Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT


Reducing SDR complexity

28 February 2023 Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT

Software defined radio (SDR) development is an inherently complex engineering challenge. Taking what used to be a single function piece of radio hardware, and turning it into an upgradable, multi-function piece of hardware demands flexibility across the entire radio system. But, as the name implies, software defined radios are almost always dominated by software constraints. Epiq Solutions has more than a decade of experience developing SDR platforms with a unique approach to reducing SDR complexity for our customers and partners.

For all Epiq SDR platforms, there is a single application programming interface (API), named libsidekiq. The libsidekiq API provides multiple benefits to Epiq’s SDR customers, such as:

1.Reduced hardware level complexity

Modern SDR platforms are foundationally built on complex RF transceiver and FPGA components from large semiconductor companies, like Analog Devices and Xilinx. As these components grow in capability, the impact to system developers is a commensurately complex configuration experience. A modern SDR platform could have hundreds of control lines and thousands of registers and function calls – all of which must be programmed correctly for the SDR to realise complete functionality and performance. Rather than parsing a dozen manuals from different vendors, Epiq invests in libsidekiq, so users have a centrally documented API to develop against. The API is consistent across all platforms and abstracts SDR functionality down to intuitive commands, such as centre frequency, bandwidth, gain, or calibration state.

2.Eased migration across platforms

Innovation in the SDR space moves rapidly, with new semiconductors and, thus, new SDR platforms being produced on a nearly annual basis. Another key benefit to the libsidekiq architecture is it provides a consistent interface across time and products regardless of the actual RF and digital hardware underneath the hood. This has been proven time and time again with our customers, where an application running on a legacy platform can be easily migrated to Epiq’s latest SDR platform. The benefit here is that as Epiq introduces new features, like fast hopping or phase coherency, there is very little R&D; required on the customer side – it has been absorbed into the libsidekiq development process. Faster migration leads to accelerated deployment schedules and greater end user satisfaction.

3.Rapid prototyping with open-source platforms

Epiq Solutions has provided open-source drivers for GNURadio and SoapySDR to allow users to rapidly convert existing applications from other SDR platforms to Epiq’s SDR platforms.

Since GNURadio has a graphical user interface via gnuradio-companion, it also allows users to get an application up and running with very little effort. Below is an FM Radio example provided in the Epiq Solutions gr-sidekiq driver. Enabling rapid out-of-box demonstration with a real radio waveform and leveraging open source tools is another way libsidekiq helps reduce SDR development hurdles.

Migrating from single function radio hardware to software defined radio hardware always introduces design challenges across the RF, digital, mechanical, and software domains. At Epiq, we believe that accelerating software development cycles is the most valuable way we can enable our customers to quickly expand their radio capability and deploy new technologies to relevant operational environments.


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Multi-channel SMPS cable assemblies
RFiber Solutions Enclosures, Racks, Cabinets & Panel Products
Withwave’s multi-channel SMPS cable assemblies (WMCS Series) provide a wide range of multiple coaxial connectors and flexible cable assemblies with a choice of 26,5, 40, 50 and 67 GHz configurations.

Read more...
X-band radar
RF Design Editor's Choice Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
X-band radar systems, particularly those leveraging beamforming ICs (BFICs), advanced gallium nitride (GaN) and gallium arsenide (GaAs) components, are leading the way in providing the high-performance radar capabilities required for modern defence and surveillance.

Read more...
Reference board for cardio monitoring
Altron Arrow Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
The STDES-ESP01 reference board from STMicroelectronics demonstrates the capability of the ST1VAFE6AX and ST1VAFE3BX biosensors to detect ECG and SCG signals.

Read more...
LTE Cat 1 bis communication
iCorp Technologies Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
The EG810M series is a series of LTE Cat 1 bis wireless communication modules specially designed by Quectel for M2M and IoT applications.

Read more...
Quad-channel 16-bit converter
RFiber Solutions Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
The ARF0468 from Advance RF is a quad-channel mixed-signal processing chip, with each channel comprising three major functional modules: ADC/DDC/DDS.

Read more...
Tactical navigation system
Etion Create Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Etion Create’s CheetahNAV Compact is a versatile tactical navigation system designed for security services, emergency services, and light all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) using offline navigation maps.

Read more...
Smart module for multi-media devices
iCorp Technologies Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Powered by a Qualcomm processor, Quectel’s new SC200V is designed to deliver exceptional performance across system capabilities, multimedia functions, and network connectivity.

Read more...
Chipset enables ultra-wide signal capture
RFiber Solutions DSP, Micros & Memory
Jariet Technologies has developed Electra, a chipset that enables ultra-wide, multi-function and multi-band signal capture and generation from a single component.

Read more...
Remote provisioning firmware added to SIMCom modules
Otto Wireless Solutions Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
SIMCom recently announced that its range of Cat 1 bis IoT modules are now being prepared with the firmware necessary to support SGP.32 functionality.

Read more...
GNSS antenna redefining what’s possible
RF Design Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
u-blox has achieved what was once thought impossible with the launch of the DAN-F10N, the industry’s smallest and most reliable L1, L5 dual-band GNSS antenna module.

Read more...