Nuand’s bladeRF is an open-source software defined radio that launched earlier this year on the crowd funding website, KickStarter.

 The Nuand platform combines USB 3.0 connectivity with a the same FPRF (field programmable RF transceiver) as the Myriad boards.

At the heart of the board is a flexible and open approach, which enables a phenomenally wide range of platforms to be built from it. This flexibility is delivered from Lime’s LMS6002D FPRF transceiver.

The launch followed on the heels of MyriadRF and Fairwaves, to become the third open source RF board to become available in 2013 and these three highlight the importance of the technology, even for mainstream platforms.

The bladeRF is the first open source RF project to bring USB3.0 onto the board and combines the Lime FPRF chip with an Altera Cyclone IV FPGA. This combination allows it to create exceptionally complex networks on any mobile communications standard or frequency.

The $420 board has been designed for both the hobbyist and the professional developer and is also USB2.0 compatible, allowing it to connect directly to the Raspberry Pi and the Beagleboard too.