When choosing the right USRP device for your application, a good place to start is by asking yourself a few questions related to signal parameters, size, weight, power, cost (SWaP-C), performance, and environmental application requirements. Question one: What center frequency and bandwidth do I require?
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This question is easy enough to answer, but the next one is more involved: How do I plan to move signal data on or off the device?
This brings into focus the importance of data interfaces. For example, the USRP-290x&#;models are connected to the host through USB and are limited by the maximum sustained bandwidth of that interface, whereas the&#;Ettus USRP X440 is equipped with two 100 GbE interfaces capable of moving much more data.
To learn more about USRP interface bandwidth considerations, read about USRP Bandwidths and Sampling Rates on the Ettus Research knowledge base.
Most USRP devices have a maximum frequency up to 6 GHz and some higher; however, the NI Ettus USRP X410 can operate in the 7 GHz band. On the lower frequency end, some radios go down to 75 MHz and some as low as DC depending on the analog chipset used. See Figure 16 for a breakdown of each model.
Figure 3: The Ettus USRP X410, built on an RFSoC, is a high-frequency wideband SDR with a center frequency up to 7.2 GHz
There are trade-offs to consider when choosing a USRP device, specifically cost versus performance. If you require a radio at a great value and you do not have advanced FPGA or wide bandwidth requirements, the NI USRP 290x or Ettus Research B200mini are great options. If you need the widest bandwidth and frequencies up to 7.2 GHz, the NI Ettus USRP X410 may be the best fit. There are many options available in between these two examples. Figure 15 below gives a full break down across all models.
Figure 4: USRP and USRP B200mini Low SWaP-C SDRs
If you need frequencies up to 7.2 GHz, the NI Ettus USRP X410 may be the best fit. If you require the widest possible instantaneous bandwidth, the NI Ettus USRP X440 may meet the need. There are many options available beyond these examples; Figure 16 provides a full breakdown across all models.
Figure 5: The Ettus USRP X440 offers up to 1.6 GHz bandwidth per channel, with a direct sampling transceiver architecture
The USRP was conceived as a computer peripheral to connect software to the electromagnetic spectrum. Applications have evolved since the first USRPs, and many require an embedded processor onboard. You may require this stand-alone configuration if your application has the SDR physically distributed from a centralized control system or deployed on its own. If stand-alone is a key requirement, you will need to decide if a Xilinx Zynq&#; Multiprocessor System on Chip (MPSoC) or RF System On Chip (RFSoC) is sufficient or if you require a powerful Intel X86 processor onboard. Table 1 provides a breakdown of various models and their onboard processors; consult USRP specification documents for more details.
Radio ModelOnboard ProcessorUSRP N320, USRP N321, USRP N310Xilinx Zynq MPSOCUSRP E31XXilinx Zynq MPSOCUSRP E320Xilinx Zynq MPSOCNI Ettus USRP X410, USRP X440Xilinx Zynq Ultrascale+ RFSOC ZU28DRUSRP Intel Core i7 EQ (2 GHz Quad Core)
Table 1: Stand-Alone Capable USRP Models with Onboard Processors
Figure 6: USRP Stand-Alone SDR with Built-in Intel Core i7
Although many USRPs are used in the lab, some applications require operation in outdoors or in harsher environments. If your application requires extended operating temperatures or can&#;t rely on air-cooling, you may want to consider the Ettus Research branded Embedded Series for your application. Additionally, under the Ettus Research brand, there are options to configure the USRP B205mini for extended temperature range with the use of the industrial grade aluminum enclosure assembly for low SWaP operation. Alternatively, if you have extreme environmental requirements, we would love to connect you with our experienced ruggedization partners; contact us to explore these options.
Figure 7: Embedded Series, USRP E320
Many applications require multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) configurations with varying levels of synchronization. Some MIMO systems simply require a shared clock for ADCs and DACs, while others require every channel to be locked to a common clock and local oscillator for a full phase coherent operation.
A common MIMO application is for communications with spatial multiplexing. As this only requires clock synchronization, most USRPs with an external 10 MHz reference clock will be sufficient. An example of such a system was built by The University of Bristol and Lund University when they broke the wireless spectral efficiency world record using an SDR-based massive MIMO system. The system used in this application is composed of NI USRP Software Defined Radio Devices with onboard FPGAs.
