Rocketbeacon
About the Rocketbeacon PCB
Rocketbeacon is an open source STM32 PCB design by ElvinC, published on GitHub under the CERN-OHL-P-2.0 license. It is a 2-layer board measuring 13 × 27 mm, with 28 components from 20 distinct parts.
Its main chip is the STM32WLE5CBUX, from the STM32 family. Other key parts include the XC6206P332MR. By type, the board carries 15 capacitors, 4 resistors, 3 inductors, 2 ICs, 1 crystal and 1 battery holder.
It belongs with the rf & radio and power & battery designs in this gallery.
From the project
Configurable sub-GHz radio beacon for amateur rocketry
Warning: make sure to comply with your local RF regulations. Some frequency bands require an amateur radio license, others have power or duty cycle limitations.
STM32WLE5 wireless microcontroller Max 22 dBm output power CR2032 battery holder Can be powered externally by 3.3-5V
CR2032 batteries can't supply much current. When using CR2032 batteries, transmit powers above 16 dBm are not recommended without proper testing. When the voltage drops below 1.8V, the module restarts. An initial delay of a few seconds is thus recommended to allow CR2032 batteries to "recover" after a reset.
Main components on the Rocketbeacon
Rocketbeacon bill of materials (BOM)
28 components, 20 distinct parts — part numbers from the project's BOM.
| Qty | Part | Footprint | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | STM32WLE5CBUX STM32WLE5CBUx | QFN-48-1EP_7x7mm_P0.5mm_EP5.6x5.6mm | U1 |
| 1 | XC6206P332MR | SOT-23 | U2 |
| 1 | 32MHZ 32MHz | Crystal_SMD_2016-4Pin_2.0x1.6mm | Y1 |
| 1 | Battery_Cell | MY-2032-12 | BT1 |
| 1 | C913778 BOOT | SW_1TS026A | SW1 |
| 1 | C2286 RED | LED_0603_1608Metric | D1 |
| 1 | 160N 68n | L_0402_1005Metric | L1 |
| 1 | 15N 10n | L_0402_1005Metric | L2 |
| 1 | 36N 18n | L_0402_1005Metric | L3 |
| 9 | 10U 10u | C_0402_1005Metric | C1, C2, C3, C10, C11, C12, C13, C14 +1 |
| 1 | 68P 68p | C_0402_1005Metric | C4 |
| 1 | 47N 47n | C_0402_1005Metric | C5 |
| 1 | 8.2P 2.7p | C_0402_1005Metric | C6 |
| 1 | 39P 15p | C_0402_1005Metric | C7 |
| 1 | 12P 6.8p | C_0402_1005Metric | C8 |
| 1 | 470N 470n | C_0402_1005Metric | C9 |
| 1 | DNP | R_0402_1005Metric | R1 |
| 1 | 0R | R_0402_1005Metric | R2 |
| 1 | 4K7 4k7 | R_0402_1005Metric | R3 |
| 1 | 33K 33k | R_0402_1005Metric | R4 |
Rocketbeacon design files
The KiCad project lives in the ElvinC/rocketbeacon repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.
Rocketbeacon: common questions
What microcontroller does the Rocketbeacon use?
The Rocketbeacon is built around the STM32WLE5CBUX, from the STM32 family.
How big is the Rocketbeacon PCB?
The Rocketbeacon measures 13 × 27 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.
How many components are on the Rocketbeacon?
28 components, from 20 distinct parts, with part numbers taken from the project's own BOM. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.
Where can I download the Rocketbeacon design files?
From the ElvinC/rocketbeacon repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout, the schematic and the BOM; the links under Design files point to each one.
Can I use the Rocketbeacon design in my own project?
Yes, under the terms of its CERN-OHL-P-2.0 license, which ElvinC chose for the repository.
Can I test firmware for the Rocketbeacon without the hardware?
Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug STM32 firmware against it before you order a PCB.
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