FUNcube Dongle Pro + VIP SDR radio for penetration tests

FUNcube Dongle Pro + has the same design objectives as the original FUNcube Dongle, but we have taken into account many comments on the original FCD and have improved both performance and functionality. Although it may look similar from the outside, it's a whole new design.

In terms of performance, we have added 11 discrete hardware filters to the front, including narrow SAW filters on amateur 2m and 70cm bands. This has a hugely beneficial effect on blocking the front-end, especially on the VHF.

There is also a new LNA used with much better performance, which improves OIP3 to 30dBm (around 10dBm). In addition, the rf grades are at 3.15 V compared to the original 1.5 V FCD, which significantly increases the dynamic range.

Also added TCXO with a rating of 0.5 ppm, althogh typically in practice tests show accuracy at 1.5 ppm (the original FCD used 20 ppm crystals).

To improve functionality, we also took the opportunity to extend the frequency range by HF, MF and LF and ensure full coverage of the 23 cm amateur band.

Similarly, the sampling frequency shall be increased to 192 kHz.

The internally used ADC depth is 32 bits. The initial firmware provides access to 16 bits of ADC resolution.

The phase noise of the local oscillator is much smaller than the original FCD and usually when the antenna is connected, the 0 Hz tip, which is known, disappears into noise. The LO resolution is also up to around 0.5 Hz, even in the L band.

Some quick stats ...

o 240 parts (original FCD: 100)

o 100 BOM (original FCD: 28)

o Parts mounted on both sides (original FCD: parts on one side)

o six-layer printed circuit board, two are fixed ground planes (original FCD: double-sided)

o 21 IO, 122 capacitors, 49 inductors ... in the same place as the 40-pin DIP package

No drivers required! Device drivers are already part of your operating system - Windows, Linux or Mac OSX, 32 or 64 bits.

* Guaranteed FUNcube Dongle Pro + coverage is from 150 kHz to 1.9 GHz and coverage is between 240 MHz and 420 MHz.

Technical FAQ

What is the frequency range?

A. 64 - 1 700 MHz, Although the satnav survey tests on pre-production units indicate that the units can be stretched to around 51.5 MHz.

Q: What can funcube dongle accept?

A. FUNcube Dongle has no restrictions on modulation schemes: it is limited only by an application program running on the host computer. If the signal fits in a bandwidth of approximately 80 kHz, FUNcube Dongle is capable of receiving a radio signal. So for analog reception, as well as for narrowband FM and SSB, it is also possible to receive, for example, audio subnosis for television. Similarly, for receiving data, if a demodulator has been written that will accept the standard audio recording of the qdai i/q reception, it will also work.

What is the bandwidth?

A. 96 kHz is the quasar sampling frequency. When the decimating skirts of the ADC filter are taken into account, you have about 80 kHz.

Q: What applications work with FUNcube Dongle?

A: In addition to the upcoming front-end FUNcube application, any application that understands the standard stereo sound card configured for the qatu or I/Q should work.

What's the sensitivity?

A. Each unit is tested at 0,15 uV for 12dB SINAD NBFM at 145 MHz and 435 MHz.

What operating systems are compatible?

A. Currently tested Windows 2000 SP4, XP 32 bit and Vista and Windows 7 32 and 64 bit. The sound card element works on Mac OSX and Ubuntu 10.10 32 and 64 bits, but the frequency adjustment application has not yet been transferred.

What is the difference between versions?

A: There are two versions: Basic and Pro. The basic model is limited in frequency and is designed as an input facility with minimal costs, intended for educational purposes. The Pro model is unlimited in its frequency coverage.

Q: Can I upgrade the "Base" version to "Pro"?

A: Currently, the update will require the device to be revised so that it can be modified to accept the "Pro" firmware.

Q: Is firmware upgradeable?

A: Yes, the user can already update the firmware with firmware. However, the Pro firmware and basic firmware are not interchangeable.

Q: Do I need front filters?

Answer: Some people have experienced front-end congestion especially with FCD on VHF. Although there is already a fixed and programmable front filtering on the FCD, it is not very selective in the VHF. It is usually a sign that it will look deaf: this is a noise floor rising because of the overwork of the front end. You can see it in Spectravue, as when you connect an antenna, the noise floor rises potentially by a few dozen dB. While a reduction in profit can help, of course this is necessarily at the expense of the natural sensitivity of the unit. At this stage, it is worth looking for external filtering options. We are already working on some solutions, but some readily available commercial solutions include The Hamnonics LNP foreman, SSB Electronics SP-2000 and DCI-145-2H and DCI-145-4H of DCI. Because these aren't exactly cheap, I've worked on some ideas that you could try: http://www.funcubedongle.com/?p=456. We will also explore an active solution without a reasonable price tuning.

Q: I have a problem with updating the firmware. What can I do?

A. The most reliable way is to use Windows. It is important that you introduce any software that could access fcd after you put the drive into boot mode before you try to update the firmware.

What support options are there?

Answer: You can send me an email using my Paypal email account, or there is a very active Group FUNcube Yahoo that often provides answers faster. http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/funcube/