LMS-6 Radiosonde
The LMS-6 Radiosonde is a radiosonde manufactured by Lockheed-Martin Sippican, and used for meteorological sounding.
Overview
There are two models of the LMS-6, a 403MHz model and a 1680MHz model. This article will cover the 403MHz model unless specified.
Specs
- 16 Fixed transmit carrier frequencies (MHz): 400.250, 400.625, 401.000, 401.375, 401.750, 402.125, 402.500, 402.875, 403.250, 403.625, 404.000, 404.375, 404.750, 405.125, 405.500, 405.875
- Frequency tolerance +/-30ppm
- Mean TX Power 70.8mW (18.5dBm)
- Emission Designator 16K8F1D
- FSK with a maximum modulating frequency of 4.8 kHz
- Emission 3dB BW +/-5.0 kHz
- Emission 20dB BW +/-12.7 kHz
- Omnidirectional antenna
- Main beam gain 2dBi
- Horizontal Beamwidth 360 degrees
- Vertical Beamwidth +84 degrees
Photos
Connectors
There are four sensor connectors (SENSN) used for sensor input by the radiosonde. SENS1 is not populated on the 403MHz units. SENS2-4 have leads connected to them, and the sensors are connected to the other end of the leads, outside of the radiosonde housing. Only SENS1 appears to have spacing for a connector; the others have arbitrary lead spacing.
| Pin | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| 1 | +5V (5.47 measured) |
| 2 | GND? |
| 3 | +4.93V (Microcontroller VCC?) |
| 4 | 1 Hz |
| 5 | 1 Hz |
| 6 | 1 Hz |
| 7 | GND? |
Public information shows this header can be used for adding additional analog sensors to the radiosonde.
| Pin | Connection |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sensor pin 1 |
| 2 | Sensor pin 2 |
0.3" spacing. Both lead wires have ferrite beads immediately before connecting to the board.
| Pin | Connection |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sensor pin 1 |
| 2 | Sensor pin 2 |
0.5" spacing.
| Pin | Connection |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sensor pin 1 |
| 2 | Sensor pin 2 |
0.3" spacing. Fine gauge insulated wire run along SENS3 wire and loomed in white heat-shrink tubing.
| Pin Number | Function | Notes / Observations |
|---|---|---|
| 1,2,7,8 | U3 - Vdd | U15 - Pin 4 | |
| 9, 10, 15, 16, 19, 20, 33, 34 | Ground | |
| 2, 8, 18*, 24, 30 | +5VDC | 18 needs more research, may occasionally drop to ground? |
| 3 | U3 - ICCLK | TP33 | U21 - PCLK | |
| 4 | U3 - Vpp/ICCSEL | |
| 5 | U3 - RESET | |
| 6 | U3 - ICCDATA | |
| 11 | J5 - Pin 2 | |
| 12 | 3.3v - 2.5KHz square wave (4msec p/p) | |
| 13 | U3 - SW1.4 | |
| 17 | U3 - SW1.2 | |
| 18 | U3 - SW1.1 | |
| 23 | Rounded-square wave data bursts | |
| 26 | Rounded-square wave data bursts | |
| 31 | BATT POS | |
| 36 | U3 - SW1.3 | |
| 38 | U3 - OCMP1_A / AIN10 / PF4 | Square wave data bursts, 0.2msec per bit |
| 39 | RED WIRE | |
| 40 | Battery voltage | Around 9VDC measured |
| Pin | Wire Color | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black | Ground |
| 2 | White | Battery +9 |
| 3 | Red | +9 VDC In |
| 4 | NC | Unknown - goes to
unpopulated CR1 |
J4 - NC - earphone jack? uses SENS3 leads
| Pin | Use |
|---|---|
| 1 | Unknown |
| 2 | Unknown |
| 3 | Unknown |
| 4 | Unknown |
These traces go to U3 (ST microcontroller)
| Pin | Use | Notes/Observations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | +5VDC | |
| 2 | Unknown | 3V rounded square pulses, 2x per second, 2 different periods avg ~75msec? |
| 3 | +5VDC | |
| 4 | Unknown | 5V, 0.1msec pulse once per second |
| 5 | +5VDC | |
| 6 | Unknown | 5V, 0.1msec pulse once per second |
| 7 | +5VDC | |
| 8 | Unknown | 3V, 250msec pulse once per second |
These traces go to U14 (SPI mem?)
