[TenTec] The "What is SDR?" question

["Ten-Tec Inc. Amateur Radio Sales" <sales@tentec.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.




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