2 layers189.2 × 72.4 mm
2 layers47 × 81.5 mm
Exploere202
ambraglow/VLF-receiver3ExplorerE202-based design
- Size
- 47 × 81.5 mm
- Copper layers
- 2
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 60
- Nets
- 36
- Pads
- 152
- Tracks, vias
- 195, 56
- Pours
- 10
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 9.0 (file 20241229)
- Created
- 17 Jan 2025
- Updated
- 1 Dec 2025
Overview
Exploere202 is an open-source printed circuit board by ambraglow, from the ambraglow/VLF-receiver repository on GitHub, published under the CERN-OHL-P-2.0 licence. It is a 2-layer board of 47 × 81.5 mm with 60 parts on 36 nets, routed with 195 tracks and 56 vias.
It is built around the LM386, TL081 and L7809, with the BC237 among its other parts. Its parts include 15 capacitors, 12 resistors, 5 connectors, 4 ICs and 3 diodes.
Main components
4
LM386
SOP-80.2% 0℃~+70℃ 4V~12V 4mA 50dB 700mWx1@8Ω Analog voltage gain SOP-8 Audio Amplifiers ROHSGcoreAudio Power OpAmpsTL081
SOP-8-18V~18V -20℃~+85℃ 1 1.8mA 100pA 200nA 20V/us 3MHz 3mV 85dB Built-in compensation SOP-8 Operational Amplifier ROHSGcoreOperational Amplifier
L7809
TO-220-20℃~+125℃@(Tj) 1 1.5A 2V@(1.0A) 35V 58uV 5mA 66dB@(120Hz) 9V Fixed Positive TO-220 Voltage Regulators - Linear, Low Drop Out (LDO) Regulators ROHSPUOLOPVoltage Regulators - Linear, Low Drop Out (LDO) Regulators
BC237
TO-92-55℃~+150℃ 1 NPN 150MHz 15nA 350mW 45V 5A 6V 800mV 90 NPN TO-92 Bipolar (BJT) ROHSJiangsu Changjing Electronics Technology (CJ)Bipolar (BJT)
README
README.mdE202 VLF receiver
This is my own spin on the E202 VLF receiver design, as a PCB. It features 2.1mm mounting holes, a line-out audio transformer (so it can be directly connected to a soundcard) and a volume control slider.
June update
Today on June 16th i received a batch of boards, thanks to PCBWay for sponsoring this project! The ordering process is pretty straightforward, i used their Kicad plugin for exporting production files and uploading them to their system. Compared to their conpetitors, different soldermask colors don't add too much cost to production and look stunning, shipping times aren't too bad either, it took less than a week for the PCBs to arrive to Italy, it was an overall pleasant experience and their support is also really helpful as i had to ask for help with my order at some point, because of a different revision of my board. Here's some pictures of the boards, they really look stunning in yellow soldermask.
Functionally they should work, but that will be a problem for future me :D
Credits & Resources
Original schematic design by Renato | rendered PCB images, thanks to Lina's plugin
Parts
60| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | MountingHole_Pad | MountingHole:MountingHole_2.1mm | H1, H2, H3, H4 |
| 4 | TestPoint | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D2.5mm | TP1, TP2, TP4, TP5 |
| 3 | 10u | Capacitor_SMD:CP_Elec_6.3x4.5 | C7, C9, C12 |
| 2 | 100k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R4, R7 |
| 2 | 100u | Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric | C2, C11 |
| 2 | 10M | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R5, R6 |
| 2 | 1N4001 | Diode_SMD:D_SOD-123 | D1, D2 |
| 2 | 22n | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C10, C13 |
| 2 | 33 | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R10, R12 |
| 2 | 4.7n | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C1, C8 |
| 2 | AudioJack3 | Connector_Audio:Jack_3.5mm_CUI_SJ-3523-SMT_Horizontal | J5, J6 |
| 2 | BC237 | Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-23-3 | Q1, Q2 |
| 2 | LOGO | LOGO | G***, G*** |
| 1 | 10 | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R11 |
| 1 | 100n | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C6 |
| 1 | 100u | Capacitor_THT:CP_Radial_D6.3mm_P2.50mm | C15 |
| 1 | 10k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R8 |
| 1 | 10k | project:RES-ADJ-TH_RS30111A602N | RV1 |
| 1 | 10n | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C14 |
| 1 | 150p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C3 |
| 1 | 1k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R2 |
| 1 | 2.2k | Resistor_SMD:R_0402_1005Metric | R1 |
| 1 | 3.3k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R3 |
| 1 | 33n | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C4 |
| 1 | 3u | Inductor_SMD:L_0603_1608Metric | L1 |
| 1 | 4.7k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R9 |
| 1 | 8.2p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C5 |
| 1 | 9V Battery | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J2 |
| 1 | Conn_Coaxial | Connector_Coaxial:BNC_Win_364A2x95_Horizontal | J4 |
| 1 | External power supply 12V/18V | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J1 |
| 1 | HPF | project:SW-TH_ST-0-102-C03-N003-RS | SW2 |
| 1 | L7809 | Package_TO_SOT_SMD:TO-263-3_TabPin2 | U3 |
| 1 | LED | LED_SMD:LED_0603_1608Metric | D3 |
| 1 | LM386 | Package_SO:SOIC-8-1EP_3.9x4.9mm_P1.27mm_EP2.29x3mm | U2 |
| 1 | Lamp_Neon | Valve:Valve_Glimm | NE1 |
| 1 | PWR | project:SW-TH_ST-0-102-C03-N003-RS | SW1 |
| 1 | TL081 | Package_SO:SOIC-8-1EP_3.9x4.9mm_P1.27mm_EP2.29x3mm | U1 |
| 1 | TLE2426xLP | Package_SO:SOIC-8-1EP_3.9x4.9mm_P1.27mm_EP2.29x3mm | U4 |
| 1 | TestPoint | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.5mm | TP3 |
| 1 | Transformer_Audio | Transformer_SMD:Transformer_ED8_4-Lead_10.5x8mm_P5mm | T1 |
The 58 most common of 60 parts.
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Questions
How big is the Exploere202 PCB?
It measures 47 × 81.5 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the Exploere202 use?
60 parts, built around the LM386, TL081, L7809 and BC237. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.
Where can I download the Exploere202 KiCad files?
From the ambraglow/VLF-receiver repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is exploere202.kicad_pcb and its schematic exploere202.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the Exploere202 design in my own project?
Its repository publishes it under the CERN-OHL-P-2.0 licence: you may reuse it on that licence's terms (keep the author's notice, and for a copyleft licence share your changes alike).