moRFeus
A field-configurable wideband frequency converter and signal generator
Funding ended on Apr 26, 2018 at 04:59 PM PDT.
Funding ended on Apr 26, 2018 at 04:59 PM PDT.
MoRFeus is a 30 MHz–6 GHz field-configurable Fractional-N wideband frequency converter and signal generator. Its LCD display and button interface enable dynamic field-level configuration - from switching between signal generator and other modes, to setting the local oscillator frequency and more. It was designed for wideband frequency up- and down-conversion - with an LO frequency range of 85 MHz–5.4 GHz and input/output frequency range of 30 MHz–6 GHz
MoRFeus is small, lightweight, and functional. It was designed for low spurious emissions and is packaged in a precision-milled aluminum enclosure.
7.4 ounces and 3.5 x 2.7 x 1.5 inches
Product development for moRFeus is done, so we’ll be shipping soon. And it’s only $149 if you act fast.
MoRFeus integrates into popular RF environments using SMA connectors and is powered using an external micro-USB 5 V supply. The LCD display and button interface provide a dynamic way to program the mixer LO frequency in the field with a step size of 1.5–3 Hz*. Dynamic toggling between mixer and generator modes adds to field-level functionality. An optional bias voltage of 5 V is available via RF choke to the mixer input to supply active antenna systems. The device is also USB HID programmable, enabling automatic operation from a PC running Windows or Linux.
*Step size is frequency-dependent. Lower step sizes (1-2 Hz) are characteristic of lower frequency domains and higher step sizes (2-3 Hz) of higher domains.
| LO | Phase Noise (dBc/Hz) | Offset |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GHz | -108 | 10 kHz |
| 1 GHz | -107 | 100 kHz |
| 1 GHz | -135 | 1 MHz |
| 2 GHz | -102 | 10 kHz |
| 2 GHz | -101 | 100 kHz |
| 2 GHz | -130 | 1 MHz |
| 3 GHz | -98 | 10 kHz |
| 3 GHz | -98 | 100 kHz |
| 3 GHz | -125 | 1 MHz |
| 4 GHz | -96 | 10 kHz |
| 4 GHz | -95 | 100 kHz |
| 4 GHz | -124 | 1 MHz |
| LO | Input Power | Input Frequency | Output Frequency | Output Power | Conversion Gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400 | 2.47 | 500 | 100 | -8.95 | -11.42 |
| 400 | -1.894 | 1000 | 600 | -10 | -8.106 |
| 400 | -9.65 | 1500 | 1100 | -25 | -15.35 |
| 400 | -10.27 | 2000 | 1600 | -28.1 | -17.83 |
| 400 | -11.112 | 2500 | 2900 | -28.4 | -17.288 |
| 850 | -.073 | 900 | 50 | -12.04 | -11.31 |
| 1500 | -10.757 | 2400 | 900 | -20.24 | -9.483 |
| 2400 | -9.65 | 1500 | 900 | -25.5 | -15.85 |
| 4000 | -1.894 | 1000 | 3000 | -21.3 | -19.406 |
| 4000 | -15.4 | 5400 | 1400 | -37.3 | -21.9 |
moRFeus offers an optional mixer current control which impacts the linearity of the output signal. The controls are exposed for advanced users to experiment and fine tune mixer performance.
In generator mode, the output port of moRFeus is set to the LO frequency. It has a range limited by the internal LO which is 85 Mhz to 5.4 GHz (it should be noted that the mixer input handles frequencies up to 6G Hz). Generator mode can be used to generate arbitrary CW signals for testing or mixing purposes.
In generator mode, output power changes relative to the mixer current setting. When the mixer current is set to 0, output power is relatively low. For settings 1-7, output power is stronger. This chart plots output power relative to the mixer current setting.
