Development of an Affordable FPGA Board for Advancing Software-Defined Radio Research in Auchi Polytechnic

This paper detailed the design and development of an affordable software-defined radio (SDR) system tailored for academic environments at Auchi Polytechnic. The system integrated a moderately fast analog-to-digital converter (ADC), an audio digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and an off-the-shelf field-programmable gate array (FPGA) for digital signal processing. The primary objective was to enhance the teaching of fundamental engineering concepts related to communications. To demonstrate its capabilities, the system included hardware blocks for demodulating amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) signals. This approach provided a cost-effective solution for advancing SDR research and education. The SDR paradigm, which replaces traditional hardware configurations with flexible software-based solutions, has revolutionized communication receivers. Incorporating SDR into undergraduate curricula has become increasingly valuable, offering students hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies and skills relevant in both academic and industrial settings. While commercial SDR solutions such as the RTL-SDR dongle offer an accessible introduction to SDR concepts, they often fall short in providing a deep understanding of the underlying principles and design intricacies. To address this educational gap, the developed SDR platform aimed to offer practical experience and delve into the fundamental principles of SDR design, leveraging advancements in digital technologies like FPGAs and ADCs to create a cost-effective, educational SDR system.