Vanteon vProtean User manual

Vanteon Corp. | 888.506.5677 | 585.419.9555 | 99 Garnsey Road, Suite 200 | Pittsford, NY 14534 | www.vanteon.com
TM
Revision 3.2
Eval Kit Features
The vProtean™Evaluation Kit offers the following
key features:
• Convenient Carrier card that mounts directly to
the vProtean SDR
• Easy to use menu-based interface running on
your host PC
• Ability to independently control both TX and RX
channels
• Set the center frequency of each channel
• Toggle both TX and RX channels on/off
• Monitor the RSSI of both RX channels
• Select from a number of pre-defined waveforms
to transmit
• Transmit a custom waveform that you load on
the SD card
• Trigger and capture a specified number of RX
samples to the SD card
• Monitor the FPGA and transceiver temperature
About Vanteon
Vanteon is a design services company offering complete electronic
systems design and engineering solutions with a focus in Wireless
and RF design. We offer Analog, Digital, and RF Hardware design,
as well as Software and FPGA design services. To learn how
Vanteon’s expertise can be enlisted to help solve your most
pressing challenges, visit the Vanteon website at
https://vanteon.com .
Vanteon has been voted one of the “Best Companies to Work for
in NY” for more than a decade.

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Vanteon Corp. | 888.506.5677 | 585.419.9555 | 99 Garnsey Road, Suite 200 | Pittsford, NY 14534 | www.vanteon.com
Contents
1Introduction...................................................................................................................... 1
2Proper Care and Handling .................................................................................................. 1
3Evaluation Kit Contents ..................................................................................................... 2
4Technical Overview ........................................................................................................... 2
4.1 Block Diagram ............................................................................................................ 2
4.2 vProtean Evaluation Kit Specifications ......................................................................... 2
5vProtean Interfaces ........................................................................................................... 3
5.1 vProtean Connectors................................................................................................... 4
5.1.1 J14 Connector ...................................................................................................... 4
5.2 Switches..................................................................................................................... 4
5.3 LEDs ........................................................................................................................... 4
5.4 Mounts ...................................................................................................................... 4
6vCarrier Interfaces............................................................................................................. 5
6.1 vCarrier Connectors (Revision D) ................................................................................. 5
6.2 Test Points.................................................................................................................. 6
6.3 Switches..................................................................................................................... 6
6.4 LEDs ........................................................................................................................... 6
6.5 Mounts ...................................................................................................................... 6
7Evaluation Kit Assembly..................................................................................................... 7
8User Console ..................................................................................................................... 7
8.1 Main Menu................................................................................................................. 9
8.1.1 TX1/RX1 and TX2/RX2 Settings Menu.................................................................. 10
8.1.2 TX1 and TX2 File Select Menu ............................................................................. 11
8.1.3 RX Waveform Capture Settings Menu ................................................................. 11
9Customer Support ........................................................................................................... 12
10 Terms and Conditions of Sale........................................................................................... 13
10.1 General Product Terms ............................................................................................. 13
10.2 One Year Warranty ................................................................................................... 13
11 Copyright Notice ............................................................................................................. 13
12 Trademark Acknowledgement ......................................................................................... 13

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Vanteon Corp. | 888.506.5677 | 585.419.9555 | 99 Garnsey Road, Suite 200 | Pittsford, NY 14534 | www.vanteon.com
1Introduction
The Vanteon vProtean™is a 2x2 software defined radio (SDR) that targets communications, signal intelligence, and other
multi-band processing applications. It is based on the Analog Devices ADRV9004 highly integrated wideband RF transceiver
and the Xilinx Zynq-7020 all programmable System-on-Chip (SoC). The vProtean SDR has a custom RF front end that is
highly flexible, allowing its frequency range to be configured from 30 to 6000 MHz.
Each vProtean SDR is pre-loaded with the vProtean SDR Evaluation Kit (VPROKIT-21) firmware. The VPROKIT-21
firmware includes Vanteon proprietary, programmable logic cores and executable code to perform transmit and receive
functions via a menu-based UI over USB enabled com port from a host computer (host not included). An encrypted Vivado
Project of the VPROKIT-21’s FPGA firmware, along with source code of the User Interface (UI) firmware is available under
a free license agreement. The vProtean schematic and layout design files, and Vanteon-proprietary DSP cores are available
with a paid license. Contact Vanteon Sales for more information.
The vProtean SDR evaluation kit is sold for evaluation purposes. If you choose to use your
vProtean SDR evaluation kit to transmit using an antenna, it is the user’s responsibility to make
sure that they are in compliance with all local laws and regulations.
2Proper Care and Handling
All Vanteon products are thoroughly tested before shipment. The vProtean SDR is guaranteed to be functional at the time
it is received by the customer. Improper use or handling of the vProtean SDR can easily cause the device to become non-
functional. Listed below are some examples of actions which can prevent damage to the unit:
•Never allow metal objects to touch the circuit board while powered.
•Always properly terminate the transmit port with an antenna or 50Ωload.
•Always handle the board with proper anti-static methods.
•Never allow the board to directly or indirectly come into contact with any voltage spikes.
•Never allow any water, or condensing moisture, to come into contact with the boards.
•Never apply more than 0 dBm of power into any RF input.
•Always use at least 30dB attenuation if operating in a loopback configuration.
The vProtean SDR evaluation kit is supplied with heatsinks of the FPGA and transceiver IC.
Under heavy processing and/or high output power levels additional airflow may be required to
ensure the components remain in the specified operating temperature range to prevent damage.

