EDA Tech Forum

The paper discusses the simulation, design, and test of software-defined radios (SDRs), initially using a legacy 16QAM waveform, followed by a new SDR waveform -orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA). The SDR system’s error vector magnitude (EVM) is first analyzed and its performance is compared with the legacy waveform results. The implementation also includes the RF transmitter, receiver and channel models, and shows their contributions to overall system response. The presence of in-band and out-of-band co-channel interference at various RF frequencies and power levels and its effect on system performance is also evaluated using the different waveforms. The waveforms are loaded into a Xilinx FPGA and the signals are read into an Agilent logic analyzer or oscilloscope for system-level testing. Simulation and test instrumentation are combined to test the hardware, along with the complete RF system simulation model, to create a software-defined instrument for one-box testing of an SDR with real signals being processed through it.