SDR-3500 SMRDP
"Skinny" MILCOM Rapid-Prototype Development Platform

The SDR-3500 SMRDP is a fully integrated, black-side software defined radio (SDR) platform providing a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) “RF to Ethernet" radio platform for military communications programs. This platform offers the full modem processing functionality in a single slot, and can be considered a "skinny" version of Spectrum’s SDR-3000 MRDP.

The SDR-3500 SMRDP integrates a high performance fast tuning transceiver with a Software Communications Architecture (SCA)-enabled signal processing platform that has been used for Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) waveform compliance testing. This integrated solution was designed specifically to de-risk customers’ programs by providing the fastest route to developing SCA-enabled architectures and systems, waveform applications, and verification and validation platforms. The solution includes resource-efficient programmable digital down-converter (DDC) and digital up-converter (DUC) FPGA cores and a system-level software example demonstrating the overall data flow. Source code for the examples and DDC/DUC cores is provided. The SDR-3500 SMRDP is at technology readiness level six for many fixed, airborne and maritime environments, making it suitable for field demonstrations and deployments.

SDR-3500 SMRDP Datasheet

System Architecture

XMC-3321 Dual Tranceiver Block Diagram

RF Transceiver Subsystem

The RF transceiver subsystem consists of four basic elements from Digital Receiver Technologies, Inc., or DRTi: an RFT2 tuner, a TEX exciter, a REF2 highly stable oscillator, and a DRT CTRL single board computer. A variety of packaging options are available including the DRT2110 Wideband Tuner System. This subsystem integrates the elements above into a single 20-slot 3U CompactPCI chassis.

For more information or to purchase the DRT2110, please contact DRT at www.drti.com.

Signal Processing Platform

The SDR-3000 family of signal processing platforms was designed specifically for the requirements of software defined radio communications applications. It integrates heterogeneous processing elements (FPGAs, DSPs, and GPPs) seamlessly using a high performance embedded fabric. The SDR-3500 SMRDP uses Spectrum’s XMC-3321 wideband analog I/O mezzanine module sitting upon the PRO-3500 baseband processing engine to provide a single-slot modem solution. Due to its modularity, the platform can also evolve with your future needs as Spectrum continues to expand its XMC-based I/O offering.

Software

In addition to the base software layers (Spectrum’s quicComm and SCA BSP) offered in the RF subsystem and the SDR-3000 platform, the SDR-3500 SMRDP provides other valuable software and FPGA core functionality:

• TThe Harris dmTK, an SCA core framework and development toolset, fully integrated onto the SDR-3000 platform
• Optimized, programmable digital down converter (DDC) and digital up converter (DUC) FPGA cores interfacing to the IF
• Fully programmable FIR coefficients on up/down converters
• Capability to downconvert multiple channels from same digital IF (optional)
• Highly resource-efficient cores due to serialized implementation
• Support for time sensitive and time slotted applications through
  a) time stamping of ADC input samples, and b) time triggering of DAC output samples
• An RF control API to manage all functionality of the RF subsystem
• A comprehensive data flow example from the RF input, through the entire signal processing chain, and back out the RF output

A comprehensive data flow example from the RF input, through the entire signal processing chain, and back out the RF

In addition, Spectrum’s Application Engineering Services team in Columbia, Maryland, USA can customize the SDR-3500 SMRDP to modify existing or add additional features as required, such as:

• QPSK Mod and Demod
• FSK Mod and Demod
• TDM processing
• Frequency Hopping
• Polyphase resampling
• FFT
• Channelization

The SDR-3500 SMRDP is subject to the export control laws of the United States, including the United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

Spectrum reserves the right to modify or discontinue any product specifications at anytime without prior notice.

COMPLIANCE WITH EXPORT CONTROL LAWS: Various export control laws of Canada, the United States or other countries may restrict or prohibit the export to certain countries of products sold by Spectrum. Spectrum shall not be liable for anything arising from compliance, or efforts to comply, with export control laws.