Figure 8: USRP N320 and N321 with Built-In LO Distribution Interfaces
When a full phase coherent operation is required, you have a few options to consider. If you require up to four channels of receive only operation, the Ettus Research USRP X310 with two TwinRx daughterboards can be set up to share the LO and operate in a phase coherent manner. If more than four channels are required, then consider the Ettus Research USRP N320 and N321 (shown in Figure 8) or the NI Ettus USRP X440. Since the USRP X440 is built with a direct-sampling intermediate frequency (IF) architecture, synchronization can be achieved by sharing sample clocks across up to eight transmit and eight receive channels. It is prepared for multidevice synchronization to an externally provided reference clock signal.
The USRP N321 comes equipped with built-in LO distribution hardware allowing for up to&#;128 x 128 phase coherent operation: a 32 x 32 configuration example is shown in Figure 9.
Figure 9: USRP N320 and N321 Multichannel Phase Coherent System
In some applications, radios require synchronization but are not co-located. In these instances, a full phase coherent operation is a challenge; however, one can use GPS-based synchronization to get frequency and phase stability with a GPS disciplined oscillator (GPSDO). Many USRP models are equipped with a GPSDO from the factory. To learn more, read &#;Global Synchronization and Clock Disciplining with NI USRP-293x Software Defined Radio.&#;
Figure 10: USRP X310 with Onboard GPS Disciplined Oscillator
Some applications have processing requirements that are best suited for an onboard FPGA. These applications often have wide signal bandwidths or low/deterministic latency requirements. In these cases, picking a radio with the ability to program the FPGA is important. Many of the USB and lower-cost USRP models, such as the USRP B200mini or the N210, are built with smaller FPGA devices and as such do not have the space to add user code. Many of the higher end radios come equipped with Kintex 7 class devices all the way up to the state-of-the-art Ettus USRP X410 and X440 with the Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC. Devices built on Xilinx Zynq include additional cores such as onboard soft-decision forward error correction (SD-FEC), multi-Arm processors, and built-in ADCs and DACs.
USRP ModelOnboard FPGAUSRP N320, USRP N321, USRP N310Xilinx Zynq MPSOCUSRP E31XXilinx Zynq MPSOCUSRP E320Xilinx Zynq MPSOCEttus USRP X410, USRP X440Xilinx Zynq Ultrascale+ RFSOC ZU28DRUSRP , USRP X310Xilinx Kintex 7 410T
Table 2: Comparison of FPGA Enabled USRPs
Figure 11: Comparison of FPGA Resources across NI FPGA Products
Averna
As a global Test & Quality Solution leader, Averna partners with product designers, developers, and OEMs to help them achieve higher product quality, accelerate time to market and protect their brands. Founded in , Averna offers specialized expertise and innovative test, vision inspection, precision assembly and automated solutions that deliver substantial technical, financial and market benefits for clients in the aerospace, automotive, consumer, defense, life sciences, semiconductor, telecom, and other industries. Averna has offices around the world, numerous industry certifications such as ISO, CSIA, and ITAR registration, and is partnered with National Instruments and JOT Automation.
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Highmesh supply professional and honest service.
Pixus Technologies
Pixus Technologies offers ruggedized and commercial enclosure solutions for embedded computing. The company has a wide range of standard, modular chassis platforms as well as specialty design services. Ruggedization options include IP67 weatherproofing, MIL-810 for shock/vibration/environmental and MIL-461 for EMI, and more.
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Dedrone
Dedrone is the market and technology leader in airspace security. The Dedrone platform is a fully automatic counterdrone solution and uniquely designed to detect, classify, and mitigate drone-based threats. Its optimized hardware can be mounted to facades or windows and identifies approaching drones by means of visual, acoustic, and frequency sensors. Noise, movement pattern, silhouette, as well as RF and Wi-Fi signals are processed and evaluated with the intelligent DroneTracker software. DroneTracker&#;s correlation and analysis of this information reliably classifies approaching drones and triggers alarms to alert security staff. Third-party sensors, such as surveillance cameras, radar, jammers or other countermeasures, can be integrated.
