Design and Characterization of Band 71 RF Front-End for Software-Defined Radios.

In this paper, the design of an RF Front-End (RFFE) for a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Community Cellular Network (CCN) operating at LTE Band 71 (600 MHz) will be discussed. Operating within the frequency range of Band 71 offers exceptional propagation characteristics, making it suitable for extending wireless coverage, particularly in remote and challenging terrains. A pivotal focus of investigation in this research lies in the design and integration of different RF components engineered to operate in the 600 MHz band. Characterization of these components was conducted, employing a combination of software simulation and laboratory test measurements. The goal was to ensure that these components facilitate optimal signal transmission and reception with minimal loss. Additionally, we implemented a housekeeping circuit aimed at monitoring the operating condition of the system to ensure stable performance. Furthermore, integration of the designed RF Front-end with Software-Defined Radio (SDR) was tested to verify its performance within the Band 71 spectrum. As the demand for cost-effective and mature 4G LTE implementations in developing countries is expected to grow significantly to complement 5G installations in urban markets, deployment of Band 71 RFFEs shows a promising opportunity for digital inclusion and universal access, bringing the benefits of modern communication to even the most remote regions.