Open Source 4.4Ghz USB RF Signal Generator

 This Project is going to be about making a fully open source USB Programmable RF signal Generator. Device cable of Generating Frequency upto 4.4Ghz Fully Programmable using USB. Device Support Driver free operation using USB HID . Fully programmable under Window, Linux or macOS using Provided Python or QT5 GUI Application using libHID. Cross platform Support and Raw HID support allow Programming using any scientific platform such as MATLAB. 

HW is based on ADF4351 from analog devices. supported by USB Microcontroller from Microchip.

 

Device Ports

PCB

PCB Design made up of 6 Layer PCB Fully Controlled Stack up 

Firmware

Firmware Running on PIC USB MCU running USB Stack bridges USB to SPI to control ADF4351 PLL IC . PIC MCU has High endurance Flash memory to handle standalone operation. FW also manages AUX pin function. AUX pin Support Sync Out to sync device sweep with sync external devices such as Oscilloscope or spectrum analyzer. AUX pin supports Sync In for similar reason. AUX pins also Support External Reference clock for PLL alternative to on Board 25Mhz oscillator 

Cross Platform PC Software

Open Source QT Application 

Qt Application Allow programming frequency in 10 Khz step, Allow Sweep and hop between frequency with programmable time and programmable step. AUX pin function can also be selected. And PC Free Standalone can also be programmed. 

Python Application 

All features that can be programmed over QT application can also be programmed using Python script

HIDRAW Device access under Linux

hidraw device may need privilized use permission to access usb device with sudo 

Accessing USB hidraw device under linux without sudo

Accessing USB HID  device under linux 

What’s a “USB HID raw device”?

• HID = Human Interface Device (like keyboards, mice, game controllers, barcode scanners).

• hidraw devices expose raw HID reports directly to user space.

• Path looks like:

  /dev/hidraw0
  /dev/hidraw1

Why you can’t just open them

• On most distros, these devices are owned by root and a system group like plugdev or input.

• Permissions are typically:

            crw-rw---- 1 root plugdev 243, 0 Aug 14 12:34 /dev/hidraw0

Why udev rules help

udev manages device nodes dynamically when hardware is connected.
By adding a udev rule, you can:

• Change file permissions (e.g., MODE="0666" for read/write by everyone).

• Change ownership (e.g., GROUP="plugdev").

• Apply these settings automatically whenever the device is plugged in.

Example rule:

SUBSYSTEM=="hidraw", ATTRS{idVendor}=="abcd", ATTRS{idProduct}=="1234", MODE="0666"

udev file from github repo

# Put this file into /etc/udev/rules.d and unplug and re-plug your device.

# You don't need to restart Udev, new permissions will be picked up automatically.

ATTRS{idVendor}=="1209", ATTRS{idProduct}=="7877", MODE="0666"

RF output 

40Mhz Output @ -1.04dBm

100Mhz Output @ -0.97dBm

200Mhz Output @ -1.49 dBm

500Mhz Output @  -1.86 dBm

1Ghz Output @ -1.68 dBm 

1.6Ghz Output @ -1.42 dBm

2Ghz Output @ -5.18 dBm

3Ghz Output @ -19.17 dBm

Github Source Repo  Programming Software and Python Script

Download Windows GUI Program

Source and Other Files on Github