The LimeSDR Micro M.2 2280 software-defined radio (SDR) card integrates an NXP LA9310 baseband processor with a Lime Microsystems LMS7002M transceiver, designed for embedding in portable solutions using a spare M.2 PCIe Gen3 x1 socket.
By default, this module features a 1T2R configuration, expandable to 1T4R using an FPC connector, covering a 30 MHz to 3.8 GHz frequency range with up to 100 MHz bandwidth. It’s suitable for applications like 4G LTE/5G, RAN research, customized modems, drone and IoT communications, satellite connections, and waveform creation.
Specifications of the LimeSDR Micro M.2 SDR card include:
– **SoC**: NXP LA9310 programmable baseband processor
– Features a Vector Signal Processing Accelerator (VSPA) Gen 2 reaching up to 80 GFLOPs and an Arm Cortex-M4 control processor at up to 307 MHz
– **Storage**: 512 Kbit EEPROM for initial configuration
– **RF**:
– Lime Microsystems LMS7002M RF transceiver
– 1T2R, expandable to 1T4R with analogue baseband inputs on an FPC connector
– Frequency range: 30 MHz to 3.8 GHz
– 100 MHz TDD or half-duplex bandwidth and 50 MHz FDD
– Analogue filtering from 0.75 – 100 MHz
– Sample rate up to 160 Msps half-duplex and 61.44 Msps FDD
– **Connectors**:
– 3x MHF4 RF (TX, RX1 & RX2)
– 15-pin FPC for I/Q baseband input (RX3 & RX4)
– **Host Interface**: PCIe Gen 3 x1 through M.2 Key B+M edge connector
– **I/O Expansion**:
– 8-pin FPC connector with 4x GPIOs 3.3V and I2C
– **Sensor**: TMP1075NDRLR temperature sensor
– **Clock Subsystem**:
– Rakon E6245LF 30.72 MHz VCTCXO
– Onboard tunable 16-bit DAC
– Reference clock input/output connector
– 4x MHF4 clock and PPS I/O
– **Miscellaneous**:
– 2x Green LEDs
– Optional GNSS Receiver for location and timing
– **Power Supply**: 3.3V via M.2 edge connector
– **Dimensions**: 80 x 22 mm, not suited for some space-constrained systems due to a non-standard height.
LimeMicro has historically utilized LMS7002M RF transceiver solutions, but the new approach employs NXP LA9310 baseband processors catering to precise size, weight, and power necessities, maintaining full programmability with open-source support.
For added capabilities, the LimeFEA HF Micro complements the LimeSDR Micro, offering a third receive path within a 0 – 30 MHz frequency range with notable features like a medium wave broadcast notch filter, band filters, 90 dB gain, and TDD switching. Also available is the LimeSDR Micro Pro, combining LimeSDR Micro and LimeFEA HF Micro in a USB4 peripheral, and the LimeFEA M.2 2280 for broader frequency requirements.
All these were introduced on Crowd Supply needing a $100,000 funding target, with rewards from $199 to $799, expecting deliveries by September 30, 2026.