HeliumUserManual_02092011 Helium User Manual 02092011

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AstroDev Helium Radios
PRODUCT OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW

Applications:

The Helium radio product line provides a CubeSat Kitcompatible communication system for extreme
environment applications.
Helium radios feature
variable frequency selection and variable output power.
They are compatible with standard amateur radio
ground stations capable of communication at 1200 bps,
9600 bps, or higher bit rates using GMSK modulation.






The Helium 100 series radios (He-100) are mode B
transceivers; they transmit on the 440 MHz amateur
radio band and receive on the 140 MHz amateur radio
band. Custom frequencies are available per customer
requirements.
The Helium 100 series radios are available as a PC104size board, compatible with the Cubesat Kit Bus
standard developed by Pumpkin, Inc.
A digital command and data interface is provided to the
radios. Through this interface the radio is configured,
data is received, and data is sent for transmission. A
packet protocol with checksums is implemented
between the host and radio for robust access.
The radios communicate using a subset of the AX.25
packet protocol or a user specified binary protocol. In
AX.25, only unnumbered information (UI) frames are
supported. The packet source and destination call signs
are configurable. The radios can pass through the
binary data without any processing, allowing users to
define custom protocols and forward error correction.

Cubesat Kit systems
High altitude balloon missions
Rovers or other remotely operated vehicles
Remote embedded systems

Features:
 FSK/GMSK transceiver
 Frequencies:
o TX: 120 – 150 MHz or 400-450 MHz
o RX: 400 – 450 MHz or 120-150 MHz
 Receive sensitivity: -104.7 dBm @ BER 10-3
 Output transmit power: 100 mW – 3 W
 Input voltages:
o Logic: 3.3V
o Transmitter 5-16V
 Power usage:
o Receive: < 200 mW 1
o Transmit: < 6 W 1
 Maximum data rate: 38.4 kbps (higher speeds
under test)

 Full duplex
 Protocol support:
o Subset of AX.25
o User defined through a transparent
byte-level interface.
 Serial interface: 3.3V UART
 Form factor (CubeSat Kit compatible):
o Stand alone board
 Operating Temperature: -30 to +70 °C
Options:
 AES 128 or 256 Encryption
For more information, contact:
info@astrodev.com
He-100 emits RF radiation that
may interfere with the use of other
devices. Users must maintain
proper licenses during operation.

Figure 1-- He-100 radio

He-100 is static sensitive, take the
necessary precautions

He-100 requires proper
termination of transmitter in 50
Ohm load during operation.
1

Full ready state for transmission and reception. Lower power receive and transmit modes are user configurable.

4/5/2012

Table of Contents
ABSOLUTE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM RATINGS ..................................................................................................... 3
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS ................................................................................................................................. 3
TYPICAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS....................................................................................................... 4
RADIO CONNECTION INFORMATION ....................................................................................................................... 7
System Block Diagram .............................................................................................................................................. 7
CSK Interface Header Description ............................................................................................................................ 7
COMMUNICATING WITH THE LITHIUM RADIO ........................................................................................................ 8
RADIO CONFIGURATION PROGRAM........................................................................................................................ 8
DIMENSIONS AND FORM FACTOR ........................................................................................................................... 8
PROTECTING AGAINST ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE ........................................................................................ 9
TRADEMARKS ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................................................................................ 9
NOTES .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9

4/5/2012
Page 2 of 9

ABSOLUTE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM RATINGS
Parameter
Operating temperature

Symbol
TOP

Min.

Vbatt
Ibat
Vsys
Isys
Vuart
Vreset

5.0
0.1
3.0

Nom.
Max.
-30.0 to +70.0

Units
˚C

Interface Voltages and Currents:
Voltage on Battery Pin (CSK Bus)
Current on Battery Pin
Voltage on System Pin (CSK Bus)
Current on System Pin
Voltage on UART Pins (CSK Bus)
Voltage on Reset Pin (CSK Bus)

3.0
3.0

3.3
0.10
3.3
3.3

12.0
1.5
3.6

V
A
V
A
V
V

3.6
3.6

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Parameter
Mass
Maximum Height above PCB
Maximum Height below PCB
PCB Width1
PCB Length1
PCB Thickness

Notes

Symbol

Min.
0.0
0.0

1.58

Typ.
78
6.35
2.50
90.00
95.25
1.60

Max.
11.64
2.54
90.17
96.0
1.63

Units
G
Mm
Mm
Mm
mm
mm

CSK Standard Board

4/5/2012
Page 3 of 9

TYPICAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS
Transmit Output Power Versus Power Command
6

10V VBatt

Transmit Output Power (W)

7.5V Vbatt
5V VBatt
4

0
0

Command Power Setting

Figure 2 – Output Power vs. Power Setting.2

Total Power Consumption Versus Power Command
6
10V VBatt
5

7.5V Vbatt

Total Power (W)

5V VBatt
4

0
0

Command Power Setting

Figure 3 -- Power Consumption vs. Power Setting.2

Representative, individual units will vary due to customer options.

