Editor’s Note: This content is contributed by Josh Sullivan, Product Line Manager for Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC Boards & Kits

Xilinx has released the world-class, Zynq® UltraScale+™ RFSoC ZCU216 Evaluation kit, specially built for system architects and RF designers. This revolutionary platform delivers the power of an adaptable radio platform in a power-efficient, high-performance development system with full software programmability.

Introducing the New Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC ZCU216 Evaluation Kit

Targeted specifically for 5G wireless, aerospace and defense, and the test and measurement industry, the ZCU216 kit is the ideal platform for rapid prototyping and cutting-edge RF application development in the sub-6GHz range.

The ZCU216 kit delivers high direct RF sampling rates – 16 14-bit RF-ADCs operating at 2.5GSPS and 16 14-bit RF-DACs operating at 10GSPS – with the Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC ZCU49DR device. It also includes two 4GB DDR4 memories on the ZCU216 evaluation board itself. The ZCU216 evaluation board features various interfaces and connectors to enable a broad range of RF designs with I/O expandability through RFMC 2.0 RF connectors, standard FMC+ interface, SFP28 interfaces, SATA M.2 connector, USB 3.0 connection, and much more.

Add-On Cards for Fast Evaluation and Prototyping

The newly added three add-on cards provide the complete RF development environment for the ZCU216 kit users and allow the user to get up and running straight out of the box.

The XM650 16T16R N79 band loopback add-on card is perfect for those designers who wish to check 16T16R loopback without needing any external cables or connections. The designer is able to check any loopback combination of 1-16 channels from 4.5GHz-5GHz, which is critical for 5G deployments.

The XM655 16T16R breakout add-on card is ideal for in-depth performance measurements with multi-tile synchronization (MTS) capability. With built-in baluns and filters, it enables robust reference design for system architects and RF designers.

The CLK104 RF add-on card allows users to configure an internal (up to 1.2GHz) reference clock and an external RF PLL (up to 10GHz) sampling clock.

Comprehensive Development Tools

A critical component of designing any complex system is offering a comprehensive suite of software tools. Xilinx offers a rich ecosystem of design resources such as the Vivado® Design Suite, the RF data converter evaluation tool, RF analyzer debug tool, and the power advantage tool to facilitate high-application development for any RF project.

The ZCU216 evaluation kit provides an excellent development platform that provides all the tools needed to hit the ground running and jump-start comprehensive RF-class analog designs with greater performance and full customization capability.

To find out more on the ZCU216 kit and to order, visit  www.xilinx.com/zcu216.

For more information on Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC, visit www.xilinx.com/rfsoc.

Original date: 03-17-2020