1 .. -*- coding: utf-8; mode: rst -*-
5 **************************************
6 Software Defined Radio Interface (SDR)
7 **************************************
9 SDR is an abbreviation of Software Defined Radio, the radio device which
10 uses application software for modulation or demodulation. This interface
11 is intended for controlling and data streaming of such devices.
13 SDR devices are accessed through character device special files named
14 ``/dev/swradio0`` to ``/dev/swradio255`` with major number 81 and
15 dynamically allocated minor numbers 0 to 255.
21 Devices supporting the SDR receiver interface set the
22 ``V4L2_CAP_SDR_CAPTURE`` and ``V4L2_CAP_TUNER`` flag in the
23 ``capabilities`` field of struct
24 :c:type:`v4l2_capability` returned by the
25 :ref:`VIDIOC_QUERYCAP` ioctl. That flag means the
26 device has an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC), which is a mandatory
27 element for the SDR receiver.
29 Devices supporting the SDR transmitter interface set the
30 ``V4L2_CAP_SDR_OUTPUT`` and ``V4L2_CAP_MODULATOR`` flag in the
31 ``capabilities`` field of struct
32 :c:type:`v4l2_capability` returned by the
33 :ref:`VIDIOC_QUERYCAP` ioctl. That flag means the
34 device has an Digital to Analog Converter (DAC), which is a mandatory
35 element for the SDR transmitter.
37 At least one of the read/write, streaming or asynchronous I/O methods
41 Supplemental Functions
42 ======================
44 SDR devices can support :ref:`controls <control>`, and must support
45 the :ref:`tuner` ioctls. Tuner ioctls are used for setting the
46 ADC/DAC sampling rate (sampling frequency) and the possible radio
49 The ``V4L2_TUNER_SDR`` tuner type is used for setting SDR device ADC/DAC
50 frequency, and the ``V4L2_TUNER_RF`` tuner type is used for setting
51 radio frequency. The tuner index of the RF tuner (if any) must always
52 follow the SDR tuner index. Normally the SDR tuner is #0 and the RF
55 The :ref:`VIDIOC_S_HW_FREQ_SEEK` ioctl is
59 Data Format Negotiation
60 =======================
62 The SDR device uses the :ref:`format` ioctls to select the
63 capture and output format. Both the sampling resolution and the data
64 streaming format are bound to that selectable format. In addition to the
65 basic :ref:`format` ioctls, the
66 :ref:`VIDIOC_ENUM_FMT` ioctl must be supported as
69 To use the :ref:`format` ioctls applications set the ``type``
70 field of a struct :c:type:`v4l2_format` to
71 ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_SDR_CAPTURE`` or ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_SDR_OUTPUT`` and use
72 the struct :c:type:`v4l2_sdr_format` ``sdr`` member
73 of the ``fmt`` union as needed per the desired operation. Currently
74 there is two fields, ``pixelformat`` and ``buffersize``, of struct
75 struct :c:type:`v4l2_sdr_format` which are used.
76 Content of the ``pixelformat`` is V4L2 FourCC code of the data format.
77 The ``buffersize`` field is maximum buffer size in bytes required for
78 data transfer, set by the driver in order to inform application.
81 .. c:type:: v4l2_sdr_format
83 .. tabularcolumns:: |p{4.4cm}|p{4.4cm}|p{8.7cm}|
85 .. flat-table:: struct v4l2_sdr_format
92 - The data format or type of compression, set by the application.
93 This is a little endian
94 :ref:`four character code <v4l2-fourcc>`. V4L2 defines SDR
95 formats in :ref:`sdr-formats`.
98 - Maximum size in bytes required for data. Value is set by the
102 - This array is reserved for future extensions. Drivers and
103 applications must set it to zero.
106 An SDR device may support :ref:`read/write <rw>` and/or streaming
107 (:ref:`memory mapping <mmap>` or :ref:`user pointer <userp>`) I/O.