National Instruments has announced the launch of new educational platforms, the NI USRP-2920 and NI USRP-2921. Until now, universities have relied on computer-based simulations to practice theoretical concepts, but these products, as USRP (Universal Software Radio Peripheral) instruments, provide hands-on learning using actual signals in RF and communications laboratories. This new platform, consisting of NI USRP hardware, NI LabVIEW software, and learning course materials, offers an affordable commercial solution that enables students to directly practice the mathematical theories learned in existing lectures through real-world applications.

Thad Welch, professor and Ph.D. at Boise State University, stated, "In recent years, USRP has been gaining prominence in universities as a research tool in areas such as software-defined and cognitive radio. When educators use LabVIEW support and experimental materials for curricula alongside NI USRP, students can better understand RF and communications through hands-on experiments."

Using this platform, students can implement abstract mathematical theories in experiments utilizing real communication systems. The NI USRP device is characterized by having a software-tunable front end covering frequency ranges from 50 MHz to 2.2 GHz or 5 GHz ISM bands. Additionally, because this hardware integrates a software-reconfigurable RF transceiver and high-speed A/D and D/A converters, it is possible to stream baseband I and Q signals through gigabit Ethernet to the host PC at 20 MS/s speed for real-time spectrum access.

The effectiveness of NI USRP technology has been verified through use by undergraduate electrical engineering students at Stanford University in laboratory settings. These undergraduates were able to gain deeper understanding of engineering concepts through communication systems developed via hands-on projects during the spring 2011 semester.

Sachin Katti, associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Stanford University, stated, "I wanted students planning careers in engineering to experience real signals as early as possible. Through NI USRP and LabVIEW, students were able to experience actual RF and communications for the first time, which has been greatly beneficial for educators in teaching theoretical concepts and for students in learning them."

Educators can use the NI USRP platform to teach curricula and topics such as digital communications, communication systems design, antenna theory, digital modulation, wireless communications, software-defined radio, digital signal processing, and information theory. Additionally, the new USRP educational platform can be extended for communications practice, research, and rapid prototyping applications.