cariboulabs/cariboulite
FreeCaribouLite turns any 40-pin Raspberry-Pi into a Tx/Rx 6GHz SDR
About cariboulabs/cariboulite
CaribouLite is an open-source, affordable, educational Software Defined Radio (SDR) evaluation platform and a HAT for 40-pin Raspberry Pi boards. Designed for makers, hackers, and researchers, it turns a Raspberry Pi into a Tx/Rx 6GHz dual-channel SDR. The platform is OSHWA certified and features a standalone dual-channel architecture, using the SMI interface for high-speed data transfer. Installation involves mounting the HAT, cloning the repository, and running an automated setup script that installs dependencies, compiles kernel modules, and configures the system. Note: currently not supported on Raspberry Pi 5 due to architectural changes, though a workaround is under development.
Key Features
Pros & Cons
- Open-source hardware and software
- Dual-channel transmit and receive up to 6 GHz
- Affordable compared to commercial SDR platforms
- OSHWA certified, ensuring open design standards
- Educational focus with clear documentation and setup instructions
- Not currently supported on Raspberry Pi 5 (workaround in progress)
- Requires a 40-pin Raspberry Pi (models 3, 4, Zero 2 W, etc.)
- Installation involves kernel modules and system configuration changes
- No support for SPI or I2C overlays; uses direct /dev/mem access via pigpio