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Software DefinedRadio
Jay FlynnSharlene Katz
CREATE MeetingNovember 30, 2007
November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 2
Overview
What is Software Defined Radio (SDR)?
Current and Future SDR Applications
Advantages of SDR
Components of a SDR Development System
Demonstration
Curriculum Issues
November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 3
What is Software DefinedRadio (SDR)?
• A new technology for implementing radio
communications systems
• Art and science of building radios using
software
• Eliminating hardware and moving software as
close to the antenna as possible
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November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 4
Hardware Radio
November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 5
Software Defined Radio
aa
SoftwareAnalog to
DigitalConverter
November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 6
Current SDR Applications
Military Agile, robust and secure communications systems
Radar and Threat detection
Electronic Intelligence (ELINT)
Radio Astronomy
Amateur Radio
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November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 7
Future SDR Applications
Personal Communications Cell phones Wi Fi Entertainment distribution
Public Safety Remote Sensing Communications
Information, graphics Voice
November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 8
Future SDR Applications
Broadcasting Digital Radio
Digital Television
Advantages of SDR
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November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 10
No more standards
Historical Problems with standards Inertia
AM to FM Stereo Broadcasting AM to SSB communications AM to FM communications Black and White to Color Television Analogue Color Television to HDTV AM/FM Analogue to HD radio broadcasting
November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 11
No more standards
Interoperability problem solved Military
Example: Operation Market Garden Public Safety
Example: 9/11
Modes and operation tailored to individualneeds rather than choosing from a fewstandards.
November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 12
Reliability Fewer components = less failures Remote repair/update. No aging. No environmental drift.
Temperature Humidity Vibration
No alignment issues.
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November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 13
The sky’s the limit…
“Smart” radio technology Encoding, processing and decoding not constrained
by component limitations. More efficient use of limited spectrum. Users always have the latest, best implementation. Automated, plug-and-play systems. Features tailored for individual, time-variable
preferences/needs.
November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 14
Components of a SDR System
ADC
FPGA(Decimator,MUX, etc.)
USBController PC
Daughterboard (optional) Motherboard
ProgrammingAcademic Topics: Electronics DSP Digital Design
November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 15
Development Systems
Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP)/ GNU Radio
High Performance Software Defined RadioProject (HPSDR)
Softrock Others…
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November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 16
USRP -Motherboard/Daughterboard
November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 17
GNU Radio Software Community-based project started in 1998 GNU Radio application consists of sources (inputs),
sinks (outputs) and transform blocks Transform blocks: math, filtering,
modulation/demodulation, coding, etc. Sources: USRP, audio, file input, signal generator, … Sinks: USRP, audio, file output, FFT, oscilloscope, … Blocks written in C++ Python scripts used to connect blocks and form
application
November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 18
Example of GNU Radio Code
The following code specifies a channelfilter and computes the coefficients
a
H (dB)
f (KHz)-60
-16 16-9 9-8 8
-0.10
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November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 19
Demonstration
Narrowband FM Receiver AM Broadcast Band Receiver HF Radio File Inputs
November 30, 2007 Flynn/Katz - SDR 20
Effect on Curriculum
How does the introduction of this newtechnology affect the way we educate thetechnicians of the future?
How do we change our curriculum? More emphasis on programming
Concepts of DSP
Questions?