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Copyright 2011 4X1DA

Practical Software Defined Radio

Applications for the Avid DX’er


*Grand Prize: Take home 10 FREE Software Defined Radioapplications that won’t work on this $12,000 Transceiver !

Today’s Door Prize*


Presentation Overview

• Brief introduction to SDR concepts

• How SDRs differ from conventional, heterodyne receivers

• Practical Amateur Radio applications using SDR receivers

• Examples of SDR hardware and software

• Additional links and resources

• Q & A


What is a Software Defined Radio ?

• Characteristics of Software Defined Radios :

• Primary stages defined in software (mixers, filters, amplifiers)• Analog Signals (RF) converted to Digital (I/Q) • Wide input bandwidth• Easily reconfigurable• Complexity shift from HW to SW

SDR Typical Input Signal Conditions (Freq. Domain)

fINInput Bandwidth

(Instantaneous BW)

UndesiredChannels Undesired

Channels

DesiredChannel

DesiredChannel

Channel Bandwidth (a)Channel Bandwidth (n)


Examples of Amateur Radio SDRs

• FlexRadio Systems FLEX-5000A, FLEX-3000, FLEX-1500 (xcvrs)• Tony Parks, KB9YIG’s SoftRock series of kits (RX + QRP xcvrs)

• RF Space; WinRadio Excalibur; N8VB QS1R; MicroTelecom Perseus

FlexRadio Systems RF Space

WinRadio Excalibur

SRL QSR1

Microtelecom Perseus


SDR is NOT:• A Conventional Radio with integrated Spectrum Scope/GUI or IF DSP• A Computer Controlled Radio via CAT (Computer Aided Transceiver)

Conventional xcvr or SDR ?


Software Defined Radio Advantages & Disadvantages

• Key benefits of Software Defined Radio:• Flexible• Reduced obsolescence • Reprogrammable• Networkable• Enhances experimentation

• SDR Disadvantages:• High-end PC required• Latency (Not suitable for full break-in CW, QSK)• Not recommended for Mobile Operation• Still aimed at experimenters


Heterodyne Receiver Block Diagram


SDR Receiver Block DiagramQuadrature Sampling Detector (QSD)

Diagram Courtesy of WA2DFI

QSD

SOUND CARD

LINE(A/D)INPUT

SPKR(D/A)OUTPUT

CPU MEM VID

RF HARDWARE PC HARDWARE

RF INPUT BASEBAND I/Q(ANALOG AUDIO)

DEMODULATED AUDIO

OSC

DDS, XTAL

USER INTERFACE


SDR Transmitter Block DiagramQuadrature Sampling Exciter (QSE)

SOUND CARD

MICINPUT

LINEOUTPUT

CPU MEM VID

PC HARDWARE

BASEBAND AUDIO(ANALOG)

AUDIO INPUT

USER INTERFACE

QSE

RF HARDWARE

OSC

DDS, XTAL

RF OUTPUT

Diagram Courtesy of WA2DFI


SDR Receiver Block DiagramDirect Sampling or Digital Down Converter (DDC)

D/AOUT

CPU MEM VID

RF HARDWARE PC HARDWARE

RF INPUT

DIGITAL I/QDATA STREAM

DEMODULATED AUDIO

USER INTERFACE

FPGA

A/DIN

SOUND CARD

USB2A/D

RF Front-

EndUSB2

OSC

DDS, XTAL


Software Defined RadioApplications


Spectrum AnalysisAmplitude/Frequency Detection and Measurement

41m Broadcast Band – Typical evening activity

Spectrum Display provides instantaneous indication of BW, amplitude and frequency


Spectrum AnalysisAmplitude/Frequency Detection and Measurement

0 – 50 MHz

Waterfall Display provides historical data of BW, amplitude and frequency


Spectrum AnalysisWaveform Detection and Identification

How many types of signals can you identify in this sonogram of the 20 Meter band?

14.109 14.209



Detect and identify waveforms, pile-ups and contests just by watching the waterfall display

PSK31

JT65

RTTY



Use with HRD to Detect and Demodulate a Broad Range of Digital Waveforms


‘Drunken Driver’ transmissions; appear to be in sync every few hundred kHz between 13-20 MHz

Discover ‘Strange’ Signals (and possibly some logic in randomness)


‘DNA Chromosome’transmissions repeating every

60 seconds

25 kHz wide noise source

???