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Vanteon Corp. | 888.506.5677 | 585.419.9555 | 99 Garnsey Road, Suite 200 | Pittsford, NY 14534 | www.vanteon.com
3Evaluation Kit Contents
The vProtean SDR Evaluation Kit (VPROKIT-21-C) contains the following items:
•vProtean Software-Defined Radio
•vProtean Carrier (vCarrier) with mounting hardware
•120VAC power supply
•USB cable (Type A to Type C)
•16GB microSD card with SD card adapter
4Technical Overview
4.1 Block Diagram
4.2 vProtean Evaluation Kit Specifications
Frequency Band 1
30 to 6000 MHz
Instantaneous
Bandwidth
12 kHz to 40 MHz
Number of
transmitters
2
Number of
receivers
2
Maximum
Transmit Power
+19 dBm
Maximum Input
Receive Power
0 dBm
Antenna
connections
50ΩMMCX RF connectors
Power control
Wide range of output power from –20 dBm to +19 dBm
Flash
512 Mb
DDR SDRAM
4 Gb
vCarrier Input
Voltage
6-30 VDC

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Vanteon Corp. | 888.506.5677 | 585.419.9555 | 99 Garnsey Road, Suite 200 | Pittsford, NY 14534 | www.vanteon.com
5vProtean Interfaces
Figure 1: vProtean RevC, Top View
Figure 2: vProtean RevC, Bottom View

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Vanteon Corp. | 888.506.5677 | 585.419.9555 | 99 Garnsey Road, Suite 200 | Pittsford, NY 14534 | www.vanteon.com
5.1 vProtean Connectors
The vProtean SDR has a number of connectors that allow it to be interfaced to the vCarrier board, as well as connectors
for external antennas. The table below lists all of the connectors and their associated functions. Refer to Figure 1 and
Figure 2 for connector locations.
Connector
Type
Function
J2
2x50 100 pin header
JTAG, UART, Boot Mode, Power, Reset, USB, Ethernet, SD
Card, I2C, GPIO
Contact Vanteon for additional information
J3
MMCX
Transmit 1
J5
MMCX
Receive 1
J7
MMCX
Transmit 2
J9
MMCX
Receive 2
J10
MICTOR
Debug
J11
MMCX
External Clock
J14
2-pin PicoBlade header
Fan Connector
5.1.1 J14 Connector
The J14 connector is a fan connector that can be used to provide cooling for the evaluation kit. It can deliver 5V up to
200mA. Connect a suitable fan using a Molex PicoBlade connector (for example, Molex part number 15134-0200).
Pin
Description
1
FAN -
2
FAN +
5.2 Switches
The vProtean SDR has two switches, whose function is described in the table below.
SW1
Switch
Boot Mode. Move to position J (towards Vanteon logo) for JTAG boot mode,
position Q for QSPI or SD card booting. Can be overridden by carrier jumpers.
SW2
Pushbutton
Reset. Can also be driven from carrier board.
5.3 LEDs
The vProtean SDR has two LEDs, whose function is described in the table below.
LED1
Blue
On when Zynq 7020 programmable logic has been programmed
LED2
Green
Software control
5.4 Mounts
The vProtean SDR has one mounting point. In the standard configuration, it is designed for a standoff height from a carrier
PCB of 9.5mm (3/8”).
MNT
Standoff
Use threaded spacer, screws and locking washer (supplied in kit). The smaller
head screw is intended for the top side, to avoid collision with RF connectors

