Lime Microsystems has released a new companion board for its LimeSDR (Software Defined Radio) and LimeSDR Mini, helping to extend their frequency range to 10 GHz. 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.
The new board uses the new Lime LMS8001A, highly integrated, four-channel frequency-shifter chip. It can be used with all variants of the LimeSDR – from Mini and USB, to PCIe and QPCIe – to extend their frequency coverage.
The $299, compact, and highly configurable platform also lends itself to use with other configurations, too. The LimeSDR has a 100 kHz to 3.8 GHz range, with 2 x 2 MIMO; the carrier-grade LimeSDR QPCIe doubles this capacity with 4 x 4 MIMO. While the smaller, $139 LimeSDR Mini sister-board has a 10 MHz to 3.5 GHz range with SISO.
Lime has published the board design and firmware sources to GitHub, along with the LMS8 Suite host software, an LMS8001 PLL Simulator, and documentation for the initial versions of the LMS8001 IC. The combined boards support virtually any type of wireless, be it utility wireless, IoT, and wireless - including some 5G bands.
The platform offers the freedom of an intelligent and inherently flexible device for manipulating wireless signals. LimeSDR solutions are programmable and based on open source technologies with an extensive community of developers, offering the potential to democratize wireless communications and enable global wireless connectivity.
Only 150 companion boards are being made available over the next few days. To register for details of the new campaign, or receive technical specifications, click here.
