SDR devices smooth transition from design to prototyping

1st March 2017

NI-Emerson

Mick Elliott

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Availability of the USRP-2945 quad receiver SDR device and the USRP-2944 high-performance 2x2 multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) SDR device is announced by National Instruments. Both models deliver a new level of performance and capability to the USRP (Universal Software Radio Peripheral) family. These devices feature the widest frequency ranges, highest bandwidth and best RF performance in the USRP family.

The USRP-2945 and USRP-2944 join the NI SDR portfolio of products, which scale from small deployable radios to 128-antenna massive MIMO systems.

Engineers can use the NI SDR product family to efficiently transition from design to prototyping and deployment across a wide range of wireless applications through a unified design flow.

They can combine the SDRs with LabVIEW software to rapidly develop real-time communication and wireless receiver systems, and prototype new algorithms with real-world signals through the onboard FPGA and FPGA programming tools.

Additionally, engineers can efficiently incorporate NI SDR products with other NI hardware to design solutions that address the most demanding applications, benefitting from hardware flexibility combined with a unified software toolchain.

Specifically designed for over-the-air signal acquisition and analysis, the USRP-2945 features a two-stage superheterodyne architecture to achieve the superior selectivity and sensitivity required for applications such as spectrum analysis and monitoring, and signals intelligence.

With four receiver channels, and the capability to share local oscillators, this device also sets new industry price/performance benchmarks for direction finding applications.

For wideband wireless research, the USRP-2944 is a 2x2 MIMO-capable SDR that features 160MHz of bandwidth per channel.

With a frequency range from 10MHz to 6GHz, this SDR works in frequencies of interest for LTE and WiFi research and exploration, covering potential new spectrum deployments.

“With the future of spectrum usage and management tied to spectrum sharing, it is imperative to have cost-effective tools to enable researchers, regulators and corporations to more effectively scan, capture and analyse the spectrum to create spectrum situational awareness and respond accordingly,” said Manuel Uhm, director of marketing for Ettus Research, a National Instruments company, and chair of the board of directors for the Wireless Innovation Forum.