A software defined HF radio

Software defined radio (SDR) is a new approach for military radio systems. This new radio paradigm supports multiple channels with simultaneous waveforms, providing a new level of scalability and flexibility to the user, and allows for rapid technology insertion as it becomes available. This paper explores the insertion of legacy high frequency (HF) waveforms to one channel of a software defined radio with a focus on manpack radio (MPR) specific needs. The paper includes both software and hardware aspects of the complete radio system design. The paper will investigate hardware technology limits with respect to size, weight, power consumption, cost, and radio performance. The paper will look at the unique aspects of the HF communications that directly affect the software defined radio architecture.