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Lime Microsystems
Software Defined Radio

LimeSDR Mini

An open, full-duplex, USB stick radio for femtocells and more

$246,824 raised

of $100,000 goal

246% Funded! Order Below

Funding ended on Oct 30, 2017 at 04:59 PM PDT.

Recent Updates

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The LimeSDR Mini development board is a hardware platform for developing and prototyping high-performance and logic-intensive digital and RF designs that use Altera’s MAX 10 FPGA and Lime Microsystems’ LMS7002M RF transceiver.

Render of the LimeSDR Mini

Top render of LimeSDR Mini

Bottom render of LimeSDR MIni

LimeSDR vs LimeSDR Mini

The LimeSDR and LimeSDR Mini are members of the same family of software-defined radios. One does not replace the other. Rather, they are complementary.

Simply put, the LimeSDR Mini is a smaller, less expensive version of the original LimeSDR. However, it still packs a punch - at its core, the LimeSDR Mini uses the same LMS7002M radio transceiver as its big sibling. The Mini has two channels instead of four, and, by popular demand, SMA connectors instead of micro U.FL connectors. Check out the comparison table below for more details.

We’ve already shipped thousands of LimeSDR boards and are about to clear out the backlog of remaining LimeSDR orders. The LimeSDR Mini is built on the LimeSDR supply chain, dev tools, and community in a way that makes software-defined radio more accessible than ever.

Features & Specifications

Block Diagram

LimeSDR Mini block diagram

Comparison Table

HackRF OneEttus B200Ettus B210BladeRF x40RTL-SDRLimeSDR LimeSDR Mini
Frequency Range1 MHz - 6 GHz70 MHz - 6 GHz70 MHz - 6 GHz300 MHz - 3.8 GHz22 MHz - 2.2 GHz100 kHz - 3.8 GHz 10 MHz - 3.5 GHz
RF Bandwidth20 MHz61.44 MHz61.44 MHz40 MHz3.2 MHz61.44 MHz 40 MHz
Sample Depth8 bit12 bit12 bit12 bit8 bit12 bit 12 bit
Sample Rate20 MSPS61.44 MSPS61.44 MSPS40 MSPS3.2 MSPS61.44 MSPS 30.72MSPS
TX Channels112102 1
RX Channels112112 1
DuplexHalfFullFullFullN/AFull Full
InterfaceUSB 2.0USB 3.0USB 3.0USB 3.0USB 2.0USB 3.0 USB 3.0
Programmable Logic Gates64 macrocell CPLD75k100k40k (115k avail)N/A40k 16K
ChipsetMAX5864, MAX2837, RFFC5072AD9364AD9361LMS6002MRTL2832ULMS7002M LMS7002M
Open SourceFullSchematic, FirmwareSchematic, FirmwareSchematic, FirmwareNoFull Full
Oscillator Precision+/- 20 ppm+/- 2 ppm+/- 2 ppm+/- 1 ppm?+/-1 ppm initial, +/-4 ppm stable +/- 1 ppm initial, +/- 4 ppm stable
Transmit Power-10 dBm+ (15 dBm @ 2.4 GHz)10 dBm+10 dBm+6 dBmN/Amax 10 dBm (depending on freq.) max 10 dBm (depending on freq.)
Price$299$686$1,119$420 ($650)~$10$299 $99

Accessories

In addition to the LimeSDR Mini iteself, we’re also offering a few accessories.

Enclosure

We’ve designed a custom acrylic enclosure to protect your LimeSDR Mini and make it easy to throw it into your pocket or bag without worrying about damaging the board.

Prototype LimeSDR MIni and acrylic case

Antennas

We’re offering omni-directional antennas with SMA connectors, optimized for frequency ranges of 800-960 MHz, 1710-2170 MHz, and 2400-2700 MHz. These are the same same antennas used with the full-size LimeSDR.

LimeSDR Mini antennas with SMA connectors

Free & Open Source

As with the original LimeSDR, the LimeSDR Mini is a free and open source project made in collaboration with the Myriad-RF project. We will be releasing code, firmware, schematics, layout, and associated project files shortly.

LimeSuite

The LimeSDR Mini uses the same host-side software, called LimeSuite, as the full-size LimeSDR. LimeSuite is entirely open source and supports a variety of software-defined radios. You can learn more about LimeSuite at its GitHub repository and Myriad-RF project page.

