China National Instruments(NI) Ettus USRP X440 software Defined Radio Device Products, Product

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China National Instruments(NI) Ettus USRP X440 software Defined Radio Device Products, Product

The Ettus USRP X440 is a software-defined radio (SDR) device that facilitates the integration of hardware and software for developing high-performance, multi-channel, wideband signal generation and analysis systems. This SDR employs a direct-sampling transceiver architecture, featuring eight transmit channels and eight receive channels.

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Product Description

Overview

The NI Ettus USRP X440 is a high-performance, scalable software-defined radio (SDR) device designed for wideband wireless research, prototyping, and commercial deployment. As part of the Ettus Research product line (a leader in SDR technology), it combines ultra-wide frequency coverage, high data throughput, and flexible software integration—making it ideal for applications like 5G/6G research, radar systems, satellite communications, and wireless signal intelligence.

1. Hardware Design: Scalability & Flexibility

The USRP X440's hardware architecture prioritizes modularity and ease of integration, adapting to diverse test and deployment needs:

Modular Front-End: Equipped with dual Qorvo QPD6020 wideband transceivers (high-performance RFICs) that handle frequency conversion, filtering, and gain control. The front-panel features SMA connectors for Tx/Rx signals, enabling direct connection to antennas, signal generators, or DUTs (devices under test) without complex adapters.
Scalability: Supports MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) expansion—multiple USRP X440 units can be synchronized via a common 10 MHz reference clock and PPS (pulse-per-second) trigger, enabling larger MIMO configurations (e.g., 4×4, 8×8) for 5G massive MIMO or multi-antenna radar testing.
Power & Form Factor: Designed as a desktop/rack-mountable unit (1U rack height option available) with a fan-cooled enclosure for stable operation in lab or field environments. It requires external DC power (12 V) and is compact enough for portable research setups.
Built-In Calibration: Includes on-board calibration circuitry (e.g., internal signal generators, power detectors) to automate gain, phase, and frequency calibration—ensuring consistent performance over time and across temperature variations.

2. Software Integration: NI Ecosystem & Open-Source Support

A key strength of the USRP X440 is its seamless integration with software tools and open-source SDR frameworks, enabling rapid prototyping and deployment:

NI Software Compatibility

Fully supported for graphical programming via LabVIEW's SDR Toolkit to build custom Tx/Rx waveforms, and the USRP Hardware Driver (UHD) for low-level access to hardware settings on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Open-Source Compatibility

Works with popular open-source SDR tools including GNU Radio for building custom wireless protocols, and MATLAB/Simulink via the UHD driver for algorithm development and signal classification.

Commercial Deployment

For production-scale applications, the USRP X440 can be paired with LabVIEW Real-Time for deterministic, low-latency processing, or integrated into custom systems via Linux-based runtime.

3. Key Applications

5G/6G Research & Prototyping: Enables testing of 5G NR waveforms (sub-6 GHz), massive MIMO, beamforming, and early-stage 6G research exploration.
Radar & Sensing: Used for developing short-range radar (e.g., automotive ADAS, industrial sensing) or synthetic aperture radar (SAR) prototypes.
Satellite Communications: Supports ground-station prototyping for L/S/C-band satellite links and wideband satellite signal processing.
Signal Intelligence & Monitoring: Ideal for dynamic spectrum access (DSA) systems, interference detection, and wireless network monitoring.
Academic & Industrial Research: A staple in university labs and industrial R&D teams for validating theoretical signal processing models and IoT protocols.

