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

• RF transceiver: Lime Microsystems LMS7002M
• FPGA: Altera MAX 10 (10M16SAU169C8G)
  • 169-pin FBGA package
  • 16 K Les
  • 549 KB M9K memory
  • 2,368 KB user flash memory
  • 4 x fractional phase locked loops (PLLs)
  • 45 x 18x18-bit multipliers
  • 130 x general purpose input/output (GPIO)
  • Single supply voltage
  • Flash feature
  • FPGA configuration via JTAG
• EEPROM memory: 2 x 128 KB for RF transciever MCU firmware and data
• Flash memory: 1 x 4 MB flash memory for data
• General user inputs/outputs:
  • 2 x dual color (red + green) LED
  • 8 x FPGA GPIO pinheader (3.3 V)
• Connectivity:
  • USB 3.0 Type-A (FTDI FT601 controller)
  • 2 x coaxial RF (SMA) connectors (each can be switched between high and low frequency bands)
  • U.FL connector for external clock source
  • FPGA GPIO headers
  • FPGA JTAG connector
• Clock system:
  • 30.72 MHz onboard VCTCXO
  • Possibility to tune VCTCXO with onboard DAC
  • External clock input via U.FL connector
• Board dimensions: 69 mm x 31.4 mm

Block Diagram

LimeSDR Mini block diagram

Comparison Table

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.