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Parsons (Formerly Echo Ridge) offers innovative RF products that harness the power of Ettus Research software-defined radio technology. Their Wireless Instrumented Streaming Platform (WISP) combines USRP&#; software-defined radios, embedded computers, wideband power amplification, and intuitive control software into economical packaging configurations that support a wide range of uses such as precision-time/power calibrated wideband RF streaming capture, spectrum analysis, and arbitrary signal transmission. Their DYnamic Spectrum Environment emulator (DYSE&#;) can digitally synthesize complex radio propagation environments, including dozens of interconnected radio devices, to provide controllable, repeatable field test realism in a laboratory environment. The Parsons ER310 repackages the USRP E310 into a convenient rugged form factor for deployed multi-mission uses.
Konrad Technologies
Konrad Technologies provides application specific automated test and measurement solutions. A global company, Konrad Technologies, supports customers around the world in a variety of industries, from Automotive and ADAS to Electronics and Semiconductors. As a National Instruments &#;Platinum Alliance Partner&#; and &#;RF & Wireless Specialty Alliance Partner&#;, Konrad Technologies draws upon a vast background of experience in order to support custom applications.
The Konrad RF Communications Test System (KT-RFCT A) is based on the Software Defined Radio (SDR) approach. The calibrated RF test system has a frequency range of 70 MHz to 6 GHz and a wide range of applications.
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NAVSYS &#; GNSS Signal Architect Test Set
The NAVSYS GNSS Signal Architect Test Set is a turn-key GNSS simulation and testing system. Providing sufficient bandwidth for P(Y), M, and C/A codes, the test set can be used to test GNSS receivers with repeatable, real-world simulations. These simulations can be produced from recorded signals with the record-and-playback feature. The Test Set can also synthesize raw I/Q data with or without impairments, allowing for repeatable, but adaptable test cases. The Test Set uses a USRP N210 SDR.
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NewEdge Signal Solutions
NewEdge Signal Solutions develops innovative RF Hardware and Firmware for the Wireless Infrastructure, defense and public safety markets. The company combines unique expertise in filters, RF amplifiers, envelope tracking technology, and baseband algorithms to create multi-mode, multi-band high-efficiency RF front ends and tunable filters.
The goal of NewEdge in developing RF Agile Front End solutions is to bring the promise offered by Software Defined Radios, already available in the baseband and transceiver sections, to the RF front end. Both standard products and reference designs are currently available as well as custom-specific variants.
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Serpikom
With more than 10 years of expertise in Defence and Intelligence fields, Serpikom is used to integrating Ettus products for low cost and short &#;time to market&#; approaches. Serpikom is headquartered in France and employs a terrific team including:
&#; Experts in: Comint / Elint / Jamming
&#; Signal processing engineers
&#; VHDL / FPGA engineers
&#; Research and development engineers
&#; Radio Frequency engineers
Serpikom provides detection and signals processing solutions that capture, analyze and record waves irrespective of the type of signal:
&#; H/V/UHF communications
&#; Satellite communications
&#; Radar Signal
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Orolia GPS/GNSS Simulator Solutions
Using today&#;s GPUs massive computation power, Orolia has engineered SDX, a full-featured GNSS simulator that is entirely software-driven. SDX generates the real-time baseband signals, converting them instantly to RF using Ettus SDR USRP X and USRP Networked Series. Packed with a rich feature set such as Hz update rate, real-time kinematics (RTK), remote control from Python scripts and jammers simulation, SDX offers unmatched flexibility and scalability.
Orolia offers turnkey solutions & software-only packages.
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Shared Spectrum Corporation &#; Spectrum Sensing Toolbox
Shared Spectrum Corporation (SSC) is an industry-leading expert in dynamic spectrum access, signal detection, and signal classification. SSC has chosen the USRP E110 SDR as a platform for their Spectrum Sensing Toolbox (SST). Taking advantage of the embedded ARM processor and DSP of the USRP E110 SDR, the SST provides detection and classification capabilities for a variety of signals including: LTE, ATSC, and narrowband FM.
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Gradiant is an ICT technology center focused on technological development and knowledge transfer to industry to improve their business, adding our expertise and experience to the final solutions. Gradiant is specialized in conception, design and development of solutions for communications, UAS, SIGINT, GNSS, and IoT-based systems combining software and hardware, oriented to meet the needs and challenges of the aerospace, telco, and security & defense markets. Examples of where Gradiant has used USRP include UAS detection and defeat systems, GPS spoofing, satellite communication (VHF, S band, and Ka band), ILS/VOR analyzer, and cognitive radio.
For more information, please visit gradiant.org.
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