… And some even stranger signals


Voice of Eretria ‘White Noise’ Jamming on 40M Band (Spectrum Display)


Voice of Eretria ‘White Noise’ Jamming on 40M Band (Waterfall Display)


Record I/Q of Entire Available RF Spectrum


Record I/Q of Entire Available RF Spectrum

1.6 MHzPerseusMicroTelecom

2 MHzExcaliburWinRadio

2 MHzQS1-RN8VB

196 kHzSDR-IQ

RF Space1.6 MHzNetSDR

1.6 MHzSDR-IP

48 KHz - 192 KHzSoftrockKB9YIG

Max. Recordable BWModelManufacturer


Decode Digital Communications at the IF Stage

• Analog receivers require a physical audio interface to sound card on the PC

• Inferior sound card, cabling and overdriving levels can cause noise & distortion

• With an SDR receiver, using a VAC (Virtual Audio Cable) eliminates typical distortion problems associated with analog receivers

• VAC 4.10 recommended

• Same program can be used to decode digital communications from Web based receivers


Decode Digital Communications at the IF Stage – Using Web based receiver


CW Skimmer, in Normal 3-kHz mode

Use CW Skimmer to Monitor all CW Stations on Any Band - Simultaneously !


CW Skimmer (Wideband Mode)

Normal40M Activity

Contest40M Activity


CW ‘Skimmers’ Online – Reverse Beacon Network (RBN)

Reporting StationsDX Spots (Filtered to findLast 15 4X stations heard onAll bands)

Detect ANY station calling CQ, on any band, on any frequency !


CW Skimmer/RBN Resources

• Latest ver. CW Skimmer Download

• CW Skimmer 1.6

http://www.dxatlas.com/CwSkimmer/

• Reverse Beacon Network Link• Reverse Beacon Network

http://reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=854

• Customize filter by going to:• dx spots

• create your filter• set DX prefix in the ‘DE Station’ pull-down menu


Choose any IF Filter from 10 Hz+ Multiple Notch Filters Simultaneously

-120 dBm Signal, barely audible but

visible !


Listen to DRM* Transmissions

• 10 kHz BW• Digital, FM-like Quality Audio• Simultaneous Text Overlay• Good S/N required

*DRM = Digital Radio Mondial(Mondial means “Worldwide” in French & Italian)


Listen to DRM Transmissions

http://sourceforge.net/projects/drm/Download DRM Dream here:


Listen to DRM Transmissions

Download DRM Diagnostic tools here: http://home.arcor.de/carsten.knuetter/drm.htm


Record AF of Multiple RX’s Concurrently

• Audio Frequency outputs from each RX recorded to .wav or mp3 file• Based on specific SDR (your mileage may vary)


RX1 on Left Speaker, RX2 on Right Speaker

• Typical Applications: • In QSO on Freq A while listening for a call on Freq B• Minimize Fade on SW Broadcast by combining/mixing audio from 2 sources • Decode all CW signals from right speaker (e.g. to CW Skimmer) andall PSK Signals to left speaker


Use SDR as a Secondary Receiver

• Conventional transceivers with a integrated 2nd receiver (“Dual-Receive) can be expensive !

• Examples/Street Price:• Yaesu FT-2000 ($2,500)• ICOM IC-7600 ($3,650)• ICOM IC-756PRO III ($3,600)

• Alternatively, use Transceiver with single RX + On-Line or External SDR• Advantages: Dual Receive, Pan-Adapter• Cost of 2nd SDR based Receiver can range from $20 to >$1,200

• Use “Radio-Delay” utility to add delay to analog path

www.daansystem.com

• Two Options:• Remote (SW Based)• Local (HW Based)


Use SDR as a Secondary ReceiverRemote (SW Based)

• Example 1(a): Your Current xcvr + Web Based SDR

+

websdr.org



• Example 1(b): Your Current xcvr + Web Based SDR

+

sdr-radio.com



• Example 1(c): Your Current xcvr + Web Based SDR

+

Perseus(Server based remote SDR)


Use SDR as a Secondary Receiver Local (HW Based)

• Example 2(a): Your Current xcvr + Local SDR (Low Cost, performance per $ winner)

