FUNcube Dongle

Folks

There will be two FUNcube Dongle models, the Pro version and the Base version.

The Base model is targetted at the education market as a means to encourage science and technology in the classroom by the use of practical Space experimentation. Educational outreach is, after all, the primary motivation of the entire FUNcube project. As such the Base models distributed to bona fide educational organisations will be very much less expensive than the Pro versions.

While the details are yet to be finalised, it is our intention that the entry level Base model will be frequency limited to the ITU Amateur Satellite sub-bands on 145MHz and 435MHz.

The Pro model on the other hand has no frequency limitation beyond the physical device’s abilities. For local distribution in some markets, it may be necessary to restrict the frequency range for local regulatory compliance.

Both the Pro and the Base models can have their firmware upgraded by the user, however Pro firmware will not install correctly on Base models and vice versa. At present, a Base FCD will only be able to be upgraded to a Pro FCD by returning the unit for an upgrade.

Howard

Folks

Thought you might like to see my programming fixture, a true high tech design! The PCB has the MCU’s programming and debugging pads exposed on the underside, and there’s spring loaded contacts on the test fixture. For just burning firmware, a light press with the thumb for a couple of seconds is enough. For longer term debugging, the patented clothes peg technique relieves thumb strain and gives you a spare hand.

Howard

There was also a question regarding phase noise at 23cm, there is already post relating to this here: https://www.funcubedongle.com/?page_id=81#comment-110

In fact the first time I ever tried SSB for real at 23cms (as opposed to with a nice clean signal generator) was about a month ago when I was at the world infamous Orwell Truck Stop frequented by Martlesham microwavers in need of a Full English. While demonstrating, an impromptu heckle Continue reading →

Folks

I have had a question about the performance of these units. Bear in mind that we are still optimising these units, and there is a lot of tweaking both in software and hardware that we can do. As the primary design requirement is to be able to receive and decode telemetry from the FUNcube satellite, sensitivity was the first goal to get right, Continue reading →

I’ve been receiving a number of questions about the programming interface for the FCD.

Although the quadrature I/Q stream is over a standard USB stereo soundcard interface, in order to change the centre frequency there is an additional programming interface that uses the USB HID standard interface. Here’s an example Continue reading →

Today I fixed the problem I was having with the new batch using the new PCB spin hanging. It turned out to be a construction error by yours truly, with a transposed decoupling capacitor and pullup resistor on all three boards. But it took most of the evening Continue reading →

Today I built three boards using parts from the production batch with the second, and hopefully final, spin.

All worked first time, and sensitivity was as expected with the LNA now integrated, although I have noticed that this batch seem to hang after five or ten minutes of streaming, unlike the version first PCB spin, so I will be looking into that. The firmware is identical so it’s a bit of a head scratcher at this stage.

The three QFNs were reflowed Continue reading →

The second spin of the PCB has arrived Continue reading →

Last night at 4am I committed what I hope will be the last spin of the PCB before production, should arrive this weekend!

I’ve also ordered a full reeled set of parts for at least 100 units.