National Instruments (NI), the provider of a software-defined platform that helps in accelerating the development and performance of automated test and automated measurement systems, announced two series of new millimetr wave (mmWave) radio heads for the mmWave transceiver system. The new radio heads, which cover spectrum from 24.5 GHz to 33.4 GHz and 37 GHz to 43.5 GHz, have targeted wireless researchers prototyping 5G New Radio (NR) systems. The 24.5-33.4 GHz radio heads include the mmRH-3642, mmRH-3652 and mmRH-3602, and the 37-43.5 GHz radio heads include the mmRH-3643, mmRH-3653 and mmRH-3603.
The new radio heads are completely compatible with the mmWave transceiver system, including the baseband subsystem and software. They are also interchangeable with the previously released mmWave radio heads, which means the existing software can be reused with minimal changes.
The open, modifiable physical layer provided in the source code, created using LabVIEW, aligns with the Verizon 5G TF specifications and Release 15 of 3GPP’s 5G NR specifications. In addition to this, it pairs with the mmWave transceiver system to offer researchers a flexible solution that operates as an over-the-air communications system out of the box. Further, the source code can be modified for their specific research areas and used for a wide range of applications including channel sounding, 5G NR algorithm development and optimisation, and beam steering algorithm research and testing.
