Inexpensive Software Defined Radio <$ SDR

David AJ4TF

<$ SDR
Basics SDR Concepts Softrock
Construction

Resources

Basics
Caution: there are entire BOOKS on the subject of Software Defined Radio and Radio principles in general So, I wont be able to teach the whole thing in 20 minutes This is not going to be a detailed lesson! However, I will give you some simple math to help illustrate

Basics
Back to the past Superheterodyne concepts turned into practical reality by Edwin Armstrong in 1918.

Mixer, and a little bit of math

Multiply two AC signals (sine waves) together From trigonometry, multiplication of two sine functions:
sin( a ) sin( b) 1 cos( a 2 b) 1 cos( a 2 b)

General expression for a sine wave of frequency f : sin( 2 ft) Two sine waves at different frequencies f1 and f2, multiplied, and some algebraic manipulation:
sin( 2 f1t ) sin( 2 f 2t ) 1 cos[2 ( f1 2 f 2 )t ] 1 cos[2 ( f1 2 f 2 )t ]

Now two sinusoidal frequencies, one at f1- f2 and one at f1 + f2 If we filter the higher frequency, we end up with f1- f2

Simplified Radio
(f1- f2 ), (f1 + f2 ) (f1- f2 )

f1
f2
If we want to tune, say, 14.000 MHz (f1), set the local oscillator to 13.545 MHz (f2), this gives an intermediate frequency of 455 kHz. This can then be mixed down again (demodulated) to generate an audio frequency.

Even more simplified Radio

(f1- f2 ), (f1 + f2 ) (f1- f2 )

f1
f2
Advances in component quality and precision over the last 100 years allows more accurate oscillators and other components why not mix the RF down in one stage?

14.000 MHz (f1), 13.997 MHz (f2), direct to audio frequency.

This is direct conversion

Quadrature Sample Detector

Works much like a direct conversion receiver Also known as a Tayloe detector after the inventor

Quadrature Sample Detector

Sample and hold:
When switch is closed, output tracks the input and charges up the capacitor When switch is opened, the ouput is the voltage on the capacitor

Quadrature Sample Detector

In the world of digital signal processing, the minimum sample rate at which you can completely recover the input signal is called the Nyquist rate, and it is 2 times the maximum input frequency. It can be shown that if the sample rate of the switch approaches the input frequency, mixing behavior will result, with the sample rate acting like a local oscillator For example, if the sample rate is 1000 Hz, the input is 1010 Hz, an output of 10 Hz will be seen If we sample above the input, say the input is 990 Hz, we will also see a 10 Hz output, but phase shifted 180 But, just by looking at the traces individually, its not obvious which one is which, since there isnt a reference to compare to.

Quadrature Sample Detector

Quadrature Sample Detector

If we now change our system to have two sample and hold circuits, which are phased apart in time by 90, well have two outputs. The output that is not shifted by 90 is called the In-Phase output The output that is shifted by 90 is called the Quadrature output.

Quadrature Sample Detector

In phase

90 phase shift

Quadrature

Quadrature Sample Detector

By sampling the same input with both circuits, we can look at the relationship between the In phase (I) and Quadrature (Q) and determine if the input frequency is above the sample rate, or below it:
If the I leads Q by 90 we know the input frequency is less than the sample rate If the I lags Q by 90 we know the input frequency is greater than the sample rate

Quadrature Sample Detector

I lags Q

I leads Q

Implementation
In practice, its not too hard to implement a QSD with an appropriate oscillator, some digital logic to generate the I /Q sample rates, and some analog switches, filters, etc.

Software Defined Radio

To put it simply, replace one or more of the blocks above with a computer program, processing the signal in the digital domain (Digital Signal Processing, or DSP) Todays PCs generally have plenty of DSP horsepower to work in the amateur radio bands

Softrock <$ SDR

One simple, inexpensive implementation of a QSD is called the Softrock series Designed and sold by Tony Parks, KB9YIG There are several varieties, ranging from a single frequency receiver, to a multiple band receiver / transmitter Ill show details of the Ensemble RXTX, which is a multi-band transceiver (1 watt transmitter)

Power Supply

4X Local Oscillator

D Flip-Flops, Divides Local Oscillator by 4 and generates I and Q sample clocks

USB interface, CW keyer

TX encoder (QSD in reverse)

1 watt power amp

QSD receiver (2 sample and holds)

Construction
Power Supply, USB interface, and programmable oscillator

100 MHz

5 MHz

Construction

Construction

Software
Of course, this is the brain of a software-defined radio I started out by using Rocky, which is a Windoze-based program There are plenty of others out there The software uses the sound card of the PC to digitize the mixed-down I / Q signals, and perform all demodulation in the digital domain

Software - Listening to WWV

10MHz carrier LSB USB

1 minute tone

$$$
Softrock Ensemble RX/TX kit: $89
Receiver only kits cheaper a single band receiver kit is just $21

Enclosure (TenTec ) Software (Rocky 3.7) PC with sound card

$10 Free
You probably already have this

http://kb9yig.com/ - Web site for ordering kits but they sell out fast. Best way to get a kit is to subscribe to the Yahoo group softrock40, availability of kits is announced there. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/softrock40/

Resources
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/softrock40/ (Yahoo group) http://www.wb5rvz.com/ (Softrock assembly instructions) http://www.dspguide.com/ Excellent FREE guide to digital signal processing http://www.arrl.org/dsp-digital-signal-processing DSP articles from ARRL (QEX) http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/020708qex013.pdf A series of articles by Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR, founder of Flex Radio. http://www.dspguru.com/sites/dspguru//files/QuadSignals.pdf Mathematical background for quadrature signal processing

Questions?
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