Wideband Downconverters

For information on Downconverter IP cores, including ChannelCore64 please see here.

RF Engines Ltd (RFEL) has developed high specification FPGA-based downconverter channelisers for a range of different applications. The cores are designed to extract a number of signals from a wideband input source, filter and downconvert to baseband. The range of cores available includes fixed configuration cores that are optimal for a specific fixed requirement and configurable cores that provide real-time control of channel parameters such as centre frequency, bandwidth and output rate.

Being FPGA-based, RFEL's existing reference designs can be tailored to meet particular processing and interface requirements, such as input/output format, number of channels, dynamic range and filter shape.

The designs are based on novel frequency transform techniques that allow downconversion of a large number of channels in a highly efficient manner, reducing system cost and complexity. The designs are sold as Intellectual Property (IP) cores to equipment manufacturers and allow a reduced risk route and a faster design cycle.

More Information
- Multichannel Downconverter Product Sheet
- Products Overview
- Need help ?
Multichannel Downconverter

The channeliser range includes the following classes of core.

1) Fixed multichannel downconverter cores that channelise a very large number (up to thousands) of channels, where the channels have a fixed spacing and all share the same filter shape and output sample rate.

2) Flexible multichannel downconverter cores providing channelisation of a large number (up to hundreds) of relatively narrowband channels from a wideband input. These channeliser cores can be used to efficiently extract channels from any dynamically selectable frequency with a very wide variety of channel sample rates and filter characteristics/bandwidths.

3) Wideband DDC cores providing downconversion of a few relatively wideband channels from a wideband input.


Key Features :

• Downconversion of 1000s of channels in a single FPGA.• Wide input bandwidths supported, up to GHz
• Use of silicon efficient frequency transform techniques for channelisation.
• Bit true Matlab models allow simulation of the channeliser, reducing the development risks.
• Xilinx and Altera FPGA devices supported
• Designs are customised for each application to minimise silicon usage

Key Applications

• Telecommunications base stations• Satellite communication systems
• Software defined radio
• Military communications systems
• Radio monitoring systems




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RFEL (RF Engines Ltd), Innovation Centre, St Cross Business Park, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5WB
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