Our Quick Review of the ThumbNet N3 Prototype

Earlier this month Akos from the RTLSDR4Everyone blog reviewed a prototype of the latest ThumbNet N3 RTL-SDR. In this post we will also give a quick review of a prototype of their new unit which was kindly provided to us by ThumbNet. ThumbNet is a company that is hoping to provide low cost satellite deployments, and make use of volunteers around the world with RTL-SDR’s to help track them. The RTL-SDR’s and antenna kits are provided to schools and educational institutions for free by ThumbNet, in exchange for students setting up and monitoring a satellite tracking station.

To help with the needs of their project they have designed and manufactured the ThumbNet N3, which is a redesigned RTL-SDR dongle. As they must order in bulk, they are also selling surplus units to the RTL-SDR community with the hope that any profits will help fundraise for other related projects.

The ThumbNet N3 is a redesigned RTL-SDR with a focus on lowering the noise floor and spurs for optimal reception of their satellites. The N3 uses a 0.5 PPM TCXO for low frequency drift and a common mode USB choke for reduced USB noise. The PCB size is also increased allowing for better thermal dissipation. Since F-type is more common in the areas they intend to donate the units to, an F-type antenna connector is used on the dongle. A full list of the changes and improvements they’ve made can be found on their N3 details page.

One way in which they have reduced the noise is by disabling the internal switching voltage regulator within the dongle, and instead using a linear regulator. Linear regulators are much quieter than their switching counterparts, however they do draw significantly more power. The N3 draws 450mA of current, wheras a standard RTL-SDR draws closer to 270mA. Since many USB ports have a 500 mA limit this gets close to problematic to run directly from the USB port. To get around this, the N3 has an external power port, so it can be powered by an AC->DC power pack (like what you use for charging your phone), or more ideally with a quieter linear power supply or batteries. This has the added advantage of avoiding noisy USB power lines.

Review & Testing

The N3 feels very sturdy, and all the connectors are mounted strongly and are unlikely to break off. The top of the receiver shows the power port, the USB port, the shielding can and the F-type connector. The USB connector uses the older depreciated “USB mini” standard (which is different to USB micro found on most phones).

The bottom shows a few components as well as the two linear regulators. In order to power the unit we used an AC to DC 5V power supply (normally used for mobile phone charging) which we soldered on to the bottom of the PCB. Ideally we’d use a battery or linear power supply, but we’ll test that later with the actual production unit.

The standard N3 unit comes with no enclosure or RFI shielding cans (these are paid add-ons). Our prototype unit came with a shielding can covering the components which was enough to block most interfering signals. We did not see many unwanted signals being received with the antenna unplugged which is a good sign that the shielding can is doing its job.

Thumbnet N3 Top
Thumbnet N3 Top
Thumbnet N3 Bottom
Thumbnet N3 Bottom

We gave the unit a quick test on a noise floor scan. The results show that the noise floor has been significantly reduced. The clock spurs are still there but they are reduced in strength vs the standard RTL-SDR.

A standard RTL-SDR vs RTL-SDR Blog V3 vs ThumbNet N3 noise floor scan
A standard RTL-SDR vs RTL-SDR Blog V3 vs ThumbNet N3 noise floor scan

On L-band at around 1.5 GHz the standard RTL-SDR dongles tend to fail at receiving after they heat up a little. The ThumbNet N3 showed no problems in this region, probably thanks to its larger PCB with better heat dissipation.

Conclusion

Once the production model is released we intend to do a more in depth review, but as it stands right now the N3 is looking very good especially for those who use RTL-SDR’s in monitoring applications that can benefit from very low noise floors, or for those who like the idea of being able to externally power the unit.

The ThumbNet N3 can be bought from their store. It costs $25.75 (with no shielding can), $27.75 (with shielding can), $31.50 (with aluminum case and no shielding can) or $33.50 (with aluminum case and shielding can) + $4.50 worldwide shipping. ThumbNet write that initial demand for the N3 unit has been high, so if you are interested in the unit, you need to order early to ensure that you can get one. They are due to ship out by the end of October. We’ve received a note that the delivery date is rescheduled for no later than November 11. 

Also in a recent email from ThumbNet they wrote:

First of all, let me thank you from the whole team, for your support of ThumbNet and helping to promote STEM education around the globe with your purchase. We have sold more of the surplus N3’s than we expected to at this point, so if you have friends that are hesitant, tell them that time is running out! 🙂

Secondly, I wanted to take a moment to update you on the status.

