PortableSDR

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Description

The PSDR is a completely stand-alone (no computer needed), compact, Portable Software Defined Transceiver (hence the name, sorta). Originally designed for backpacking use by Ham Radio operators. It includes complete coverage up to about 30Mhz (plus 144Mhz), it has a 168Mhz ARM processor, color display, and an innovative interface.

Vector Network Analysis (which includes antenna analysis) and GPS functions are included.

The entire design is Open Source. The electronics are designed and laid out to be easy to understand and tinker with. In addition to source code, schematics, board layout and parts lists, articles and videos describing the theory of the design are being created.

Details

Want a PortableSDR? Please take THIS SURVEY so I can make it happen!

Finals Video:

For previous project views, please see links to the left.

System Design Document / Block Diagram:

Click here for a PDF.

Source code and Design Files: All files (including the above diagram) are available on GitHub at https://github.com/MichaelRColton/PSDR

License Information: The project code is still very much in development. It currently uses the Adafruit GFX and ILI9340 libraries (both being adapted for this application) and is likely to use other libraries in the future. I will comply with any licenses for libraries I include, and plan to license the project itself under a permissive license (like MIT) or a copyleft license like GPL. I would very much appreciate suggests on this.

About the PSDR1: There were a lot of subcircuits that I had never tested for this project (and were hard to breadboard at the frequencies and sizes involved) so I built the PSDR1 board you see here to demonstrate all those parts. I left off the easy stuff (like a battery charger, the whole GPS sub system) and a few of the more advanced parts (like the RF switching, and phase and amplitude measurement IC) Also, while the LCD module was expedient, the next version will have it integrated directly.

Components

1 × STM32F429 Microcontroller U21 - Digikey part number: 497-14052-ND

1 × AD8302 Magnitude/Phase Detector U23 - Digikey part number: AD8302ARUZ-ND

2 × AD9834 DDS Frequency Synthesizers U1, 8 - Digikey part number: AD9834CRUZ-ND

1 × QVGA LCD ILI9340/ILI9341 LCD - Search ebay for "2.2 (ILI9340, ILI9341)"

1 × GP39-1513 GPS Reciever U4 - http://www.adh-tech.com.tw/?36,gp39-1513

Project Logs

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Big in Germany
Michael R Colton • 01/17/2015 at 19:15 • 0 comments

So I get home yesterday to find an unexpected package. Inside is a Ham Radio magazine (The December 2014 issue of Funk Amateur, I like the name!) with a note.... all in German. Sweet! I flip through it and to my shock, I find the PSDR! WHAAAAT!? What a cool thing! (I'd scan the whole thing, but that might be verboten, copyright stuff, you know.) I googled to see if the article was online, didn't find it, but did find a mention of the PortableSDR here.
The Kickstarter campaign is off to a great start! Last I looked it was almost to $12,000 (20% of the goal) at this rate it will be successful! Thank you so much everyone for your support!
I am getting a lot of messages, and I am trying to get caught up on posts and things, I hope to get caught up soon.
KickStarter! Finally!
Michael R Colton • 01/14/2015 at 06:01 • 2 comments

Now you guys can finally get it! Sorry it took so long! Thanks for your patience and support eveyone!
For all of you who are itching to have one (bless your hearts) click here!
The internal speaker works now, btw (not great, but it's a start). Also, I have some ideas for a pretty cool 4 band antenna that doesn't need a tuner.
Quick Update
Michael R Colton • 12/12/2014 at 05:31 • 5 comments