4/5/2012
Page 4 of 9

Ref 27 dBm
Samp
Log
10
dB/

Atten 40 dB

VAvg
10
W1 S2
S3 FC
AA

Center 138 MHz
Res BW 300 Hz

VBW 300 Hz

Span 50 kHz
Sweep 2.226 s (600 pts)

Figure 4 – He-100 GFSK 9600 Baud Output Spectrum.3

Figure 5 – Receive mode BER vs. Input Power 3

Representative, individual units will vary due to customer options.

4/5/2012
Page 5 of 9

RSSI Linearity
0
-20

RSSI Level (dBm)

-40
-60
-80
-100
-120
-140
-140

-120

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

RF Input Level (dBm)
RSSI Telemetry Level

Actual RF Input Level

Figure 6 -- RSSI Linearity. 4

Representative, individual units will vary due to customer options.

4/5/2012
Page 6 of 9

RADIO CONNECTION INFORMATION
System Block Diagram
Ant

Power
Amplifier

Transmitter
Module

MSP430
Processor

Ant

Reset
Supervisor

Receiver
Module

VBattX

3.3V
GND

P3.1
P3.3

P3.6
P3.7

Reset

CubeSat Kit Header

Figure 7--System block diagram of the Helium Radios.
CSK Interface Header Description
CSK Header 1 (H1)

CSK Header 2 (H2)

Figure 8 -- Cubesat Kit Radio Interface Pins
Table 1 -- Radio/CSK Pinout.
Radio Pin

CSK Pin #

CSK Pin Name

Typical Current Draw

RADIO_UART_RX
RADIO_UART_TX
RADIO_3.3VSYS
RADIO_GND
RADIO_VBATT

18
17
27 & 28
29 & 30 & 32
45 &46

P3.6x
P3.7x
VCC_SYS
GND
VBATTx

<2 mA
<2 mA
<75 mA
N/A
<1.75 Amp

Summary
Radio UART interface Rx.
Radio UART interface Tx.
Radio 3.3V Voltage
Radio Ground
Radio Voltage for Power
Amplifier

4/5/2012
Page 7 of 9

Helium Radio Product Line

COMMUNICATING WITH THE LITHIUM RADIO
Refer to AstroDev radio interface application note for detailed instructions.
RADIO CONFIGURATION PROGRAM
Refer to radio configuration program application note for detailed instructions.
DIMENSIONS AND FORM FACTOR
Compatibility with the CubeSat Kit: Stand alone full board in parallel with the FM430.

Figure 9 -- Radio Board Layout5

All units are in mils.

4/5/2012
Page 8 of 9

Helium Radio Product Line
PROTECTING AGAINST ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE
CAUTION: Disconnect the He-100 radio from power source before removing from operating environment.
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) events can harm electronic components inside the He-100. Under certain conditions,
ESD may build up on your body or an object, such as an antenna, and then discharge into another object, such as
the He-100. To prevent ESD damage, you should discharge static electricity from your body before you interact
with any electronic components.
You can protect against ESD and discharge static electricity from your body by touching a metal grounded object
(such as an unpainted metal surface such as your antistatic matt) before you interact with anything electronic
devices. When connecting an antenna or power plug to the He-100, you should always ground both yourself and
the CubeSat structure before connecting it.
You can also take the following steps to prevent damage from electrostatic discharge:
• When unpacking the He-100 from its shipping carton, do not remove the radio from the antistatic packing material
until you are ready to install the component. Just before unwrapping the antistatic package, be sure to discharge
static electricity from your body by wearing an antistatic wrist strap.
• When transporting the He-100, first place it in an antistatic container or packaging.
• Handle the He-100 in a static-safe area. If possible, use antistatic floor pads and work bench pads.
TRADEMARKS
In progress.
DISCLAIMER
All information in this document is subject to change at anytime. Look for continued updates at:
http://www.astrodev.com/
Helium radios are sold as test devices and require users to gain experimental license from the FCC for use in
terrestrial and CSK satellite missions.
NOTES

4/5/2012
Page 9 of 9

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