PySDR: A Guide to SDR and DSP using Python

by Dr. Marc Lichtman

• 1. Introduction
  • Purpose and Target Audience
  • Contributing
  • Acknowledgements
• 2. Frequency Domain
  • Fourier Series
  • Time-Frequency Pairs
  • Fourier Transform
  • Time-Frequency Properties
  • Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)
  • Negative Frequencies
  • Order in Time Doesn’t Matter
  • FFT in Python
  • Windowing
  • FFT Sizing
  • Spectrogram/Waterfall
  • FFT Implementation
• 3. IQ Sampling
  • Sampling Basics
  • Nyquist Sampling
  • Quadrature Sampling
  • Complex Numbers
  • Complex Numbers in FFTs
  • Receiver Side
  • Carrier and Downconversion
  • Receiver Architectures
  • Baseband and Bandpass Signals
  • DC Spike and Offset Tuning
  • Sampling Using our SDR
  • Calculating Average Power
  • Calculating Power Spectral Density
  • Further Reading
• 4. Digital Modulation
  • Symbols
  • Wireless Symbols
  • Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK)
  • Phase Shift Keying (PSK)
  • IQ Plots/Constellations
  • Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)
  • Frequency Shift Keying (FSK)
  • Differential Coding
  • Python Example
  • Further Reading
• 5. PlutoSDR in Python
  • Overview of the PlutoSDR
  • Software/Drivers Install
  • Receiving
  • Transmitting
  • Transmitting and Receiving Simultaneously
  • Maia SDR and IQEngine
  • Reference API
  • Python Exercises
  • Pluto+
  • AntSDR E200
  • AntSDR E310
• 6. USRP in Python
  • Software/Drivers Install
  • Receiving
  • Transmitting
  • Transmitting and Receiving Simultaneously
  • Subdevice, Channels, and Antennas
  • Syncing to 10 MHz and PPS
• 7. BladeRF in Python
  • bladeRF Architecture
  • Software and Hardware Setup
  • bladeRF Python API Basics
  • Receiving Samples in Python
  • Transmitting Samples in Python
  • Oscillators, PLLs, and Calibration
  • Sampling at 122 MHz
  • Expansion Ports
  • Further Reading
• 8. RTL-SDR in Python
  • RTL-SDR Background
  • Software Setup
  • Testing the RTL-SDR
  • RTL-SDR Python Code
  • Further Reading
• 9. HackRF One in Python
  • HackRF Architecture
  • Software and Hardware Setup
  • Tx and Rx Gain
  • Receiving IQ Samples within Python with the HackRF
• 10. Noise and dB
  • Gaussian Noise
  • Decibels (dB)
  • Noise in Frequency Domain
  • Complex Noise
  • AWGN
  • SNR and SINR
  • External Resources
• 11. Filters
  • Filter Basics
  • Filter Representation
  • Convolution
  • Filter Implementation
  • FIR Filter Design
  • Arbitrary Frequency Response
  • Intro to Pulse Shaping
• 12. Link Budgets
  • Introduction
  • Signal Power Budget
  • Noise Power Budget
  • SNR
  • Example Link Budget: ADS-B
• 13. Channel Coding
  • Why We Need Channel Coding
  • Types of Codes
  • Code-Rate
  • Modulation and Coding
  • Hamming Code
  • Soft vs Hard Decoding
  • Shannon Limit
  • State of the Art Codes
• 14. IQ Files and SigMF
  • Binary Files
  • Python Examples
  • Coming from MATLAB
  • Visually Analyzing an RF File
  • Max Values and Saturation
  • SigMF and Annotating IQ Files
  • SigMF Collection for Array Recordings
• 15. Multipath Fading
  • Multipath
  • Fading
  • Simulating Rayleigh Fading
  • Mitigating Multipath Fading
• 16. Pulse Shaping
  • Inter-Symbol-Interference (ISI)
  • Matched Filter
  • Splitting a Filter in Half
  • Specific Pulse Shaping Filters
  • Roll-Off Factor
  • Python Exercise
• 17. Synchronization
  • Introduction
  • Simulating Wireless Channel
  • Time Synchronization
  • Time Synchronization with Interpolation
  • Coarse Frequency Synchronization
  • Fine Frequency Synchronization
  • Frame Synchronization
• 18. End-to-End Example
  • Introduction to FM Radio and RDS
  • The RDS Signal
  • Acquiring a Signal
  • FM Demodulation
  • Frequency Shift
  • Filter to Isolate RDS
  • Decimate by 10
  • Resample to 19 kHz
  • Time Synchronization (Symbol-Level)
  • Fine Frequency Synchronization
  • Demodulate the BPSK
  • Differential Decoding
  • RDS Decoding
  • RDS Parsing
  • Wrap-Up and Final Code
  • Acknowledgments
  • Further Reading
• 19. Beamforming & DOA
  • Beamforming Overview
  • Direction-of-Arrival Overview
  • Types of Arrays
  • SDR Requirements
  • Intro to Matrix Math in Python/NumPy
  • Steering Vector
  • Receiving a Signal
  • Conventional Beamforming & DOA
  • 180-Degree Ambiguity
  • Beam Pattern
  • Array Beamwidth
  • When d is not λ/2
  • Number of Elements
  • Spatial Tapering
  • Manually Changing Weights
  • Adaptive Beamforming
  • MVDR/Capon Beamformer
  • Covariance Matrix
  • LCMV Beamformer
  • Null Steering
  • MUSIC
  • ESPRIT
  • Circular Arrays
  • Training Data
  • Conclusion and References
• 20. Phased Arrays with Phaser
  • Hardware Overview
  • SD Card Preparation
  • Hardware Preparation
  • Software Install
  • HB100 Setup
  • Calibration
  • Pre-built Example App
  • Phaser in Python
  • Monopulse Tracking
  • Radar with Phaser
  • Conclusion
• 21. Cyclostationary Processing
  • Introduction
  • Review of Autocorrelation
  • The Cyclic Autocorrelation Function (CAF)
  • The Spectral Correlation Function (SCF)
  • Frequency Smoothing Method (FSM)
  • Time Smoothing Method (TSM)
  • Pulse-Shaped BPSK
  • SNR and Number of Symbols
  • QPSK and Higher-Order Modulation
  • Multiple Overlapping Signals
  • Alternative CSP Features
  • Spectral Coherence Function (COH)
  • Conjugates
  • FFT Accumulation Method (FAM)
  • OFDM
  • Signal Detection With Known Cyclic Frequency
  • Cyclic Filtering with FRESH Filters
• 22. Real-Time GUIs with PyQt
  • Introduction
  • Qt Overview
  • Basic Application Layout
  • Application with Worker Thread
  • Signals and Slots
  • PyQtGraph
  • Layouts
  • QPushButton
  • QSlider
  • QComboBox
  • Lambda Functions
  • PyQtGraph’s PlotWidget
  • PyQtGraph’s ImageItem
  • Worker Thread
  • PyQt Signals
  • Worker Thread Slots
  • Worker Thread Run()
  • Final Example Full Code
• 23. About the Author