Hi fans!
I just wanted to make a quick post here to let you know that I am still here. I wanted to have the Kickstarter live by now, but I really need to get some quotes back on PCB manufacturing, or I wont be able to set the prices with any confidence. I am so excited to get these out into the world, but I don't want to go broke doing it, you know?
I have an initial quote on the metals (though I want to change the design a little bit) and have been meeting with a local PCB assembly house. I've worked with them (as well as many others) for other projects and have found their work to be absolutely amazing. They cost a little more, but I think it will be worth it in boards that will work well for a long time. Also, since they're local, I won't have to pay for shipping, wait for shipping, or, for example, fly to China (I'm dying to go, but not on my own dime, you see).
I hope to have a quote back from them soon. When I've got everything figured out, you'll be the first to know!
3RD PLACE! (And stuff!)
Michael R Colton • 11/24/2014 at 07:14 • 6 comments

Hi everyone! I got 3rd place! I'm the 3rd best hacker in the world! Thanks everyone for your support! Congratulations to the other finalists, in particular SatNOGS! I have an unused, wooden garage that would be perfect for housing one of their antennas trackers. I'll need to get on that. Also, I would love a tricorder and spectrometer. I'd like a chipwhisperer too, but I think it's a little over my head.
So where have I been? (Sorry about that, btw) Well first, after all the stress of the contest, it was nice to kinda do nothing for a while. But mostly I've been trying to figure out how to get the PSDR produced so you can have one!
I've poured over the survey data; very interesting stuff! There are a few things in there that are encouraging; so many people said they'd buy a PSDR2 AND a future version! There are also a few things that people aren't going to like. Maybe it was the BaoFeng comparison, but a pretty large number of people said it would only be worth say $50-150 to them (some even less!). There's no way that can happen, it's made of expensive parts and.... how can I compete with a big Chinese company!
Right now I am finding places that can do the manufacturing for me, particularly the metal housings and PCB assembly. When I have some quotes back, I'll be able to determine what I can charge and not go broke (a very real possibility if I'm not careful).
I hope to have a Kickstarter project up in about a week. Thanks for your patience everyone! I haven't forgotten about you!
Also another religious thought, skip if you aren't interested.
Read more »
Schrödinger's Finalist
Michael R Colton • 11/11/2014 at 06:10 • 2 comments

Today, in the interview post about the RamanPi, Brian says, "If you're wondering who the winner of The Hackaday Prize is, even I don't know. [Mike] and a few Hackaday overlords do," Thinking of it now, of course the results would be known before the announcement, but it hadn't really occurred to me until I read that. For some reason it seemed weird to me. Whether I have won first place or not is known, but not to me. So in a weird way, I am in the superposition of both having taken first, and not. That is, until Thursday morning (for me 5 am :/ ) when the wave function will collapse. I think it would be fun to be in their position, to know that you were about to change someone's life, and you knew it, but they didn't. Good luck to my fellow finalists! No matter the outcome, I'm happy to have made it so far.
Pictured above is Girl Kitty, she's been our cat since I was a teenager (which makes her about 18 years old) but, unlike Schrödinger's cat, Girl Kitty is, thankfully, alive.
In other news, the response to the survey has been MIND BLOWING! The PSDR has about 650 followers, not everyone is going to respond, I guess I expected about 100 responses. Right now I have 1,106! (Which is, by the way, probably enough) THANKS EVERYBODY! It's been amazing to see such an overwhelmingly positive response! I'm still going through the data and want to devote a proper post to it. Give me a few days. I'm really learning a lot by going through all of this.
Trying To Transmit
Michael R Colton • 11/06/2014 at 15:27 • 0 comments

