Hacker's corner
RF Explorer is a hacker friendly device. As hackers ourselves, we do like customizing, tinkering and expanding gadgets.
We certainly designed and built RF Explorer with these factors in mind.
Resources:
- Windows PC Client source code : Developed in C# and VisualStudio 2015 Community Edition, you can fully extend and customize it for your own needs, under LGPL license. The latest source code is available in Github repository: github.com/rfexplorer.
- Library .NET for easy integration of Windows applications, (Linux/Mac can use it together with mono): github link
- Library Python 3 for plug and play integration (multiplatform): github link
- Library for Arduino in standard C++/wiring: github link
- UART - USB protocol specification : Full documentation to interface RF Explorer with any RS232 capable software or Operating System. The limit here is the CP2102 USB driver, currently supported in Windows, Linux, WinCE, Android and MacOS by Silicon Labs. Please refer to Github Wiki.
- RF Explorer circuit schematic : Discover the internals of RF Explorer, so you get a better idea of how it works, and how to get the greatest value from its implemented hardware and software. RF Explorer is based on a powerful Microchip PIC24FJ64GA004 16 bits MCU, together with a Silicon Labs transceivers. Circuit link here.
- RF Explorer for Python libraries: Python is a modern, portable multi-platform programming language. We developed a full portable library so you can create your own Python applications to connect with RF Explorer devices. Visit RF Explorer for Python wiki for more details.
- RF Explorer IoT modules: If you need a fully customizable platform, both software and hardware, you can use RF Explorer IoT modules, supported in many platforms. More details at the IoT site.
- Raspberry Pi: The Raspberry Pi is a nice Single Board Computer running Linux which can easily control RF Explorer and automate lot of actions. By making use of the the USB RS232 protocol, it has enough power to work realtime with RF Explorer product family. Check RF Explorer for Raspberry Pi wiki to get sample Linux source code you can use as starting point. You can also use Phyton and Mono among other libraries to communicate from Linux to RF Explorer.
- Other Linux SBC : BeagleBone Black has been also tested to work fine with RF Explorer, if you test any other SBC please let us know so community can benefit from it.
Stay tuned for any new developments...
Comments
Regards
Harry
Thanks,
Bob
I am interested in a 433MHz to 5.8GHz model. Please keep the updates coming.
Any news on the power meter screen.
Cheers
Nick
band' model ?
Thanks for your interest!
Please check http://micro.arocholl.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84:an-update-on-rf-explorer-wsub3g&catid=3:newsflash&Itemid=50 for an update.
Wanting to have my cake & eat it too , DC - daylight , or ham bands , wifi , giggle herts :)
Thanks
John, thanks for your interest. I do not have a firm ETA yet, the fab is progressing on latest details for automated testing, but from what I hear we are likely targeting a July date for WSUB3G model. I will keep updates coming into the News section.
Btw, i read that you need to emit with a 50 ohms antenna. I understand why, but is the antenna that is shipped suitable for this purpose ?
(i suppose that the answer is "yes").
Btw if you create a tool that detect on 5.6 Ghz - 5.8 Ghz, if possible please, do it wideband.
We have plans for a 5GHz module but not ETA yet.
(Of course, i could probably code the stuff with a vco and a microcontroller.)
That is a good idea, may need a new menu entry to adjust the change step. However, once the span is increased in the new upcoming firmware, this may be less relevant. Please join us at www.rf-explorer.com/forum to discuss this in more detail.
I believe you are looking at using the data decoder. Has any thought been given to have an SDR option. i.e. output audio (I/Q) that can be decoded using the many software decoders ?
Thanks
Bob
Yes, eventually a module with separated I/Q signals may be available. With stock modules only data decoding we can do is FSK/OOK/ASK. That anyway covers a good range of RF devices and gadgets, including virtually all remote control devices.
I ordered the wideband version today. Great looking product, keep it progressing!
Thanks
Dominic
The DSP:Filter works fine on >3MHZ span, we are working to improve it so it works fine for lower span values too, the enhancement is not yet available. If you want to discuss further please open a thread on www.rf-explorer.com/forum.
As a matter of fact, we initally started with dsPIC33F but quickly found it was overkill: the largest time in the DSP process is that of the PLL+AGC+ADC settling time. These relatively slow components gives the PIC24 more than enough time to complete all calculations so no real gain on using a dsPIC. So we can save some cost by using a PIC24 that, for equivalent price tag, you get more RAM & FLASH to work with, these two factors are certainly critical to fit more features in the device.
Thanks Tom
Hi Tom,
We are still working on a few details and have no ETA yet.
You're probably already working on that, but I wanted to give it a try myself too in the meantime.
Thanks for your interest in the 6GHz unit. We will release it later this year if everything goes as planed.
Thanks for your input, we will look into that.
Just received it yesterday and already discovered many issues on our low range ISM radio project.
Any news about using the RFExplorer for SDR?
We did not progress yet on SDR options, but will go back to it after higher priority developments complete.
Recently, I'm into RTL SDR. I found that your RF explorer is much better than an ordinary RTL SDR stuffs. I'm asking your a SDR option to be available next year.
Good product and nice software installation pc ... Maybe this hardware 3G rf explorer can support running with SDR Sharp like RTT SDR
How do to do it ?
Thanks
http://www.silabs.com/Support%20Documents/Software/Linux_CP210x_VCP_3.x.x_Release_Notes.txt
I'll have to try it later when I have more time, for now I just switched to BBB which works fine.
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