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Vanteon Corp. | 888.506.5677 | 585.419.9555 | 99 Garnsey Road, Suite 200 | Pittsford, NY 14534 | www.vanteon.com
6vCarrier Interfaces
6.1 vCarrier Connectors (Revision D)
Connector
Type
Function
JM2
100 pin header
JTAG, UART, Boot Mode, Power, Reset, USB, Ethernet, SD
Card, I2C, GPIO
Contact Vanteon for additional information
J1
Header
User Defined Differential IO (optional, if fitted)
J2
RJ45
Ethernet 1 interface (Not supported)
J3
RJ45
Ethernet 0 interface
J4
USB-C
USB –UART serial interface
J5
Header
I2C 3.3V interface
J6-13
Header
2.5V GPIO. Jumpers may be used to set input levels, or
removed to use center pins as outputs.
Contact Vanteon for additional information
J14
DC Jack
2.5mm DC barrel jack for system power input.
6-30VDC, 20W
J15-16
Header
Boot mode jumper select. May be used to override vProtean
boot mode switch, otherwise leave off.
Contact Vanteon for additional information
J17
Header
USB power enable. Unused with DC supply.
J18
USB-Micro
USB-OTG host/device interface (Not supported)
SKT1
microSD
microSD card connector for storage of system firmware and
TX/RX data.

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Vanteon Corp. | 888.506.5677 | 585.419.9555 | 99 Garnsey Road, Suite 200 | Pittsford, NY 14534 | www.vanteon.com
6.2 Test Points
The vCarrier has 9 test points for measuring system voltages, whose function is described in the table below.
GND0-3
Test Hook
System ground
TP_1V0
Test Hook
Carrier 1.0V
TP_1V8
Test Hook
Carrier 1.8V
TP_2V5
Test Hook
Carrier 2.5V
TP_5V
Test Hook
Carrier 5.0V
TP_BUS
Test Hook
System input supply voltage
6.3 Switches
The vCarrier has two switches, whose function is described in the table below.
SW1
Slider
System power switch. Slide right to enable power from DC jack.
SW2
Pushbutton
System Reset
6.4 LEDs
The vCarrier has eight LEDs, whose function is described in the table below.
D2-9
Green
Displays the status of GPIO0-7
6.5 Mounts
The vProtean SDR has mounting points for the system and for the vProtean SDR. In the standard configuration, it is designed
for a standoff height from a carrier PCB of 9.5mm (3/8”).
MNT1-4
Foot
vCarrier mounting points. Fitted with rubber feet as default
MNT5
Standoff
Use threaded spacer, screws and locking washer (supplied in kit). The
smaller head screw is intended for the top side, to avoid collision with RF
connectors

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Vanteon Corp. | 888.506.5677 | 585.419.9555 | 99 Garnsey Road, Suite 200 | Pittsford, NY 14534 | www.vanteon.com
7Evaluation Kit Assembly
Follow the step by step instructions below to assemble your vProtean SDR evaluation kit.
Please refer to Section 2 for proper care and handling
For more information view our setup video here, or visit our website at
https://vanteon.com/vprotean/
1. Install the provided microSD card into the microSD socket (SKT1) on the vCarrier.
2. Connect the vCarrier USB-C port (J4) to a customer provided PC using the provided cable.
3. Connect the supplied AC power supply to the DC Jack (J14) on the vCarrier.
4. Connect the AC power supply to an AC outlet.
5. Turn on the vProtean SDR evaluation kit by sliding the switch (SW1) on the vCarrier towards the DC Jack (J14).
8User Console
The vProtean SDR evaluation kit is preloaded with a menu-based application that allows a user to perform transmit and
receive functions through the USB interface. This section explains how to use the vProtean SDR evaluation application. The
examples in this section refer to software version 3.4. Older versions may not support some of the features listed.
To access the preloaded evaluation application connect the vProtean SDR evaluation kit USB port to a PC using the
appropriate USB cable. Use a terminal emulator program (for example, PuTTY or HyperTerminal) on the PC to open a
terminal session using the virtual COM port associated with the vProtean SDR evaluation kit.

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Vanteon Corp. | 888.506.5677 | 585.419.9555 | 99 Garnsey Road, Suite 200 | Pittsford, NY 14534 | www.vanteon.com
To determine the appropriate virtual COM port, open Device Manager and find the associated USB Serial Port. In the
example below COM4 should be used.
Configure the virtual serial port in the terminal emulator as 115200 baud-8-N-1. See example below.