RF and communications test platform

25 January 2012 Test & Measurement

National Instruments has announced the USRP-2920 and USRP-2921 instruments, offering a new educational platform that delivers a hands-on learning experience with real-world signals to RF and communications university labs, which previously relied on computer-based simulation to augment theory.

The new platform, consisting of NI universal software radio peripheral (USRP) hardware, LabVIEW software and lab-ready course material, provides educators with an affordable, off-the-shelf solution that exposes students to practical application of abstract mathematical theories learned in traditional lectures.

With this platform, students can explore the link between abstract mathematical theory and practical implementation through hands-on experimentation with a working communications system. The USRP devices feature a software-tuneable front end ranging from 50 MHz to 2,2 GHz or the 2,4 GHz and 5 GHz ISM bands. The hardware also integrates a software reconfigurable RF transceiver with high-speed A/D and D/A converters, which makes it possible to stream baseband I and Q signals to a host PC over Gigabit Ethernet at up to 20 MSps for real-time access to the spectrum.

For more information contact National Instruments, 0800 203 199, [email protected], www.ni.com/southafrica

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