Product Introduction
The Ettus USRP B200mini-i is a compact software defined radio (SDR) platform designed for wireless communications research, embedded RF applications, portable test systems, education, and rapid SDR prototyping.
The USRP B200mini-i provides the same powerful SDR architecture as the B200 family while featuring an ultra-compact form factor optimized for embedded integration and space-constrained applications. It combines a wideband RF transceiver, FPGA-based signal processing, USB 3.0 connectivity, and UHD software support into a small SDR module.
Supporting RF operation from 70 MHz to 6 GHz, 1 TX / 1 RX channel, up to 56 MHz instantaneous bandwidth, and USB 3.0 connectivity, the B200mini-i delivers a flexible and efficient SDR solution for engineers and researchers.
Product Overview
The Ettus USRP B200mini-i is a miniature version of the popular USRP B200 SDR platform, designed for applications requiring reduced size, low power consumption, and easy integration into custom systems.
Compared with the standard USRP B200, the B200mini-i removes the traditional enclosure and provides a smaller board-level SDR design, making it suitable for embedded systems, UAV platforms, industrial RF applications, and portable communication devices.
The B200mini-i maintains the flexibility of the USRP ecosystem, supporting UHD, GNU Radio, FPGA customization, and a wide range of software-defined radio applications.
Key Features
70 MHz to 6 GHz Wide RF Coverage
The USRP B200mini-i provides broad RF frequency coverage for multiple wireless and RF applications.
- 70 MHz to 6 GHz RF frequency range
- Wideband RF transceiver architecture
- Software-defined frequency tuning
- Support for multiple wireless bands
- Flexible SDR experimentation
Advantage: The wide frequency range allows the B200mini-i to support cellular research, IoT, WLAN, ISM, amateur radio, and RF monitoring applications.
1 TX / 1 RX RF Channel
The USRP B200mini-i provides one transmit channel and one receive channel for compact SDR applications.
- 1 transmit channel
- 1 receive channel
- Full-duplex operation
- Single-antenna applications
- Compact RF systems
Advantage: The single-channel architecture provides a cost-effective solution for embedded SDR applications where multiple RF channels are not required.
Up to 56 MHz Instantaneous Bandwidth
The B200mini-i supports up to 56 MHz instantaneous bandwidth for wideband SDR applications.
- Up to 56 MHz bandwidth
- Wideband I/Q streaming
- Signal acquisition
- Waveform generation
- Wireless protocol testing
Advantage: The bandwidth capability supports advanced RF experiments while maintaining a compact hardware design.
Ultra-Compact Embedded SDR Design
The B200mini-i is designed specifically for embedded and space-limited applications.
- Miniature SDR form factor
- Board-level integration
- Low-power operation
- Embedded system deployment
- Portable communication devices
Advantage: The compact design allows integration into custom products and specialized RF systems.
FPGA-Based Real-Time Processing
The USRP B200mini-i includes programmable FPGA resources for real-time signal processing.
- FPGA-based DSP processing
- Digital filtering
- Digital upconversion
- Digital downconversion
- Custom FPGA algorithms
Advantage: FPGA processing enables low-latency signal processing close to the RF hardware.
USB 3.0 Connectivity
The B200mini-i uses USB 3.0 connectivity for communication with host systems.
- USB 3.0 interface
- High-speed I/Q streaming
- Easy PC integration
- Portable SDR operation
Advantage: USB connectivity simplifies deployment and reduces system complexity.
Low Power Consumption
The compact architecture of the B200mini-i enables efficient power usage for embedded applications.
- Low-power SDR design
- Portable system integration
- Embedded communication platforms
- Battery-powered applications
External Clock Support
The USRP B200mini-i supports external reference clock input for improved synchronization.
- External reference clock
- Frequency stability improvement
- Multi-device experiments
UHD and GNU Radio Support
The B200mini-i is fully supported by the Ettus UHD software ecosystem.
- UHD driver support
- GNU Radio integration
- C/C++ development
- Python SDR applications
- Open-source SDR workflows
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Miniature USB Software Defined Radio |
| Model | Ettus USRP B200mini-i |
| RF Frequency Range | 70 MHz to 6 GHz |
| RF Channels | 1 TX / 1 RX |
| MIMO Capability | 1×1 SISO |
| Instantaneous Bandwidth | Up to 56 MHz |
| Host Interface | USB 3.0 |
| FPGA | Programmable FPGA Architecture |
| RF Architecture | Integrated RF Transceiver |
| Form Factor | Compact Board-Level SDR |
| Synchronization | External Reference Clock Support |
| Software Support | UHD, GNU Radio, C/C++, Python |
| Primary Applications | Embedded SDR, Wireless Research, Portable RF Systems |
Software Ecosystem
The Ettus USRP B200mini-i is supported by the complete USRP software ecosystem.
