Course 025 Hands On Software Defined Radio
Available course dates
This course has no planned course dates.
If you are interested in this course, contact us at cei@cei.se
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS
The hands on course teaches the key concepts of digital radio technology via practical exercises using real hardware. Participants use their own laptop with all the required RF hardware and DSP software provided for use during the course.
The course demonstrates by example a complete digital radio link, covering sampling fundamentals and
sampling rate changes, digital filtering, creating a transmit signal then receiving the signal with clock
recovery and channel equalisation. Each section of the course is split into 3 parts consisting of lectures on
theory or implementation, then the actual ‘hands on’ part where the students follow prepared
experiments that implement the section topic, reinforcing the material and enhancing their learning. This
is then followed by a short discussion part to share findings and maybe add some additional theory to the
topic. A complete set of lecture notes is provided as well as notes on the various experiments to assist
and document the anticipated findings.
The course provides an ADALM Pluto SDR and an Ubuntu live USB memory stick, preloaded with all the
required software and drivers for the course. Participants boot their computer (mac, pc or linux) using
the memory stick provided and no software is installed on the participant’s computer. The ‘Ubuntu live’
disk is a complete OS, self contained, with all the software installed, tested and ready to go, essentially
the computer just provides the keyboard, mouse, display and CPU to run and interact with SDR.
COURSE CONTENT
Understand the basics of DSP using real hardware rather than abstract theory
- Understand the fundamentals of sampling and the discrete Fourier transform
- How and why to filter digitally
- Define common properties of finite impulse response filters and the basics of design
- Understand the basics of digital modulation and creating a transmitter
- Appreciate the need of interpolation and decimation
- Understand receiver synchronisation and the role of signal shaping filters
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This is a course focusing on understanding and applying key principles of digital radio concepts. It is for product developers wanting to exploit new radio ideas as well as established engineers looking to better understand the interface between digital signals and analogue RF hardware. Using a low cost development platform and open source software, the course demonstrates the now very low barrier to entry to this previously specialised area of technology.
Daily Schedule
Day 1
1) Hardware Introduction
Getting everyone to boot their computer and detect the hardware. Then use the Pluto device and
IIO Oscilloscope application to generate a 2 tone signal and observe that in the time and
frequency domains.
2) Introduction to GNU Radio Companion (GRC)
Create a broadcast FM radio receiver from GRC blocks using the Pluto Rx. Illustrates some of the
GRC visualisation tools, setting the sampling rate, seeing why rate conversion is needed and
matching data streams to the computer sound card for audio output.
3) Investigating Sampling
Understanding the tradeoff between sampling rate, number of bits, noise and bandwidth. Along
the way observing alias signals, applying decimation and the need for filtering.
4) Digital FIR Filters
Basic design, calculating taps and applying them to the FIR hardware inside Pluto. Then use GRC
for further investigations, creating realistic signals and observing the effect of filtering.
Day 2
1) Interpolation
Demonstrating how to increase the sample rate while restricting the bandwidth. Looking at RRC
and other filtering approaches for digital modulation.
2) Transmitting
Generate digital data streams, mapping data to symbols and some basic digital modulation.
Observing the potential bandwidth of raw digital data and the need for a smarter approach.
3) Creating a QPSK Data Link
Using Pluto to both transmit and, via an RF loop back cable, receive a digital data signal.
Integrating that with GRC to observe the signal processing steps in both transmitter and receiver.
4) Receiver Synchronisation
Further investigate the QPSK link to understand details of the GRC blocks that perform timing
recovery and channel adaption.
ALL COURSE DATES FOR THE CATEGORY: Circuit & System Design, RF & MW Design
007 Behavioral Modeling and Digital Predistortion of RF Power Amplifiers
008 Advanced RF Power Amplifier Techniques for Modern Wireless and Microwave Systems
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Date: April 13 - April 17, 2026
Duration: 5 days
Instructors: Professsor Dr. Steve C. Cripps, Dr. Jeff Powell and Dr. Roberto Quaglia
In any system, the power amplifier is a critical component. It is typically the most costly single item and consumes most of the supply power. Knowledge of the possibilities for trading power per unit cost with efficiency and linearity often forms the basis for the entire system architecture design. This 5-day course deals with the theory and design of RF Power Amplifiers for wireless, satcom, and microwave applications and features in-depth treatment of PA design, PA modes, envelope power management, and non-linear effects.
015 RF Design and Simulation of Wireless Systems
026 Essentials of Radio Communications Systems
The advent of 5G and the technology spin-offs along the way have re-invigorated developments in all radio systems. They have produced new levels of sophistication as well as RF ICs for complex functions which amalgamate analogue/digital circuit ideas as well as sophisticated signalling and protocol layers.
This comprehensive course, from an established expert and IEEE life fellow, gives a thorough view of all key elements of receivers and transmitters, from circuit blocks through the system level to network concepts.
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