Enabling Components for Multi-Standard Software Radio Base Stations

Receiver and transmitter technology is an enablingfactor for the software radio concept, with analogueto digital conversion being the limiting performancefactor. The requirement for common hardware forseveral different systems leads to parameterizedmodules and higher integration levels. Moduledefinition is closely related to the architecturalchallenges of receiver design. Emerging multi-mode base stations favour larger hardware granularity. Thesoftware radio approach reduces the hardwarecomplexity of a cell site from several racks ofdiscrete single-channel radios to one or two shelvesof open architecture modules.This paper presents critical functional blocks forwide-band multi-mode base stations based on thesoftware radio concept. Major component specificationsare reviewed showing the implications on systemdesign. Functional and performance parameters foranalogue to digital converters (ADCs), digital toanalogue converters (DACs), digital down and upconverters are illustrated using specific products.Applications are presented by revisiting existingtransceiver architectures in the framework of nextgeneration wireless standards.