VXSDR-20

VXSDR-20 is a microwave software defined radio that has the ability to transmit and receives from 5 to 20GHz at 160 million samples per second. It has capabilities which are similar to other high-end software defined radios: 10 gigabit Ethernet, support for C and C++ interfacing with Python and GnuRadio in progress, ability to synch multiple radios, etc.

Porting applications is really easy and the software and firmware are both open source. It is a modular design that will able to support multiple channels, higher or lower frequencies and higher or lower sample rates. Simultaneous full-rate transmit and receive over 10 Gb Ethernet is standard, and the radio can accept 10 MHz and 1 PPS frequency and time references.

Many experimenters, scientists and engineers use software defined radios to build systems for communication, sensing, navigation and a wide range of other uses. But those you can buy easily only contain frequencies of 6 GHz and below. So the authors built the VXSDR-20 to do the same things in the 5-20 GHz frequency range.

 The VXSDR-20 aims to be used like any other high performance SDR, but covering a wider range. It is suitable for laboratory experiments in communications and sesing, including transmitting and receiving. The authors also designed the host API so that porting from the widely used Ettus UHD API can be very straightforward.

Features & Specifications

Analog RF and IF

• 5.0 - 20.0 GHz transmit and receive (usable to 22 GHz)
• 5 - 9 dB receive noise figure
• 10 - 15 dBm output power
• low-IF design (160 MHz IF)
• TX output and TX/RX input/output (field replaceable SMA)

Digital

• 14-bit 160 MSPS A/D for receive
• 16-bit 160 MSPS D/A for transmit
• JESD204B interfaces
• Intel Cyclone 10 FPGA (85k - 220k logic elements)

Control and Data Transfer

• 10 gigabit Ethernet interface (SFP+)
• Simultaneous full rate transmit and receive
• PPS and 10 MHz inputs for synchronization

Software

• C++ using boost::asio and boost::lockfree::spsc_queue (for data)
• API similar to UHD, commonly used calls map easily
• Currently supports Linux; Windows and Mac support in progress
• Python bindings planned
• GPL v3 licensing planned with GitHub repo

Power

• 12 V DC power input
• 22 W active, 16 W idle

Physical

• 9.4 inches (23.9 cm) long (including connectors)
• 4.1 inches (10.5 cm) wide
• 1.0 inches (2.4 cm) high

This project is going to crowdfund on CrowdSupply, check here for more info and support it if you are inetrested:)