AD9361

The AD-FMCOMMS2-EBZ is a high-speed analog module designed to showcase the AD9361, a high performance, highly integrated RF transceiver intended for use in RF applications, such as 3G and 4G base station and test equipment applications, and software defined radios. Its programmability and wideband capability make it ideal for a broad range of transceiver applications. The device combines an RF front end with a flexible mixed-signal baseband section and integrated frequency synthesizers, simplifying design-in by providing a configurable digital interface to a processor or FPGA. The AD9361 chip operates in the 70 MHz to 6 GHz range, covering most licensed and unlicensed bands. The AD-FMCOMMS2-EBZ board comes specifically tuned and optimized to 2.4 GHz and due to the limitations of the on-board discrete external components, it may exhibit diminished RF performance on some other programmed configurations. The chip supports channel bandwidths from less than 200 kHz to 56 MHz by changing sample rate, digital filters, and decimation, all programmable within the AD9361 itself.

The AD-FMCOMMS2-EBZ provides RF engineers the ability to connect the AD9361 to a RF testbench (Vector Signal Analyzer, Signal generator, etc) and measure performance. The external components (which can easily be swapped) on the AD-FMCOMMS2-EBZ have a narrower RF tuning range 2400 – 2500 MHz. It is expected that most engineers will change these external components (pin for pin replacements from various vendors are available) for their specific application/frequency of interest. Anyone interested in a wider tuning range board should look at the AD-FMCOMMS3-EBZ.

ADRV9361-Z7035 SDR 2x2 System-On-Module is a Software Defined Radio (SDR) that combines the Analog Devices AD9361 integrated RF Agile Transceiver^™ with the Xilinx Z7035 Zynq^®-7000 All Programmable SoC.

ADRV9361-Z7035 offers wideband 2x2 receive and transmit paths in the 70 MHz to 6.0 GHz range, making it ideal for prototyping across a broad range of fixed and mobile SDR applications.

ADRV9361-Z7035 combines the RF signal path with the high-speed programmable logic. It also forms the RF-to-baseband signal processing core of a wireless communications system, allowing the designer to focus on application specific differentiating features.

ADRV9361-Z7035 has available carrier cards for fast prototyping and is supported by simulation and code generation tools that integrate seamlessly with Xilinx Vivado^® Design Suite.

ADRV9361-Z7035 enables reduced time to market of SDR product designs.

The AD-FMCOMMS3-EBZ is a high-speed analog module designed to showcase the AD9361, a high performance, highly integrated RF transceiver intended for use in RF applications, such as 3G and 4G base station and test equipment applications, and software defined radios. Its programmability and wideband capability make it ideal for a broad range of transceiver applications. The device combines an RF front end with a flexible mixed-signal baseband section and integrated frequency synthesizers, simplifying design-in by providing a configurable digital interface to a processor or FPGA. The AD9361 chip operates in the 70 MHz to 6 GHz range, covering most licensed and unlicensed bands. The chip supports channel bandwidths from less than 200 kHz to 56 MHz by changing sample rate, digital filters, and decimation, which are all programmable within the AD9361 itself.

The AD-FMCOMMS3-EBZ provides software developers and system architect who want a single platform to operate over a wider tuning range than the AD-FMCOMMS2-EBZ. RF performance expectations of this board must be tempered with the very wide band front end. It does meet the datasheet specifications at 2.4 GHz, but does not over the entire RF tuning range that the board supports. Typical performance data for the entire range (70 MHz – 6 GHz) which is supported by the platform is published within the board documentation. This board is primarily intended for system investigation and bringing up various waveforms from a software team before custom hardware is complete. The objective being for designers to see waveforms, but not being concerned about the last 1dB or 1% EVM of performance. For performance-oriented platforms – please refer to the AD-FMCOMMS2-EBZ.

The AD-FMCOMMS5-EBZ is a high-speed analog module designed to showcase the AD9361 in multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) applications. The AD9361 is a high performance, highly integrated RF transceiver that operates from 70 MHz to 6 GHz, and supports bandwidths from less than 200 kHz to 56 MHz. The AD-FMCOMMS5-EBZ supports dual AD9361 devices, allowing for the creation of a 4x4 MIMO system. This platform is intended to enable the prototyping and development of many software defined radio applications, such as active antennas, transmit beamforming, and receive angle of arrival systems. The AD-FMCOMMS5-EBZ board has both wideband channels covering the full 6 GHz range, as well as narrowband channels matched to 2.4GHz. The AD-FMCOMMS5-EBZ also contains dual ADG918 SPDT switches, which create a calibration matrix between the two AD9361s. This switch matrix hardware, combined with the Analog Devices supplied API software, allow for a full digital and RF synchronization between the two AD9361s. The providing APIs also support full independent device configuration of the two AD9361s.

Because the AD-FMCOMMS5-EBZ supports both narrow and wideband input and output connectivity, it provides RF engineers the ability to connect the AD9361 to a RF test bench (vector signal analyzer, signal generator, etc.) and measure narrowband performance, as well as providing software and system engineers the ability to quickly prototype across the full 6 GHz operating range. Additionally the AD-FMCOMMS5-EBZ allows for both AD9361 devices to receive an on-board generated external LO signal, which can provide improved RF performance.

Applications

• General purpose design suitable for any software-designed radio application
• MIMO radio
• Transmit beamforming and receive angle of arrival detection
• Point to point communication systems
• Femtocell/picocell/microcell base stations