- UHD: Provides hardware drivers and APIs for RF configuration, streaming, and device control.
- GNU Radio: Enables graphical SDR development for communication systems and signal processing.
- C/C++: Supports high-performance custom SDR applications.
- Python: Enables rapid prototyping and automation.
Industries
- Wireless Communications
- Embedded System Development
- IoT Development
- RF Engineering
- Universities and Education
- Aerospace and Defense Research
- Portable Communication Systems
Applications
Embedded Wireless Systems
The compact design makes the B200mini-i suitable for integration into embedded communication platforms.
- Custom wireless devices
- Embedded RF systems
- IoT communication platforms
- Edge RF processing
Portable SDR Applications
The small size and low power consumption support portable SDR solutions.
- Portable RF testing
- Mobile communication systems
- Field signal measurements
- Remote monitoring
Wireless Communication Prototyping
The B200mini-i provides a flexible platform for developing wireless technologies.
- Digital modulation research
- Wireless protocol development
- Communication algorithm testing
- RF experimentation
SDR Education and Research
The B200mini-i provides an affordable platform for SDR learning and research.
- University laboratories
- GNU Radio training
- RF engineering education
- Signal processing research
UAV and Mobile Platforms
The compact size makes the B200mini-i suitable for airborne and mobile SDR applications.
- UAV communication systems
- Mobile RF platforms
- Remote sensing systems
- Experimental communication links
Comparison with Similar USRP Devices
| Model | Main Difference | Best Application |
|---|---|---|
| USRP B200mini-i | Ultra-compact USB SDR with 70 MHz to 6 GHz coverage, 1 TX/1 RX and 56 MHz bandwidth. | Embedded SDR and space-constrained applications |
| USRP B200 | Standard enclosure version with similar RF performance. | General SDR development |
| USRP B210 | Dual-channel version with 2 TX/2 RX MIMO capability. | MIMO wireless research |
| USRP E320 | Embedded SDR with integrated processor and standalone operation. | Portable embedded SDR systems |
Recommended Related Products
| Ettus USRP B210 | Dual-channel USB SDR platform for 2×2 MIMO and wireless research. |
| Ettus USRP B200 | Compact USB SDR platform for entry-level RF development. |
| Ettus USRP E320 | Portable embedded SDR platform with integrated computing capability. |
Why Choose USRP B200mini-i?
- 70 MHz to 6 GHz RF coverage
- 1 TX / 1 RX channel
- Up to 56 MHz bandwidth
- Ultra-compact SDR design
- USB 3.0 connectivity
- FPGA-based processing
- Low-power embedded operation
- UHD and GNU Radio support
- Ideal for custom embedded systems
- Suitable for portable RF applications
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ettus USRP B200mini-i?
The USRP B200mini-i is a compact USB software-defined radio platform designed for embedded SDR applications, wireless research, and portable RF systems.
What frequency range does the USRP B200mini-i support?
The USRP B200mini-i supports RF operation from 70 MHz to 6 GHz.
How many channels does the USRP B200mini-i provide?
The B200mini-i provides one transmit channel and one receive channel.
What bandwidth does the USRP B200mini-i support?
The USRP B200mini-i supports up to 56 MHz instantaneous bandwidth.
What is the difference between USRP B200 and B200mini-i?
The B200mini-i provides similar RF performance as the B200 but uses a smaller board-level design optimized for embedded integration and space-limited applications.
Does the USRP B200mini-i support GNU Radio?
Yes. The B200mini-i is fully supported by UHD and GNU Radio for SDR application development.
Conclusion
The Ettus USRP B200mini-i software defined radio is an ultra-compact SDR platform designed for embedded wireless systems, portable RF applications, education, and rapid prototyping. With 70 MHz to 6 GHz RF coverage, 1 TX/1 RX operation, up to 56 MHz bandwidth, USB 3.0 connectivity, FPGA processing, and UHD software support, the B200mini-i provides a flexible solution for engineers requiring powerful SDR capability in a miniature form factor.
