Abstract

This paper presents transmitter and receiver characterization and calibration results for software defined radio systems designed using the combination of RF front end hardware like USRPs (from Ettus Research) and software interfaces like GNU Radio. The main motivation for this study was the lack of useful references pertaining to calibration of such SDR systems, confining them to proof of concept experimentation. Measurements were taken using an SDR system designed using the USRP N210 with WBX daughterboard, GNU Radio utilities, and laboratory instruments. The main aim was to determine the differences between the values obtained on the GNU Radio spectrum analyzer software GUI utility and a laboratory spectrum analyzer. One-dB compression point, third order Input Intercept point and transmitted power variation with gain were measured to determine calibration factors and offsets. Experiments were conducted over sample set of USRP N210 devices to get standardized values. The calibration factors thus obtained were used in indoor path-loss modeling and position location estimation using the CORNET nodes at Virginia Tech to determine their effectiveness. As expected the root mean square deviations from expected values were lower when calibration factors were used to correct the power measurement readings from the GNU Radio utilities.

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