Agilex 9 Direct RF Software Defined Radio (SDR) is transforming the way modern RF systems are designed by moving traditionally fixed signal processing functions into programmable digital hardware. Instead of relying heavily on dedicated analog circuitry for frequency conversion, filtering, and channel processing, SDR architectures use programmable processing to adapt the signal chain to changing bandwidth, frequency, and application requirements.
As SDR systems evolve toward wider instantaneous bandwidths, the challenge is no longer limited to RF acquisition. High-speed converters generate enormous volumes of data that must be processed, moved, synchronized, and reduced in real time. This places demanding requirements on FPGA processing, memory bandwidth, high-speed connectivity, clocking and system level integration.
The Agilex® 9 Direct RF Series addresses these requirements by integrating high-performance RF data converters with FPGA based processing, Quad-Core Arm® processing, DSP resources, and high-speed transceivers. The platform supports Direct RF sampling rates of up to 64 GSPS and transceiver rates of up to 58 Gbps, providing a highly integrated foundation for wideband RF processing and real-time signal analysis.
From Superheterodyne to Direct RF Sampling
Traditional superheterodyne SDR architectures use mixers, local oscillators, and intermediate-frequency (IF) stages to translate RF signals before digitization. While this approach remains widely used, each additional analog stage can increase signal-chain complexity and introduce design considerations related to filtering, synchronization, and signal integrity.
Direct RF sampling takes a different approach. By digitizing the RF signal closer to its original frequency, more of the frequency conversion and signal-processing functions can be performed digitally. This allows programmable logic to handle operations such as digital down-conversion, filtering, decimation, channelization, and FFT-based signal analysis.
For SDR designers, Direct RF does not eliminate the analogue front end. Instead, it moves frequency translation and a greater portion of the signal-processing chain into the digital domain, while the RF front end continues to provide functions such as filtering, gain, matching and signal conditioning.
Figure 1: Simplified Direct RF SDR signal chain
Why Agilex® 9 Direct RF Is Well Suited for Next-Generation SDR?
Agilex® 9 Direct RF stands out for its ability to support extremely wideband RF signal acquisition and processing. Depending on the device, the Direct RF Series offers RF converter rates of up to 64 GSPS, enabling direct digitization of RF signals across wide portions of the spectrum, with up to 32 GHz of instantaneous receive bandwidth on supported wideband configurations. This wideband capability is further supported by high channel density, ultra-low converter interface latency, programmable FPGA fabric, integrated Quad-Core Arm® processing, and high-speed transceivers.
The combination of high-speed RF conversion and programmable FPGA processing enables functions such as digital down conversion, channelization, filtering, FFT processing, beamforming and real-time signal analysis to be implemented closer to the data source. This can reduce external data movement and enable more compact SDR architecture.
With transceiver speeds of up to 58 Gbps, Agilex® 9 can move large volumes of processed data efficiently within and beyond the SDR system. Together, these capabilities provide a highly integrated path from wideband RF signal acquisition to real time digital processing, making Agilex® 9 Direct RF well suited for demanding applications such as wideband SDR, radar, electronic warfare, satellite communications, and other high-performance RF systems.
Figure 2: Agilex 9 Direct RF-based SDR architectures
iWave Agilex® 9 Direct RF Solutions:
To address different RF processing and system integration requirements, iWave offers Agilex® 9 Direct RF solutions across multiple form factors and bandwidth categories:
- iG-G67M® Agilex® 9 R17B Wide-Band Direct RF System on Module
A wideband Direct RF SoM featuring 4 ADC and4 DAC channels with sampling rates of up to 64 GSPS, high speed transceivers up to 58 Gbps PAM4, and integrated Quad-Core Arm® Cortex®-A53 processing. - iG-G78M® Agilex™ 9 R31D Mid-Band Direct RF System on Module
A Mid-band Direct RF platform supporting 20 ADC channels at up to 4 GSPS and 16 DAC channels at up to 12 GSPS, providing high channel density for demanding RF processing applications. - iG-G67V® Agilex® 9 Direct RF 3U VPX Plug-in Module
A 3U VPX-based platform designed to bring Agilex® 9 Direct RF processing into high-performance system architectures, with 4 ADC and 4 DAC channels supporting sampling rates of up to 64 GSPS and high-speed transceivers up to 58 Gbps PAM4.
Together, these platforms provide flexible options for implementing wideband and mid-band RF processing in SoM and VPX-based SDR architectures, helping engineers move from RF evaluation and prototyping toward production oriented system development
From Wideband RF Acquisition to Real-Time Processing
The evolution of SDR is increasingly driven by the need to process more of the RF spectrum digitally while maintaining real-time performance, flexibility, and system efficiency. Agilex® 9 Direct RF brings high-speed RF data converters, FPGA-based processing, Arm® processing, and high-speed connectivity together in a single platform, enabling engineers to move a greater portion of the signal chain into programmable hardware.
For system designers, this architecture provides a path toward highly integrated SDR platforms capable of supporting wideband acquisition, real-time signal processing, and application-specific digital architecture.
iWave’s Agilex® 9 Direct RF solutions including the iG-G67M® R17B Direct RF Wide band SoM, iG-G78M® R31D Mid-Band Direct RF SoM, and iG-G67V® 3U VPX Plug in Module provide different form factors and RF bandwidth options for developing next-generation SDR, radar, electronic warfare, satellite communication, and RF test systems.
By combining Agilex® 9 with Direct RF technology with production ready SoM and VPX platforms, iWave enables engineers to accelerate the transition from wideband RF system development and evaluation to deployable high-performance embedded solutions.
iWave Global is a leading provider of embedded computing solutions specializing in System on Modules, FPGA platforms, and ODM services. With deep expertise in high-performance and RF systems, iWave enables customers to accelerate product development and time to market.
For more information, please write to mktg@iwave-global.com
