Sub-6 GHz beamforming with low-cost software-defined radio: Design, testing, and performance evaluation

Abstract

The rapid evolution of mobile communication systems has led to the introduction of novel technologies and techniques that address existing challenges, such as interference caused by multiple users and transmission through the millimetre-wave band. In this paper, we present a novel approach that utilises a low-cost software defined radio (SDR) unit to enable transmitting and receiving beamforming in the sub-6 GHz band. We provide a detailed account of the underlying concepts and background of beamforming and SDR, outline the design of multiple components, and report on the comprehensive testing and verification of a real-life prototype using over-the-air (OTA) methods. Our results demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves outstanding performance, with measurements of bit error rate (BER) that outperform existing solutions. In summary, this work contributes to the ongoing efforts to enhance mobile communication systems by providing an innovative, high-performance solution that is cost-effective and reliable using SDR technology in the sub-6 GHz band.