHz) | Output P1dB (dBm)* |
---|---|---|---|
1** | HF** | 1.6 – 30** | 33 |
2 | 6 m, 4 m | 50 – 54, 69.9 – 70.6 | 30 |
3 | 2 m | 144 – 146 | 33 |
4 | 1.25 m | 220 – 225 | 32 |
5 | 70 cm | 430 – 440 | 32 |
6 | 33 cm | 902 – 928 | 27 |
7 | 23 cm | 1240 – 1325 | 27 |
8 | 13 cm | 2300 – 2450 | 31 |
9 | - | 3300 – 3500 | 24 |
* Preliminary estimates of 1-dB compression point
** See note below about HF bands
Depending upon the application and overall system configuration, additional filtering may be required for use with HF bands. In particular, HF is not one, but ten bands starting at 1.6 - 1.8 MHz and moving upward incrementally to 28.0 - 29.7 MHz. On-board filtering will attenuate signals greater than 30 MHz, but not Tx harmonics, or out-of-band Rx signals below this. You may need additional filtering, depending on the environment (if there are nearby HAMs operating on other HF bands, for example) and on whether or not you are using external power amplifiers with integrated filters, antenna tuning units, etc.
No. | Name | Duplex | Downlink Freq. (MHz) | Uplink Freq. (MHz) | Modulated Output Power (dBm) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Band 3/DCS-1800 | FDD | 1805 – 1880 | 1710 – 1785 | 24 |
2 | Band 2/PCS-1900 | FDD | 1930 – 1990 | 1850 – 1910 | 24 |
3 | Band 1 | FDD | 2110 – 2170 | 1920 – 1980 | 24 |
4 | Band 7 | FDD | 2620 – 2690 | 2500 – 2570 | 24 |
5 | Band 38 | TDD | 2570 – 2620 | 2570 – 2620 | 24 |
No. | Frequency (MHz) | Output P1dB (dBm)* |
---|---|---|
1 | 1 – 1000 | 27.5 |
2 | 1000 – 4000 | 25.5 |
* Preliminary estimates of 1-dB compression point
* *Output 1 dB compression values are preliminary assessments only. Final values may differ. Values are given for the driver outputs
All LimeRFE boards will be delivered to Crowd Supply’s warehouse for final distribution to backers worldwide. For more information, please see this page about ordering, paying, and shipping.
We’ve produced a number of prototype revisions to verify the performance over the RF bands detailed above. As with previous Lime Microsystems campaigns, supply chain is our biggest risk – parts shortages could delay production. LimeRFE will, however, benefit from the considerable work we’ve already put into creating various LimeSDR supply chains.