The production run testing of the N3 was completed on time, but testing found three small improvements we could put into effect immediately, to produce a better receiver. Those changes have been submitted to the manufacturer and we are currently waiting for a revised ship date.

We still anticipate that the N3 will ship in the month of October, but I will send a follow up email with a more accurate schedule, when I get one in a day or two, from the manufacturer.

I thank you all for your understanding and patience. All of our testing so far indicates that the N3 is performing very well, and we hope you’ll agree it was worth the wait, when it arrives.

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West

Any ideas about the performance when connected to a 50 Ohms antenna and cable? (The FAQ at http://www.thumbsat.com/thumbnet-radios says the antenna input is 75 Ohm.)

Joe Rotello

A nice re-cap on the improved THUMBNET N3 PROTOTYPE, but please also add into this pages recap the “base” frequency range of the new unit, and whether or not the en-used might require the use of an up-converter for use on “other” frequencies, etc.

Akos

The production models WILL be different from the prototype sample above, as it has been stated, and as evidenced from “three small improvements” in attached letter.
Any further comparison or evaluation is pointless therefore, wait a few more weeks until finals start to ship.
From my own testing as well, I think that the N3 will be an outstanding receiver – I also ran it with mobile phone charger supply, and waterfall was exceptionally clean, free of noise.
If you can afford one, place an order, or wait until reviews come out mid-November.

Roy

Has anybody else noticed that rtl-sdr.ru is a dead page? Did the owner not pay his hosting bill?

Trouble is that many of the plugins seem to have been only available from there. Can somebody else who has them please host?

Mark

I just noticed that too. I think it was fine a few days ago…

Denis

Plugin collection from rtl-sdr.ru you can find here http://blog.radiospy.ru/obzory/kollekciya-plaginov-dlya-sdrsharp.html

Roy

Thanks, folks

Roy

Hi, me again.

I tried installing the CTCSS and the DCS plugins, put the .dlls in the SDRSharp folder, put the magiclines in the plugins.xml, and no go. Does not show up in SDR# at all. Tried a few times.

I am able to edit the .xml files so shows I’m at least in the right folder.

Using SDR# v1.0.0.1489.

Any ideas, please?

snn47

COuld you provide some more infromation please?
1. Test setup: Where all 3 Dongles tested on the same pc /USB-port. programme and settings?
What power supply was used for the Thumbnet N3 and how noisy was it compared to the USB-port providing power to the other dongles?
2. Which reference frequencies are in use in the 3 dongles?
There are nearly no spikes visible for the RTL-SDR V3 compared to the other two
3. How warm/hot are the R820T2 after warmup?
If you retest could you
a. cool the RTL-dongles, with dry ice or in an ice box to verify that performance difference is from heat and not a comination of other factors?
b. use for all dongle a clean 5V voltage, e.g. battery and “noise free” regulator) and not an USB-port or a switching power supply

Thank you very much for your considerations, and awaiting your reply
vy 73 df5py

Kunning Druger

There’s a lot of confusion between noise floor and noise FIGURE. In both cases, the improvements are marginal. Both will need an external LNA to work properly in the L-Band.
OTOH, the lower noise floor probably reflects 1dB of more dynamic range in the most optimistic estimation and that’s still marginal and probably not sufficient to handle the extra gain of a good LNA.

SkipF

Perhaps only a 1 db. improvement at 1,090MHz?

European User

the rtl-sdr v3 in the chart above looks much more better… why ?

European User

the question comes up, why you dont design a stand alone ( no dongle) RTL-SDR with linear power converter and external power possibility as a V4 RTL-SDR. the thumbnet spurs sucks all the time.

Adam

Peaks are from the 28.8MHz oscillator. A good external properly filtered reference can help a lot.

Kunning Druger

That’s not true. These harmonics won’t magically disappear with filtering. The digital part of the PLL inside the tuner will generate them.

Adam

Well, the PLL is the same in all 3 tuners as the tuners are the same. So why one of the dongles does not have so many harmonics in spectrum?

Adam

See, this is why local oscillator on the UP-100 was placed on the other side of the PCB 😉

Max

Is the low noise floor all merit of the 1.2v linear regulator?
I see the the RTL-SDR blog V3 has higher NF but lower spikes, can you explain this?

Robert

Does any one know what is causing the clock spurs ??????????? Perhaps sign wave jitter ????????