RF80

RF80 — M3B-E2 evaluation PCB

Date: 2026-10-15. Engineering review only; unbuilt and unenergized. Open RF80.kicad_pro, schematic and native PCB in KiCad10.0.6. Three primary PCBs and the separate VHF true-AM design are unchanged.

Two-layer210×160 mm evaluation board: protected4S normal Si5351/LM5134B/IRF610 path, approximately3 W full/1.2 W extended/calibrated Sprint targets; separate nominal10 mW Fox path, controller3.3 V/protected2S compatible reduced population. Fifteen schematic pages,273 electrical footprints/four mounting holes,74 test pads. Normal and Fox connectors remain independent. No measured target achievement is claimed.

Current review package: schematic PDF, 3D view, assembly, top copper, bottom copper, ERC, DRC, netlist, probe map, populations, Gerbers/drills. These are review artifacts, not a manufacturing release.

E1 is preserved at tag m3b-e1; it has withdrawn BD140/TL431 pin assertions. Current E2 decision, corrections, pin/footprint audit, DRC coverage, power gates, cost delta.

For historical context, read the decision, layout review, qualification, safety gates, staged bring-up, BOM and checks. Current ERC/DRC/parity/unrouted0 and pin-derived R1 regression256/31/16 do not prove analog/RF/thermal operation. Driver and PA must remain absent until bounded power-only fault tests pass.

M3A-R1 is preserved at commit0dfd224 and archived review files; R0 at tagm3a-r0. Legacy files directly under review/ and M3A cost workbooks remain historical. Current M3B outputs use the revision directory. Electrical manifest matches current schematic/PCB.

Reproduce from repo root:

python3 tools/m3b_exports.py --render
/usr/bin/python3 tools/m3b_verify.py
python3 tools/m3b_bom.py
python3 tools/m3be2_power.py
/usr/bin/python3 tools/m3be2_pinouts.py
/usr/bin/python3 tools/m3be2_audit.py
/usr/bin/python3 tools/m3be2_regressions.py
/usr/bin/python3 tools/m3be2_audit.py --manifest
sha256sum --check hardware/80m/review/M3B-E2/SHA256SUMS

Rendering requires a working display/Mesa; omit --render for nonvisual exports. The checked-in PCB is authoritative for final routing. m3b_pcb.py --place replaces it with initial placement/routing input; do not run it on the reviewed board. Likewise schematic regeneration requires reconciliation with the PCB before exports. Scripts do not upload, order or energize anything. Attribution/licences.

The old m3b_documentation.py writes/checks the frozen E1 package and is not an E2 export generator. Do not run it with --write on this revision. Use the E2 audit/hash tools above. Manufacturer pin tests check physical Q403 1B/2C/3E and U311 1K/2REF/3A independently of ERC/DRC. The ST illustrated face points toward PCB+Y (bottom edge); pin3 is west, pin1 east.