Specifications

Technical Specifications

Specification Category	Details
Product Model	Ettus USRP X440
Device Type	Wideband Software-Defined Radio (SDR) for research, prototyping, and commercial deployment
Frequency Range	70 MHz – 7.2 GHz (baseband); extendable to lower/higher bands via optional external upconverters/downconverters
Instantaneous Bandwidth	Up to 200 MHz per Tx/Rx channel (maximum bandwidth supported for real-time IQ data streaming)
Transmit (Tx) Channels	2 independent Tx channels (2×2 MIMO capable)
Receive (Rx) Channels	2 independent Rx channels (2×2 MIMO capable); expandable to larger MIMO configurations via multi-device synchronization
Tx Performance	• Output Power (P1dB): ≥ 10 dBm (typical at 2 GHz) • Harmonic Distortion: ≤ -50 dBc (typical at 1 GHz, 0 dBm output) • Spurious Emissions: ≤ -60 dBc (typical, outside signal bandwidth)
Rx Performance	• Noise Figure (NF): ≤ 3 dB (typical at 1 GHz) • Input Third-Order Intercept Point (IIP3): ≥ 15 dBm (typical at 1 GHz) • Dynamic Range: ≥ 70 dB (typical, over 200 MHz bandwidth)
RF Front-End	Dual Qorvo QPD6020 wideband transceivers (RFICs); integrated low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), power amplifiers (PAs), and filters
RF Connectors	SMA female connectors (1 per Tx channel, 1 per Rx channel); SMA male for 10 MHz reference clock input/output
Host Interface	100 GbE (Ethernet) port (SFP28 connector); supports real-time IQ data streaming up to ~2 GB/s
Synchronization	• Reference Clock: 10 MHz external reference (input/output) • Trigger: PPS (Pulse-Per-Second) trigger input/output for multi-device synchronization (MIMO expansion) • GPSDO option: Optional GPS-disciplined oscillator for precise time/frequency synchronization
Power Requirements	12 V DC input; typical power consumption: 30 W (operating), 5 W (standby)
Form Factor	Desktop/rack-mountable; 1U rack height (optional rack ears); dimensions: 254 mm (W) × 178 mm (D) × 44 mm (H) (10 in × 7 in × 1.73 in)
Weight	~1.5 kg (3.3 lb) (net weight, excluding cables and accessories)
Operating Temperature	0 °C – 50 °C (32 °F – 122 °F); storage temperature: -40 °C – 70 °C (-40 °F – 158 °F)
Software Compatibility	• Drivers: USRP Hardware Driver (UHD) v4.0+ (supports Windows, Linux, macOS) • Programming Environments: LabVIEW (with SDR Toolkit), GNU Radio, MATLAB/Simulink, Python (via UHD bindings) • Real-Time Support: LabVIEW Real-Time, Linux RT
Calibration	On-board automated calibration (gain, phase, frequency); recommended calibration interval: 12 months
Compliance Standards	• EMC: EN 61326-1, CISPR 22 Class A • Safety: IEC 61010-1, UL 61010-1, CSA C22.2 No. 61010-1 • Environmental: RoHS 3 compliant
Included Accessories	100 GbE SFP28 transceiver module, 12 V DC power supply, power cable, quick-start guide
Optional Accessories	External GPSDO (for precise synchronization), 1U rack ears, high-performance 100 GbE cables, external upconverters/downconverters (for extended frequency range)

Models & Delivery

Model Configuration & Shipping Info

Model Overview

Ettus USRP X440 Software Defined Radio Device

MHz to 4 GHz, 1.6 GHz Bandwidth, GPS-Disciplined OCXO, USRP Software Defined Radio Device.

Delivery & Dimensions

Dimensions: 254 * 178 * 44 mm
Weight: 1.5 kg
Shipping Information: Delivery times, shipping methods, and packaging details may vary depending on the location of purchase.

Resources

Manuals & Downloads

Ettus USRP X440 Software Defined Radio Device Datasheet

Ettus USRP X440 Software Defined Radio Device.pdf

Download PDF

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RF frequency range of the USRP X440?

The baseband frequency range of the USRP X440 is 70 MHz to 7.2 GHz. The range can be extended to lower or higher bands through optional external upconverters/downconverters.

How much instantaneous bandwidth does the USRP X440 support?

It supports up to 200 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth per Tx/Rx channel for real-time IQ data streaming.

Does the device support MIMO configuration?

Yes, it features 2 independent Tx channels and 2 independent Rx channels (2×2 MIMO capable). Multiple devices can be synchronized via a common 10 MHz reference clock and PPS trigger for larger MIMO expansions.

What software tools and programming environments can I use with this device?

The USRP X440 is compatible with the USRP Hardware Driver (UHD) v4.0+, and supports programming environments such as LabVIEW, GNU Radio, MATLAB/Simulink, and Python.

What high-speed interface does the USRP X440 use to connect to a host?

It features a 100 GbE port with an SFP28 connector, supporting real-time IQ data streaming up to approximately 2 GB/s.

What are the main application areas for the USRP X440?

Key applications include 5G/6G wireless prototyping, short-range and SAR radar development, satellite communication ground stations, and signal monitoring/intelligence.