QRPTransceiver

QRPTransceiver

QRPTransceiver is an HF transceiver project using phasing techniques, surface-mount components, KiCad hardware design files, and Raspberry Pi Pico firmware for control and user interface.

Overview

The repository combines:

• hardware design in KiCad
• firmware for Raspberry Pi Pico using PlatformIO/Arduino
• local oscillator control using an SI5351
• front-panel UI using a rotary encoder, push buttons, and an ILI9341 TFT display

The design is centered on a phasing-based architecture for HF operation and is being developed as an integrated hardware/firmware system.

Repository Structure

.
├── firmware/
│   ├── src/                # Main firmware application
│   ├── lib/                # Firmware libraries (UI, input, SI5351 control, etc.)
│   ├── include/            # Shared firmware headers
│   ├── test/               # Firmware tests
│   ├── scripts/            # Utility scripts
│   └── platformio.ini      # PlatformIO project file
├── hardware/
│   ├── kicad/
│   │   ├── QRPTransceiver.kicad_pro
│   │   ├── QRPTransceiver.kicad_sch
│   │   ├── QRPTransceiver.kicad_pcb
│   │   ├── QRPTransceiver.pretty/   # Local footprint library
│   │   └── lib_sch/                 # Local symbol library files
│   └── outputs/            # Manufacturing outputs, exports, and generated artifacts
├── docs/
│   ├── architecture.md
│   ├── bringup.md
│   ├── calibration.md
│   ├── firmware-overview.md
│   ├── hardware-overview.md
│   ├── pinout.md
│   └── summaries/          # Summary notes and rework history

The repository is now organized so that active firmware lives under firmware/, the active KiCad project lives under hardware/kicad/, generated hardware outputs live under hardware/outputs/, and reference material is stored under reference/.

Main Subsystems

Hardware

• main transceiver schematic and PCB
• hierarchical sheets for mixer, polyphase, and receiver audio sections
• local symbol and footprint libraries
• manufacturing outputs and design reports

Firmware

• firmware/src/main.cpp as the control entry point
• firmware/lib/DisplayUI for the TFT display layer
• firmware/lib/RotaryInput for tuning encoder input
• firmware/lib/PushButtons for front-panel button handling
• firmware/lib/SI5351Control for synthesizer control and band-specific quadrature setup

Documentation

Project documentation is organized under docs/:

• docs/architecture.md — overall system architecture
• docs/bringup.md — bring-up notes and observations
• docs/calibration.md — calibration workflow and notes
• docs/hardware-overview.md — hardware design structure and subsystem roles
• docs/firmware-overview.md — firmware organization and responsibilities
• docs/pinout.md — firmware-visible pin assignments
• docs/summaries/ — summary notes for key refactors, programming flow, and quadrature correction work

Current Status

The repository currently contains:

• active KiCad project files under hardware/kicad/
• firmware for Pico-based control and display under firmware/
• generated outputs under hardware/outputs/
• reference materials under reference/
• archived legacy, backup, and intermediate design artifacts under archive/

As the project evolves, the active KiCad project and PlatformIO firmware remain the primary editable sources in their dedicated subdirectories.

Toolchain

Hardware

• KiCad 8 project files are present under hardware/kicad/

Firmware

• PlatformIO
• Arduino framework for Raspberry Pi Pico
• SI5351 library
• Adafruit GFX / ILI9341 display libraries

Notes

This project is an active mixed-domain design spanning:

• RF/analog circuit design
• phasing-based transceiver architecture
• embedded firmware
• user interface development
• calibration and layout refinement

For architectural details, start with docs/architecture.md.