University of Utah is utilizing Pixus Technologies’ Software Defined Radios (SDRs) for its NSF-funded wireless infrastructure project, Platform for Open Wireless Data-driven Experimental Research (POWDER) that is part of the Platforms Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR) program. The two SDRs, RB210 and RN310, will allow users to run several experiments on the University’s wireless infrastructure deployments.
The Challenge
The University of Utah is building a wireless communication network for research and development at their campus and some surrounding areas in Salt Lake City, Utah. The university requires SDR solutions that could withstand Utah’s wider temperature ranges and protect against dust, moisture, and other elements that might affect the network performance.
The University of Utah has placed several node points of their communication network in a dense deployment on campus which reduces in numbers as it spreads across campus and in targeted locations with partners off campus. They have ground-based installations that simulate a user who may, for example, be using a cell phone at regular human height. Other radio installations are placed on top of buildings and some are placed on campus buses to enable mobile communications scenarios.
The Solution
The University has chosen Pixus’ two SDRs, the RB210 and RN310 for their POWDER project. These SDRs provide the units in a ruggedized IP67 weather-resistant enclosure. The rugged design keeps out dust, moisture, and other elements in a conduction-cooled chassis that allows usage in temperatures from -10°C to +55°C. Pixus also offers designs with external MIL-grade fans and internal features to meet -40°C to +71°C applications. The enclosures are also designed to withstand shock and vibration to MIL 810H levels. Such features provide a flexible base for POWDER, enabling a variety of wireless research and experimentation on the platform.
The project primarily supports software-programmable experimentation on 5G and beyond, massive MIMO, ORAN, spectrum sharing and CBRS, RF monitoring, and other wireless testing procedures that can be supported on software-defined radios.
Click here to learn more about Pixus' RB210 SDR.
Click here to learn more about Pixus' RN310 Weatherproof SDR Solution.
