DAQ Array

Overview

A high-speed USB data acquisition device with two operating modes. In raw sampling mode, it delivers three synchronized channels at 40 MSPS each. In IQ demodulation mode, it outputs complex baseband I/Q streams centered at 50 MHz with 10 MHz bandwidth — with an integrated L1/L5 switchable RF front end ahead of the converters, so the instrument brings its own band selection rather than depending on anything else in the chain.

Plug-and-play USB connectivity makes it suitable for rapid prototyping, software-defined radio, and laboratory signal analysis without dedicated PCIe hardware.

All three channels are sampled simultaneously with known phase relationships, which is what makes the instrument usable as the digitizer behind multi-antenna array work — coherent processing and direction finding depend on the relative phase between channels being stable and known. The diversity GNSS antenna array is the other multi-antenna project in this section.

Board Render

Key Specifications

Parameter	Value
Channels	3 (simultaneous, synchronized)
Raw Sampling Rate	40 MSPS per channel
IQ Demodulation	50 MHz center frequency, 10 MHz bandwidth
RF Front End	Integrated L1/L5 switchable front end (current configuration)
Interface	USB 3.0 (USB-C)
Resolution	High-speed ADC
Triggering	Internal and external trigger options
Form Factor	Compact enclosure, bus-powered option
Variants	Current: DAQ array with the integrated L1/L5 switchable front end — future: DAQ-only variant, [TBD]

Key Features

• Dual Operating Modes — Switch between 40 MSPS raw sampling and IQ demodulation on the fly
• IQ Demodulation — Complex baseband output centered at 50 MHz with 10 MHz bandwidth, ready for SDR processing
• Integrated L1/L5 RF Front End — Band selection between L1 and L5 is built into the current configuration of the instrument
• Three Synchronized Channels — Sample across all channels simultaneously with known phase relationships
• 40 MSPS Raw Mode — Capture wideband signals and transient events with high temporal resolution
• USB Connectivity — No PCIe slot required, works with laptops and embedded hosts
• Streaming Architecture — Continuous data streaming to host over USB for real-time processing
• Software SDK — Cross-platform API for integration into custom applications

Applications

• Software-defined radio (SDR) — direct I/Q baseband capture through the integrated L1/L5 switchable front end
• Multi-channel signal analysis and recording
• Phased array and direction finding development
• Radar and communications testbed
• Education and research laboratory use

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Detailed Specifications (Preliminary)

Values marked [TBD] are unresolved. Rows that carry a figure are the existing published product text, not a measured specification.

Analog Input

Parameter	Min	Typ	Max	Unit
Number of Channels	—	3	—
Sample Rate (per channel)	—	40	—	MSPS
RF Front End	—	Integrated L1/L5 switchable front end (current configuration)
ADC Resolution	—	[TBD]	—	bits
Input Bandwidth	—	[TBD]	—	MHz
Input Voltage Range	[TBD]	[TBD]	[TBD]	V
Input Impedance	—	[TBD]	—	Ω
Input Coupling	—	[TBD]	—	AC / DC
SFDR (typical)	—	[TBD]	—	dBc
SINAD (typical)	—	[TBD]	—	dB
Channel-to-Channel Isolation	—	[TBD]	—	dB
Channel Skew	—	[TBD]	—	ps

IQ Demodulation Mode

Parameter	Min	Typ	Max	Unit
Center Frequency	—	50	—	MHz
Bandwidth	—	10	—	MHz
I/Q Sample Rate	—	[TBD]	—	MSPS (complex)
I/Q Resolution	—	[TBD]	—	bits per component
Image Rejection	—	[TBD]	—	dBc
LO Feedthrough	—	[TBD]	—	dBm
Quadrature Error	—	[TBD]	—	deg
Gain Imbalance (I/Q)	—	[TBD]	—	dB
Output Format	Interleaved I/Q ([TBD]) or dual-channel streaming

Digital / Interface

Parameter	Value
Host Interface	USB 3.0 (USB-C)
Maximum Sustained Throughput	[TBD]
Data Streaming	Continuous, real-time
Trigger Modes	Software, external, internal
Onboard Buffer	[TBD]
FPGA	[TBD]
SDK / API	C / Python ([TBD])
Supported OS	Linux, Windows, macOS

Mechanical

Parameter	Value
Dimensions	[TBD]
Weight	[TBD]
Enclosure	[TBD] (e.g., extruded aluminum)
Input Connectors	[TBD] (e.g., SMA, BNC)
Power	Bus-powered or external [TBD]

Environmental

Parameter	Value
Operating Temperature	[TBD]
Storage Temperature	[TBD]
Humidity	[TBD]

Documentation

The draft product specification collects this page's structure, document control and specification tables into one document. It is stamped as content not final on every page and is not a released specification.