| Meme Name: | Software Defined Radio |
| Category: | mobilecomputing | |
| Related Concepts: | |
| Related Links: |
GNU Radio Project
SDR Forum
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| Core Concept |
| An emerging technology aiming to emulate analog radio circuitry using software running on a conventional generic CPU. |
| motivation |
| To replace single-purpose transmitter and receiver electronics with software running on a CPU chip. Echoes 70s movement of PC industry from specialised to general purpose machines. |
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| history |
| Origins in the US army SPEAKeasy project, intended to develop a field radio compatible with all military radio standards. |
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| benefits |
| Hardware (radio circuitry) is frozen on manufacture, and can quickly become obselete. Configurable devices can be tweaked up until the last minute. |
| base-stations |
| New radio protocols and standards can be deployed by carriers using their existing hardware by reconfiguring it. |
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| handsets |
| Handsets can evolve as new standards are introduced (e.g. Bluetooth, GPS, UMTS) |
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| challenges |
| Emulation requires more powerful mobile CPUs = more power consumption.
Risk of interference from improperly (or maliciously) configured devices.
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