Embedded Linux powers "first hand-held software radio"

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May 12, 2003

[Updated May 13, 2003] -- Vanu, Inc. is demonstrating what it claims represents "the first hand-held software radio" at the technology showcase of the "Wireless Innovations: New Technologies and Evolving Policies" conference in Washington, DC today. The demonstration basically consists of a standard XScale-based Hewlett-Packard iPAQ PDA running an embedded Linux operating system; a prototype 100-475 MHz radio transceiver is housed in a standard iPAQ expansion pack, and Vanu's "Software Radio" technology, running on the iPAQ, implements the required signal processing functions.

The current configuration of the device is said to support commercial analog FM radio services, including Family Band Radio as well as the public safety APCO 25 digital standard, with future prototypes under development that will include operational capabilities of up to 900 MHz and support for cellular and PCS standards such as TDMA and GSM. The Vanu RF card electronics is shown in the photo on the right.

According to Vanu, unlike traditional hardware radios, which are limited to one specific type of communication service, "software radio" technology enables a single wireless device to implement multiple radio standards and frequency bands, thus eliminating the need for multiple hardware radios when communication with multiple radio services is required. For example, in the public safety community, decentralized purchasing decisions, legacy systems, and continual technical advancements often leave first responders unable to communicate with each other at an emergency scene -- a problem which could easily be remedied via handheld software radios capable of operating among multiple standards and frequencies.

The photo on the left shows an early prototype of Vanu's iPAQ Software Radio, whereas the current version (shown on the right) has the added radio transceiver built into a standard iPAQ expansion pack and implements the signal processing natively on the XScale processor.

Here are two interesting papers about software radio . . .

An interesting introduction to software radio, including an overview of GNURadio, a free framework for software radio, is available here (PDF download).
A whitepaper about Vanu's software radio system, which includes details on the iPAQ prototype software radio, is available here (PDF download).

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