An Expansion Board with SMA Output for the Raspberry Pi and RPiTX

Thank you to Ihar Yatsevich for writing in and sharing his open source project called "rpitx-coax-pcb" which is an expansion board for the Raspberry Pi that converts the GPIO pin used by RPiTX into a coaxial SMA connector for easily connecting the output to an antenna. He notes that there are two revisions. One includes a filter in the in the GP1212 / GP731 case and the other does not. Filters in this type of enclosure can be found from Minicircuits. Finally he notes that he has not yet fully tested the design, but believes that there will be no problems.

The GitHub contains the EasyEDA design files, schematics and gerbers which you can use to print and build the PCB yourself.

If you are unfamiliar with it, RPiTX is a program for Raspberry Pi single board computers that allows you to transmit almost any type of signal on frequencies between 5 kHz up to 1500 MHz with nothing more than a wire connected to a GPIO pin. However, it is highly recommended that appropriate filtering be used if you are transmitting with an amplifier or longer range antenna as the RPiTX contains harmonics that can cause interference with other devices.

RPiTX Coaxial PCB Expansion Board for the Raspberry Pi

13 comments

  1. Ihar Yatsevich

    In the future, I may make a similar device (there are some problems with this at the moment, I recommend using a separate amplifier with good shielding for now), if there are any updates in the project, you will see them on the repository page.

    • N2

      Would it be too much to ask for a Transmit/receive change over relay, and some 2.5mm/3.5mm jacks for a speaker mic?

      • Ihar Yatsevich

        I did not plan to do this functionality. However, maybe in the future I will consider doing something similar, however with the additional use of GnuRadio and an additional SDR as a receiver.

  2. Jack

    Great…more INTENTIONAL, ILLEGAL radiators “because it’s fun and EASY to do!” Be sure to make it chic!

  3. Billy

    That armour case it nice, where the heatsink is the case or the case is the heatsink (search for “Raspberry pi Armor Case B” for the RPi4B in your search engine of choice).

    • Ihar Yatsevich

      In the future, I may make a similar device (there are some problems with this at the moment, I recommend using a separate amplifier with good shielding for now), if there are any updates in the project, you will see them on the repository page.

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