Every design starts somewhere – a need arises, and a solution must be found. There are research phases, development phases, and finally, an end product that hopefully meets all requirements. The path from initial idea to final product can many times be made easier if some of the work has already been done. Enter the reference design supplying the essentials that can then be updated and modified as necessary.

Freescale Semiconductor supplies one such reference design, a modular AdvancedMC platform for WiMAX base stations. WiMAX, the next generation of broadband wireless access, provides a means of wireless data transfer using a variety of transmission modes. Freescale’s Rapid System Development reference platform provides a starting point for those customers designing base station equipment and includes both hardware and software for a complete solution.

The design uses BittWare’s GX-AMC AdvancedMC for the FPGA/Fiber to Antenna interface, providing a flexible radio interface for the system along with dynamic algorithmic data processing. Based on the high-density Altera Stratix II GX FPGA, the GX-AMC AdvancedMC provides an ideal solution for the interface, enabling complete reconfigurability to support any required protocol - CPRI, OBSAI, or custom. BittWare's ATLANTiS FrameWork, implemented in the FPGA, provides seamless routing of the I/O.