Components
The following is a catalog of active components. Designators italicized still need positive identification; bold have been positively identified. Markings listed where known to help in identification. List additional markings when they differ.
U1 - GPS - Trimble 63530-50 - 12-channel GPS, 2x serial ports, 2.7-3.3VDC, SBAS, flash almanac/ephemeris/location storage. (The -50 variant is probably a custom variant, and exact capabilities are unknown.)
U2 - (Marked G4/905)
U3 - 72F324J6T6 - ST72324 - Main Microcontroller, ST7 series - 32K Flash, 1K RAM, 5VDC, 10-bit ADC (16 inputs, muxed), 4x Timer, SPI, SCI, 32-bits total I/O
U4 - (Marked Z252)
U5, U6 - LP2985 - LDO - 2.8V?
U7 - (Marked G4/905)
U8 - (Marked G4/905)
U9 - (Marked F50)
U10 - (Did not locate, maybe not placed?)
U11 - (Marked 73RW, SOT-89 or similar) - Pre-amp for GPS ant? In GPS section can.
U12 - (Marked G5/849)
U13 - CD4040BPW - 12-stage Ripple-Carry Binary Counter/Divider
U14 - CD74HC4051PWR - High-Speed CMOS Logic Analog Mux/Demux - 8:1
U15 - TI LMC555CMM Family per the ZC5 marking noted in datasheet. Pinout and footprint matches.
U16 - LMV761MF - Low Voltage Precision Comparator w/ Push-Pull Output
U17 - (Marked Z252)
U18 - (Did not locate, maybe not placed?)
U19 - (Did not locate, maybe not placed?)
U20 - (Marked H157/82.5; TSOP-8 or similar)
U21 - CC1050 (back) - Low Power Transmitter - 300MHz-1000MHz, variable power, FSK
U22 - TPS79133DBUR - 3.3V LDO - for U21
Unot_marked (23/24?) - (Marked W6K/W76) - RF Amp, similar to SKY65013-70LF (No designator; under TX can to bottom-right of U21.)
U25 - TPS7201Q - Adj. 1.2-9.75V LDO - (Designator silkscreen is hard to read; 8-SOIC on bottom-right)
| U15 Pin | Function | Observations/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GND | |
| 2 | 5VDC | |
| 3 | Trigger | Rounded square wave (maybe sawtooth) alternating between 2msec and 4msec, resting at +3VDC between bursts |
| 4 | Discharge | Rounded square wave alternating between 3msec and 5msec, short periods of 0v, resting at +3VDC between bursts |
| 5 | Output | Data. Square wave. 5V space, 0v mark? Pulses around 250msec per bit. |
| 6 | Threshold | More rounded square wave bursts |
| 7 | Reset | |
| 8 | Control |
Sens 4 - Capacitive Relative humidity sensor
Notes
U13 Package marking shows CM040B. TI Park marking lookup provides CD4040BPW
U16 Package marking shows C22A. TI Part marking lookup provides LMV761. The SOT-23 footprint appears to match what is on the PCB.
Sens 4 is know to be capacitive since it is listed as such on page 13 of the WMO Common Code Tables Document
Circuits
RF Transmitter Circuit
The transmitter RF path contains a filter IC, pi matching network, broadband amplifier, and a few more output filter stages.
Relative Humidity Circuit
File:Relative Humidity Circuit Schematic.pdf
U16 -Input also has a cap to ground not shown on the sketch.
Modifications
Disable amplification
When testing, it's important not to transmit on unlicensed frequencies. Emissions can be eliminated by replacing the RF amplifier with a jumper between pins 1 and 3, and terminating the load at the antenna connection. The amplifier is an SOT-89 device just above the "-" terminal of B3. To access the RF chain, the shield housing may need to be temporarily removed. Also remove the bias feed resistor just below the "L104" marking. Then, remove the transmitter antenna from the "ANT1" connections. Use a 50 ohm resistor across the two terminals to provide a terminating load and eliminate any further transmission. Near-field reception is still possible after making these changes.
