Wireless Infrastructure products have traditionally used ASICs to handle the computationally-intensive processing required at the baseband transceiver. Long lead times and high non-recurring engineering costs make this a high-risk strategy to product, with no flexibility at the end of it. However, developments in high-performance devices, both DSPs and FPGAs, mean that this processing can be done in software or firmware, giving flexibility, shorter time to market and lower through-life cost.
SDR has direct customer benefits
Flexible reconfigurable platforms allow rapid development leading to shorter time to market. With little or no up-front NRE costs and the ability to correct errors late in the development cycle (or as a last resort in the field through remote access) the through-life costs are lower than for a fixed hardware solution
The signal processing can be changed to support multiple wireless standards on a common, flexible hardware platform. Software or firmware upgrades can be downloaded to products in the field remotely and cheaply, avoiding site visits. New features can be added as standards evolve, lengthening the product’s useful lifetime.
A practical baseband solution
PA has many years of experience of developing 3G solutions using software defined radio techniques. We have delivered high-performance Layer 1 implementations targeted at infrastructure products, test equipment and link-analysis applications. We have used both leading edge DSP and FPGA devices to deliver these solutions.
Choice of platform
The hardware platform can be based on a number of technologies. PA has direct experience of DSP and FPGA solutions. Which is best depends on the exact requirement for functionality and also what legacy design the customer has that may be reused. In many cases a hybrid of the two is very effective.
Five standards on a common baseband platform
One architecture we have designed and implemented is particularly flexible, allowing maximum code reuse between different air interfaces.
In this implementation to date, we have five Layer 1 solutions:
- WCDMA including HSDPA
- TD-CDMA
- cdma2000 1xRTT
- TD-SCDMA
- cdma2000 1xEV-DO
Designs and services
PA can supply a number of designs in software-defined architectures as well as the capability to design and implement proprietary solutions for our clients. We can do the system engineering as well as the hardware, software, firmware, radio and mechanical design. We undertake turn-key technology development or work with client teams to provide a particular area of expertise.
Application areas
We have experience of applying our skills in software-defined radio to a range of communication systems:
- 3G
- Fixed wireless access systems (eg, WiMAX 802.16e)
- Test equipment, special purpose radio links, development platforms
- Professional grade terminals (eg DPMR, ENG).
Contact us
For further information, please e-mail wireless@paconsulting.com or telephone +44 1763 267492.
