Developing Hardware

All Myriad-RF hardware designs are open source and as such, can be used as a starting point and for integration into new designs.

Some useful notes are included here for hardware designers and those thinking of contributing to Myriad-RF hardware projects.

Please note that this page is presently a stub and under development.

Projects

Reference Development Kit

The Reference Development Kit (RDK) provides a selection of RF modules that incorporate high-speed connectors and make it possible to add RF capabilities to digital designs, without the need for having to do RF design and board layout etc. Depending on the size of the module, either then RFDIO or uRFDIO digital connector format is used.

RFDIO

• Myriad-RF 1 module (LMS6002)
• DE0-Nano interface

The STREAM board also includes an RFDIO interface and supports use with the Myriad-RF 1 module.

uRFDIO

• uMyriadRF-6002
• uMyriadRF-7002

A micro variant of the STREAM board provides a reference implementation for digital interfacing of uMyriadRF boards.

STREAM

STREAM is a flexible platform for developing high-performance digital and RF designs using an Altera Cyclone IV FPGA and Lime Microsystems FPRF transceiver. It is available in its original form factor and a much more compact, lower cost micro variant.

Other designs

Other Myriad-RF designs may be used as a starting point for new designs.

Component libraries

The Component Libraries project provides a collection of KiCAD component footprints and models that are useful when designing RF systems.

EDA formats

Most Myriad-RF hardware projects have been made available as KiCAD designs. At the present time the LimeSDR hardware design is only available as an Altium Designer project, but the plan is to re-enter this as a KiCAD design and subsequently validate this, in order to lower the barrier to making derivative designs.

General guidance

Where possible new hardware projects should be laid out using KiCAD. However, it appreciated that complex and high performance RF designs may have to first be entered, and validated etc., using proprietary EDA tools.