Future of Radio? You may ask, what can there be new in a pretty straight forward technology, that was invented in 1893?
Well, if you create a universal receiver and put the intelligence into the software, all in a sudden you open up possibilities that your moms tube radio just didn't have. Now you are able to tune into your Microwave oven, which is fun for about 30 seconds.
Software radios can play up and down the frequency band, which is pretty cool. Now let's add transmission to the game, again universal transmission up and down the frequency band. This is so interesting, that the FCC and may be even the FBI would like to know about it.
Software radios can also use the spectrum way more efficient. Now if on one frequency someone is sending everyone else has to be silent. Software radios can filter out of a cacophony of transmissions the packages that are relevant for them. I read somewhere that if it is getting too noisy they can switch to a different band without missing a beat in Beethoven's 5th. Which gives you almost unlimited bandwidth (the thing that the telcos paid billions for in Europe).
Matt Ettus one of the driving forces behind GNU Software Radio will bring some clarity into these new developments next Friday the 22nd at the Radio Future Salon.
Session Abstract:
Matt Ettus, GNU Radio team member and Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) creator, will be discussing both the technical and regulatory aspects of open source software radio, and how GNU Radio and the USRP fit in. He will also cover software radio's impact on spectrum policy, and will conclude with a small demo of the USRP.
In a software radio, software defines the transmitted waveforms, and software demodulates the received waveforms. GNU Radio is an open source software radio framework which allows for experimentation, rapid prototyping and deployment of complex Software Radio systems on generic microprocessors. Software radio is becoming increasingly important as a technology for implementing communication systems. By performing most or all processing in software, it allows for extremely versatile radio systems and makes multi-standard systems possible.
The Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) is a hardware component which allows for the physical realization of complex wideband software radios using commodity PCs. It allows for up to 4 antennas, enabling MIMO and Smart Antenna systems. The hardware design is completely open and free.
Bio:
Matt Ettus, founder of Ettus Research LLC, has been working in wireless design for 8 years, and has extensive experience in ASIC-, FPGA-, and software-based communication systems, as well as System-on-chip RF architecture and board-level RF design. Matt is a major contributor to the GNU Radio project, a free framework for Software Radio, and is the creator of the Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP). He holds an MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, and dual BS degrees in EE and CS.
In his copious spare time, Matt likes to SCUBA dive, sail, and play soccer. Matt is also a longtime amateur radio operator (N2MJI), and is getting into Radio Astronomy.
Ettus Research LLC, based in Mountain View, CA, serves clients in the areas of Wireless Communications, DSP, and Software Radio design.
Clients of Ettus Research come from a variety of industry sectors, including commercial wireless, fabless semiconductor, government, academia, defense, test and measurement, and navigation.
Friday 22nd of July 6-7 networking with light refreshments proudly sponsored by SAP . From 7-9+ pm presentation and discussion. SAP Labs North America, Building D, Room Southern Cross, 3410 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304 [ map ] As always free and open to the public, bring your friends. Improve your commute by sharing it with a fellow Futurist. Check the Ride Board for opportunities. Please RSVP so that we have enough food and drinks. See you there.
P.S. We moved the Future Salon to the forth Friday of July because Jared Diamond, author of "Guns Germs and Steel" and "Collapse" is speaking at the Long Now foundation, I didn't want to miss that.
I am a student attending Project Chrysalis Middle School. I am interested in learning about your plan for the future of the radio. How do you plan to create this wonderful spectacle and what will its functions be?
Posted by: Kamaria Monmouth | December 08, 2005 at 07:56
I am a student attending Project Chrysalis Middle School. I am interested in learning about your plan for the future of the radio. How do you plan to create this wonderful spectacle and what will its functions be?
Posted by: Kamaria Monmouth | December 08, 2005 at 07:56