An Analysis of Low-Cost SDRs to Meet City-Wide Spectrum Utilization Measurement Requirements

This paper surveys the current marketplace offerings for low-cost software-defined radio (SDR) technology and proposes a framework for cost-optimizing distributed sensing networks using a scenario in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service band. To determine which SDR to select, it is necessary to model sensor performance within its operating context. We identify detection radius as a metric of primary concern in cost-optimizing a sensor network, and determine that further work is required to evaluate the sensitivity of low-cost SDRs.