Design of a software-defined radio for use in the IEEE L- and S-band

This paper reports on the development and measurements of a software-defined radio front end spanning the IEEE L- and S-band [1]. Specifically, the GPS L1 and 2.4 GHz 802.11 signals are captured by the developed multi-purpose front end. Previous developments have focused on these individual frequency ranges but combining these frequency ranges can be beneficial to several types of applications, e.g. real-time location systems, cognitive radio development and low-cost development platforms. Furthermore, the front end is capable of receiving signals well outside the intended applications due to the flexibility of the design. We present the development of the front end and elaborate on our component choices. After which we discuss and interpret the captured measurements. These outcomes prove that even with modest hardware it is possible to develop and construct a working SDR front end capable of receiving a multitude of signals.