Hermes-Lite 2
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| Frequency | 0 - 38.4 MHz (entire HF spectrum direct sampling), TX: amateur HF bands 1.8 - 30 MHz (with N2ADR low-pass filter board) |
| Bands | 160m, 80m, 60m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m |
| TX power | 5 W (5W nominal TX output. RF1 port provides low-power TX only for external PA. Pairs well with Xiegu XPA125B for 70-80W.) |
| Modes | All modes via host software (SSB, CW, AM, FM, FT8, WSPR, RTTY, PSK31, etc.) |
| Weight | 300 g (10.6 oz) - ~300g estimated with enclosure. PCB-based design. |
| Connector | SMA (ANT TX/RX main port + RF1 low-power TX only) |
| Year | 2019 |
| antenna main | SMA (ANT TX/RX — main antenna port) |
| antenna rf1 | SMA (RF1 — low-power TX only, for external PA) |
| ethernet | RJ-45 Ethernet (NOT USB — use CAT 6/7, no Wi-Fi!) |
| cw key | CW key input |
| dc in | DC 12V |
| power req | DC 12V. Good, stable power supply required. |
Strong HF SDR value for the money. 12-bit direct sampling receives the entire HF spectrum at once, with an FPGA supporting up to 4 (experimentally more) simultaneous RX slices and a 6-band FT8/WSPR skimmer. It connects over Ethernet (low latency, no USB limits), is open source throughout, and transmits 5 W QRP, with Thetis providing a full radio experience. One reviewer compared it to an ANAN at a quarter the price.
5 W QRP only (an external PA is needed for 100 W). Ethernet only (no USB; a wired network or direct connection is required). Aimed at makers and amateurs (a community assembler provides no usage help). Group-buy availability (not always in stock). It needs a host computer (no standalone). A learning curve for SDR newcomers. No VHF/UHF.
An open-source HF SDR transceiver with strong value. The Hermes-Lite 2 puts ANAN-class direct-sampling SDR performance into an affordable kit. Receive the entire HF spectrum at once, decode 6 bands of FT8 simultaneously, and transmit 5 W QRP, all from an open-source platform with an active community. For operators comfortable with SDR software who want HF performance per dollar, it is hard to beat.
The Hermes-Lite 2 is a remarkable open-source project: a low-cost HF software-defined transceiver that descends from the HPSDR/Hermes designs and is built around the Analog Devices AD9866 chip. It both receives and transmits — about 5 watts across the HF amateur bands — which, like any transmitter, requires an amateur radio license to use on the air. Note that it is HF only, with no 6-meter or VHF coverage.
Crucially, it is not a standalone radio: it has no front panel, knobs, or audio output. It connects to a computer over Ethernet, and software such as Quisk, Thetis, SparkSDR, or PowerSDR does all the tuning, demodulation, and display work. That network-attached design is actually a strength — it can be sited remotely at a good antenna location — but it does mean some computer setup. It supports multiple simultaneous receivers, and an add-on low-pass filter board is needed for clean transmitting.
Sold as assembled boards through the community for around the price of a good handheld, it is one of the best values in HF SDR for experimenters willing to put in the setup. The ELAD FDM-DUO is the polished, standalone-capable alternative at far higher cost, and the Red Pitaya is another board-level platform with SDR transceiver capability.