# RFSoC4x2 as multi-channel SDR

**URL:** <https://discuss.pynq.io/t/rfsoc4x2-as-multi-channel-sdr/7638>\
**Category:** Community corner\
**Created:** [October 27, 2024, 10:40am UTC](https://discuss.pynq.io/t/rfsoc4x2-as-multi-channel-sdr/7638 "2024-10-27T10:40:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jacob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f1d935/32.png) [@jacob](https://discuss.pynq.io/u/jacob)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2024, 10:40am UTC](https://discuss.pynq.io/t/rfsoc4x2-as-multi-channel-sdr/7638/1 "2024-10-27T10:40:44Z")

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Hello guys

I have a new RFSoC4x2 board and first of all I have to say it looks absolutely great with so many educational open-source resources, it’s really excellent and thanks for that.

I want to use the board as a multi-channel SDR, the principle is well described in the RFSoC SDR book by strath\_sdr. I’ve been working with SDR for a while as user, but this Pynq ecosystem is new to me. I’d like a simple case to start with - rx and streaming IQ samples to PC. I would like to try two scenarios

1. as in example [01\_rf\_dataconverter\_introduction.ipynb](https://github.com/Xilinx/RFSoC-PYNQ/blob/master/boards/RFSoC4x2/base/notebooks/rfdc/01_rf_dataconverter_introduction.ipynb) use Python API for receiver and send via USB3 IQ samples.
2. add a QSFP interface to the Base overlay (example of qsfp [GitHub - strath-sdr/rfsoc\_qsfp\_offload: RFSoC QSFP Data Offload Design with GNU Radio](https://github.com/strath-sdr/rfsoc_qsfp_offload)) and stream data through it.

I would like to start with case 1 which is simple for me. But I’m a little worried how the Python API (as in example in 01\_rf\_dataconverter\_introduction.ipynb) will handle the data stream, let’s say I’d like to transfer 100 MHz bandwidth IQ samples in real time (4 bytes per IQ). Does anyone have experience with this please?

I suppose case number 2. (via QSFP) will be more suitable and will allow much more bandwidth to be transmitted, there is also a great example of streaming to GNU radio, but adding it to BaseOverlay requires hw design, which is new to me ( or it might be enough to use the rfsoc\_qsfp\_offload Overlay so I can control the ADC/DAC, not sure yet)

Can I ask you for some experience and some tips on how to do it?

Many thanks  
Jacob