Also known as: LimeSDR, LimeSDR Mini
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LimeSDR is an open-source, full-duplex transmit-and-receive software-defined radio built around Lime Microsystems’ LMS7002M field-programmable RF transceiver, covering 100 kHz to 3.8 GHz with 12-bit ADC sampling.1 Unlike a receive-only dongle, it can transmit and receive at the same time and offers two independent channels, making it a MIMO-capable platform.2
Key takeaways Full-duplex 12-bit transceiver for developers. The LMS7002M-based LimeSDR transmits and receives at once across 100 kHz–3.8 GHz with two channels for MIMO — a workhorse for cellular and protocol lab work more than a scanner. GopherTrunk support is network only: it drives the LimeSDR over a SoapySDR/rtl_tcp bridge, not as a direct USB device, because GopherTrunk’s pure-Go USB drivers cover only RTL-SDR, HackRF, and Airspy. For scanning, transmit and MIMO go unused, so a cheaper directly-supported SDR is usually the better buy. Mini around $180. Like every receiver, it can’t decode AES encryption.
GopherTrunk support: network only. GopherTrunk drives the LimeSDR over the network via SoapySDRServer/SoapyRemote (or an
rtl_tcp-style bridge), not as a direct USB device — you run the LimeSuite/SoapyLMS7module and a SoapySDR server on the machine it’s plugged into and mount it over TCP. GopherTrunk’s pure-Go USB drivers cover only RTL-SDR, HackRF, and Airspy. See the hardware guide and rtl_tcp notes.
Overview
The LimeSDR targets developers building and testing wireless systems rather than pure listeners: cellular (GSM, LTE), IoT radios, and general RF prototyping. Its wide instantaneous bandwidth — up to about 61.44 MHz on the full-size board — and two-channel front end let it host software base stations and duplex links that a receive-only SDR cannot. The heart of the board is the LMS7002M, a highly configurable zero-IF transceiver whose gain, filtering, and mixing are all set in software, with an on-board FPGA handling sample transport over USB 3.0.
What it is
Each of the LMS7002M’s two RX and two TX chains has its own tuner, so the board can run
2×2 MIMO or act as two loosely related radios. Samples move as IQ
over USB 3.0; the FPGA does packing and buffering while
demodulation and decoding stay on the host. Software support
centres on Lime’s LimeSuite driver and a SoapySDR module
(SoapyLMS7), which plugs the board into GNU Radio,
SDRangel, and the wider Soapy ecosystem. Because transmit is a
first-class function, LimeSDR is subject to the same regulatory care as any transmitter —
it can radiate, and licensing rules apply.
Variants
The line spans several form factors around the same silicon:
- LimeSDR (USB) — the original full-size board: two RX and two TX channels, ~61.44 MHz bandwidth, USB 3.0.
- LimeSDR Mini / Mini 2.0 — a smaller, lower-cost single-channel version with reduced bandwidth, the most common entry point.
- LimeSDR-PCIe and LimeNET / LimeSDR-QPCIe — PCIe and appliance variants aimed at fixed infrastructure and multi-radio deployments.
All share the LMS7002M transceiver family and the LimeSuite/SoapySDR software stack, so code and flowgraphs port across them.
Relevance to SDR
LimeSDR is a workhorse for two-way and lab work: running an experimental cellular cell, prototyping a protocol end-to-end, or testing a receiver against a signal you generate yourself. It overlaps the HackRF in the “wide-range transceiver” niche but adds full-duplex operation, a second channel, and 12-bit sampling.
For trunking reception it is capable but not the natural pick — transmit and MIMO are irrelevant to receive-only scanning, and its dynamic range in a single RX channel is comparable to other 12-bit SDRs rather than exceptional. GopherTrunk provides native USB backends for RTL-SDR, HackRF, and Airspy, not for the LimeSuite stack, so any LimeSDR use would go through a SoapySDR bridge; treat it as a general-purpose transceiver whose scanning role is secondary to its development strengths.
Where to buy
LimeSDR boards are sold through Crowd Supply, Lime Microsystems’ distributors, and Amazon; the LimeSDR Mini is the common, lower-cost entry point. Before buying one for GopherTrunk, note the integration path: it is supported over the network only, via a SoapySDR/rtl_tcp bridge rather than GopherTrunk’s direct USB drivers — see the hardware guide. For scanning alone, a RTL-SDR or Airspy is cheaper and plug-and-play; the LimeSDR pays off when you also want its transmit and development capabilities.
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Sources
Frequently asked questions
Does GopherTrunk support the LimeSDR?
Yes, but network only. GopherTrunk’s pure-Go USB drivers cover RTL-SDR, HackRF, and Airspy — not Lime’s LimeSuite stack. You drive the LimeSDR (or LimeSDR Mini) over the network via a SoapySDRServer/SoapyRemote (or rtl_tcp) bridge: run the SoapyLMS7 module and Soapy server on the machine it’s plugged into, then mount it over TCP. See the hardware guide.
LimeSDR or LimeSDR Mini for GopherTrunk?
The Mini is the common, cheaper single-channel board and is plenty for feeding IQ to GopherTrunk. The full-size LimeSDR adds a second channel, ~61.44 MHz bandwidth, and full 2×2 MIMO — capabilities aimed at TX and lab work that receive-only scanning doesn’t use.
Can GopherTrunk transmit with a LimeSDR?
No. GopherTrunk is a receive-only decoder and uses the LimeSDR purely as an IQ source over the bridge. Its transmit and MIMO features go unused, and transmitting would require appropriate licensing regardless.
Is a LimeSDR worth it for scanning versus a directly-supported SDR?
For pure trunk-tracking, a plug-and-play RTL-SDR or Airspy is cheaper, needs no SoapySDR bridge, and has GopherTrunk’s native USB backend. The LimeSDR shines at two-way and development work; treat scanning as a secondary role.