Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering

National Institute of Technology, Srinagar

Pre-Project Report

Performance Comparison of Different Modulation Schemes using SDR

Submitted By:

Fehad Nazir
2020BECE037

Idrees Riyaz
2020BECE038
 Table of Contents

1. Abstract ………………………………………………………………………….. 2

2. Introduction ...…………………………………………………………………… 3

3. Software Defined Radio ..……………………………………………………….. 4

4. NI USRP 2932 ..………………………………………………………………….. 8

5. LabVIEW..……………………………………………………..……………….. 12

6. Signal Transmission and Reception …..…...…………………………………. 18

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 Abstract

This project aims to evaluate the performance of various digital modulation schemes using Software
Defined Radio (SDR), specifically with USRP 2932 devices. The goal is to transmit and receive digitally
modulated signals in real time and assess their effectiveness. Performance will be measured across several
key parameters: Bit Error Rate (BER), Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), Bandwidth Efficiency, and Power
Efficiency. Different modulation techniques, such as BPSK, QPSK, PAM and QAM, will be analyzed to
determine their relative merits in optimizing communication system performance. The results will provide
valuable insights into selecting the most efficient modulation scheme for enhancing the reliability and
efficiency of digital communications.

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 Introduction

In the rapidly advancing domain of digital communications, the ability to adapt and optimize transmission
techniques is crucial for efficient data exchange. Software Defined Radio (SDR) provides a dynamic
platform that allows for extensive experimentation with digital modulation schemes due to its
programmable nature. This project employs the USRP 2932, a highly capable SDR device known for its
versatility in both academic and practical telecommunications applications. The USRP 2932 enables
precise control over signal parameters and real-time communication capabilities, making it ideal for
thorough performance analyses.

For programming and controlling the USRP 2932, we will use LabView software, renowned for its
graphical programming environment. This feature simplifies the creation of complex systems and
enhances the visualization of signal behaviors, which is pivotal when comparing modulation schemes.
LabView's intuitive interface will aid in efficiently setting up, running, and monitoring experiments.

We will explore a range of digital modulation schemes, including but not limited to Quadrature Phase
Shift Keying (QPSK) and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM). These schemes are chosen for their
relevance in modern communication systems and will be evaluated based on critical performance metrics
such as Bit Error Rate (BER), Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), Bandwidth Efficiency, and Power Efficiency.
This project aims to elucidate the strengths and limitations of each modulation technique, providing a
comprehensive overview of their practical applications and effectiveness in varying signal environments.

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 Software Defined Radio

Radio

A radio is a device that sends and/or receives radio waves. It consists of a receiver, which captures
signals, and a transmitter, which sends them out. Antennas help with sending and receiving signals, while
tuners select specific frequencies. Amplifiers boost signal strength, and controls adjust settings like
volume and frequency. Radios come in various forms, from handheld devices to car radios, and are used
for communication, broadcasting, and navigation.

Fig.1- IC FM Radio

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Software Defined Radio

SDR, or Software-defined Radio, is a versatile transceiver that can operate multiple wireless
communication protocols without requiring hardware changes. This flexibility allows for seamless
updates and upgrades through reprogramming, eliminating the need for hardware replacements. SDRs
leverage diverse hardware platforms like General Purpose Processors (GPPs), Graphics Processing Units
(GPUs), and Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) to enable a wide range of features and functionalities.

Following are the important characteristics of an SDR.

• Flexibility and Reconfigurability: SDRs are software-based, which means they can be reconfigured
and updated through software changes, rather than hardware changes.

• Cost-Efficiency: SDRs can replace multiple hardware-based radios with a single, reconfigurable
platform.

. • Spectrum Efficiency: SDRs can take advantage of advanced signal processing techniques to improve
spectrum efficiency. They can adapt their modulation schemes and coding techniques dynamically.

• Interoperability: SDRs can be designed to be more interoperable across different communication

• Reduced Size and Weight: Don't require as much specialized hardware for each communication
standard.

NI USRP 2932 SDR

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Architecture of SDR

1) Antenna: SDR platforms usually employ several antennas to cover a wide range of frequency bands.
Antennas are often referred to as intelligent due to their ability to select a frequency band and adapt with
mobile tracking or interference cancellation.

2) RF Front End: This is a RF circuitry whose main function is to transmit and receive the signal at
various operating frequencies. Its other function is to change the signal to/from the Intermediate
Frequency (IF). The process of operation is divided into two, depending on the direction of the signal
(i.e., Tx or Rx mode).

3) Analog-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analog Conversion: The DAC is responsible for producing the
analog signal to be transmitted from the digital samples. On the receiver side, the ADC resides, and is an
essential component in radio receivers. The ADC is responsible for converting continuous-time signals to
discrete-time, binary-coded signals. ADC performance can be described by various parameters.

4) Digital Front End: The Digital Front End has two main functions : – Sample Rate Conversion (SRC),
which is a functionality to convert the sampling from one rate to another. This is necessary since the two
communication parties must be synchronized. – Channelization, which includes up/down conversion in
the transmitter and receiver side, respectively. It also includes channel filtering, where channels that are
divided by frequency are extracted.

5) Signal Processing: Signal processing operations, such as encoding/decoding, filtering,

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Architecture of a SDR (USRP)

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 NI USRP-2932

NI Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) devices represent a pivotal technology in the realm of
software-defined radios (SDRs), tailored specifically for Radio Frequency (RF) applications. With their
dual functionality of transmitting and receiving RF signals across various bands, USRPs emerge as
indispensable tools for a wide array of applications, particularly in communications education and
research.

