A flexible FPGA-based module for wireless communications in astroparticle physics experiments

TDMA-based wireless networks have been successfully operated in cosmic ray experiments over many years. However, the current DSP-based approach cannot be scaled to the demands of novel detection techniques. In this paper we present a design based on FPGAs which realizes a domain-specific TDMA communication protocol. The system is flexible to be adapted to different type of detector arrays and link condition by variable network parameters. The implemented hardware, firmware and the protocol allow a trade-off compromising between bandwidth and robustness on a per-link basis. Results based on four recently installed communication links at the Pierre Auger Observatory experiment site in Argentina are discussed.