OpenVPX software-defined radio (SDR) kit with PCI Express and Ethernet introduced by X-ES

MIDDLETON, WI December 11, 2013 Extreme Engineering Solutions Inc. (X-ES) in Middleton, Wis., introduces the XPand1202 OpenVPX software-defined radio (SDR) development system for creating software-defined radio communication technology with VITA -65 boards and interconnects.

The XPand1202 has VITA 67 RF connections and integrates one XPedite7470 3U OpenVPX Intel Core i7-based single-board computer, all four DRS SI-9138 3U VPX VITA 67.1 dual channel RF receivers and one DRS SI-7138 3U VPX VITA 67.2 RF frequency reference module.

This standards-based system also includes OpenVPX Ethernet and PCI Express switches, as well as an OpenVPX backplane with 3U VPX VITA 62-compatible power supply slots.

The XPand1202’s VITA 67 RF connectors allow the SI-9138 and SI-7138 to access sensitive analog signals through the backplane. This simplifies module installation by eliminating the need to manually connect cables between payload modules after placement. It also reduces system size, weight and power consumption (SWaP) by eliminating additional space to route these cables.

The SI-9138 modules use their dynamic range and phase noise characteristics to analyze the system’s incoming RF waves and digitize them using a 16-bit A/D converter sampling at 128 MHz. Digitized waveforms are time-stamped and formatted using VITA 49 Radio Transport (VRT) and then transported on the backplane via a high-performance x4 PCI Express interface to an XPedite7470 single-board computer for processing.

Installed modules communicate with each other via an OpenVPX backplane using PCI Express and Gigabit Ethernet. PCI Express is for sending high-bandwidth data between the SI-9138 RF receiver modules and the VITA 48 REDI XPedite7470 single-board computer and is routed through the OpenVPX XChange3012 PCI Express switch.

Meanwhile, Gigabit Ethernet is for sending command and control messages between payload modules and is routed into the backplane as a two-star configuration from each payload module through two separate 3U VPX Ethernet switches, XChange3012 and XChange3011.

The XChange3012 can provide a switched SerDes 1000 BASE-X port to each payload module slot, while the XChange3011 provides a switched 1000BASE-T port to each payload module slot. Both networks can be accessed outside the system through external Gigabit Ethernet ports on the switches.

For more information contact X-ES online at www.xes-inc.com.