Forum: GNU Radio DARPA Spectrum Challenge

By now many of you have heard about the DARPA Spectrum Challenge. 
Everyone
should know that the deadline to register is January 31st, so please 
don't
forget to register your teams.  To register, you just fill out a web 
form.
 The hard work comes later :)

   http://www.darpa.mil/spectrumchallenge/

The DARPA Spectrum Challenge is a competition to demonstrate a radio
protocol that can best use a given communication channel in the presence 
of
other dynamic users and interfering systems.  You can win up to 
$150,000.

We are very proud that the challenge will use USRP radios in the ORBIT
radio testbed at Winlab of Rutgers University:

    http://www.winlab.rutgers.edu/docs/focus/ORBIT.html

A number of people have commented on the mistaken belief that the 
contest
is only open to people in the US.  From the Spectrum Challenge Web Site:

The person identified as the team leader must be a U.S. citizen or
permanent resident (green card holder) at time of registration and
throughout the competition. Other team members need not be U.S. citizens 
or
permanent residents.

I would really like to see teams from all around the world participate, 
so
if anyone outside the US would like to participate but cannot find an
American to be team leader, please let me know and I will try to help 
you
find someone.

Some other thoughts on this --

 - You are not required to use GNU Radio.  You can code directly to the 
UHD
library, but I anticipate most people will use GNU Radio.

- I think the optimal size for a team is 2-3 people, maybe 4 at the 
most.
 You can have up to 10 members, but that seems likely to add very 
little,
so don't worry if you can't find a big group.

- Qualifying teams can get USRPs for development purposes, so don't let 
a
lack of hardware dissuade you from entering.

I truly believe this contest is one of the most exciting recent
developments in SDR, and I hope there will be a lot of participation 
from
members of the list.

Matt Ettus