What You’ll Learn in this Article 

What You'll Learn

• Where USRPs are used

• How to compare models based on specifications, capabilities, and price

• What software tools are available for USRP development

• How to get support selecting products or getting your application off the ground

Where USRPs Are Used

USRPs are deployed across research labs, defense programs, and commercial wireless development. Essentially, wherever an engineer needs a programmable, wideband RF front-end for testing or deployment.

The three tiers below cover the spectrum from low-cost USB devices to multi-channel RFSoC-embedded platforms, each optimized for a distinct set of application requirements and unified by common software support including GNU Radio, UHD (driver), MathWorks Simulink, and LabVIEW.

Entry-Level: B2xx, E3xx Series

The entry tier covers USB-connected (B2xx) and compact embedded (E3xx) nodes built on the AD936x transceiver. Low SWaP-C, full UHD and GNU Radio support, and a 70 MHz – 6 GHz frequency range make these the go-to starting point for new USRP users and lab-based research. The E320 adds a Zynq MPSoC for stand-alone deployment and RFNoC FPGA access.

Common applications:

• Wireless protocol prototyping and waveform design

• Spectrum monitoring and sensing

• O-RAN / srsRAN / OpenAirInterface bring-up

• University research and coursework

Key specs and & notes:

• 70 MHz – 6 GHz, up to 56 MHz IBW

• USB 3.0 interface (B2xx); GbE stand-alone (E3xx)

• AD9361/AD9364 transceiver; limited FPGA headroom for user IP

• E320 provides an embedded Zynq MPSoC for stand-alone deployment

Models: B200, B210, B206mini, E320

Mid-Range: N3xx, X3xx Series

The mid-range tier steps up to dedicated 10 GbE networking, larger Kintex-7 or Zynq MPSoC FPGAs, and multi-channel configurations with clock and LO distribution. The N321 supports phase-coherent arrays up to 128×128. The X310's daughterboard architecture provides frequency flexibility up to 8.4 GHz with OBX. Both families support RFNoC for inline FPGA signal processing.

Common applications:

• Coherent MIMO systems (N320/N321)

• Radar waveform prototyping and testing (pulse compression, Doppler processing)

• SIGINT front-ends with FPGA pre-processing

• Tactical communications development (O-RAN with LLS / eCPRI)

• Distributed radio networks with GPS synchronization

Key specs and & notes:

• 10 MHz – 6 GHz (OBX daughterboard extends X310 to 8.4 GHz)

• Up to 200 MHz IBW (N3xx); 160 MHz (X3xx)

• Kintex-7 410T (X3xx) or Zynq 7100 MPSoC (N3xx)

• N321 has built-in LO distribution hardware for phase-coherent arrays

• X3xx supports LabVIEW FPGA and RFNoC; 10 GbE host interface

Models: N310, N320, N321, X310

High-End: X4xx Series

The X4xx series is built on the AMD Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC — combining direct-sampling ADCs/DACs, onboard SD-FEC, multi-core ARM processors, and large programmable fabric in a single SoC. Instantaneous bandwidths from 400 MHz (X410) to 1.6 GHz (X440), frequency coverage up to 20 GHz (X420), and dual 100 GbE on the X440 make this the platform for demanding, production-grade wireless applications. Pairs with NVIDIA Jetson for on-platform AI/ML co-processing.

Common applications:

• Wideband signal intelligence (SIGINT) and spectrum monitoring

• Advanced radar research and waveform development

• SATCOM and non-terrestrial network (NTN) emulation

• Electronic warfare target emulation and threat injection

• 5G/6G research and over-the-air testing

• Edge AI/ML signal processing with NVIDIA Jetson and other GPUs

Key Specs and Notes:

• X410: 1 MHz – 7.2 GHz, 400 MHz IBW, 4×4 channels

• X420: 10 MHz – 20 GHz, 1 GHz IBW, 2×2 channels

• X440: 30 MHz – 4 GHz, 1.6 GHz IBW, 8×8 channels

• All built on Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC ZU28DR with onboard SD-FEC and ARM cores

• Dual 100 GbE (X440); PCIe Gen 3 on X410/X420 for host streaming

• Pairs with NVIDIA Jetson for edge AI/ML inference co-processing

Models: X410, X420, X440

Ku, and X Bands

Comparing NI USRP Models

The table below breaks down the key specifications across every current USRP model

• Tx/Rx channel count

• Frequency range

• Instantaneous bandwidth

• FPGA accessibility

These are the core capabilities that most directly drive hardware selection based on application requirements. Use it as a quick reference to get your bearings, then dig into the datasheet or reach out to our engineers for application-specific guidance.

Software Toolchain

Every USRP software-defined radio ships with support for a common driver, open-source frameworks, and graphical & model-based tools that help you design, test, and deploy your IP.

• UHD (USRP Hardware Driver) — The open-source, cross-platform driver that underpins all USRP development. UHD provides direct hardware access via C++ and Python APIs, and serves as the foundation for every other tool on this list. If you're building custom pipelines or integrating into an existing codebase, UHD is your starting point.

  
  

• GNU Radio — An open-source signal processing framework that connects directly to USRP hardware via UHD. GNU Radio Companion provides a graphical flow graph environment for building and testing signal chains without writing low-level code. The most widely used open-source SDR framework in both research and defense applications.

  
  

• MathWorks MATLAB & Simulink — MATLAB users can connect to N3xx, X3xx, and X4xx hardware via Wireless Testbench, which supports wideband capture, spectrum monitoring, and custom IP integration via RFNoC. B2xx and E3xx are supported through Communications Toolbox. Simulink adds model-based design and HDL code generation for FPGA deployment.

  
  

• RFNoC — NI's FPGA development framework for USRP hardware, providing a library of reusable, composable IP blocks that can be deployed directly to the onboard FPGA fabric. RFNoC abstracts the complexity of low-level HDL development, so that engineers can quickly iterate on waveform design and IP at the FPGA level, without needing significant digital engineering experience. Supported across E3xx, N3xx, and X4xx platforms, RFNoC is the primary path for inline FPGA signal processing (e.g., decimation, filtering, custom waveform processing) that needs to run at wire speed without host intervention.

  
  

• LabVIEW — NI's graphical development environment for USRP host programming and FPGA development. LabVIEW FPGA provides a unified toolchain for programming both the host and the onboard FPGA without dropping into Vivado. Supported on select NI-branded USRP models.

Engineering Support

Cyth Systems is an NI authorized distributor with hands-on expertise across many applications, including test automation, embedded controls & monitoring, and custom automation tools. Whether you need help selecting a model, experience a product demo, getting technical questions answered, or developing reserved inventory for your application, we provide engineering support and services. So if you're scoping a new program or just trying to get the right radio on the bench, let us know how we can help.