Snappy Ubuntu Core

A big part of the LimeSDR ecosystem is the Snappy Ubuntu Core app store being developed jointly with Canonical and the LimeSDR community. Because the LimeSDR and LimeSDR Mini use the same drivers and APIs, the snaps developed for one should work equally well for the other so long as they are within the operating specification.

Development Status

We currently have working prototypes and don’t expect any major changes before going to production. We’ve had a great working relationship with our manufacturing partner for a number of years already — they were also the manufacturer for LimeSDR — and we know they can deliver high-quality, well-tested assembled boards. The working prototype shown in the images below has MMCX connectors - the final version will have two SMA connectors and a U.FL connector for external clock input.

LimeSDR Mini prototype. The final version will have two SMA connectors and a U.FL external clock connector.

LimeSDR Mini prototype. The final version will have two SMA connectors and a U.FL external clock connector.

LimeSDR Mini prototype. The final version will have two SMA connectors and a U.FL external clock connector.

Risks & Challenges

As in the original LimeSDR campaign, the supply chain is the biggest risk — parts shortages could delay production. However, since the critical parts we’re using in LimeSDR Mini are the same as those in the LimeSDR, the Mini will benefit from the considerable work we’ve already put into creating the LimeSDR supply chain.

Shipping & Fulfillment

All orders will be shipped from Crowd Supply’s warehouse in the United States. For a product of this scale, maintaining a separate fulfillment operation in Europe is not economically feasible and would actually increase the overall cost to the end customer. You can find out more about Crowd Supply’s shipping fulfillment in their Guide.

In the Press


Hackaday

Produced by Lime Microsystems in Guildford, England.

Sold and shipped by Crowd Supply.

Support Us!

Thanks for helping democratize wireless networks.

$5

Want to buy this item? Check the current project page for the latest information.

LimeSDR Mini

The LimeSDR Mini is the perfect way to start experimenting with and building your own wireless networks, protocols, and testers.

$139 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

Want to buy this item? Check the current project page for the latest information.

Grove Starter Kit for LimeSDR Mini

A collaboration with Seeed Studio, this 21-piece kit comes with a LimeSDR MIni, two antennas optimized for the 433/868/915 MHz unlicensed bands, 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. Raspberry Pi, power supply, and microSD card not included.

$249 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

Want to buy this item? Check the current project page for the latest information.

LimeSDR Mini with Aluminum Case

This custom-made aluminum case comes with a LimeSDR Mini and two antennas. The case not only keeps your LimeSDR Mini safe, but it also helps reduce noise interference. Perfect to slip into your pocket for all your on-the-go wireless adventures.

$299 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

Want to buy this item? Check the current project page for the latest information.

LMS8001 Companion

This highly integrated, four-channel frequency-shifter can be used with all variants of the LimeSDR - from Mini and USB, to PCIe and QPCIe - to extend their frequency coverage up to 10 GHz.

$299 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

Want to buy this item? Check the current project page for the latest information.

Acrylic Case

Keep your LimeSDR Mini safe in this custom acrylic case.

$40 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

Want to buy this item? Check the current project page for the latest information.

Lime AC Mini Case

From the Lime AC Case project.

An aluminum case for LimeSDR Mini, including one fan. This case is NOT compatible with LimeSDR Mini 2.0.

$79 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

Want to buy this item? Check the current project page for the latest information.

Two Antennas

A pair of omni-directional antennas with SMA connectors, optimized for frequency ranges of 800-960 MHz, 1710-2170 MHz, and 2400-2700 MHz.

$40 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

Want to buy this item? Check the current project page for the latest information.

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

Want to buy this item? Check the current project page for the latest information.

LimeSDR Mini (Early Bird)

Be one of the first to get a LimeSDR Mini. Limited quantity and steeply discounted.

$99 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

Want to buy this item? Check the current project page for the latest information.

200-pack LimeSDR Mini with Aluminum Cases and Accessories

This package comes with 200 customized, high-quality, aluminum enclosures with the logo of the sponsor organization. Includes a complete software suite and accessories bundle for an out-of-the-box experience. Lime Micro will directly provide support to the sponsor and create and maintain a dedicated app store for the applications defined by the sponsor.

$100,000 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

Want to buy this item? Check the current project page for the latest information.

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
Jessica Gillingham
Andrew Back
 9600
Zydrunas (Zack) Tamosevicius
 ztamosevicius
Richard Jonaitis
Josh Blum
Lexi Hatziharalambous
Karolis Kiela
 Karoliskiela
Andy Chang
Ignas Skudrickas
 ignasjarusevicius
Chris Holgate

See Also

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