Software Defined Radio Boards Evaluation

Project Goal: Conduct a trade study on commercially available software defined radio, or SDR, circuit card assemblies to replace a system that is approaching obsolescence, and to develop a prototype of the selected SDR.

The team performed a comprehensive trade study on commercially available software defined radio, or SDR, circuit card assemblies to replace an outdated system. The sponsor company provided more than 30 very stringent performance and form-factor requirements. After canvassing the market of SDR circuit card assemblies, or CCAs, the team identified four options as contenders for the trade study. They ultimately selected Rincon's Raptor SDR and mezzanine board after completing a detailed trade analysis of four variants.

After the trade study was completed, the team procured and performed a comprehensive verification and validation, or V&V, test of the selected SDR. To appropriately verify that the specifications were met and evaluate the capabilities of the board, the team researched and developed more than 25 SDR CCA 25 tests. After the V&V testing confirmed that the assembly met requirements, the team developed a prototype to demonstrate the SDR's functional capability. The prototype takes FM frequency inputs and transmits the audio to a family radio service system. The prototype simultaneously received and transmitted two signals demodulated into the correct frequency with the Raptor SDR assembly.