HPSDR High Performance Software Defined Radio

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HPSDRHigh Performance Software Defined Radio

• Presentation by Kevin M0KHZ for WARC

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OK so whats all this about

• 1st youll be hearing a lot about this in the
  near future!
• Tonight from me in the radio monthly
  periodicals
• But what is it?
• In my opinion ( many others) the future of
  amateur radio!

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HPSDR

• The HPSDR is an open source (GNU type) hardware
  and software project intended as a "next
  generation" Software Defined Radio (SDR) for use
  by Radio Amateurs.
• It is being designed and developed by a group of
  SDR enthusiasts with representation from
  interested experimenters worldwide. The
  discussion list membership currently stands at
  over 200 and includes such SDR enthusiasts as
  Phil N8VB, Lyle KK7P, Bill KD5TFD, and Phil
  VK6APH.

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Plug play

• The rationale behind the project is to break the
  overall design up into a number of modules. Each
  module is designed by an individual or group and
  connects to other modules using a pre-defined and
  common bus -- rather like plugging boards into a
  PC motherboard.

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Just like lego!

• This modular approach enables perspective users
  to incorporate just the modules that interest
  them as well as designing their own variants if
  desired. The approach also enables new ideas and
  circuits to be tested by replacing an existing
  module. Since the majority of modules will be
  retained such experimentation can be done with
  minimum disruption to an existing, working system.

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Block diagram
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Open source design

• In a "nutshell", open source is a term that is
  applied to a philosophy, in that the production
  and organization of a project or system is
  created through open and cooperative efforts
• Open source software refers to computer software
  available with its source code and under an "open
  source license" to study, change and improve its
  design and functionality

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Open source design

• The users are treated like co-developers, are
  encouraged to submit additions to the software,
  code fixes, bug reports, documentation etc.
  Having more co-developers increases the rate at
  which the software evolves. Furthermore, each end
  user's machine provides an additional testing
  environment. This new testing environment offers
  the ability to find and fix a new bug quickly
• This GPL philosophy extends to the hardware for
  this HPSDR cooperative project

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Rapid development, excited times

• For the very latest scoop, join the HPSDR
  discussion list (reflector). You'll find
  information on the http//hpsdr.org website on
  how to subscribe to this email list

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ATLAS - Backplane

• The Atlas is a passive backplane that all other
  modules plug into. The circuit board has
  provision for up to six DIN41612 connectors at
  0.8 inch spacing. An ATX 20 pin power connector
  can be placed on the board so that 12v, 5v, 3.3v
  etc. supplies from a standard PC power supply can
  be used to power the system
• The DIN connector spacing and board size have
  been chosen such that the backplane can be fitted
  into a standard PC enclosure.

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So what does it look like
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Current Status

• In late May, the first production order for 400
  boards was sent out. The cost of the bare board
  for this run will be 10 plus shipping. Shipment
  is expected in mid-June.
• Be aware that these boards are NOT an assembled
  unit. They are only bare boards and the purchaser
  will need to buy the DIN connectors and other
  parts to populate the board, and will need to
  manage the assembly of the Atlas.

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JANUS - ADC/DAC Board

• The Janus module is a very high performance,
  dual, full duplex, A/D and D/A converter board
• While the M-Audio Delta 44 has become the
  de-facto standard for A/D sound cards for use
  with a SDR, there are a number of advantages to
  rolling your own. These include having complete
  control of any software drivers needed to
  communicate with the A/D chips as well as
  optimization of sampling rates and bit depths for
  individual signals. It's also possible to cost
  effectively develop a board which approaches the
  performance of professional high end sound cards.

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ADC bake off

• The results of the ADC bake-off are in and the
  AK5394A is the clear winner for our particular
  application due to its flat noise floor at 192kps
  
• The measured figures of the prototype Janus using
  the AK5394A are
• Noise Floor -160dBm (in an 11Hz FFT bandwidth)
  Dynamic Range 120dB
• Extremely impressive!

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A photograph of the first assembled Alpha board
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OZYmandias - HPSDR Host Interface Control

• The OZY module is an FPGA based interface
  controller card that provides the input and
  output connections to the real world. The use of
  an Altera Cyclone II FPGA provides numerous
  control lines for interfacing the various boards
  connected to the Atlas backplane
• OZY also provides a high speed USB 2.0 interface
  to the controlling PC
• The FPGA also provides the necessary control
  logic and data formatting for the Janus board as
  well serial and parallel interfaces for user
  defined I/O.

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Additional features

• One highly desirable feature of the OZY board
  will be the ability to measure the various high
  frequency crystal oscillators used by the HPSDR
  by using the 1 pps clock from a GPS receiver. The
  GPS clock will be used to gate the various
  oscillators and report the count to the PC via
  the USB interface. Since the PC will have prior
  knowledge of exactly what these frequencies
  should be, then any errors can be corrected in
  software. The result will be a radio with
  extremely high frequency accuracy and stability
  -- a boon for microwave operators.

