Expert Electronics ColibriNANO User manual

Expert Electronics
2017
ColibriNANO
Direct Sampling HF/6M receiver
User Manual
V1.0

2
Expert Electronics
2017
1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................4
2. Technical characteristics..................................................................................................5
3. Hardware description .......................................................................................................6
4. Connect the ColibriNANO to a PC ...................................................................................8
5. Local operation ................................................................................................................9
6. Remote operation ..........................................................................................................10
7. ExpertSDR2 Software Description .................................................................................11
7.1. Global controls panel ..................................................................................................11
7.2. Software receiver settings...........................................................................................13
7.2.1. Receiver control panel .............................................................................................13
7.2.2. Frequency and S-meter indicators ...........................................................................16
7.2.3. DSP control panel ....................................................................................................18
7.2.4. Panorama description ..............................................................................................21
7.2.4.1. Spectrum Scope ...................................................................................................21
7.2.4.1.1. Spectrum Scope scaling ....................................................................................22
7.2.4.1.2. Frequency tuning ...............................................................................................23
7.2.4.2. Waterfall................................................................................................................24
7.3. Status bar....................................................................................................................25
8. ExpertSDR2 software fine tuning ...................................................................................26
8.1. Device menu ...............................................................................................................27
8.1.1. Device settings.........................................................................................................27
8.1.2. VAC tab....................................................................................................................27
8.1.3. DSP tab....................................................................................................................28
8.1.4. Expert tab.................................................................................................................30
8.2. Sound card menu........................................................................................................31
8.2.1. Sound card...............................................................................................................32
8.2.2. Line output ...............................................................................................................32
8.3. Display menu ..............................................................................................................33
8.3.1. Main window tab ......................................................................................................34
8.3.2. Spectrum tab............................................................................................................35
8.3.3. Waterfall tab.............................................................................................................37
8.3.4. Grid tab ....................................................................................................................38
8.3.5. Filter tab...................................................................................................................38
8.3.6. Background tab........................................................................................................39
8.3.7. Indicators tab ...........................................................................................................40
8.4. САТ menu...................................................................................................................40
8.5. Panel menu.................................................................................................................42
8.6. Features menu............................................................................................................47

3
Expert Electronics
2017
8.7. Manager menu............................................................................................................48
8.8. CW Skimmer menu.....................................................................................................49
8.9. Shortcuts menu...........................................................................................................50

4
Expert Electronics
2017
1. Introduction
If you’ll spend just 30 - 45 minutes to read this manual, you will be able to easily begin
operating the ColibriNANO receiver and enjoy a modern way of listening the air. This manual
will answer most of your questions.
Quick and efficient mastering of the ColibriNANO receiver requires a basic PC knowledge.
We hope that the Windows terms, which are used in this guide are familiar to the user and
won’t cause any difficulties. To make this manual more user-friendly, we used screenshots
of dialogue windows; necessary functions are highlighted with colored contour.
Since the ColibriNANO is an SDR, it means that you will need a PC or laptop to use the
receiver. You can control your receiver with the ExpertSDR2, HDSDR or SDRSharp software
installed on your PC. The main features of this receiver are the 14-bit ADC @ 122.88 MHz,
Blocking Dynamic Range (BDR): 110 dB and sensitivity: 0.35 uV.
There is no signal processing path, in its classical meaning, in this receiver. The signal is
digitized from the antenna and all the other signal processing happens in the software.

5
Expert Electronics
2017
2. Technical characteristics
Modes
LSB/USB/DSB/CW/AM/SAM/NFM/WFM
Receiving bandwidth, MHz
0.01 - 55
Receiving bandwidth in the undersampling mode,
MHz
0.01–500
Noise floor, dBm
1.9 MHz (160M) - 131
7.1 MHz (40M) - 130
52.5 MHz (6M) - 127
Sample rate with IQ stream resolution 24-bit, kHz
48, 96, 192, 384, 768
Sample rate with IQ stream resolution 16-bit, kHz
1536, 1920, 2560, 3072
Amount of software receivers
1 (+1 SubRX)
Sensitivity, uV
0.35
Blocking Dynamic Range (BDR), dB
110
IMD3 Dynamic Range, dB
95
Supply voltage range, V
4.5...5.5
Maximum antenna input voltage, without ADC
overload, mV (ATT=0 dB)
74 (Pk-Pk); 32.7 (RMS)
Maximum current consumption, A
0.41
Input impedance, Ohm
50
ADC clock frequency, MHz
122.88
ADC resolution, bit
14
Local oscillator stability, ppm
+/- 0.5
Local attenuator with 0.5 dB step, dB
from -31.5 up to +6
RF input with up to 15 kV ESD protection
SMA connector
Dimensions L x W x H, mm (inches)
90х25х17 (3 1/2" x 1" x 5/8")
Operating temperature, °C (°F)
from -10 up to +60 (14…140)
Weight, gram (ounces)
43 (1.52)