I shot this before the Final Overview Video, but didn't get around to posting it. Basically, it shows that my first attempt at an amplifier board for the PSDR2 was unsuccessful, also, I need filtering. I think that what I showed in the video might not have been that meaningful because I had already damaged the amp at that point. Nevertheless, it seems that filtering before the amplifier is going to be required. I have a circuit I want to try that would be a digitally variable low-pass filter. I think it will work, just not sure if will work at RF frequencies.
I was also lucky to bump into a pretty seasoned RF engineer and picked his brain about designing this amplifier (I only picked the surface though, since I could only take about 5 minutes of his time) basically, it sounds like MMICs will probably only get me to 1 W. Which is not terrible. Beyond that, I'll probably have to design a discrete circuit. BUT he also suggested a trick I'd read about, where you use a power splitter, then, say, 5 MMIC amps, then a combiner, and there you go. I'm interested in trying that. That would also make it easy to step down power, and even provide some redundancy...
THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE FOR DOING THE SURVEYS! I've received over 600 responses! (500 today alone, thanks to being featured on the front page. Thanks Brian!) Next time I'll give a breakdown of the responses and what it will mean for the PSDR moving forward.
Want a PSDR? Take this Survey!
Michael R Colton • 11/02/2014 at 04:41 • 0 comments

I'm trying to work out the details of making the PortableSDR available, but there are some things I need to figure out. Please please take a moment to fill out this survey so I can plan things out appropriately. It should only take a minute. Thank you so much!
Glamour Photos
Michael R Colton • 10/28/2014 at 06:00 • 3 comments

Here are some very lovely (if I do say so myself) pictures of the PortableSDR.
There are a bunch more. Check 'em out!
Read more »
Plastic's Fantastic, But Metal is Better
Michael R Colton • 10/20/2014 at 04:51 • 5 comments

Hi everyone!
I spent the last few days modifying the design of the case to simplify it (7 screws instead of 21, for example) and to make it millable. I had some great help from my friend Jacob, thanks Jacob! He also suggested a countersunk front cover and I think it's going to look awesome! I spent pretty much all of Saturday at work, generating toolpaths and "borrowing" the milling machine. I made a few mistakes, learned a bunch of stuff. It was pretty fun! I'm getting better! I'm probably going to sandblast it when it's done (you can see I need to hand finish a little bit, particular around the paddle area.) so it will have a soft, frosted look. At least for now. I might paint it after that. We'll see.
I also want to share some small miracles. Those of you who are offended and/or not interested in religious things can skip the rest.
Read more »
We need more RFs!
Michael R Colton • 10/17/2014 at 06:49 • 1 comment

Hi everyone!
Let me first say how blown away, honored, and delighted I am to be included in the final round of judging! The enthusiastic responses I've gotten from everyone have helped keep me motivated through the long hours of design and programming (honestly, this would have been a year long project or more otherwise). Thanks to everyone for your support! I've loved reading everyone's comments here on my project blog, on the final-five announcement page, youtube, and reddit.
Now then! Where were we. It seems like many people have been anxious to see transmit support working. I realized that some of the other features I'm excited about, like the Vector Network Analyzer, require the PSDR to generate signals, and of course, I want to see if I can talk to people with it! So, as you saw in the last video, I got transmit support started, but I was a little disappointed that the power output was so low (I mean, I knew it would be low but...)
So, I decided to try my hand at putting together an amplifier to go in the PSDR2's amp board socket (those five holes in the upper left), and this is the result. PCBs should get here next week, hopefully in time for the final judging. If it works the way I think it will, it should get us somewhere close to 100-200mW. Still not a lot, but enough to get a signal out, and maybe drive another amplification stage in the future.
It was fun to design. I'm trying some weird stuff here, for example, the two MMIC amplifiers are biased like a diode or transistor (well, that's what they are), where current is more important than voltage. Also, they like to be driven around 5-6v. So I needed a boost converter, ideally with a constant current output. Well. they make LED drivers that do exactly that. So that's what will be powering this little amp.
I'm actually not totally confident it will work on the first try, but it will be a learning experience either way.

View all 28 project logs

Build Instructions

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Step 1

Obtain or produce the sub assemblies pictures above (See github for detailed assembly instructions, gerbers, and STLs): Polycarbonate front cover. Encoder PCB, Top housing, LCD, Knob, Main PCB, Paddles, Battery, Bottom Housing, screws and washers.

