HeliumUserManual_02092011 Helium User Manual 02092011

AstroDev Helium Radios

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW

The Helium radio product line provides a CubeSat Kit-

compatible 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 PC104-

size 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.

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

Applications:

 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

Figure 1-- He-100 radio

He-100 emits RF radiation that

may interfere with the use of other

devices. Users must maintain

proper licenses during operation.

He-100 is static sensitive, take the

necessary precautions

He-100 requires proper

termination of transmitter in 50

Ohm load during operation.

Page 2 of 9

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

Page 3 of 9

ABSOLUTE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM RATINGS

Parameter Symbol Min. Nom. Max. Units

Operating temperature TOP -30.0 to +70.0 ˚C

Interface Voltages and Currents:

Voltage on Battery Pin (CSK Bus) Vbatt 5.0 12.0 V

Current on Battery Pin Ibat 0.1 1.5 A

Voltage on System Pin (CSK Bus) Vs

y

s 3.0 3.3 3.6 V

Current on System Pin Is

y

s 0.10 A

Voltage on UART Pins (CSK Bus) Vuart 3.0 3.3 3.6 V

Voltage on Reset Pin (CSK Bus) Vreset 3.0 3.3 3.6 V

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Parameter Notes Symbol Min. Typ. Max. Units

Mass 78 G

Maximum Height above PCB 0.0 6.35 11.64 Mm

Maximum Height below PCB 0.0 2.50 2.54 Mm

PCB Width

1

90.00 90.17 Mm

PCB Length

1

95.25 96.0 mm

PCB Thickness 1.58 1.60 1.63 mm

1 CSK Standard Board

Page 4 of 9

TYPICAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Transmit Output Power Versus Power Command

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

012345678910

Command Power Setting

Transmit Output Power (W)

10V VBatt

7.5V Vbatt

5V VBatt

Figure 2 – Output Power vs. Power Setting.2

Total Power Consumption Versus Power Command

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

012345678910

Command Power Setting

Total Power (W)

10V VBatt

7.5V Vbatt

5V VBatt

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

2 Representative, individual units will vary due to customer options.

Page 5 of 9

Ref 27 dBm Atten 40 dB

Samp

Log

10

dB/

VAvg

10

W1 S2

S3 FC

AA

Center 138 MHz

R

es B

W

300 Hz

V

B

W

300 Hz Span 50 kHz

Swee

p

2.226 s

(

600

p

ts

)

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

Figure 5 – Receive mode BER vs. Input Power 3

3 Representative, individual units will vary due to customer options.

Page 6 of 9

RSSI Linearity

-140

-120

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

-140 -120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0

RF Input Level (dBm)

RSSI Level (dBm)

RSSI Telemetry Level Actual RF Input Level

Figure 6 -- RSSI Linearity. 4

4 Representative, individual units will vary due to customer options.

Page 7 of 9

RADIO CONNECTION INFORMATION

System Block Diagram

Power

Amplifier Transmitter

Module

Receiver

Module

MSP430

Processor

Reset

Supervisor

VBattX P3.1

P3.3 P3.6

P3.7 Reset

CubeSat Kit Header

3.3V

GND

Ant

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 Summary

RADIO_UART_RX 18 P3.6x <2 mA Radio UART interface Rx.

RADIO_UART_TX 17 P3.7x <2 mA Radio UART interface Tx.

RADIO_3.3VSYS 27 & 28 VCC_SYS <75 mA Radio 3.3V Voltage

RADIO_GND 29 & 30 & 32 GND N/A Radio Ground

RADIO_VBATT 45 &46 VBATTx <1.75 Amp Radio Voltage for Power

Amplifier

Helium Radio Product Line

Page 8 of 9

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

5 All units are in mils.

Helium Radio Product Line

Page 9 of 9

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

HeliumUserManual_02092011 Helium User Manual 02092011

Navigation menu

Versions of this User Manual:

Views

Navigation