High-capacity turn-key modem solution for E- and V-band microwave radios

Altera and Escape Communications have announced the availability of a high-performance, cost-effective and scalable microwave modem solution that enables rapid system development and accelerates production shipments for microwave backhaul and fronthaul applications. Seamless Integration with Analog and RF Partners, TI and Infineon The Escape platform (ESM-5008) integrates TI’s 12-bit, 800-MSPS ADC (ADS5402) and 16-bit, 1.25 GSPS DAC (DAC5682Z) on a compact 159mm x 159mm board and is provided with link management software. The ESM-5008 platform operates with multiple microwave and millimeter-wave modules enabling support for traditional and emerging millimetre applications. “Altera and Escape have developed a ready-for market microwave backhaul platform that integrates all the key components for a microwave backhaul and fronthaul solution enabling fast-time to market,” said Mike Fitton, director of wireless, Communications Business Unit, Altera. “Altera will continue to support the emerging microwave backhaul market with industry-leading SoC FPGAs as the required data rate continues to expand.” Escape Communications CEO and founder Mike Stewart, added: “We are pleased to provide this cost-effective, market-ready solution to the emerging V- and E-band markets. This solution, with its integration with our analog and RF partners, shortens the time-to-market for equipment providers, and several OEMs are now driving these into the market. The Escape backhaul modem IP is currently optimized for use on the Altera Cyclone V and Arria V FPGAs and SoCs operating at bandwidths of up to 1 GHz and modulation types from QPSK to 4096 QAM.” Features include : 1 - The turn-key platform includes an Arria V FPGA, host processor, Ethernet PHY, and Texas Instruments (TI) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs). 2 - The platform includes both copper and SFP Ethernet ports and supports CPRI over SFP up to 3Gbps. For E- and V-band applications, the solution supports up to 256 QAM and RF channel bandwidths to 500 MHz providing data rates greater than 3Gbps. 3 - The modem board interfaces with various millimetre wave OEM RF modules, allowing customer flexibility to support multiple, millimetre-wave bands; it also features adaptive coding and modulation (ACM), IEEE 1588v2, and SyncE support. 4 - For licensed band applications, the platform supports up to 4096 QAM in 112 MHz and 1024-QAM in 224 MHz channels and is offered as IP or board solution. Mobile World Congress 2015, March 2 to March 5.