• SoftRock SDR; • Rocky GUI

+

• $20 (kit); Single Band; Soundcard Required; • 96 kHz BW; No interface to CAT


Use SDR as a Secondary Receiver Local (HW Based)

• Example 2(b): Your Current xcvr+ Local SDR (Premium)• Perseus w/BobSUITE GUI & Switch Box


Price/Performance/Flexibility

vs +

• $3,650 • $2,395

ICOM IC-7600 Kenwood TS-480HX w/Perseus SDR

• 100W • 200W (w/o AAT; 100W w/ AAT)

• Spectrum Scope: 300 kHz (5.8”) • Spectrum Scope: 1600 kHz (on PC)

• DDC Record: NO • DDC Record: Yes

• 2 kHz Dynamic Range: 78 dB • 2 kHz Dynamic Range: 99 dB

• Dual Receive: Only on same Band • Dual Receive: 2 completely independentreceivers


Perseus Test Data Ranking (Sherwood Engineering)


OK…I’m interested !

So, what else can SDR do that a conventional radio can’t ?


Free Software Updates/Cross Platform Software Support

• New features with every software release provides a virtually new radio

• Changes to the radio have greater impact than simple FW upgrades to non SDR-receiver/transceivers

• Cross Platform SW Support examples:• (SW Supporting SoftRock SDR):

• Wrplus• Winradhd• Winrad• Linrad• Sdr-radio• Rocky• M0KGK DSP Decoder• PowerSDR IF (For Non-Flex Radio HW)

Each SW Platform offers unique features; No one-size fits all App


Try It Before You Buy It !

• Use Demo Version of SW with prerecorded DDC files, or

• Directly connect to one of many existing receivers (servers) around the world

• On-Line SDRs:• www.websdr.org

• www.sdr-radio.com

• PERSEUS Demo program (60 Day Trial) • Open ports 8014 UDP; 8015 TCP on your router

http://microtelecom.it/perseus/Perseusv40a.zip

1

New ADC and FPGA technology is driving prices down while increasingCapabilities/Features. All SDR Receivers described in this presentation

can be evaluated on-line or off-line before purchasing


COTS* SDR Receivers and Transceivers (4/2011)

* COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf)


Softrock SDR HF Performance-per-$ King

• KB9YIG, Tony Parks (KB9YIG.com) Offers 3 Basic Kits

• SoftRock Lite II Receiver ($20)• Single Band 160m, 80m 30m or 20m• Requires sound card that can sample at 96 kHz• Fixed center frequency (48 kHz below & above CF)

• SoftRock RX Ensemble II Receiver ($56)• 180 kHz – 3 MHz or, 1.8 – 30 MHz

• SoftRock RXTX Ensemble Transceiver Kit ($74)• 1W SDR Transceiver

• Can be built for one of the following four band groups:• 160m• 80/40m• 30/20/17m• 15/12/10m


Softrock SDR Real Costs & other Considerations

• Requires top quality soundcard + significant CPU resources • $50 - $200 for an enclosure, isolation transformers and external soundcard

• The E-MU 0202 USB soundcard offers high dynamic range at 192 kbps

• Softrock kits are not recommended for beginner kit builders • If you don’t have experience with soldering SMT components, find someone who has


FUNCube Dongle (FCD)

• Designed to work with FUNcube Satellites• Can work with any other 2m, 70cm, 23 cm Satellite as well

• 64-1700 MHz Coverage• AM, FM, SSB• Soundcard not required• 96 kHz sampling rate; >80 kHz of instantaneous BW• 0.15uV12dB SINAD at 145 MHz and 435 MHz• > 1000 Sold as of 4/2011 • £99 + Shipping

Site Link: http://www.funcubedongle.com/You Tube Demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFZGlqKPPQo


FlexRadio FLEX-1500/3000/5000

Site Link: http://www.flex-radio.com/


Microtelecom Perseus

Site Link: http://www.woodboxradio.com/uk/perseus.html


WinRadio Excalibur

Site Link: http://www.winradio.com/home/g31ddc.htm


N8VB QS1R

YouTube Demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nae_M_q-i10&playnext=1&list=PLCF7BD3A6D3E07799

