SOFTWARE-DEFINED RADIO

We offer a range of NI Universal Software Radio Peripherals (USRPs) to define Software Defined Radios (SDRs) used for RF applications. These integrated hardware and software solutions enable rapid prototyping of wireless communication systems. NI USRP transceivers can transmit and receive RF signals in multiple bands. The USRP hardware architecture integrates RF analogue front-ends (high-low conversion, filters, amplifiers), an RF I/Q modulation-demodulation stage, ADCs and DACs, a processor or FPGA connected by cable to a host computer (PC or PXI chassis) to send and receive correctly formatted baseband I/Q data. USRPs are programmed using the LabVIEW development environment. This solution offers great flexibility for software radio prototyping and communications research.

Applications

USRP equipment can be used for a wide range of applications.
- Dynamic access to the RF spectrum and real-time recording of signals over a long period.
- Research into the PHY and MAC layers for robust radio links.
- Creation of customised transmission or reception protocols.
- Building multi-standard communication gateways
- Integrate the USRP into a standard radio communications network to test new wireless algorithms (TDD, FDD) to improve communications.
- Test the channel coding or source coding blocks
- Simulate channel degradation and check the impact on transmissions.
- Implementation of MIMO technology

HIGHLIGHTS

- Main physical characteristics of the USRP
The USRPs are equipped with a 10 MHz OCXO (Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator) reference clock, which complies with the GPS standard. GPS discipline improves frequency accuracy and synchronisation capabilities. It is equipped with a reconfigurable FPGA.
Transmitter :
- Number of channels 2
- Frequency range from 10 MHz to 6 GHz
- No frequency < 1KHz
- Maximum output power (Pout) 50 mW to 100 mW (17 dBm to 20 dBm)
- Gain range 0 dB to 31.5 dB
- Gain step 0.5 dB
- Maximum real-time bandwidth 160 MHz
- Maximum I/Q sampling frequency 200 MS/s
- Digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) 16-bit resolution
- Spurious-free dynamic range (sFDR) 80 dB

USRP-2954

Receiver :
- Number of channels 2
- Frequency range 10 MHz to 6 GHz No frequency
- No frequency < 1KHz
- Gain range 0 dB to 37.5 dB
- Gain step 0.5 dB
Maximum input power (Pin) -15 dBm
- Noise figure 5 dB to 7 dB
- Maximum real-time bandwidth 160 MHz
- Maximum I/Q sampling rate 200 MS/s
- Analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) 14-bit resolution, sFDR 88 dB
Software suite
– Labview
– Module FPGA Labview
- Labview communication systems design suite
– GNU Radio, Python, Matlab, Simulink, C/C++.