6
Expert Electronics
2017
3. Hardware description
ColibriNANO block diagram
Architecture description
Receive path consists of the following functional units:
Ant –antenna connector.
LPF –Low Pass Filter with 55 MHz bandwidth. This filter allows you to receive signals
in the first Nyquist zone and eliminates signals from the second Nyquist zone. It switches
ON/OFF automatically according to the panorama center, ON - inside the 0-55 MHz range
and OFF –above 55 MHz.
ATT - attenuator -31.5…0 dB with 0.5 dB step, it allows to “weaken” signals to eliminate
the receiver overload while receiving strong signals.
Driver –it’s purpose is to amplify the signal and transfer it to the ADC.
Preamp –preamplifier 0…+6 dB, it can additionally amplify signals.
TCXO –Temperature-Compensated Crystal Oscillator with 122.88 MHz frequency.
This is a high-stability oscillator with temperature instability 0.5 ppm.
ADC –high-speed Analog-to-Digital Converter with 14-bit resolution and 122.88 MHz
sample rate. ADC is the heart of the receiver; it is responsible for direct sampling of all signals
in the 55 MHz bandwidth.
FPGA –Field Programmable Gate Array. It makes all high-speed processing
operations. Inside the FPGA happens the first down conversion of signals. It is similar with
the first converter in a classic super-heterodyne, but all operations processed in a
mathematic order with binary logic.

7
Expert Electronics
2017
Controller –It controls all ColibriNANO systems and performs the data exchange
between the receiver and the USB controller.
USB FT232H –It performs the data exchange between the Controller and a PC.

8
Expert Electronics
2017
4. Connect the ColibriNANO to a PC
To operate the ColibriNANO receiver you’ll need:
Personal computer. Recommended characteristics:
2х or 4х core CPU - Intel Core i3, i5, i7 or equal AMD processor; software can work on
“weaker” CPU like Core2Duo or Dual-Core, but it may lead to an exceeding CPU load.
4 GB RAM;
40 GB free space on your HDD/SSD;
15…27 inch display;
Video card which supports OpenGL 1.5 or higher.
Antenna, tuned on the HAM bands, has to have impedance around 50 Ohm for those
bands, where you plan to operate.
Supported operating system: Windows 7-10 32/64 bit.
Check your version of the Microsoft Visual C++ (click the right mouse button on the Windows
Start button-> Programs and Features), before installation of the ExpertSDR2 software, if
your installed version is above the one offered during installation, select "cancel".
When you plug the ColibriNANO in your PC, Windows will automatically download required
USB driver (ensure PC is connected to the internet before connecting the ColibriNANO).
Then receiver will be detected by Windows as new device, that’s all, you may use the
ColibriNANO.
If Windows will not automatically download required USB driver, download drivers from one
of the links below and manually assign them to the undetected device in the Device Manager
menu. Dismiss Windows warning regarding unsigned software and proceed with the
installation.
CDM v2.12.26 WHQL Certified x64 for 64-bit PC
CDM v2.12.26 WHQL Certified x86 for 32-bit PC

9
Expert Electronics
2017
5. Local operation
Local operation is a standard way to use the ColibriNANO receiver. Make the following
connections as described below:
1. Plug the ColibriNANO in your PC;
2. Connect HF-antenna to the receiver antenna connector;
3. Open "Options”menu and ensure "device connected" is displayed. If not, get correct
driver.
4. Start the ExpertSDR2 software with the red Start button (left top corner of the software
window);
5. Open Options→Sound Card menu
and make sure that the Enable checkbox in
the Sound card block is set. See picture;
6. Click OK. If everything is done correctly, you will see the air noise on the panorama and
hear the sound in the headphones.

10
Expert Electronics
2017
6. Remote operation
To control the ColibriNANO via Internet we created the ExpertRemote system, based on the
client-server connection. This system allows you to place the receiver and server in the
remote location with low air noise and Internet connection. This might be some remote
village or place with no electrical interference and 3G/4G Internet (or any other connection
type). Using the ExpertRemote system you can enjoy clear air from your phone, tablet,
notebook or PC. Even simple antennas, placed in a "quiet" place, allows you to listen to the
far stations with low level.
Another feature of this system is that the receiver's software can be synchronized with
transceivers and be used as the panorama adapter with high resolution. Use the transceiver
to transmit signals, receive on your remotely located receiver via the ExpertRemote system.
Distant stations, rare (DX) stations or expeditions from now on will be a reality for you with
our ExpertRemote system!
More information about the ExpertRemote system you can find here.
ExpertRemote system block-diagram