News | August 10, 2009

Waveform Development Time Shortens For SDRs In JTRS Program And WNM-SiS

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Software defined radio (SDR) application development can now be much shorter thanks to the new AD350 PMC expansion card from 4DSP Inc. Created for use in wireless base stations and MIMO test-bed systems applications, the AD350 is the ideal prototyping system and already is significantly shortening waveform development for software defined radios in the JTRS (Joint Tactical Radio System) program and WNM–SiS (Signals in Space).

The AD350 is enabling the JTRS platform to reach into space by:

  • Enabling emulation of the GMR EDM modem FPGA processing element with the JSR (JTRS Surrogate Radio) deployed by SPAWAR NED & T&E for WNW performance testing.
  • Providing a target for porting the JTRS GMR MHAL (Modem Hardware Abstraction Layer) enabling porting of GMR waveform PHY components to the JTRS Surrogate Radio (JSR).
  • Enabling the porting of the JTRS WNW of PIM-DM SiS as part of a successful port of the WNW to the JSR.

Featuring two Altera Cyclone III FPGAs, the AD350 PMC expansion card is an ideal prototyping system to implement flexible and scalable multi-input and multi-output antenna transmitter systems. In addition, it can also be used in synchrotron systems to regulate amplitude voltages, phase and resonant frequency of accelerator's RF cavities. The architecture provides high performance as well as flexibility with user-selectable external or on-board clocks, carefully designed, to minimize jitter and phase noise degradation of the A/D and D/A SNR.

Used recently in a project related to the JTRS Program, Dave Lofquist, a Senior Technical Fellow of The Boeing Company commented, "We were looking for a very specific FPGA signal processing capability to augment our software defined radio development platform to address the increasing signal processing needs of tactical waveform development. Working with 4DSP, we were able to very quickly respond to this need, and have been extremely happy with the resultant AD350 product. The AD350 platform is allowing us to shorten our SDR waveform development time, and significantly improve our test visibility and accuracy."

Douglas Sherrod, Director of Marketing and Business Development Manager for 4DSP, added, "Although Altera produces much higher performance FPGA devices, the Altera Cyclone III hits the center of the price-performance target for this particular SDR application, having lower power consumption and heat dissipation, the fact that it is less expensive than other products in its category is not lost on us and our customers. Both 4DSP and Boeing are extremely pleased with the performance of this design and 4DSP is honored to have its AD350 product selected as part of the JTRS program design."

SOURCE: 4DSP Inc.