VWS-SDR

KI3P·VWS-SDR·KiCad/VWS-SDR-ref-design.kicad_pcb

About the VWS-SDR PCB

VWS-SDR is an open source RP2040/RP2350 PCB design by KI3P, published on GitHub under the GPL-3.0 license. It is a 4-layer board measuring 100 × 100 mm, with 103 components from 35 distinct parts.

Its main chip is the SC0915, from the RP2040/RP2350 family. Other key parts include the GALI-S66+, SN74CBTLV3253DR and MC33078DR. By type, the board carries 30 capacitors, 28 resistors, 13 test points, 8 connectors, 6 inductors and 5 ICs.

It belongs with the rf & radio designs in this gallery.

From the project

RF front end for a software defined receiver

This repository contains the files for a 2025 project by the Vienna Wireless Society's Makers Group. This project aims to build the RF front end of a software defined receiver covering the HF bands. The goals of the project are:

1. Learn how to use KiCAD, and 2. Learn surface mount assembly techniques.

The VWS-SDR design draws heavily from the RF board of the T41-EP Software Defined Transceiver (SDT) originally designed by Al Peter-AC8GY and Jack Purdum-W8TEE. The T41-EP is a self-contain SDT that does not require an external PC, laptop, or tablet to use. Al and Jack wrote a book, available…

VWS-SDR, from the project README — From the project README

Main components on the VWS-SDR

GALI-S66+SN74CBTLV3253DR MC33078DR SC0915

VWS-SDR bill of materials (BOM)

103 components, 35 distinct parts — part numbers from the project's BOM.

Qty	Part	Footprint	Refs
1	GALI-S66+ GALI-S66	SOT-89-3	U1
1	SN74CBTLV3253DR 74CBTLV3253DR	SOIC-16_3.9x9.9mm_P1.27mm	U2
2	MC33078DR MC33078	SOIC-8_3.9x4.9mm_P1.27mm	U3, U4
1	SC0915 RASPBERRY-PICO	Raspberry_pico_pin_or_castellation_footprint	U5
1	CONSMA001-G RF_IN	SMA_Vertical_and_Edgemount	J1
1	SJ1-3515N IQ_Out	Jack_3.5mm_STX-3081_Horizontal	J2
1	SI5351 board	Adafruit_Si5351	J3
1	I2C breakout	PinHeader_1x04_P2.54mm_Vertical	J6
1	Power breakout	PinHeader_1x03_P2.54mm_Vertical	J7
1	GPIO Breakout1	PinSocket_1x15_P2.54mm_Vertical	J8
1	GPIO Breakout2	PinSocket_1x10_P2.54mm_Vertical	J9
1	IF breakout	PinSocket_1x03_P2.54mm_Vertical	J10
10	TestPoint	PinHeader_1x01_P2.54mm_Vertical	G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6, G7, G8 +2
13	TestPoint	PinHeader_1x01_P2.54mm_Vertical	TP1/b, TP2, TP3, TP4, TP5, TP6, TP7, TP8 +5
1	APTD3216LCGCK 5V LED	LED_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.42x1.75mm_HandSolder	D1
1	APTD3216LSYCK 3V3 LED	LED_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.42x1.75mm_HandSolder	D2
1	APTD3216LSYCK Indicator	LED_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.42x1.75mm_HandSolder	D3
1	LQM31PN1R5M00L 1.5uH	R_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.30x1.75mm_HandSolder	L1
5	HZ1206E601R-10 FB	R_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.30x1.75mm_HandSolder	L2, L3, L4, L5, L6
11	C1206C104K5RACTU 0.1uF	C_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.33x1.80mm_HandSolder	C1, C2, C4, C5, C6, C15, C16, C17 +3

Show 15 more

Qty	Part	Footprint	Refs
3	C1206C106K4PACTU 10uF	C_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.33x1.80mm_HandSolder	C3, C18, C19
4	KGM31HR71C105KU 1uF	C_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.33x1.80mm_HandSolder	C7, C8, C9, C10
6	C1206C103K5RAC7210 10nF	C_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.33x1.80mm_HandSolder	C11, C12, C13, C14, C26, C29
2	KGM31BCG2A181FT 180pF	C_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.33x1.80mm_HandSolder	C20, C22
2	C3216C0G2J101G060AA 105pF	C_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.33x1.80mm_HandSolder	C21, C23
2	ESK475M016AC3AA 4.7uF	CP_Radial_D5.0mm_P2.00mm	C28, C31
1	CR1206-FX-62R0ELF 62R	R_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.30x1.75mm_HandSolder	R1
2	CR1206-FX-5100ELF 510R	R_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.30x1.75mm_HandSolder	R2, R3
6	CR1206-FX-1002ELF 10k	R_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.30x1.75mm_HandSolder	R4, R5, R12, R13, R14, R15
4	CR1206-FX-1000ELF 100R	R_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.30x1.75mm_HandSolder	R6, R7, R8, R9
2	CR1206-FX-2201ELF 2k2	R_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.30x1.75mm_HandSolder	R10, R11
8	CR1206-JW-512ELF 5k1	R_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.30x1.75mm_HandSolder	R16, R17, R18, R19, R20, R21, R22, R23
2	CRCW12060000Z0EAC 0	R_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.30x1.75mm_HandSolder	R24, R25
1	CR1206-FX-3001ELF 3k	R_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.30x1.75mm_HandSolder	R26
2	CR1206-FX-1501ELF 1k5	R_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.30x1.75mm_HandSolder	R27, R28

VWS-SDR design files

The KiCad project lives in the KI3P/VWS-SDR repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.

LayoutKiCad/VWS-SDR-ref-design.kicad_pcb
SchematicKiCad/VWS-SDR-ref-design.kicad_sch
BOMKiCad/VWS_SDR_BOM.csv

VWS-SDR: common questions

What microcontroller does the VWS-SDR use?

The VWS-SDR is built around the SC0915, from the RP2040/RP2350 family.

How big is the VWS-SDR PCB?

The VWS-SDR measures 100 × 100 mm, has 4 copper layers and is 1.6458 mm thick.

How many components are on the VWS-SDR?

103 components, from 35 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 VWS-SDR design files?

From the KI3P/VWS-SDR 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 VWS-SDR design in my own project?

Yes, under the terms of its GPL-3.0 license, which KI3P chose for the repository.

Can I test firmware for the VWS-SDR without the hardware?

Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug RP2040/RP2350 firmware against it before you order a PCB.