LibreSDR / ZynqSDR Software Defined Radio - 70 MHz to 6 GHz

Here we take a look at the LibreSDR, a rather unique SDR that is surrounded by a little mystery. We cover how to load firmware and then test on air.

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LibreSDR Resources

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#TechMinds #SDR #HamRadio

[AsahelFrost]

I'm very familiar with the AD9363 having used it at work for many years.
The spike in the middle of your transmission looks like a DC offset in the AD9363, which results in carrier leakage. This device has built in calibration which you are supposed to run while setting it up which nulls out the DC offset for the configuration you have just configured. If you change the device setup too far from the starting set up, the calibration needs to be re-run. Or it may be that the calibration sequence failed to converge.

[Howtomake]

Think you for the plug of my repository! I have a working version of the FW with DHCP working but it only works with the volumes i cant access.

[dalesmith]

Do open it up, so we can have a look inside.

[TheElectronicDilettante]

Treat it like a Pluto SDR. Open it up and compare it to the available ADI schematics for the Pluto, and the other SDR platforms based on the same chip. You should ssh into it and see what it has inside.
It’s like every other SDR out there based on Analog Devices tech and designs from the Pluto II TO the Red Pitaya

[LANRanger]

I was able to broadcast my own LTE signal and connect my phone to my B210 clone (AD9361). Fancy little boxes. I posted a clip on my channel and have been really working towards making the SDR better overall.

[Marek_M]

Matt, please to do the review of Fobos Sdr from RigExpert. Operating frequency range from 100 kHz to 6 GHz and up to 50 MHz bandwidth with 14-bit signal sampling resolution.

[bbjunkie]

Tip, be careful plugging in coax / antennas, the sockets aren't secured to the PCB properly, they will shear off if any lateral force is placed on them. (on my early version this happened anyway)

[krahwinkel]

The seemless integration with SDR console is nice.

[nvca]

Thanks so much, I have always been wondering if this is a Pluto Plus version with a bigger but compatible FPGA and a proper case. So I wasn't sure if you really got the SDR Console working via the ethernet or if it was the Pluto USB-Driver that emulates an IP link via your Windows client. If I go with such a solution I want to make sure Gigabit Ethernet actually works, because the TRX will not be in my shack. So if I understood correct, the Adalm Plus (also with two TX &RX) is the practically better solution if you are, like me, not a software developer and more on the side of a tinkering end user. Ideally I would love to have TX&RX1 connected to a similar setup you have, a box with bandpass filters, amplifiers, GPS based oscillator, for the QO100 operation and the second port for individual frequencies from 70MHz to 6GHz. But I think so far only SDRangel is supporting dual port operation TX&RX?
I noticed while showing the VHF Air Band scale plenty of Tetra signals from the lets say roughly 400 MHz region ... so it has serious front end/imaging problems? Does the Pluto Plus also have these issues or is it simple overload or rather a poor PCB design that creates that issue?
The TCXO on the other side seemed pretty good, I think I heard some 30-40 Hz drift during your demo, which is pretty good for a 2.4GHz frequency. Though I would use the GPS based oscillator via its MCX sockets.
I'd love to see a comparison of the original Pluto, vs. Pluto Plus, vs. this Libre SDR while receiving weak signals (e.g. far away ATIS, distant ham repeaters on UHF) without any preselection to figure out which one is the cleanest implementation with the least amount of intermod and noise. Currently I see the price of the Pluto plus at 235€ and LibreSDR costs 285€ and the old Pluto is being dealt for some ridiculous prices despite it is the worst implementation without an ethernet port, a stable oscillator, an external oscillator input, only one port of the two that the AD chip offers and the USB 2.0 creates a huge bottleneck when it comes to bandwidth. I have one of the first Pluto's and have been operating it via an USB to Ethernet adapter but its a joke, because it drifts way too much and is not usable without the oscillator mod, which I still have to do. But I may just go for the Plus or Libre and use the old Pluto just for tinkering with amps and UHF antennas.
What is the maximum usable bandwidth with the two Gigabit Ethernet devices? I know the AD chip can do some 64MHz I believe, but at 12 Bit I/Q this creates a lot of bandwith and needs plenty of math power I guess. I guess the practical limitation will be the interface speed the Ethernet taps in? I wonder if it can do 20MHz, eg. 118-138MHz in one stream?
Once again many thanks for the very interesting introduction and best regards from Munich, Germany

[RNMSC]

I got the impression during that satelite contact that one of you was treating the frequency in use as the bottom of your signal, like you were transmitting upper sideband, while the other was treating the frequency as if it were the center of the bandpass for the transmission (more like AM, but I suspect both were FM transmissions. It looked like the bottom of your signal was on the center of his. Most of the satellite transceivers I'm aware of are fairly broad rx/tx systems, as that's about the only way LEO satellites are usable, and I'd expect that the Geostationary satellites are using similar transceiver setups.

[zerobow]

Nice one, I had the same problems I thinks there's a 200 and 400 version I have the 400 which wont work with the DJI drone sniffer firmware very annoying -I found the GB LAN could not keep up with the 60Meg stream -should of just bought 4x HackRF`s instead ! [FYI was sold on Ali-express as a B210/pluto clone]

[Pointverse-zsbs]

I have it, the SDR rocks. Only couldn't make work the ethernet yet, maybe in this video show how so it. Didn't watched it.
Also got BlackSDR B210 Mini working, even more beasts and cleaner than this one. Lacks CNC case.

[MrThierry]

Hi Matt, great video again! This device seems to be a clone of the Antsdr (310 or E200) wich are themself clone of the pluto? Cemaxecuter has tested antsdr310 briefly some years ago...Would be nice to install owrx directly on it ;-)

[Dan-MMST]

I wonder how it performs on FM Broadcast band 2, have you tested it in such a high power and congested band? It could be a game changer for those into FMDX.

[jwcrawley]

At 2:27, the chinese embossment on the case translates to "made in china".

[paranoidzkitszo]

the prosces ocf setting it up is exactly how I've been learning to do so on Raspberry Pi products.... is there 1 inside? Curious...

[cccmmm]

I wonder whether that spike is due to DDR. I have worked with similar parts in GNSS and we did see some DDR jamming.

[whoCares-lfob]

should I buy antsdr e200 AD9361 or bladeRF 2.0 micro xA4 ?

[Pointverse-zsbs]

I think the spike is just the DC component of the clock, you should have a DC filter and will disappear, im beginner, just a opinion

[HellNo]

What is in that big ass chassis? I see a Raspberry Pi connected to some sort of large PCB with antenna connections and IC's and what not... I've never seen anything like it and very curious lol