An Open-Source 240-Antenna Array to Bounce Signals Off the Moon

Why It Matters

By lowering the cost barrier to high‑gain phased arrays, QuadRF enables hobbyists and small institutions to conduct moon‑bounce communications, radio‑astronomy, and advanced RF research that were previously limited to well‑funded organizations.

Key Takeaways

• QuadRF tile costs $49‑99, enabling low‑cost SDR arrays.
• Mini array (72 antennas) priced under $1,500 for field experiments.
• Moon array (240 antennas) offers ~63 dBW EIRP for moon‑bounce.
• Full‑duplex C‑band operation spans 4.9‑6 GHz, 40 MHz per antenna.
• Open‑source hardware, FPGA, GPSDO‑ready, targets amateur and research markets.

Pulse Analysis

The emergence of an open‑source, 4‑antenna SDR tile from QuadRF marks a shift in how phased‑array technology can be accessed. Priced at a fraction of traditional commercial solutions, the QuadRF tile packs a Lattice ECP5 FPGA, a MEMS TCXO with sub‑picosecond jitter, and full‑duplex C‑band capability (4.9‑6 GHz) into a compact, 12 V, 25 W module. Its modular design lets users stack tiles into larger arrays, fostering rapid prototyping and educational experimentation without the need for specialized RF engineering teams.

Building on the base tile, QuadRF offers two pre‑configured kits. The Mini array combines 18 tiles (72 antennas) for under $1,500, delivering roughly 34 dBi gain and 52.6 dBW EIRP—enough for high‑gain backhaul links, drone telemetry, and low‑Earth‑orbit satellite downlinks. The flagship Moon array scales to 60 tiles (240 antennas), achieving about 39.3 dBi gain and a striking 63.1 dBW EIRP, positioning it as a viable platform for Earth‑Moon‑Earth (EME) communications and C‑band sky surveys. Compared with legacy commercial arrays that can cost tens of thousands of dollars, these kits democratize access to research‑grade performance.

While the hardware is openly documented, operation remains subject to amateur‑radio licensing and export‑control restrictions, limiting radar applications. Nonetheless, the community‑driven model encourages collaborative firmware development and custom beam‑forming algorithms, accelerating innovation in fields such as ionospheric sensing and terrestrial RF imaging. As more enthusiasts adopt the platform, the ecosystem could generate a new wave of low‑cost, high‑performance RF experiments, potentially reshaping the market for niche communications and scientific instrumentation.