Site Link: http://www.srl-llc.com/


RF Space SDR-IQ/NetSDR/SDR-IP

You Tube Demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFPojOo-hI4

Site Link: http://www.rfspace.com/RFSPACE/Home.html


Wide-IF Panoramic Adapters(SDR Features w/o the SDR)

(4/2011)


LP-PANSoftware Defined IQ Panadapter

• Allows ‘SDR-like’ features on a conventional xcvr

• Panadapter• Wide IF + Adjustable IF filters

• Supports wide range of conventional xcvrs• FT-950/2000 requires 3rd party internal interface board (~$200 USD)

• Uses modified ver. of FLEX PowerSDR GUIWU2X’s PowerSDR/IF

• Instantaneous 192 kHz or 96 kHz BW • Requires high quality external sound card such as E-MU 0202• Available in Kit form or fully assembled• ~$225 + ~$100 USD for E-MU Soundcard

PowerSDR/IF ver. 1.19.3.5

You Tube Demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uhJbutclc0

Site Link: http://www.telepostinc.com/LP-PAN.html


MDSR (Modulator-Demodulator Software Radio)

• Poor-Man’s ver. of LP-PAN• Single add-on PCB• Supports xcvrs with 455 kHz IF (FT-817,FT-897, FT-897, ICOM-718, 703)• 455 kHz IF down-converted to 12 kHz

• Wide enough for DRM, CW-Skimmer, other apps

• PC’s Soundcard is used as ADC• ~$35 USD

Site Link: http://users.skynet.be/myspace/mdsr/


USRP(Universal Software Radio

Peripheral)


Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP2)

• Manufactured by Ettus Research (Acquired by National Instruments)• Completely programmable transceiver• Ultimate in flexibility per $• Focused on developers, T&ME, academic markets• Open Source libraries available

• GSM BTS• DVB• P25• TETRA• LTE• Bluetooth• RF-ID• WiMax• WiFi (802.11a/b/g/n)• ‘WBX’ (50-2200 MHz All Mode, 30-100 mW xcvr)• …Many others


Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP1)

• Up to 4 daughter boards mountable oncommon chassis

• RXs, TX and transceivers available fromDC – 5.8 GHz

• #1 Choice for R&D, Education/Comms labs• Academic discounts available• Works with gnuradio• RF building-block for OpenBTS

Site Link: http://www.ettus.com/

You Tube Demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qRTUT5GvLY


SDR – Future Applications & Possibilities

SoftwarePC/MAC + iPad/Tablet; Smart PhonePC/MACGUI

SoftwareNew SW Download delivers new features(HDR) ~10 Years

Product Life Cycle

Efficient CODECsAdaptive Digital Voice (HF)/ HD DV @VHF and above

(Analog) SSB (HF); FM (>VHF)

Dominant Voice Mode

High Speed, High Resolution ADCVHF/UHF and above62.5 MHz

DDC RX Max Freq

FPGA (Cost)>30 MHz2 MHzDDC Max Inst BW

ChallengesNext 2-5 Years2011

Automatic

Automatic

Stream I/Q; Migration to Fiber Optic NetworksCurrent Broadband Infrastructure

DSL/Cable(Stream Audio)

Ethernet Requirements

SoftwareManualWaveform Analysis

SoftwareN/ADX ClusterIntegration


Reference Links 1Dan Tayloe’s Original QSD Articlehttp://wb9ipa.qrpradio.com/60meter/exciter/Tayloe_mixer_x3a.pdf

Quadrature Signals – Complex, But Not Complicatedhttp://www.eumus.edu.uy/eme/cursos/dsp/material/Lyons_Quadrature.Signals.pdf

SoftRock Radio Kitshttps://www.kb9yig.com/

SoftRock Radio Kits (Video Demo)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yGCkFM3NK8

Soundcard Info http://www.telepostinc.com/soundcards.html

Sherwood Engineering Receiver Test Datahttp://www.sherweng.com/table.html


More Reference Links 2

SDR as PanadapterLP-Pan (http://www.telepostinc.com/LP-PAN.html )Adding Pan-adapter capability to the Yaesu FT-950(http://www.telepostinc.com/Files/Adding_LP-PAN_to_FT-2000-v1-AC0C.pdf )

Ettus Research LLC/National Instrumentshttp://www.ettus.com/

Intro to DRM Presentationhttp://drm.org/uploads/files/drm_plus_pres.pdf


Thank You !

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