Lime Microsystems
Software Defined Radio

LimeSDR Mini 2.0

An open, full-duplex, USB stick software-defined radio

$726,036 raised

of $1 goal

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$399

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LimeSDR Mini 2.0 is an upgraded, drop-in replacement for LimeSDR Mini, a hardware platform for developing and prototyping high-performance and logic-intensive digital and RF designs that use an FPGA coupled with Lime Microsystems’ LMS7002M RF transceiver.

Goodbye, LimeSDR and LimeSDR Mini

Since we first introduced LimeSDR over six years ago, and LimeSDR Mini about a year later, we’ve shipped tens of thousands of units to engineers around the world for use in everything from satellite ground stations to digital television. Whether you’re a hobbyist using LimeSDR or LimeSDR Mini to learn about software defined radio, or a company integrating hundreds of units into your commercial product, we’ve been thrilled at the breadth and depth of LimeSDR Mini applications you’ve come up with. Which is why it’s been especially difficult to watch all of this come to a grinding halt over the last year due to the global electronics and chip shortage.

Hello, LimeSDR Mini 2.0

Rather than wait indefinitely and hope the supply chain rewinds to a time we’re unlikely to see again soon, we went back to the drawing board. The result is LimeSDR Mini 2.0, a software defined radio with the same form factor as the original LimeSDR Mini, the same LMS7002 RF transceiver, but a new FPGA - the Lattice ECP5. Not only is the ECP5 more readily available than the Intel MAX10 FPGA used in the previous design, but it has an extensive set of open source tools and a great community of developers.

LimeSDR Mini 2.0 prototype at an angle

Block Diagram

LimeSDR Mini 2.0 block diagram
LimeSDR Mini 2.0 prototype at an angle

Comparisons

LimeSDR Mini 2.0 LimeSDR Mini LimeSDR HackRF OneEttus B200Ettus B210BladeRF x40RTL-SDR
RF TransceiverLMS7002M LMS7002M LMS7002M MAX5864, MAX2837, RFFC5072AD9364AD9361LMS6002MRTL2832U
Frequency Range10 MHz - 3.5 GHz 10 MHz - 3.5 GHz 100 kHz - 3.8 GHz 1 MHz - 6 GHz70 MHz - 6 GHz70 MHz - 6 GHz300 MHz - 3.8 GHz22 MHz - 2.2 GHz
RF Bandwidth40 MHz 40 MHz 61.44 MHz 20 MHz61.44 MHz61.44 MHz40 MHz3.2 MHz
Sample Depth12 bits 12 bits 12 bits 8 bits12 bits12 bits12 bits8 bits
Sample Rate30.72 MSPS 30.72 MSPS 61.44 MSPS 20 MSPS61.44 MSPS61.44 MSPS40 MSPS3.2 MSPS
TX Channels1 1 2 11210
RX Channels1 1 2 11211
DuplexFull Full Full HalfFullFullFullN/A
Programmable LogicLattice ECP5 Intel MAX 10 Intel Cyclone IV Xilinx CoolRunner-IIXilinx Spartan-6Xilinx Spartan-6Intel Cyclone IVN/A
Logic Gates44K 16K 40k 64 macrocell CPLD75k100k40k (115k avail)N/A
InterfaceUSB 3.0 USB 3.0 USB 3.0 USB 2.0USB 3.0USB 3.0USB 3.0USB 2.0
Open SourceFull Full Full FullSchematic, FirmwareSchematic, FirmwareSchematic, FirmwareNo
Oscillator Precision±1 ppm initial, ±4 ppm stable ±1 ppm initial, ±4 ppm stable ±1 ppm initial, ±4 ppm stable ±20 ppm±2 ppm±2 ppm±1 ppm?
Transmit Powermax 10 dBm (depending on freq.) max 10 dBm (depending on freq.) max 10 dBm (depending on freq.) -10 dBm+ (15 dBm @ 2.4 GHz)10 dBm+10 dBm+6 dBmN/A
LimeSDR Mini 2.0 prototype top

Support & Documentation

We pride ourselves on the openness of LimeSDR Mini 2.0. You can find our files and documentation below:

LimeSDR Mini 2.0 prototype bottom

Lime Applications

The SDR community has has used Lime products for a wide range of applications, such as:

Since LimeSDR Mini 2.0 has an FPGA with even more logic gates than its predecessors, we expect the number and types of applications to increase accordingly. We’ll share some examples as the campaign progresses.

Compatibility

LimeSDR Mini 2.0 is compatible with the same acrylic enclosure and antennas as the original LimeSDR Mini. Note that the third-party Lime AC Mini Case is not compatible with LimeSDR Mini 2.0 since the heights of some of the ICs on LimeSDR Mini 2.0 is slightly different than those on LimeSDR Mini, which causes the case not to close completely.

In the Press

OneSDR logo

OneSDR Blog

"[Lime] have replaced the Intel MAX 10 FPGA with a Lattice Semiconductor ECP5. This dramatically increases the number of programmable logic gates on-board from 16k to 44k."

Hackster News

"It’s the end of an era: the original LimeSDR Mini is officially being retired. However, there is nothing to mourn as a drop-in replacement is being launched in its wake. "


Ask a Question

Produced by Lime Microsystems in Guildford, England.

Sold and shipped by Crowd Supply.

LimeSDR Mini 2.0 prototype at an angle

LimeSDR Mini 2.0

$399 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

Multi-band 4G/3G/2G Monopole Antenna

From the Crowd Supply Basics project.

A TG.09 4G/3G/2G cellular hinged SMA(M) mount monopole antenna.

$13 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

Acrylic Case

From the LimeSDR Mini project.

Keep your LimeSDR Mini safe in this custom acrylic case.

$49 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

Grove Starter Kit

From the LimeSDR Mini project.

A collaboration with Seeed Studio, this 21-piece kit comes with a GrovePi+, an acrylic base plate, a USB extension cable, and a wide variety of Grove sensors and actuators: Ultrasonic Ranger, Temp&Humi Sensor, Temperature Sensor, Rotary Angle Sensor, Button, Light Sensor v1.2, 3-Axis Digital Accelerometer (±1.5 g), Relay, Sound Sensor, LCD RGB Backlight, Buzzer, Red LED, LED Bar 2.0, Touch Sensor, and Piezo Vibration Sensor. Compatible with Scratch. NOTE: LimeSDR Mini, Raspberry Pi, power supply, and microSD card are NOT INCLUDED.

$124 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

About the Team

Lime Microsystems

Guildford, England  ·   limemicro.com  ·   myriadrf  ·   LimeMicro  ·   limemicro

Working toward the democratization of wireless communication through an open source ideology.

Ebrahim Bushehri
 ebrahim24
Andrew Back
 9600
Zydrunas (Zack) Tamosevicius
 ztamosevicius
Karolis Kiela
 Karoliskiela
Milan Savic

See Also

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