▸Linecard

Red Piraya Product Line - SoC-Based RF Measurement and Test Platform

Red Pitaya product series

Benefits

  • SoC-based, compact T&M modules for RF applications.
  • Ideal for embedded, industry, education, hobby and more.
  • Programmable, multifunctional open-source platform.

The "Swiss Army Knife" for Engineers

The Red Pitaya series are very compact boards. Their technology is based on a System-On-a-Vhip (SoC) with CPU and FPGA. This makes them multifunctional and they can be used for various measurement and test functions in the RF range by programming. For example, ▸apps are available for use as an oscilloscope, signal-generator, logic-, Bode-, spectrum-, vector-network-analyze (VNA), and more. Red Pitaya is an open-source platform, so custom programming is also possible. The modules are equipped with extensive I/O channels and interfaces, including LAN/Ethernet and WLAN/Wi-Fi. The series includes the following basic models, which are also available mainly in various kits:

Red Pitaya Model Versions - Overview

Model ▸STEMlab 125-14 SIGNALlab 250-12
Coming soon!		 ▸SDRlab 122-16
Processor Dual-Core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore Dual-Core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore Dual-Core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore
FPGA Xilinx Zynq 7010 Xilinx Zynq 7020 Xilinx Zynq 7020
RAM 512 MB (4 Gb) 1 GB (8 Gb) 512 MB (4 Gb)
System memory Micro-SD up to 32 GB Micro-SD up to 32 GB Micro-SD up to 32 GB
Interfaces Ethernet 1 Gbit
USB 2.0
Wi-Fi using Wi-Fi dongle		 Ethernet 1 Gbit
2x USB 2.0
Wi-Fi using Wi-Fi dongle		 Ethernet 1 Gbit
USB 2.0
Wi-Fi using Wi-Fi dongle
RF inputs
Channels 2 2 2
Sample rate 125 MS/s 250 MS/s 122.88 MS/s
ADC resolution 14 bit 12 bit 16 bit
Full scale voltage range ±1 V/±20 V ±1 V/±20 V1) 0.5 Vpp/-2 dBm
Input coupling DC AC/DC1) AC
Bandwidth DC...60 MHz DC...60 MHz 300 kHz...550 MHz
Input impedance 1 MΩ 1 MΩ 50 Ω
RS outputs
Channels 2 2 2
Sample rate 125 MS/s 250 MS/s 122.8 MS/s
DAC resolution 14 bit 14 bit 14 bit
Full scale voltage range ±1 V ±1 V/±5 V (into 50 Ω load); ±2 V/±10 V (Hi-Z load)1) ±0.5 V/+4 dBm
Load impedance 50 Ω 50 Ω 50 Ω
Shortcut protection Yes Yes - (RF transformer and AC coupled)
Typical rising/falling time 2 V/10 ns 10 V/17 ns -
Bandwidth DC...50 MHz DC...60 MHz 300 kHz...60 MHz
Extension connector
Digital I/Os 16 16 16
Analog inputs 4 channels, 0...3.5 V, 12 bit 4 channels, 0...3.5 V, 12 bit 4 channels, 0...3.5 V, 12 bit
Analog outputs 4 channels, 0...1.8 V, 12 bit 4 channels, 0...1.8 V, 12 bit 4 channels, 0...1.8 V, 12 bit
Communication interfaces I2C, UART, SPI I2C, UART, SPI I2C, UART, SPI
Available voltages +5 V, +3.3 V, -4 V +5 V, +3.3 V, -4 V +5 V, +3.3 V, -4 V
Synchronization Trigger input through extension connector; daisy chain connection over SATA connection Trigger input through BNC connector; daisy chain connection over SATA connection; ref. clock input through BNC connector Trigger input through extension connector; daisy chain connection over SATA connection

1) software-selectable.

App Overview

Note: The ▸software app are free. To use the Red Pitaya modules with these apps additional hardware options are required (logic analyzer, LCR meter, VNA). This hardware is available as optional accessories. Not all apps and accessory options can be combined with all Red Pitaya models.

Functional Apps

App Description
Oscilloscope and Signal-Generator This application will turn your Red Pitaya board into a 2-channel oscilloscope and 2-channel signal-generator
Spectrum Analyzer This application will turn your Red Pitaya board into a 2-channel DFT spectrum-analyzer
Bode Analyzer This application will turn your Red Pitaya board into an affordable Bode analyzer
Logic Analyzer The logic-analyzer application enables the representation of the binary states of digital signals
LCR Meter This application will turn your Red Pitaya board into an affordable LCR meter
Vector Network Analyzer Vector network analyzer (VNA) is great solution to test and optimize the performance of antennas, RF switches, and much more

Remote Control

Red Pitaya boards can be controlled remotely over LAN/Ethernet or wireless interface/Wi-Fi using MATLAB, LabVIEW, Scilab or Python via Red Pitaya SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instrumentation) list of commands. SCPI interface/environment is commonly used to control T&M instruments for development, research or test automation purposes.

MATLABControl your Red Pitaya with MATLAB - the easiest and most productive software environment for engineers and scientists. Perfect combination to speed up your research, prototyping and testing
Software Description
LabVIEW Control your Red Pitaya with LabVIEW - software designed for the fast development of any engineering application that requires test, measurement, or control
Python Control your Red Pitaya with Python - the most popular script language used by research designed for the fast development of any engineering application that requires test, measurement, control, and signal processing

Programming

For users that would like to program their own applications, Red Pitaya provides C and Python APIs that enable super easy access to all RP features, while more advanced users can also create and run their own FPGA logic.

Programming Environment Description
C API A list of built-in C code functions (APIs) providess full control over the Red Pitaya board (signal generation and acquisition, digital I/O control, communication: I2C, SPI, UART, and others)
Jupyter notebook/Python Jupyter notebook enables you to execute Python code and control Red Pitaya hardware features, visualize data and add explanatory text or write interactive documents directly from WEB browser Jupyter notebook Python editor
FPGA Red Pitaya FPGA code examples include complete control logic over the signal acquisition and generation and more with all image build instructions and register map documentation. Code if free and available on Github

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