Chapter 9 / 9.6 / 9.6.9

9.6.9 What Is Software-Defined Radio (SDR), And Why Has It Changed Communications?

Discover how software-defined radio replaces hardware with software. Learn about digital signal processing, direct conversion, digital up- and down-conversion, field-programmable gate arrays, and why SDR has transformed commercial, military, satellite, and amateur radio systems.

1. What Is Software-Defined Radio?
2. Why Is It Called Software-Defined Radio?
3. How Does an SDR Differ from a Traditional Radio?
4. Does an SDR Eliminate All Hardware?
5. What Is an Analogue-to-Digital Converter?
6. What Is a Digital-to-Analogue Converter?
7. What Is Digital Signal Processing?
8. What Is Digital Down-Conversion?
9. What Is Digital Up-Conversion?
10. What Is an FPGA?
11. What Is a General-Purpose Processor?
12. Why Is SDR So Flexible?
13. Can SDR Be Updated?
14. Where Is SDR Used?
15. Why Is SDR Important for the Military?
16. How Has SDR Changed Satellite Communications?
17. Is SDR Used in Mobile Networks?
18. Are There Any Disadvantages?
19. What Is Cognitive Radio?
20. Will Future Radios Be Entirely Software Defined?
21. Why Has SDR Been Such a Revolutionary Development?

Read full FAQ