Step 2

Connect battery to Main PCB, and set both into Bottom houssing

Step 3

Connect LCD module to main PCB

Discussions

Luca wrote 10/02/2014 at 13:21

I am considering your project Michael, very interesting. I am a radio amateur and I like the idea to integrate in a little portable rig an antenna analyzer to help setting up a non casual antennas even with on field random elements.
I like your engineering too.
Might you tell me the development software you use for STM32, in case I want to try the recompilation of your source code ?
Congrats again,
Luca

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Michael R Colton wrote 10/14/2014 at 05:40

Hi Luca! Thanks for your interest in my little project! I designed the radio I wanted to have, it's cool that other people seem to feel the same way.

I am using Eclipse with the GNU Arm plugin. OpenOCD connects to an ST Link V2 for debugging. I need to make a video on how to set all that up. I'm no expert at it, though, I'm sure other people would do a better job explaining than I would.

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Elia wrote 09/29/2014 at 15:41

Really cool project and nice work Michael!
I like the idea of having a portable emergency comms device that can also automatically transmit your location!

Cheers,
Elia

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Michael R Colton wrote 10/14/2014 at 05:33

Thanks Thrash!

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Fer Jackson wrote 09/17/2014 at 12:13

Congrats on the v2 board being released :D Do you have plans for a release of these boards for testing?

Are you sure? yes | no

Michael R Colton wrote 09/18/2014 at 06:23

Thanks! If you mean, do I plan to give away extra PCBs, then, yes (though I am not yet sure how many I'll get). If you mean, do I plan to make kits, or fully assembled units to sell, then yes.

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Andrew wrote 09/12/2014 at 19:43

Hello, I am an amateur radio operator in the United States, and I was wondering if I could obtain one of your kits (or finished radios). In a couple of months, I will be on a humanitarian trip providing communications to a medical team, and I have been looking for a radio. It would love to try one of your systems, if that is possible.

Are you sure? yes | no

Michael R Colton wrote 09/18/2014 at 06:21

I have a lot of respect for people that volunteer their time to help others. Also, I imagine it's pretty exciting to do something like that. It certainly sounds like a good opportunity to field test a PSDR! Keep an eye on things here, if I have something ready in time, I'll help make it happen. I would hope, however, that the PSDR would be a backup to some more powerful, and proven radio?

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Benny wrote 09/12/2014 at 14:03

I am ham radio operator from Israel, your work is marvelous, I do suggest that you go commercial with this - I am sure they will sell quite well, and give you nice profit.
I will be interested in buying pcb, kit or fully assembled one when available - Best 73 and good luck from the Holy Land

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Michael R Colton wrote 09/18/2014 at 06:16

Thanks! It is my intention to sell PSDRs in some form when they are far enough along (the PSDR2 may be, we'll see) I may sell PCBs, kits, or assembled units, like you said. I am looking into how much it would be to get them manufactured now.

Thanks again! I'd love to visit Israel someday!

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Darren wrote 09/09/2014 at 14:19

In the readme it says that the sch and pcb files are for mentor pads. I downloaded their free viewer but it will not open the file. Any chance of posting files that viewed in Eagle or KiCad?

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Michael R Colton wrote 09/18/2014 at 06:13

What happens when you try to open the files?

I installed the PADS viewer on a second computer and was able to open both the schematic and the PCB layout file (though the viewers are not intuitive unless you've actually used PADS.) I'll make an updated PDF of the schematic at least, and the gerbers (including PNGs of the boards) are available.

Unfortunately, Eagle/KiCad is not going to happen any time soon. I am most proficient in PADS and there are some things it can do that Eagle can't (though I do like Eagle) not sure about KiCad, I don't have any experience with it. Anyway, converting would not be a good use of my time right now. Does anyone know if either program can import PADS files?

If there is enough demand, I might look into changing it over. I realize PADS is not ideal for many people here.

