Q&A: Raspberry Pi Transmitter Targets Future Engineers

Feb. 1, 2018

Developers have combined Raspberry Pi Zero and the LimeSDR Mini to create what they say is the world’s smallest digital TV transmitter. To learn more, Microwaves & RF recently sat down with Lime’s CEO, Ebrahim Bushehri.

Nancy Friedrich

MWRF: Can you tell us about this digital TV transmitter?

EB: This is a prototype based on the Raspberry Pi Zero and LimeSDR Mini. The Raspberry Pi’s capabilities are well known; the LimeSDR Mini is a very low-cost ($139) SDR board with a range between 100 MHz and 3.5 GHz (extendable to 10 GHz with a companion board). It uses software to define the radio function. Applications include the Internet of Things (IoT), LTE, 3G, ham radio, etc. Designers can both create their own apps in a range of languages or download them via the Ubuntu store.

MWRF: How do you plan to attract future engineers with this product?

EB: We want as many people designing as many different applications as possible, and this perfectly shows off the capabilities of the LimeSDR. If the developer will take it to market, that’s fantastic. If not, we’re delighted that he has shown his workings so others can do the same.

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MWRF: For what applications do you think it will be most popular?

EB: IoT and telecom will be significant applications for the LimeSDR boards (EE and Vodafone have already backed the Lime SDR projects). Other applications include test and measurement, DVB, GNSS, and even 5G (ABI predicts the 3.5 GHz band will be the key one in deploying mass market 5G).

MWRF: What are the most common challenges that newbies have when they start with Pi?

EB: The Pi and the LimeSDR have a lot of commonalities. Both were made to bring [the greatest number of] people into computing and radio, respectively, by making it as easy to program as possible and as affordable as possible. One of the elements we’re working with Seeed Studio on is to give people an easy way in and on the LimeSDR Mini Crowd Supply page (our sales channel) you can now also get a Grove Start Kit for the Raspberry Pi that comes with a LimeSDR Mini included ($249).

About the Author

Nancy Friedrich | RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense, Keysight Technologies

Nancy Friedrich is RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense at Keysight Technologies. Nancy Friedrich started a career in engineering media about two decades ago with a stint editing copy and writing news for Electronic Design. A few years later, she began writing full time as technology editor at Wireless Systems Design. In 2005, Nancy was named editor-in-chief of Microwaves & RF, a position she held (along with other positions as group content head) until 2018. Nancy then moved to a position at UBM, where she was editor-in-chief of Design News and content director for tradeshows including DesignCon, ESC, and the Smart Manufacturing shows.