Yoyodyne Consulting
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SDR-Widget ( DIY Kit )

SDR-Widget::What is it:

The SDR-Widget is an attempt to create an open-source audio/control card for the Amateur Radio SDR enthusiast. The design is based up the AK5394A ADC, CS4344 DAC and the Atmel AT32UC3A3256 processor.

Hardware Features: Software Features (either present or coming soon)

Performance:

The Beta version of the SDR-Widget has outperformed, for noise floor, all commercial sounds cards tested (Creative X-fi 5.1, E-MU 0202, FA-66, M-Audio Audiophile 192) The noise floor with shorted inputs is approximately -135db.

Build difficulty:

The kit uses 0805 sized SMT components and has a LQFP144_20 cpu. The kit requires a steady hand and a measured approach to building. It is not impossible for a beginner to build the kit but it is not recommended. Currently, there are no 'instructions' on how to assemble the kit. Schematics and component placement are the only aids provided.

The kitting system is rudimentary but functional. Kits will be shipped as first class mail in 2 bubble mailers

Prices and Ordering:

I am sold out of full kits for the SDR-Widget.

There has been enough in interest in the design that I am offering the blank circuit boards and the difficult to obtain ES9023 DAC as a package. The full BOMs with Digikey part numbers are available online at:

UC3A3 CPU card BOM
AK5394 ADC card BOM
Document Archive. This archive contains schematics, component layout

SDR-Widget pcb set + ES9023

For a limited time I am offering the blank pcb's plus the ES9023 DAC for those who wish to order their own parts and assemble a SDR-Widget.

NOTE:
Canadian residents will be charged the appropriate sales taxes.
Overseas orders will be charged extra for increased paypal fees.

SDR-Widget pcb set

Documentation:

A documentation archive for the SDR-Widget BETA revision is located here. This archive contains schematics, component layout and data sheets

A documentation archive for the SDR-Widget KIT is located here. This archive contains schematics, component layout and data sheets

Firmware for the SDR-Widget is located on the google code page http://code.google.com/p/sdr-widget
in the downloads section

Logbook

  • Dec 03,2012
    - Blank pcb arrived.
  • Oct 25,2012
    - Reopen the 'interest' spreadsheet for SDR-Widget boards and DAC.
  • Sept 30,2012
    - Current batch of boards sold out.
  • Sep 04,2012
    - Offering sets of boards plus ES9023 DAC. Limited run.
  • Feb 10,2012
    - New shipping boxes arrived. 10 kits available with 1 missing part for the remaining 6 kits.
  • Jan 20,2012
    - Parts orders placed with Digikey and others. Will start packaging kits next week and annouce availability shortly.
  • Dec 10,2011
    - SOLD OUT.. not more until spring 2012
  • Oct 06,2011
    - Inventory of kits running low. Expect to be out before Christmas.
  • Aug 27,2011
    - First batch of kits shipped. It takes approximately 8 hours to package 16 bubble mailers (8 kits).
  • Aug 11,2011
    - Boards and parts ordered. Will be tagging and bagging parts next week and expect to start shipping August 26.
    PayPal button is now active
  • Aug 05,2011
    - New layout almost completed. Sent email to widget list with status update
  • May 03,2011
    - Announce on the SDR-Widget list a kit version of the widget
  • Apr 03,2011
    - Sold the 4 units in a few hours.. :)
  • Apr 03,2011
    - Made a few hand assembled units available.
  • Jan 31,2011
    - SDR-widget stock depleted.
  • Jan 03,2011
    - Officiallty dropped the 'lite' designation. SDR-Widget-lite is now SDR-Widget.
  • Nov 19,2010
    - Kits have been ordered and the AK5394A has been drop shipped to the contract manufacturer. Hopefully the parts will clear customs quickly and the build will begin.
  • Oct 23,2010
    - Corrected link to document archive. Firmware links now points to googlecode page.
  • Oct 22,2010
    - Added Paypal 'Buy Now' button.
  • Oct 21,2010
    - Now taking pre-orders for the assembled SDR-Widget-lite Beta.
  • Sep 18,2010
    - A milestone has been reached. Alex has a functionaing widget/SR63/MOBO combination. The audio drive is a bit low but the belief is a software change may increase the output.
  • Sep 17,2010
    - Early DAC code written for UAC1 for Windows. Alpha2+ builders report using the card as a USB output device. Still a few issues to be worked out but the code validates the DAC hardware.
  • Sep 12,2010
    - Alex has worked up preliminary USB endpoints for the DAC. The current demo code, UAC1_70 and UAC2_95, have the DAC showing up in WinXP
  • Aug 31,2010
    - A small error with the DAC circuit. A ground trace is missing on the board but was in the schematic. A wire mod jpg posted on the SDR-widget site. There is the possiblitlty the beta release will be a single board. I have a prelim layout for an enclosure but the enclosure will increase the final price as well as shipping costs.
  • Aug 06,2010
    - All SDR-Widget-lite (alpha2+) kits have been shipped.
  • July 23,2010
    - Received notice the circuit boards are in the build queue. I expect delivery early August.
  • July 22,2010
    - Boards ordered from usual supplier. Also made an info request on the cost of assembly of a small quantity of boards. (not everyone is Jedi master with the soldering iron)
  • July 21,2010
    - Plans to create a DAC daughter card scrapped in favour of reworking the cpu card and adding a CS4344. I am giving the current purchasers the option of upgrading their kit, for a modest sum, before I ship. It the DAC addition works it will be standard in the production version of the kit.
    - Nuhorizons promises the AK5394 and LT6232 will be here next week. Kit shipping will be delayed until the new cpu pcb arrive.
    - Document archive updated with new DAC components.
  • June 10,2010
    - Taking orders for the Alpha2 revision. Updated document archive. Will take one last pass over schematics and layout before shipping it out for fab.
  • May 19,2010
    - Changes to ADC card include all routing and power supply suggestions. The CPU card is suffering from feature bloat as more functions are added. This has impacted on the release of the gerbers for the Alpha-2 run. It is taking longer than expected to squeeze the additional components on the board.
  • April --,2010
    - The original Alpha design has been released and initial bug fixes undertaken. Software developement has resulted in USB audio class-v1 at 96k. Suggestions for noise improvement has been added to the schematics and will be included in an Alpha-2 run sometime in May.

SDR-Widget-Lite (alpha2) assembled by Loftur Jonasson






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Last modified Thu Oct 25 14:04:04 2012