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Jean-Pierre wrote 09/08/2014 at 07:10

Hello, I am a french amateur radio and would be much interested to build a PSDR transceiver. I am on the line to get circuit boards when they will be available. Congratulations and "Bravo" for your work.
Jean-Pierre F6AXC

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Michael R Colton wrote 09/18/2014 at 06:00

Thank you so much! I'm glad to know people are excited about my work. I may have extra PSDR2 boards soon, let me know if you want one, or if you were interested in waiting for a kit/assembled version.

My dad spends a lot of time near Tours (but I almost never get to go), where in France are you located?

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Jean-Pierre wrote 09/18/2014 at 08:39

Hello Michael. I was born in Nantes (around 200 km from Tours the country of "Châteaux de la Loire". Now I'm lving in east of France. I'm interested in waiting a kit or assembled version. Thank you very much for your kind message.
Jean-Pierre F6AXC

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Reginald Beardsley wrote 09/07/2014 at 16:35

"how do I build an arbitrary filter for FFT convolution with a known kernel length?"

Can you be a bit more specific about what you're trying to do? Zero phase is trivial, but it gets a bit harder if you require a causal filter. I'm a reflection seismic guy. We generally want a zero phase signal. So I've always been doing things the easy way. But I ought to be able to remember how to do whatever you want.

BTW I'm very interested in antialias filters for the STM32 ADC inputs. 1.8 MHz low pass seems pretty hard to find as COTS. I'm trying to avoid the problem of aligning high order filters w/o having test gear.

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Michael R Colton wrote 09/18/2014 at 05:57

Hi there, sorry for the late reply. I started to write a more detailed explanation of what I am doing, and what I am trying to do, but it started to get pretty unwieldy. I think I might make a video about it (in my ample spare time)

The short version is that I want to make a bandpass filter of any shape (really all I care about is the upper and lower cutoffs, though it would be nice to emphasize some frequencies over others as well) then run my samples through it (via FFT convolution) and get what I want out of the other side. I have that working, but I think the way I am constructing the filter is introducing effects that are extending past my padding and adding noise to the sample. I have set my oscilloscope to trigger at the begging/end of a sample block and there are discontinuities.

As for the anti-aliasing filters, I am just following some cookbook stuff to make low pass filters that cutoff before I hit the Nyquist frequency. I really don't know yet how well they'll work, but it would be hard for them to be worse than no filters, like the PSDR1 has.

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bibilukaa wrote 08/25/2014 at 20:06

Thanks for info.
I will check local possibility for making PCB, and minimal quantity first. I will find solution.
I camming from metal industry (design of blades/vanes for compressors) unfortunately HI.
So, ham radio, homebrewing is my hoby and i really enjoy in it...
SMD kits or homebrew project with that small parts is no problem, but any programing i am not able to do.
Regarding extra knobs/buttons you are actually right.
Few additional knobs will increase tha size, but that is not the point of the project, i agree.
At least two encoders will be necessary especially for VNA, as well.
HC05 can make some additional possibilities in the future.
After reading of your PortableSDR Video Script.docx is clear what is the target.
Well, your project is my favorite and i will follow them...
Tino

Are you sure? yes | no

bibilukaa wrote 08/23/2014 at 08:03

Thanks to you for answer...Yes i will check where to order PCB locally
If you will make a new PSDR with a lot of modification and improvements i will rather wait.
The concept is really powerful and not very expensive.
After study of existing available files provided from you, please consider some following points
if you will make any modification, and if you agree.
Frequency dial knob is better to be on the right side.
Some additional encoders and/or buttons will help for easier operation
(like Audio Gain, RF-Gain, RF- Attenuator, Keyer Speed or Filter selection no matter of touch screen etc.
Possible implementation HC-05 Wireless Bluetooth Transceiver module,
Physical layout and sketches are interesting, too.
If i can help somehow like Catia designer, let me know.
73 de 9a4bl

Are you sure? yes | no

Michael R Colton wrote 08/23/2014 at 18:59

A few places you can try for PCBs include seeedstudio.com, iteadstudio.com (what I used for this one), oshpark.com, circuitboard.com (used them before), and dirtypcbs.com (who I think I'm going to try next because their four layer boards are so cheap!)

