SDR-Software Defined Radio Course Syllabus

  • Introduction and Basic Concepts

    • Introduction
    • RF and Microwaves Frequency Spectrum
    • Time and Frequency Domains, Fourier series and Transform
    • Linear systems, Modulation (Heterodyning) and Frequency-Shifting
    • I-Q and Phasor diagrams
    • Power – instantaneous, mean and peak
    • The Decibel units, dBm, dBW, dBµV/m
    • Coherent and Incoherent signals
    • Thermal Noise model
    • Friis Communication free-space link budget
    • Noise factor, noise figure and sensitivity of receiving systems
    • Non-linearity, characterization and calculations of Spurii levels and Dynamic range
    • Radio architectures – from classical up to Software-defined-radio (SDR)
    • SDR components, HW and SW (physical layer, PHY)
    • Proficiencies we’ll focus on during this Course
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  • Sampling, Communications and Elements of the SDR

    • Classical and sub – sampling, properties of time-discrete signals and systems
    • Frequency-domain characteristics of time-sampled signals, resolution and leakage
    • Spectrum (DFT, FFT), time-windows and their effect on the spectrum
    • Spectral power density of time-sampled noise
    • ADC and DAC conversions, quantization noise, parameters and current performance (TI, ADI, LIME)
    • Matching an RF front-end to an ADC, w/o and with AGC
    • Band-limited Noise, amplitude and phase noise
    • Correlation, extension of the mean-power, application to time-delay estimation
    • The SDR front-end block-diagram and performance
    • Review of Analog Communications (AM, SC-DSB, FM, SSB)
    • Review of Digital Communications, bits/symbols, constellation, eye-pattern,..
    •     ..error-probability (BER, FER), digital modulations (ASK, FSK, M-PSK, QAM)
    • Multiple-Access in time, frequency, coding (CDMA), time-frequency (OFDMA) and space (SDMA)
    • Modulation formats that we’ll generate and receive along this Course
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  • Simulation of Signals and Time/Frequency Analysis; Matlab-Simulink

    • Matlab – basics, including demonstration and exercising
      • Mathematical operations, scalar and vector variables
      • Errors and referring to the SW comments
      • Functions of one variable, graphical representations
    • Simulink – basics, including demonstration and exercising
      • Signal sources, usable libraries, AWGN source
      • Program (Block-diagram) run, stop – changing parameters during an active run
      • Measurement and display blocks in time and frequency domains (Spectrum Analyzer, Scope)
      • Self-generating measurement blocks, and using Library-ready blocks
      • Division, combining (summing) and multiplexing (MUX) junctions
      • Generation and display of single-tone, two-tones, w/o and with noise
      • Fixed- and floating-point representations, quantization noise
      • NSD and SNR measurements
      • Importing data from file, or an external peripheral (e.g. microphone)
      • Exporting data to a file, or to an external peripheral (e.g. speaker)

  • Signals Simulation and Analysis in Time/Frequency domains: BB Pulses, AM

    • Signals at baseband (BB) and at IF/RF
    • Matched filter – problem statement, objective and optimization criterion, the result
    • Mismatch losses in detection
    • Applications of pulse transmissions: PPM communications, Radar; estimating time-of-Arrival (TOA)
    • SIMULINK – Simulating transmission and reception of pulses (a pulse train), including demonstration and exercising
      • Square pulses, RRC shaped pulses with parameter α, AWGN, MF
      • Creating the Model, setting the SNR (a parameter) and running
      • Estimation the epoch of peak reception (at MF output; used for initial time-synchronization)
      • Displaying the TOA epochs as function of the frames’ index
      • Repeat for several SNR values, threshold effect
      • Mismatch effects, measurement of mismatch losses
    • Amplitude Modulation – Definition, block-diagram
    • Characteristics of AM in time, frequency, phasor diagram, and powers: mean and peak
    • Single-tone AM – predict the transmission characteristics
    • SIMULINK – simulate transmission and reception of AM, including demonstration and exercising
      • The Transmitter – block diagram, options for a synthesized information source, or recorded or live (from a microphone)
      • The channel – AWGN
      • The Receiver – Frequency range, bandwidth
      • Output to a Speaker, and time and frequency displays
      • Reception of a live AM transmission

  • Signals Simulation and Analysis in Time/Frequency domains: DSB - SC, FM

    • DSB-SC modulation – Definition, block-diagram
    • DSB properties in time, frequency, phasor diagram, and powers: mean and peak
    • Single-tone DSB – predict the transmission characteristics
    • SIMULINK – Simulating transmission and reception of a DSB signal, including demonstration and exercising
      • The Transmitter – block diagram, options for a synthesized information source, or recorded or live (from a microphone)
      • The channel – AWGN
      • The Receiver – Frequency range, bandwidth
      • Output to a Speaker, and time and frequency displays
    • Frequency Modulation – Definition, block-diagram
    • Characteristics of FM in time, frequency, and powers: mean and peak
    • Single-tone FM – predict the transmission characteristics
    • SIMULINK – simulate transmission and reception of FM, including demonstration and exercising
      • The Transmitter – block diagram, options for a synthesized information source, or recorded or live (from a microphone)
      • The channel – AWGN
      • The Receiver – Frequency range, bandwidth
      • Output to a Speaker, and time and frequency displays
      • Reception of a live FM transmission

