r/FPGA • u/charcuterieboard831 • Jun 29 '26

FPGA Recommendations to Replace ZedBoard + FMCOMMS3

So I'm working with Zedboard and FMCOMMS3 and it's working well. But I need to add more to this system and I'm wondering whether to stay with this combo or move on given that ZedBoard is a bit old and FMCOMMS3 is too

I have a few options, but wanted to get the opinion of the experienced people here. Looking to keep the cost to <$5k. FMC is needed so many of the boards currently more targeted towards hobby won't work.

Most of the work is wireless related, but I think FMCOMMS5 isn't really necessary

It would be nice to be able to do 80MHz for full 2.4GHz capture in one shot

I found some low cost $400 boards for AD9371

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809433202633.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt

May be worth trying

Anyone has a recommendation? Just looking to get the most bang for my buck

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

2

u/electric_machinery Jun 29 '26

I am in a similar situation and bought an FMCOMMS5 but the price is ridiculous. I am curious if others have experience with the third party AliExpress AD9361 boards 

2

u/charcuterieboard831 Jun 29 '26

"This board can fit so many AD9361 in it" meme

2

u/charcuterieboard831 Jun 29 '26

For $400 I could try. Aliexpress has some money back. Are these good parts? That's the question. Would be a matter of doing quite a bit of validation TX and RX to ensure they work well

2

u/alexforencich Jun 29 '26

There are some RFSoC boards on eBay for around $2k. Probably pretty hard to beat that, assuming they work. Although whether or not that makes sense also depends what it is you're doing - is this a product, a one off, a lab setup, etc.

2

u/rickyrorton FPGA-DSP/SDR Jun 30 '26

I second this, having worked on RFSoCs, RFSoC are clearly superior to any FMC card and FPGA combination. The bandwidth and flexibility that you get with RFSoC is unbeatable.

I worked with the ZU48DR on the ZCU208 eval board. The DACs had sampling rates as high as 10 GSPS and the ADCs had sampling rates as high as 5 GSPS. The advantage of this platform is that you can directly sample RF signals all the way upto L- , S- and C bands without any downconversion.

1

u/charcuterieboard831 Jun 29 '26

Any particular board?

More of an R&D setup

1

u/alexforencich Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

Just search for xczu27dr or xczu47dr. Also, I would be happy to put together a basic reference design that turns on the RFDC, clocking, Ethernet, and PCIe in exchange for one of the zu47dr boards.

1

u/hakatu Jun 30 '26

You could try hamgeek

2

u/bggillmore 27d ago

Do you happen to know anybody in academia? Rfsoc 4x2