Yes, the controls will be on the right side, it was actually an accident that the PSDR1 has them on the left. Certainly extra knobs, encoders, buttons, etc will make for quicker operation, but in the size that I am going for, it really isn't possible. I MIGHT do two encoders (one for selecting an item, and the other for changing it.) Also, I am specifically avoiding touchscreens for this.

It has occurred to me to add bluetooth, but... I'm not sure I want to yet. How would you imagine using it? I kind of like the idea of a blackbox radio that has no knobs or display at all, it connects to your phone over bluetooth that acts as the interface. The reason that might be interesting is you could connect it to an antenna and throw the whole thing in a tree, no feedlines at all. I think that can wait until a little later though.

Thanks for the offer for help with Catia. I haven't used that before, though I am quite comfortable with SolidWorks. I would love to see what sort of industrial designs you come up with. Look at some of my older project updates for some sketches I've done. I've done some more since then.

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bibilukaa wrote 08/20/2014 at 19:38

I just discovered your project …. It looks like a very interesting project.
Implementation of VNA is Your excellent idea which fascinate me.
As i can see main effort will be to add new features via software updates.
I really appreciate your effort regarding this project.
Actually, how i can order one PCB if is possible?
Vy 73 de 9A4BL, Tino

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Michael R Colton wrote 08/22/2014 at 06:49

Thanks for the kind words!

I don't really have any more PCBs left, though I could probably produce another small batch if enough people want them (or you can send the gerbers off for production, it's pretty easy and all the files you need are on my GitHub repo). I do plan on producing more PSDRs when I have the design a little further along...

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Jasmine Brackett wrote 08/15/2014 at 21:21

Hello Michael R Colton,

I just wanted to remind you that this is the checklist of what must be on Hackaday Projects by August 20th:
- A video less than 2 minutes long describing your project. Put it on YouTube (or Youku), and add a link to it on your project page. This is done by editing your project (edit link is at the top of your project page) and adding it as an "External Link"
- At least 4 Project Logs (you've got 10, so you're fine)
- A system design document. (I can see it in the photos section, but it would be great if you could highlight it in the project details)
- Links to code repositories, and remember to mention any licenses or permissions needed for your project. For example, if you are using software libraries you need to document that information in the project details.

Thanks for entering and good luck!

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Hans wrote 08/10/2014 at 17:22

This is a nice project. I hope that the project will be availble for other people.
My compliments !!!

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Michael R Colton wrote 08/12/2014 at 05:27

Thanks! I do plan on making it available when the design is a little further along. Thanks again!

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DainBramage wrote 08/05/2014 at 01:12

Michael, amazing project! Please let us know when the completed project becomes available, I would very much be interested in purchasing one. I don't have the coordination or stamina to solder at this level, so I will be looking for one that you have already constructed. With any luck, I'll have some money in the ham budget to cover it. Maybe I'll have to skip NEARfest...

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Michael R Colton wrote 08/05/2014 at 04:18

Hi Mr. DainBramage. I do plan on selling them when I get the design a little further a long. The next revision may do it, but in my experience, it's usually my third board that really works right. This one is a little more ambitious than most boards I design though. Anyway, I'll try not to keep you waiting too long. I am anxious to get more hardware out there to see how it does!

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Christopher Story wrote 07/16/2014 at 12:17

Any chance you have any boards still available? I have built several SoftRock RXTX's and I would love to try this out. - KC5HHQ

Are you sure? yes | no

Michael R Colton wrote 07/16/2014 at 19:12

Sounds like Mr. Pwn4tr0n wants to wait for a future revision, so you can have his. Send you address to me and I'll send you one. I'm waiting for a few other people's addresses as well. Don't forget everybody!

