NOTE: The FCD bias tee option is available on later models.

FUNcube Dongle Products

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The FUNcube Dongle (the FUNcube Dongle web site)

The FUNcube Dongle, cleverly designed and build by Howard Long, G6LVB, is a very nifty software defined radio (SDR) in the size of a “USB flash memory module” that has really caught on in the Amateur and professional community. Howard has taken a sophisticate HDTV tuner ASIC and coupled it with a microprocessor, plus some other dandy circuits, to design a SDR that covers from 64 to 1700 MHz. When coupled with readily available (free) software and the PC, it becomes a very capable wide band, “all mode” receiver.

But like all good things, the FUNcube Dongle has a few drawbacks. The tuner front end is very broad, having very minimal front end filtering, making it susceptible to front end overload from nearby emitters. Additionally, it starts to go into compression at approximately -60 dBm which also accounts for its being prone to overload. And lastly, it starts coverage at 64 MHz thereby missing some popular frequency bands such as the HF spectrum and the 6 Meter Amateur band.

As a big fan and frequent Amateur and professional user of the FUNcube Dongle (we use it as a spectrum analyzer to measure phase noise) and one who is interested in helping solve some of its drawbacks, we decided to design, build and offer products which enhance the use of the FCD.

The 6 Meter Up Converter

To provide 6 Meter capability for the FUNcube Dongle, we have designed the 50 to 54 MHz to 116 to 120 MHz upconverter, the FCD-6MTR-UC. It’s a front end filtered, low noise, high dynamic range converter. It can be powered directly or by the FUNcube Dongle bias tee feature (FCD option on later models).

The 2 Meter Low Loss Front End Bandpass Filter

The overcome the out of band overload that occurs in some operating locations, we have designed the 146M2PBPF. It is a low cost, very low loss 2 pole bandpass filter which can reduce or eliminate the bothersome out of band interfering signals.

The 2 Meter Filtered Low Noise Amplifier

The LNAA146 is designed using the 2 pole bandpass filter described above, coupled to a high dynamic range MMIC LNA and followed by another 2 pole bandpass filter. The unit can be powered directly or by the bias tee feature of the FUNcube Dongle (FCD option or later models). The LNAA146 is best used right at the antenna to set the overall noise figure and overcome the loss of the cabling from the antenna to the FUNcube Dongle.

The 5 to 55 MHz Up Converter

The FCD-5-55-UC provides 5 to 55 MHz receive capability for the FUNcube Dongle. It takes 5 to 55 MHz and converts it to 138 to 188 MHz.  A notch filter at the LO frequency of 133 Mhz keeps the LO leakage in the IF output to below -60 dBm.  The IF LPF also keeps the second harmonic of the LO below -60 dBm in the IF output. This conversion scheme keeps mixer crossing products in the IF to below -60 dBc. The input will go down to 1 Mhz with slightly degraded performance (as the IF output approaches the LO frequency). This is a front end filtered, low noise, high dynamic range, low spurious output converter. It can be powered directly or by the FUNcube Dongle bias tee feature (FCD option on later models).

Future FUNcube Dongle Support Products

In design are front end filters for the 70, 136 and 432/435 MHz bands. We are also updating our 432/435 MHz LNA’s to incorporate new design improvements to enhance 70cm performance of the FCD.

Please see the data sheets for more details.

Rev 111511

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