Software Defined Radio A Personal Journey… By Greg Danylchenko, VE3YTZ/VA3GD.

Software Defined RadioA Personal Journey…

By Greg Danylchenko, VE3YTZ/VA3GD

Software Defined RadiosA Personal Journey…

Tonight’s Agenda

Intro to SDR

Personal experience TAPR DSP-10SoftRock 40FlexRadio SDR-1000/5000AHigh Performance Software Defined Radio

© VE3YTZ/VA3GD- QCWA Presentation Nov. 2010

What is a Software Defined Radio (SDR)?

radio communication system which uses software for the modulation and demodulation of radio signals

performs significant amounts of signal processing in a general purpose computer, or in a reconfigurable piece of digital electronics

goal is to produce a radio that can receive and transmit a new form of radio protocol just by running new software

SDR hardware typically consists of a superheterodyne RF front end which converts RF signals from and to analog IF signals, and analog to digital converter and digital to analog converters which are used to convert a digitized IF signal to and from analog form


significant utility for the military, satellite and cell phone services, and any other service which must serve a wide variety of changing radio protocols in real time

fully expected to become the dominant technology in radio communications

What is a Software Defined Radio (SDR)?


What is a Software Defined Radio (SDR)?- Amateur Radio Context

transceiver interface to a personal computer that enables reconfigurable system architectures for wireless communications

efficient, comparatively inexpensive solution to the problem of building multi-mode, multi-band, multi-functional communications devices

can be enhanced or reconfigured by changing software

same piece of "hardware" can be modified to perform different functions at different times

manufacturer can concentrate development efforts on common hardware platform with software differentiating its use

can be open source – many contributors

SDR – Is it for you?

Still experimental, not plug and playMust be prepared to tinker, experimentMust be prepared to ask for help/get adviceCan be $$$$$Rapid developments, can lead to short shelf life



Amateur SDR products

TAPR DSP-10 – 2 Metre SDR KitFlex Radio SDR-1000 – originally a semi-kit, now a commercial product, Open Source Windows Software GNU Radio – Linux Based SDR, not very organized, slow progressPICASTAR transceiver – UK amateurs Homebrew SDR project, series of articles in RSGB Radcom Winradio - Commercial Receivers, various modelsSDR-14 – Commercial Receiver 0-230 MHz

SDR Products

Many other SDR Amateur Radio products now exist, too many to list, see:

http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=13071



My journey started with the DSP-10 TAPR Kit

an amateur-radio, software-defined 2-meter transceiver to build at homeoperates on SSB, FM and CW modestailored for operation with weak signals on VHF, UHF & microwave frequencies


DSP-10 - Introduced in QST


DSP-10 Project Support

E-mail reflector – promoted user to user support, essential

User web sites – essential, construction tips/ideas

Local hams— e.g. Rick (VE3IHI), thanks for your help


DSP-10 Construction


DSP 10 – the goodExcellent project to practice construction skills, Surface Mount Device soldering (big thanks to Mike Kelly VE3FFK) Improvisation/substitution skillsChallenging but not overwhelmingIntroduction to SDRInitially excellent user to user support, but with time dried up


DSP 10 – the badstarted too late in project life cycle, user to user support became harder to obtain as general interest flagged

documentation spotty, not professional, had gaps and ambiguities, not a significant problem as long as user to user support held up

no periodic/ongoing testing as construction proceeded; became a major problem


DSP 10 – What happened?

Project abandoned at 85% complete

Other sexier things came around

Personally not technically knowledgeable enough to proceed alone


FlexRadio SDR-1000- What is it?

Complete commercial SDR transceiver interfaced to a personal computer provides everything needed to convert a PC into a high performance, 11KHz-65MHz general coverage receiver with 160M-6M (2M optional) amateur radio band transmit capability Commercial hardware with open source software


A Software Defined Radio For The Masses: Parts 1, 2, 3, & 4

The SDR-1000 concept was described in detail in a four part article series in QEX Magazine.


Typical SDR-1000 Configuration


SDR -1000 Boards


SDR-1000 Interior


SDR-1000 Rear Panel


PowerSDR Console

Greatly updated, and still used today with all the Flex Radios/HPSDR


SDR Filter Spectrum- Brick Walls

500 Hz Filter 2.6 KHz Filter

Took a look at Soft-Rock 40

Sold as kits or preassembled

Initially receivers only, but exciters became available as wellInexpensive, good intro to SDR


Soft Rock 40

Assembled in a couple of hoursStill don’t fool yourself, comfort around the computer necessaryWas fun to get it up and running, but limited potential for growthLots of info on Web – Google Soft Rock Kit


What’s Next? – Flex 5000A


Current generation SDR Transceiver, also sold by FlexRadio are the SDR- 3000,and their QRP transceiver the SDR 1500, still uses PowerSDR open source software

Flex 5000A ObservationsTop notch receiverRather complex to set up, many adjustments to makeVery susceptible to RF, have had the radio shut down in transmit – but now fixed after many chokes and new groundAutomatic Antenna Tuner does not tune radio over a wide range of SWRCurrently my transceiver of choice© VE3YTZ/VA3GD- QCWA Presentation Nov.

2010

What’s next for me? - HPSDR

The HPSDR Project is based on a series of boards, and other hardware, which, when combined, create the SDR transceiver

Some parts are sold as kits; others as completed boards

Available from TAPR© VE3YTZ/VA3GD- QCWA Presentation Nov.

2010

The HPSDR board set outside its case

Flex vs HPSDR

Closed source hardware

Open source software

Commercial product with warranty, company & user support,


Open source hardware

Open source softwareNon-commercial product, volunteer backed project, user support onlyComplex to set-up, some kit assembly required, includes SMT parts

Board unavailability issues

Basic Board SetATLAS: The Backplane

Metis a high speed Ethernet PC interface (coming soon)

Penelope: Transmitter/Exciter

Mercury: Direct Sampling Receiver

LPU: Linear Power Unit


Atlas Backplane (Kit)


Six slots, ATX power supply input, LED power indicators

The heart of the Project and the first completed board released in 2006

Metis Gateway- Ethernet interface to Atlas bus


Penelope Transmitter/Exciter Complete Board


Digital Up Conversion (DUC) ½ W transmitter/exciter

With only .5 watt output, you’ll need help to be heard

Mercury Direct Sampling Receiver Complete Board


0-65MHz direct sampling receiver

Now just recently sold out, new diversity reception capability, which required 2 boards, caused a run on available units

More boards promised

LPU Kit


Linear Power Unit

Pandora Enclosure


HPSDR Chassis produced by TenTec for TAPR

Pennywhistle 20W PA Kit


20W Power Amplifier

What’s next for HPSR?

Many new boards are in various stages of development, e.g:

Cyclops - 1GHz Spectrum Analyzer


What’s next for HPSDR?

To address the issue of board unavailability, new supplier arrangements have been made.

TAPR will make and will sell first run to cover its costs, subsequent batches will be responsibility of third party manufacturer, who will make boards under the Open Licensing arrangement


What is next for me?

I will continue to ride the HPSDR wave until it dries up or something better comes along.


Thank you!

Project information at:

www.openhpsdr.org

Interest list at: www.hamsdr.com

Boards available at: www.tapr.org

Software Defined Radio A Personal Journey… By Greg Danylchenko, VE3YTZ/VA3GD.

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