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Proposed board layout for Ozy
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MERCURY - 0-30MHz Direct Sampling Receiver

• Perhaps the most exciting of all the modules, the
  Mercury board will enable direct sampling of the
  0-65MHz spectrum. Based on a Linear Technology
  LTC2208 130MSPS 16-bit A/D converter, the board
  will contain it's own FPGA to undertake Digital
  Down Conversion (DDC) to 250 kSPS or less for
  transfer over the Atlas bus to the USB interface
  on the OZY board.
• Full HF spectum analyser!

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MERCURY development environment
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SASQUATCH - DSP back-end

• The Sasquatch board is a hardware DSP back-end
  intended for use by constructors who would like
  to operate the HPSDR stand-alone rather than
  attached to a PC. The board may even allow real
  "knobs" and "buttons" to be attached rather that
  the "soft" controls of a PC based SDR
• The board, presently in the planning phase, has
  the following features
• - TI TMS320C6726 32-bit Floating Point DSP-
  FPGA- Flash Memory for self-booting- Connector
  for JTAG-based emulator- Analog digital I/O-
  Power consumption should be under 1 watt

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From Lyle KK7P

• Sasquatch initially will use an Actel Flash-based
  FPGA. Not merely to be different Lyle would
  normally use an Altera part for consistency with
  the rest of the project -- but because the board
  is really a prototyping/development board for the
  AMSAT (www.amsat.org) Software Defined
  Transponder (SDX). In space, RAM-based FPGAs,
  like the Altera, have to be constantly monitored
  to prevent single-event upsets (SEU) from
  reconfiguring the logic. Flash based parts are
  not nearly as susceptible.

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GIBRALTAR - GPS-disciplined Frequency Standard

• Work has already started on a PCB that integrates
  the GPS, Reflock II, and 10 MHz OCXO (Steve,
  N7HPR is looking at the Crystek
  CO27VH15DE-12-10.000.
• The goal is to design the board such that all the
  parts can be readily purchased. Not relying on
  surplus GPSs and OCXOs.
• This entire lash up will be tested in N8UR's
  timing lab. The GPS footprint would accomidate
  the Oncore UT/VP and M12 GPSs.
• So if you can populate which ever one you have on
  hand, purchase a new M121M.

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PROTeus - Prototyping Board

• Discussions are ongoing about the need for a
  prototyping board. Besides plenty of through hole
  pads, it would be nice to have some common SMT
  pads on there too.
• This would aid breadboarding future inhancements
  / developing your own ideas

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HORTON - Receiver Module

• Proposed name for a receiver module integrating
  the Janus ADC with a QSD on a board for a version
  of the HPSDR RX board.
• Also under consideration for use in the HORTON is
  the Analog Devices AD7760 a 24 Bit 2.5 MSPS ADC
  with DDC performed in a Cyclone II FPGA. Under
  consideration for use in a QSD is an Analog
  Devices RF ADG901 Analog Switch in absorptive
  mode configured as a current mode I/Q mixer.

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Horton
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PINOCCHIO - Extender Card

• Pinocchio is an extender card to allow
  measurements and troubleshooting of an active
  card in an ATLAS backplane. Test points are
  provided to allow access to every backplane
  signal, and the test points are located well
  above the standard module height.

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PINOCCHIO
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CASMIR - 0MHz to 2.5GHz Transmitter Card

• CASMIR is a transmitter card with two versions
  HF - 0MHz-30MHz VHF/UHF - 50MHz-2400MHz remote
  port for tower mounting

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HF CASMIR

• Output bandpass filters from Amplitronix and
  Sawtek/TriQuint are being studied. Local
  Oscillators would be generated from the 10MHz
  reference on the ATLAS bus.

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VHF/UHF CASMIR

• The design is using the Analog Devices modulators
  or vector multipliers. Output bandpass filters
  from Amplitronix and Sawtek/TriQuint are being
  studied. Local Oscillators would be generated
  onboard the MAX II FPGA from the 10MHz reference
  on the ATLAS bus.

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CASMIR SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

• CASMIR shall support transmitter frequency
  coverage from 0 MHz to 24GHz
• CASMIR shall support a frequency stability of
  better than 1 part in 109 over a 24 hour
  average
• CASMIR shall have an amplitude stability of /-
  0.5 dB
• CASMIR shall have defined power outputs over the
  defined frequency coverage
• CASMIR shall support a load impedance of 50 ohms
• CASMIR shall support a signal to noise ratio of
  100 dB
• CASMIR shall create spurs no greater than 100 dB
  
• CASMIR shall support a frequency lock-up time of
  20ms
• CASMIR shall support adjustment of frequency
  while transmitting
• CASMIR shall support frequency resolution of 1Hz

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PC User interface
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Has that wetted your appetite?

• For the very latest scoop, join the HPSDR
  discussion list (reflector). You'll find
  information on the http//hpsdr.org website on
  how to subscribe to this email list