Software-defined radio (
SDR) is a
radio communication system where components that have been typically implemented in hardware (e.g.
mixers,
filters,
amplifiers,
modulators/
demodulators,
detectors, etc.) are instead implemented by means of software on a personal computer or
embedded system. While the concept of SDR is not new, the rapidly evolving capabilities of digital electronics render practical many processes which used to be only theoretically possible.