Software Defined Radio: A Basic Hardware Realization of SDR Receiver

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a general overview of SDRs, their history, need, basic operation and benefits, along with a basic hardware realization of SDR receiver using Arduino Nano microcontroller. Software Defined Radio or SDR is one of the most important technologies and is essential for a modern wireless communication system. SDRs are known for their versatility as they can be customised to operate on any frequency band, or can have different implementations of modulation and demodulation schemes and different communication standards in the same device. This is done by using reconfigurable and reprogrammable hardware and robust and powerful software. SDRs are easy to manufacture, are multi-functional, compact, power efficient and easy to upgrade.