Click to view and download the moRFeus Data Sheet
Click to view and download the moRFeus User Guide
| Outernet moRFeus | Signal Hound VSG25A Vector Signal Generator | RF Explorer Signal Generator (RFE8GEN) | Mini-circuits ZX05-63H-S+ (Mixer) | Windfreak MixNV (Mixer + Signal Generator) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RF Input Frequency Range | 30 MHz-6 GHz | N/A | N/A | 750 MHz-6 GHz | 1 MHz-6 GHz | |
| RF Output Frequecy Range | 30 MHz-6 GHz | 100 MHz-2.5 GHz | 24 MHz-6 GHz | DC-1 GHz | 1 MHz-6 GHz | |
| LO Frequency Range | 85 MHz-5.4 GHz | N/A | N/A | 750 MHz-6 GHz | 85 MHz-5 GHz | |
| Frequency Resolution | 1.5–3 Hz¹ | < 1 Hz | 1 KHz | N/A | 1 Hz | |
| Phase noise at 1 GHz and 10 kHZ offset | -108 dBc/Hz | -88 dBc/Hz | N/A | N/A | -108 dBc/Hz | |
| Frequency up/down Converter | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Signal Generator | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
| Field-configurable | Yes | No | Somewhat | No | No | |
| User Interface | Button/LCD display and software-programmable | Windows PC VSG25A software required | LCD Display and RF Explorer for Windows PC client | N/A | Software-programmable, Windfreak software w/ Labview GUI | |
| Bias Current Available | Yes | No | No | No | No | |
| RF In/Out Connectors | Yes, SMA | Out, SMA | Out, SMA | Yes, SMA | Yes, SMA | |
| Power Input Connector | micro-USB | USB Type B | mini-USB | N/A | mini-USB | |
| Stand-alone Signal Generator | Yes ² | No ³ | Yes | No | No ³ | |
| Stand-alone Frequency Converter | Yes | No ⁴ | No ⁵ | No ⁶ | No ³ | |
| Price | $149 | $495 | $189 | $53 | $499 |
Over the past three years, Outernet has designed, developed, and deployed thousands of data radios all over the world to receive multi-media content - from news and emergency alerts to real-time weather data, educational material, audio files, and videos - via our satellite broadcast. No small feat, this required innovations in RF. moRFeus came about because of a need we had to easily up- and down-convert various radios we were experimenting with for Outernet’s Dreamcatcher 3.0.
One of our team members came up with the idea about a year ago. By the summer of 2017, we had our first prototype and working firmware. The design still required some slight tweaking. The current version of moRFeus is the third design iteration. Oddly enough, the last phase of the project, industrial design of the enclosure, ended up being the most time-consuming. We worked with a local designer with decades of experiences as a machinist to come up with a custom-made, all-aluminum enclosure. We are excited to offer the technology to help you with your unique RF project.
We are using manufacturing and supply chain partners that we have a working relationship with. Our manufacturing partners have already made 100 units for us and have approved our manufacturing and design files. PCB fabrication and assembly for an additional 900 has been completed and these units have been delivered to our facilities in Chicago for testing, final assembly, and packaging. We will ship units 101 through 1,000 within 30 days of the close of the campaign.
There is no shipping cost to U.S. customers. International shipments will be fulfilled with FedEx to ensure proper insurance and tracking. The shipping fee is $26 USD for all international shipments. This fee does not include any applicable taxes, duties, etc. For more information about ordering, paying, and shipping please review the Crowd Supply Guide.
All of the design and development for moRFeus has been completed. We have 100 units in stock which will ship out immediately (shipments will begin after week 1 of the campaign). Schematic capture, PCB layout, firmware development, industrial design, and quality assurance processes are all complete. This project has little risk of not shipping. We have a relationship with a contract manufacturer who manufactured the first 100 devices that we have in stock. We have tested the manufacturing process with this CM and have found a repeatable, reliable process. We just received a shipment of an additional 900 units from our CM that we will be testing in early April.
There of course is risk that a problem could arise with this manufacturer beyond the initial 1,000 units. If that happens, we can rely on relationships we have with other manufacturing partners. This is not our first RF product - we have shipped thousands of data radios all over the world. In terms of supplier risk, we have procured components for the additional 900 units. Our CM has these components. There is supplier risk beyond the initial 1,000 units. However, we are monitoring lead time and component obsolescence risk and do not foresee problems.
"moRFeus was built for hams and hackers, people with a traditional amateur radio background, as well as a makers and researchers that are interested in RF experimentation."
"A tool like this is very handy to have in your RF kit."
"Con pantalla retroiluminada incluida, este conversor de frecuencia de banda ancha y generador de señal es una herramienta pequeña y ligera, apta para transportarla."
Produced by Othernet in Chicago, IL.
Sold and shipped by Crowd Supply.
A wideband completely field-configurable frequency converter and signal generator with an LCD display and button interface designed for low spurious emissions and enclosed in a precision-milled all-aluminum enclosure.
Want to buy this item? Check the current project page for the latest information.
Othernet is innovating in RF. Over the past few years, Othernet has designed, developed, and deployed thousands of data radios all over the world and to receive multi-media content - from news and emergency alerts to real-time weather data, educational material, audio files, and videos - via our satellite broadcast. No small feat, this required innovations in RF.
