Agile Zynq-7000 EPP software-defined radio kit

Clive Maxfield

June 20, 2012

Clive Maxfield

Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas has announced that order entry is now open for the Zynq-7000 Extensible Processing Platform (EPP) and Analog Devices Software-Defined Radio (SDR) Kit.

Designed by Avnet and Analog Devices, this kit offers engineers a proven platform to test, design, and deliver a wide range of wireless communication functions; from baseband to radio-frequency (RF). The kit includes the FMCOMMS1-EBZ, Analog Devices’ newest FPGA mezzanine card (FMC), which allows engineers to quickly combine high-speed analog and high-performance digital circuitry.

 “The emergence of smart mobile devices with bandwidth-consuming applications has created explosive demand for high-speed wireless services,” said Luc Langlois, technology director, DSP, Avnet Electronics Marketing. “The Zynq-7000 EPP/Analog Devices Software-Defined Radio Kit combines high-speed analog signal chain with programmable logic-based digital signal processing under the control of Linux application software on embedded ARM dual-core Cortex-A9 and 28nm programmable logic. This robust platform for wireless is ideal for system designers who are creating future-proof products to support evolving wireless standards.”

The Zynq-7000 EPP/Analog Devices Software-Defined Radio Kit was designed in collaboration with Analog Devices and combines the Avnet ZedBoard, featuring the Xilinx Zynq-7000 EPP, along with the Analog Devices FMCOMMS1-EBZ analog, front-end FMC module for high-speed data acquisition in a variety of compute-intensive FPGA-based applications.

The complete Zynq-7000 EPP/Analog Devices Software-Defined Radio Kit includes:

• Avnet ZedBoard;
• Analog Devices FMCOMMS1-EBZ FMC Module;
• ISE Design Suite: WebPACK with node locked Chipscope Pro license;
• Getting Started Guide;
• Two Pulse 4G LTE blade antennas (frequency bands - 698-960 / 1710-2170 / 2500-2700 MHz);
• Two MMCX to MMCX coax cables;
• Downloadable Linux drivers, applications software, HDL source, reference designs, full schematics and Gerber files.

“The FMCOMMS1-EBZ simplifies the integration of the high-speed analog signal chain using the AD9643, 14-bit, 250 MSPS dual A/D converter and the AD9122, 16-bit, 1200 MSPS dual D/A converter with high-performance digital signal processing in systems of increasing complexity and functionality,” said Dave Babicz, director of Global Alliances, Analog Devices, Inc. “The FMCOMMS1-EBZ reference design includes software, schematics, HDL and drivers that allow engineers to maximize their resources by moving quickly and confidently through prototyping and evaluation for a range of applications.”

“The Zynq-7000 EPP/Analog Devices Software-Defined Radio Kit is a comprehensive DSP platform that accelerates our customers’ productivity and reduces their time to market. This kit integrates reference designs and tools along with all the necessary hardware to provide a future-proof solution for customers developing wireless systems,” said Tom Hill, senior marketing manager, DSP marketing, Xilinx, Inc.

To get a first-hand look at the Zynq-7000 EPP/Analog Devices Software-Defined Radio Kit, visit the Analog Devices booth, No. 1725, at the International Microwave Symposium in Montreal, Canada, June 17-21, 2012.

Availability
All of Avnet’s development kits are available from AvnetExpress.com. Shipments for the Software-Defined Radio Kit will begin in July. Click Here for more information.

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