Software Defined Radio (SDR)

Related wiki pages : Digital Signal Processing (DSP), Transceivers, Manufacturers Websites

A Software defined radio is on in which functions such as tuning, filtering and modulating/demodulating are performed by software rather than hardware. The ease with which this is now possible is due largely to advances in digital electronics.

An SDR is essentiall a computer attached to an RF front end that performs the usual functions of detection and transmission of radio signals. The key physical component is perhaps the analogue to digital converter that connect the front end to the computer. Processing of the digital output is carried out by CPU. This has a number of advantages:


 * The need for special purpose hardware is greatly reduced


 * New functions can be added to the radio by changing or adding to the software.