  • Signals Simulation and Analysis in Time/Frequency domains: SSB, OOK

    • SSB modulation – Definition, block-diagram transmitter and Receiver
    • SSB properties in frequency, and powers: mean and peak
    • Single-tone SSB – predict the transmission characteristics
    • Practical effects: LO leakage, Image rejection
    • SIMULINK – Simulating transmission and reception of an SSB signal, including demonstration and exercising
      • The Transmitter – block diagram, options for a synthesized information source, or recorded or live (from a microphone)
      • The channel – AWGN
      • The Receiver – Frequency range, bandwidth
      • Output to a Speaker, and time and frequency displays
      • Reception of a live SSB transmission?
    • On-Off Keying Modulation – Definition, block-diagram
    • Characteristics of OOK in time, frequency, and powers: mean and peak
    • OOK with a random data sequence – predict the transmission characteristics
    • SIMULINK – simulate transmission and reception of an OOK signal, including demonstration and exercising
      • The Transmitter – block diagram, options for a synthesized information source, or recorded
      • The channel – AWGN
      • The Receiver – Frequency range, bandwidth, Matched Filter
      • Output to time display, EVM

  • Signals Simulation and Analysis in Time/Frequency domains: FSK, M-PSK

    • FSK modulation – Definition, block-diagram of Tx and Rx
    • Optimization of the modulation index for best reception
    • FSK properties in time, frequency, and powers: mean and peak
    • FSK with a random data sequence – predict the transmission characteristics
    • SIMULINK – Simulating transmission and reception of an FSK signal, including demonstration and exercising
      • The Transmitter – block diagram, options for a synthesized information source, or recorded
      • The channel – AWGN
      • The Receiver – Frequency range, bandwidth, Matched Filter
      • Output to time and frequency displays
      • Sensitivity to frequency offsets (due to HW or Doppler)
    • M-PSK modulation – Review characteristics, coding and demodulation approaches
    • M-PSK properties in time, frequency, constellation (w/o and with Trajectories) and powers: mean and peak
    • M-PSK modulation – Definition, block-diagram of Tx and Rx (Differential and coherent)
    • M-PSK with a random data sequence – predict the transmission characteristics (mean-power Spectrum)
    • SIMULINK – Simulating transmission and reception of an M-PSK signal, including demonstration and exercising
      • The Transmitter – block diagram, options for a synthesized information source, or recorded
      • The channel – AWGN
      • The Receiver – Frequency range, bandwidth, Matched Filter
      • Output to time and constellation displays, EVM
      • Sensitivity to AM/AM and AM/PM deviations (due to non-linearity)

  • Signals Simulation and Analysis in Time/Frequency domains: QAM

    • QAM modulation – Review characteristics, coding and demodulation approaches
    • QAM properties in time, frequency, constellation (w/o and with Trajectories) and powers: mean and peak
    • QAM modulation – Definition, block-diagram of Tx and Rx
    • QAM with a random data sequence – predict the transmission characteristics (mean-power Spectrum)
    • SIMULINK – Simulating transmission and reception of an QAM signal, including demonstration and exercising
      • The Transmitter – block diagram, options for a synthesized information source, or recorded
      • The channel – AWGN
      • The Receiver – Frequency range, bandwidth, Matched Filter
      • Output to time and constellation displays, EVM
      • Sensitivity to AM/AM and AM/PM deviations (due to non-linearity)

  • System Simulation and Analysis in Time/Frequency domains: AGC, PLL, Costas-Loop

    • Review the theory of AGC
    • Modeling approaches for the AGC loop
    • SIMULINK – Simulating the AGC loop, including demonstration and exercising
      • The Transmitter – block diagram, a source with low-rate power level changes
      • The channel – AWGN
      • The Receiver – Frequency range, bandwidth, AGC
      • Output to time display and demonstrating the response time-constant
      • Tx level-change rate that deceives the analog AGC loop
    • Review the theory of PLL
    • Modeling the PLL loop
    • Applications for CW (or Clock) reconstruction, and for FM/FSK demodulation
    • Costas loop – for pilot-less signal cases, refer also to the Squaring loop
    • SIMULINK – Simulating the PLL, altogether with a Costas loop, including demonstration and exercising
      • The Transmitter – block diagram, a source with low-rate frequency changes
      • The channel – AWGN
      • The Receiver – Frequency range, bandwidth, PLL
      • Output to time display and demonstrating the response time-constant
      • Demonstrate the instantaneous lock range
      • Phase tracking error (RMS)
      • FM transmitter and changing the loop BW parameter of the PLL
      • Demonstrate FM reception with a PLL
      • Demonstrate live FM reception

  • System Simulation and Analysis in Time/Frequency domains: CFL Linearization

    • Review the challenge (problem) – realization of transmitters producing undistorted signal spectrum
    • Linearization methods – a brief review
    • Feedback loop constraints – control theory considerations
    • CFL setup – manual or automatic, explain the process
    • SIMULINK – Simulating the transmission w/o and with CFL, including demonstration and exercising
      • The Source – a 2-tone or CDMA signal
      • The model construction, parameters’ setting, and run
      • The effect of an improper loop setup on (in)stability
      • Display Spectrum w/o and with feedback correction
      • Demonstrate the transmission with a R&S signal generator and RF amplifier?
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