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replic8tor wrote 07/16/2014 at 05:26

Michael:

This is a great project and something I am very much interested in. Can you offer advise on how someone might transition from the software world, and possibly knowing a bit about digital circuits, to designing analog RF circuits like this that function within the digital world still?

I recently got my extra ticket, and I can write software all day and futz with arduinos but. I want to get to the point where I can design some of my own RF devices like you have, lay down the pcb design, put it together, and get something actually useful.

Are you sure? yes | no

Michael R Colton wrote 07/16/2014 at 05:54

That's a broad question. Maybe I should make a video about that one! I learned pretty much everything I know from google and books. It's taken me a few years, but I didn't go to school for it or anything (probably should have, I seem to have "the knack": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmYDgncMhXw )

Here are a few resources that have been helpful to me:

RF: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiqd3GLTluk2s_IBt7p_LjA
RF: www.arrl.org/shop/Experimental-Methods-in-RF-Design
PCB Layout: https://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/category/1 (sounds like you can skip the first few)
SDR: https://sites.google.com/site/thesdrinstitute/A-Software-Defined-Radio-for-the-Masses

It was helpful to me to recognize that RF circuits can be compartmentalized, and really reduced to only a few blocks: Amplifiers, Mixers, Oscillators and Filters.

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eresonance wrote 07/16/2014 at 02:18

Holy crap, this project is kinda similar to the one I'm going to put up. I also noticed that there was a severe lack of portable HF SDR radios and thought of making something of my own. Good work so far, definitely a motivator to get mine up here too!

One thing to note, I'm not sure if it's my PDF reader (sumatra) but your schematics have a lot of notes that are cut-off on the edges.

My approach is a bit different from yours. I'm wanting to keep it super-simple for the first iteration since I'm fairly new to radio design so I figure I would start with the Rx, and base it off of the softrock. But the cool bit is removing (or not populating) the audio/line out jacks and throwing in a decent-speed ADC in there. Then pulling the data off of the ADC into a beaglebone via one of its high-speed DSP blocks. Processing can be somewhat limited and definitely hampered by a non-RTOS (linux), but it should have enough processing power to get waterfall displays going for each amateur band.

Now I just need to put it all together on here...

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Michael R Colton wrote 07/16/2014 at 02:27

Ah! You are right about the schematics! I'll fix that shortly.

Good luck on your project! Basing it off a SoftRock is a good idea, it seems to be a solid, proven design. Really, I did the same thing, check out the SDR-1000, there was a series of articles about its design. I studied that thing until I understood every part of it. My design has a lot in common with it (plenty of things that had to change too, to get size, and power consumption down, etc.)

There are plenty of great SDR packages for Linux, if I'm not mistaken, so I don't think a non RTOS would hold you back that much. A nice SDR shield (it's, or is it cape) for the BeagleBone would be pretty sweet! I look forward to seeing what you put together.

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Mike Ashcraft wrote 07/15/2014 at 14:12

Very cool project. So whats the cost breakdown like?

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Michael R Colton wrote 07/15/2014 at 14:55

Hard to say for certain. I had some of the parts already. In low volumes, if you source everything yourself, I imagine parts cost will be in the realm of $150. Checkout the BOM on github, it includes the costs for almost all the parts (except for the PCB and LCD, I think)

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Michael R Colton wrote 07/15/2014 at 12:25

Looks like we have our seven PCB recipients! Nricciar, Nicholas TenBrink, Will Rea, Chris Northcott, John Laur, Paul Warren, and Jason Hersey. If you would all send me your shipping addresses, I'll get those sent out. My email is michaelrcolton@gmail.com . It's awesome that you guys are interested! Thanks for the encouragement, everyone!

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Jason Hersey wrote 07/15/2014 at 07:10

I'd love a board if you still have any left. This is a fantastic project! Kudos on the work and great ideas.

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PortableSDR

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