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RF Subsystem (Clock, Antennas, Distribution)

Scope

Section titled “Scope”

RF clock and antenna assets that support synchronized SDR-based experiments.

Deployed Facts

Section titled “Deployed Facts”
  • Octoclock assets include mapping spreadsheets and a floor-plan location deck.
  • Mapping files use segment naming (SEGMENT A..G) and TNR-style identifiers.
  • Procurement artifact indicates deployment of Ettus CDA-2990 clock distribution accessories.
  • Antenna design branch contains patch design scripts, CAD, gerbers, and measurements.
  • Antenna README documents a center-frequency shift toward ~915 MHz after geometry adjustment.
  • patch.py encodes design parameters around 917 MHz with specified substrate assumptions.

B210

Section titled “B210”

RF experiments are executed on per-tile SDR endpoints. For tile-side platform details and operational context, see Tile Node Platform. Investigation repository for B210 synchronization methods: https://github.com/techtile-by-dramco/NI-B210-Sync.

Octoclocks

Section titled “Octoclocks”

Octoclocks provide the RF timing distribution reference for synchronized operation. For timing architecture and synchronization context, see Time & Synchronization.

Patch antenna

Section titled “Patch antenna”

The broadband patch antenna design and measurement artifacts are part of the RF toolchain. The plot below shows the 920 MHz centered span view used in the antenna measurements.

Techtile 920 MHz patch antenna measurement (center 920 MHz, span 400 MHz)

Interfaces

Section titled “Interfaces”
  • Upstream: timing reference and power/network availability.
  • Downstream: SDR tiles consuming distributed clock/reference and RF path assets.

Constraints and Risks

Section titled “Constraints and Risks”
  • RF mapping truth is split across xlsx/pptx and not centralized in one machine-readable contract.
  • Procurement docs are not topology docs; verify final installation against floor-plan assets.
  • RF chain coherence depends on both clock path and per-tile SDR configuration.

Depends On

Section titled “Depends On”
  • Tile endpoint availability.
  • Stable timing and power distribution.

Provides To

Section titled “Provides To”
  • RF experiment reproducibility (clocking and placement references).

Critical Paths

Section titled “Critical Paths”
  • Clock distribution interruption invalidates coherent multi-node RF experiments.
  • Segment/TNR mapping errors can invalidate experiment localization assumptions.