Lime Microsystems crowd-funding campaign to bring their LimeSDR software defined radio platform into full-scale production exceeded its goal of $500,000 by over $100,000. The campaign was hosted on Crowd Supply and raised over $625,000 soo far.
LimeSDR is a low cost, open source, apps-enabled (more on that later) software defined radio (SDR) platform that can be used to support just about any type of wireless communication standard. LimeSDR can send and receive UMTS, LTE, GSM, LoRa, Bluetooth, Zigbee, RFID, and Digital Broadcasting, to name but a few.
Unlike most SDRs that require RF and protocol experts, the LimeSDR is can be used anyone familiar with the idea of an app store - it’s the first SDR to integrate with Snappy Ubuntu Core. This means you can easily download new LimeSDR apps from developers around the world. If you’re a developer yourself, you can share and/or sell your LimeSDR apps through Snappy Ubuntu Core as well.
This campaign has been both hugely ambitious and unique from the start, with an unusual feature of the campaign being the support of the UK’s largest operator, EE. This is the first time that a leading industry corporation has so publically backed a crowd-funding campaign of this sort.
A large aspect of the success of the campaign has also come down to the support and enthusiasm of individuals supporting the LimeSDR and pledging for boards. This community will now be able to develop the applications that will ensure the campaign’s vision of democratising wireless communication becomes a reality.
The LimeSDR platform gives students, inventors, and developers an intelligent and flexible device for manipulating wireless signals, so they can learn, experiment, and develop with freedom from limited functionality and expensive proprietary devices.
LimeSDR boards can be purchased individually for $299 and large operator ‘bundles’ are also available through the campaign page.
