A modular baseboard designed for advanced Software Defined Radio (SDR) ecosystems.
The TRNXSDR is a hardware platform engineered to host and interconnect specialized SDR modules. It acts as the central processing hub, providing high-speed logic, memory bandwidth, and versatile connectivity for complex radio applications.
Important
The TRNXSDR is a Baseboard Platform. While it provides the processing power and RF routing, it requires external SDR modules connected via the expansion slots for full radio functionality.
- FPGA XC7Z015 Core: High-speed logic for real-time Digital Signal Processing (DSP).
- 1 GB DDR3 RAM @ 1066 MHz: High-capacity memory for data buffering and complex waveform processing.
- 80-pin Module Connectors: High-density connectors ensuring reliable signal integrity between the baseboard and modules.
- 1 Gbit Ethernet (Copper): Standard high-speed network integration.
- Optical Ethernet (SFP): Hardware ready for fiber-optic connection. Planned support for 1 Gbit / 2.5 Gbit+ throughput via GTX connection (up to 5 Gbit for custom digital IF).
- USB-C: Hardware support for Power Delivery (PD) to power the entire board via a single cable (9–20 V input). Firmware currently under development.
- 4 SMA RF Connectors: On-board SMA connectors for direct and stable antenna connections.
The platform is designed to grow. The baseboard features a flexible slot system to accommodate various SDR modules.
| Slot Type | Quantity | Technical Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Primary HS Slots | 2 | High-Speed Support: 1x with 2L GTX (JESD204B support), both slots support LVDS. |
| Primary LS Slots | 2 | Standard I/O: Optimized for general-purpose SDR control and low-speed buses. |
| Expansion Board | +6 | Low-Speed Expansion: Optimized for SPI, I2C, and LVDS control buses. |
Core functionality is already verified! We have developed a custom OOT (Out-Of-Tree) Module, enabling basic RX streaming between the hardware and GNU Radio.
- Current focus: Stability improvements, feature expansion, and bug fixes.
Below, you can see a GNU Radio Companion (GRC) flowgraph demonstrating the implementation of the dedicated #TRNXSDR source block.
To verify the RF chain's integrity, we tested the SDR in the 433 MHz band. The following image shows the captured spectrum in GRC, displaying a clean signal peak and minimal noise floor.
Furthermore, we performed a dynamic frequency shift test. In the waterfall plot below, you can see a "snake" pattern created by manually sweeping the carrier frequency. The sweep was performed roughly within a ±500 kHz range around the 433 MHz center.
- SoapySDR Compatibility: Integration of a SoapySDR driver to provide a vendor-neutral API for tools like SDR++, SDRangel, GNU Radio and more.
- OpenWiFi Project: Investigating the possibility of hosting the OpenWiFi stack (IEEE 802.11 FPGA/Software) on #TRNXSDR hardware.
Expanding the #TRNXSDR ecosystem with high-end RF modules:
- Expansion Board: A dedicated add-on board adding 6 additional low-speed slots (Total of 10 modules).
- New SDR Modules:
- Lime Ecosystem: Modules based on LMS6002D and LMS7002M (MIMO, wide frequency range).
- Analog Devices Series: High-performance transceivers based on AD9361 / AD9363 / AD9364.
- Baseboard Hardware Design: Completed (Rev 1.0) — Functional, with known bugs being addressed.
- [/] Hardware Revision 2.0: In progress (bug fixes and optimizations).
- [/] GNU Radio OOT Module: Functional — Ongoing development and feature updates.
- [/] Optical Port: Hardware ready, firmware development in progress.
- [/] USB-C Power Delivery: Hardware support implemented, firmware under active development.
- SoapySDR & OpenWiFi: Conceptual/Planned stage.