When integrated with the LabVIEW development environment, USRPs offer an unparalleled synergy that
empowers users to validate wireless algorithms using real-world, over-the-air signals. This potent
combination not only provides a cost-effective solution but also facilitates hands-on experimentation and
validation of wireless communication techniques. Whether in educational settings for teaching RF
principles or in research environments for prototyping novel wireless systems, USRPs paired with
LabVIEW enable innovative exploration and advancement in the field of wireless communications.

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 NI USRP-2932 Front Panel

NI USRP-2932 Back Panel

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NI USRP-2932 Module Front Panel Connectors

NI USRP-2932 Module LEDs

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TRANSMITTER SPECIFICATIONS

RECEIVER SPECIFICATIONS

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 LabVIEW

LabView, short for Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench, is a system-design platform
and development environment created by National Instruments. The software is widely recognized for its
graphical programming language, G, which visually represents programming with icons and wires that
resemble a flowchart. This intuitive, graphical approach enables users to design, test, and implement
complex control, test, and measurement systems through easier visualization of logic and data flow.

LabView is particularly popular among engineers and scientists for tasks involving data acquisition,
instrument control, and industrial automation. The platform supports a multitude of hardware interfaces,
allowing users to integrate various devices easily, from cameras to sensors to other instruments. This
compatibility makes LabView a versatile tool for rapid prototyping and deployment across various
industries, including telecommunications, automotive, and aerospace. Its graphical nature not only
simplifies programming for non-experts but also significantly speeds up the development process
compared to traditional text-based programming languages.

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LabVIEW Virtual Instrument

In LabView, a Virtual Instrument (VI) is the primary component of application design, and starting with a
Blank VI allows you to build a customized instrument from scratch. Each VI consists of two main
components: the Front Panel and the Block Diagram.

Front Panel: This is the user interface of the VI. It serves as the interactive face of your application,
where controls and indicators (such as buttons, dials, graphs, and LEDs) are placed. Controls are input
mechanisms for the user to feed data into the VI, while indicators display output data, reflecting changes
made by the program. The Front Panel is what you design to interact with the system you are controlling
or monitoring.

Controls Palette: The Control Palette in LabView is your go-to menu for selecting controls and
indicators to build your Virtual Instruments (VIs). It's like a compact toolbox where you can easily find
and add buttons, sliders, graphs, and other visual elements to your Front Panel. This handy feature
simplifies the interface design process, allowing you to quickly create intuitive user interfaces for your
applications without hassle.

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Block Diagram: Behind the Front Panel is the Block Diagram, which contains the graphical code that
controls the VI's operations. Here, you wire together different function nodes, structures, and subVIs
(smaller, reusable VIs) to define the logic and tasks the VI performs. The wiring in the Block Diagram
determines how data flows through the VI, controlling how inputs are processed into outputs. It's
essentially the "back-end" where the actual programming is done.

Functions Palette: The Functions Palette in LabView is your toolbox for building the logic and
operations of your Virtual Instruments (VIs) on the Block Diagram panel. It offers a variety of VIs,
functions, and constants categorized for easy access. Accessed from the Block Diagram panel, it
streamlines the process of finding and implementing the necessary tools for your programming tasks. The
Functions Palette simplifies coding by providing a centralized location for essential programming
elements, allowing you to efficiently develop and customize your VIs.

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LabVIEW Examples

BPSK

ASK

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QPSK

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Amplitude Modulation

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 Signal transmission and reception using USRP 2932

Signal Transmission

1. Set Up the USRP: Make sure your USRP device is properly connected to your computer using a
LAN cable. This can be checked using the NI USRP Driver utility. Also we can use the ping
command in the command prompt to check whether the device is properly connected or not. Also
make sure that the computer has a static IP address assigned to it, preferably 192.168.10.1 with a
subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.

2. Open LabView: Launch the LabView software and create a new Blank VI (Virtual Instrument).

3. Add Required Components: On the Front Panel, add controls for parameters like frequency,
amplitude, and phase etc. Add a graph component for visualization of transmitted signals. Then,
on the Block Diagram, add the necessary components for signal generation and transmission like
function generator, USRP transmission utility blocks etc. Place the USRP transmission utility and
function generation blocks within a while loop in order to get a continuous stream of signals.

4. Generate the Sinusoidal Signal: Use LabView's signal generation functions to create a sinusoidal
waveform with the desired frequency, amplitude, and phase. Note that signal generated should lie
in the bandwidth supported by the device (here 400 Mhz - 4.4 Ghz).

5. Run the VI: Once everything is set up, run the VI to begin transmitting the sinusoidal signal
through the USRP.

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Block Diagram for transmission VI

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Signal Reception

1. Set Up the USRP for Reception: Ensure that your USRP device is properly connected to your
computer via a LAN cable. Use the NI USRP Driver utility to confirm the connection.
Additionally, use the ping command in the command prompt to verify the connectivity of the
device with the computer. Ensure that the computer has a static IP address assigned to it,
preferably 192.168.10.1, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.

2. Open LabView and Create a New Blank VI: Launch the LabView software and create a new
Blank VI (Virtual Instrument) to begin building the reception program.

3. Add Required Components on the Front Panel: Similar to the transmission setup, add controls on
the Front Panel for parameters like frequency, bandwidth, and other reception settings. Include a
graph component for visualizing the received signals.

4. On the Block Diagram, Add Necessary Components for Signal Reception: Place the USRP
reception utility blocks and necessary signal processing components within a while loop to
continuously receive and process incoming signals. You can also add a variety of signal
processing blocks to analyze the received signals.

5. Run the VI: Once everything is set up, run the VI to start receiving and processing the incoming
signals using the USRP.

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 Block Diagram for reception VI

Front panels for transmission and reception

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 References

1. ni.com/usrp
2. ni.com/pdf/gettingstarted/introduction_to_labview_tutorial.pdf
3. learn.ni.com/learn/article/labview-tutorial

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