This page contains information on how you can build a powerful software radio research platform based on Microsoft Research Software Radio technology and the Academic Kit.

First, please understand that this is not a Microsoft product. It comes with no warranties and we disclaim all liabilities. If this ever causes any one any harm, you will indemnify Microsoft. (In another word, you do it at your own risk! Don’t touch it if you don’t know what you are doing.) Further, no intellectual property is granted; all IPs belong to Microsoft or their respective owners. It can only be used for non-commercial academic research and education purpose.

You will need to acquire the following items:

1. A Multi-core PCShuttle XPC SX58H7 with RCB and RF plugged in.

We recommend you use a workstation-class PC with a quad-core CPU (e.g., a game machine).  We suggest Intel core i7-9xx or i7-2600 series (we are having some compatibility issues with i7-8xx), although other Intel "Nehalem", "Sandy Bridge", or "Core 2" CPU may also work.  We haven't tested out any AMD processor.

The PC should have at least one free full-size PCIe x8 or x16 slot. (Note that many low-budget PCs have only PCIe x1 slots or video-card-only slots. Those won't work.)

The amount of memory and disk space is less important and depends on what you plan to do. 2G RAM has been sufficient for us.

The PC brand that we use most often is "Shuttle XPC" for its small form factor. Here are some models that have worked for us, and will likely work for you as well:

2. RCB

You will need to obtain an RCB board. If you sign and return this agreement, we will connect you to a local make-to-order OEM.  Note that we (Microsoft) do not make or sell RCB boards. The OEM makes the hardware to fit Sora spec, and charge you a fee to cover the components and assembling (plus S&H).

The ballpark estimate is RMB¥10,000 (US$1.5K). The actual amount will be set by the OEM and affected by component market price and also currency exchange rate.

The current RCB supports single channel only, but it is firmware upgradeable to MIMO in the future.

3. Driver and SDK

We can download the software here: Sora SDK 1.6.

SDK v1.6 is a major upgrade to previous v1.5. It has upgrated the UMX API and support a new Reflection mechanism to integrate user-mode SDR modem into Windows network stack. We release a new modular programming library, called Brick, for high-performance DSP programs. Lastly, we also include two powerful tools in v1.6: the DbgPlot tool for real-time monitoring and debugging, and the UMXSDRab utility - an interactive 802.11a/b modem application based on UMX Reflection. 

SDK v1.5 is a major facelift from previous v1.0 and v1.1. It fixes almost all bugs known to us (like the bluescreens) and substaintially changes the implementation to provide a more flexible, robust, and friendly developing environment. In particular, we have a new ethread scheduler, a full-fledged user-mode extension, and a set of new tools for testing hardware and tuning RF parameters (gains, I/O imbalance, central frequency), etc.

The PDF version of the Sora Manual is here.

The current version is for Windows XP only, so the PC must run Windows XP. (The next version is expected to be for Windows 7.) Also, you must have RCB hardware installed before you can load and run the driver and SDK.

4. Radio Front-ends

If you want to conduct wireless experiments over-the-air, you will need to connect the Academic Kit with a Radio Front-end. (Of course you must follow your local laws and regulations about radio frequency use and obtain license if necessary.)

The following is a list of third-party Radio Front-ends that are known to work with the Academic Kit. We will update the list when more become available and have been tested. Again, we (Microsoft) do not make or sell any Radio Front-end, nor do we endorse any particular brands or makers.

• Note 1. These radios currently work in single channel setting. We don't know if they will work with future MIMO driver/firmware.
• Note 2. A WARP-Sora adapter is required to connect this radio to the RCB board and can be ordered from the same RCB vendor.
• Note 3. A USRP-Sora adapter is required to connect this radio to the RCB board and can be ordered from the same RCB vendor.

If you have or know of a Radio Front-end that is proven to work with our Academic Kit, please let us know.

5. Tools, samples, applications

• 802.11b and 802.11a/g sample code: included in Sora SDK
• Colombo SDK: a software-development kit and simulator environment
• (More coming soon)

What's New!

• Sora SDK Ver 1.6 is released!

Quick Links

• Get hardware (RCB)
• Get software (SDK) 

Related Links

• Sora project page
• Wireless and Networking Group at Microsoft Research Asia

Discussion

• Visit the Software Radio Forum

Cost Estimation

For budgetary purpose only. Actual cost will vary.

• Multi-core PC: $1K to $2K
• RCB: $1.5K
• WARP radio: $2K (+adapter: $85)
• USRP radio: $400 (+adapter: $800)

Current Academic Users

• Beihang University (CN)
• Beijing Jiaotong University (CN)
• Beijing University of Post & Telecom (CN)
• Carnegie-Mellon University (US)
• Chinese Academy of Science (CN)
• Communication University of China (CN)
• Duke University (US)
• ETH Zurich (CH)
• Fudan University (CN)
• Huazhong University of Science & Technology (CN)
• Hong Kong Polytechnic University (CN/HK)
• Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (CN/HK)
• Humboldt University Berlin (GR)
• International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IN)
• Jiangnan University (CN)
• Keio University (JP)
• Korea University (KR)
• Nanchang University (CN)
• National Taipei University of Technology (TW)
• National University of Defense Technology (CN)
• North Carolina State University (US)
• Peking University (CN)
• POSTECH (KR)
• Seoul National University (KR)
• Stanford University (US)
• Stevens Institute of Technology (US)
• Tennessee Tech University (US)
• Tongji University (CN)
• Tsinghua University (CN)
• University of California, Davis (US)
• University of California, Los Angeles (US)
• University of California, San Diego (US)
• University of Cambridge (UK)
• University College London (UK)
• University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (US)
• University of Michigan (US)
• University of Texas at Austin (US)
• University of Washington (US)
• University of Wisconsin-Madison (US)
• Xian Jiaotong University (CN)
• Xidian University (CN)
• Yonsei University (KR)
• Zhejiang University (CN)