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[TenTec] Re: The "What is SDR?" question (Ten-Tec Inc. AmateurRadio Sale

To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] Re: The "What is SDR?" question (Ten-Tec Inc. AmateurRadio Sales)
From: "Edward A. Feustel" <efeustel@direcway.com>
Reply-to: tentec@contesting.com
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2004 19:28:42 -0400
List-post: <mailto:tentec@contesting.com>

Subject:
[TenTec] The "What is SDR?" question
From:
"Ten-Tec Inc. Amateur Radio Sales" <sales@tentec.com>
Date:
Thu, 10 Jun 2004 10:40:54 -0400
To:
tentec@contesting.com

To:
tentec@contesting.com


Back in November of 2003, I posted a definition of SDR in response to another discussion that went on here about "What's an SDR?"

The original post was titled "SDR vs. SDR" and is located at URL:
http://lists.contesting.com/archives/html/TenTec/2003-11/msg00547.html

Here it is repeated:
--------------------------------
"What's an SDR?"

I'll take the U.S. government's opinion, as they - more than any other entity - have been vitally interested in the topic. There is endless reading available by surfing the Internet. One of the better explanations I've read recently that anyone can understand is located on the NTIA website at this URL:

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/newsletr/fall01/SDR.html

Excerpt:

"While there are differing opinions as to what an SDR actually is, a good general definition of an SDR is found in the recently adopted American National Standard, Telecom Glossary 2000. An SDR consists of a receiver and/or transmitter with the following properties: (a) the received signal is digitized and then processed using software-programmable digital signal processing techniques (digitization may occur at the RF, IF, or baseband); and (b) the modulated signal to be transmitted is generated as a digital signal using software-programmable digital signal processing techniques. The digital signal is then converted to an analog signal for transmission (the conversion to analog may occur at baseband, IF, or RF)."
--------------------------


The key being the statement "software-programmable" - that software (firmware) is used to change
modulation characteristics.


SDR is the future of all radio services - amateur, commercial, military. For some really interesting reading
on the possibilities for SDR's in the future, have a look at some of the discussion on cognitive radio.
A sample is here: http://www.fcc.gov/oet/cognitiveradio/ - the applications for amateur radio are a
question mark at the moment, but this is clearly where the future of two-way radio is headed.
A Google search on "cognitive radio" may also be instructive.


73
Scott Robbins W4PA
Amateur Radio Product Manager, Ten-Tec, Inc.

Scott,
Thanks for the definition and especially the references.
Ed, N5EI


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