Hardware compatibility

[clmoi90]

Dear,

I am studying in INHA University for the Master degree. For my thesis, I am working on the linearization of defined software radio (mainly to linearize harmonics and intermodulation produced by IQ modulator). I need to buy some stuff for the test bench and I have some Hardware questions.

The test bench will be composed of:

-   A FPGA DE2 altera (http://www.altera.com/education/univ/materials/boards/de2/unv-de2-board.html) to run the algorithm and produce the input signal.
-   A modulator DAC5682zEVM (http://www.ti.com/tool/dac5682zevm) or DAC34H84EVM (http://www.ti.com/tool/dac34h84evm) to upconvert my input signal.

The signal produced by the FPGA will be upconverted by the modulator then I need to analyze the output signal. I cannot get a spectrum analyzer. So I want to transfer the signal on my computer to analyze it with a software. What do you think about using an ADC to transfer the output signal from the modulator to the FPGA and then from the FPGA to my computer?

What are the characteristics I have to check when I choose an ADC?

Do you think the ADS1118EVM (http://www.ti.com/tool/ADS1118EVM ) is appropriate to link a DAC5682zEVM (or other) and a FPGA (as the DE2 of Altera). Moreover, this ADS1118EVM has an USB port; does it mean that I will be able to get the output directly on the computer without feedback the DAC5682zEVM into the FPGA?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Best regards,
Ludovic

[marshallh]

For minimal time wasted you'll want to grab an eval board from TI (formerly national division) or Analog Devices.
They are typically a combo of a general purpose high-end FPGA board and a vendor-supplied eval board for the data converter along with sample set ups.
Expect to pay $1k-4k. Now if you want to build it yourself, you have much more reading and building to do.

Now, if you want to jump specifically to SDR analysis, consider getting something built for that:

In order of decreasing price:
1. Ettus USRP
2. Ettus B200/B300
3. nuand bladerf
4. HackRF

The complexity of your design will depend on how much bandwidth you need and what max freq to work with

[marshallh]

That converter board you linked is built for thermocouples at 860 samples per second.
If you don't know where to start, start with a 100msps 12/14bit ADC and 250/500msps 10/12bit DAC. That should cover most everything you'd want to do. You are going to have your work cut out for you trying to build a system around those.