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Getting Started with Deepwave Digital's AIR-T

Congratulations on your purchase of the Artificial Intelligence Radio Transceiver (AIR-T) by Deepwave Digital! This guide will help you get started quickly and ensure your AIR-T is set up correctly for use.

Unboxing Your New AI Radio

When you receive your AIR-T, ensure the package contains all the items that are included with your purchase. These items are model specific, so check Included Items section for your model in the navigation panel. Generally, your purchase should include

  • AIR-T device
  • Power supply or PoE injector (as per your configuration)
  • A cable pack (as per your configuration)

If any items are missing or damaged, please contact Deepwave Digital support immediately.

Register Your Product

Registering your device will give you access to the Deepwave Developer portal where you will find your available software download, AirStack updates, and have the ability to submit customer support tickets. We highly recommend registering your product. To register your device, complete the following steps:

  1. Create a user account on our Developer Portal.
  2. Once you are in the portal, click the Confirm Purchase link.
  3. Enter your Name, email, and the serial number of your AIR-T.

Once the Deepwave Digital Team confirms your purchase, you will be granted access to the Software Downloads section of the Developer Portal. Here you can download the latest AirStack operating system and firmware.

Setting Up the Hardware

Once you have unboxed and registered your product, it is time to get it setup. Each AIR-T comes with a setup included items to help you get started. These are described above and in the product guide specific to your model. You many select the model on the left menu. Te setup your AIR-T, perform the following steps:

  1. To interact with the radio, you will need the following accessories (not included):
    • USB keyboard and mouse
    • HDMI monitor
  2. Place the AIR-T on a stable, flat surface with adequate ventilation.
  3. Connect the keyboard, mouse and monitor to the AIR-T.
  4. Connect the power cable to the AIR-T.
    • For PoE devices, this will be done by plugging in the PoE injector and connecting the ethernet cable from the PoE injector to the AIR-T.
    • For AIR-T devices with a DC power supply, the power supply should be plugged into a power outlet and then the power supply may be plugged into the AIR-T.
  5. Turn on the unit by toggling the power switch or pressing the power button. Not that the Edge Series AIR-T likely powers on automatically when power is applied.
  6. Once the system boots, the Deepwave Digital logo will appear, followed by the account creation screen. Create an account and password, and name your computer. The system will reboot after this has been completed.
  7. At this point, you are ready to start using your AIR-T and may proceed to the 🔗 Running Your First Application section below.

Network Connectivity

The AIR-T's ethernet connection may be used to connect to a network and to remotely log in to the platform. To help you get started, we have opened port 22 for ssh by default. If this is not desired for your configuration, the user may disable port 22.

Running Your First Application

The Deepwave team has created a series of tutorials to help you get started with your new radio. These tutorials are located in the 🔗 Tutorials tab in the header of this documentation site. We recommend for your first application to be the 🔗 Receiving Samples with Python example.

In addition to the tutorials, you can find more information and additional resources may be found in the following places:

  • Deepwave GitHub - Our GitHub page may be found 🔗 here.
  • Open Source Tools - Open source tools are outlined in the Open Source section of the documentation.

Your AirStack License

Included with the purchase of an AIR-T is one year of AirStack support and maintenance. AirStack encompasses all software and drivers necessary for communicating with the AIR-T hardware. This includes:

  • FPGA firmware
  • Linux-based operating system
  • Deepwave's patented memory management drivers (i.e., zero-copy)
  • AIR-T specific device drivers
  • Containerization environments
  • Support for AI/ML frameworks

You will always have access to your software for the time period up to the license's expiration date. Renewing your license gives you continuing access to our latest software releases, roadmap, and support portal.

Updating AirStack

The AIR-T comes pre-installed with the latest version of AirStack as of the date the unit was manufactured. To verify that you have the latest version of AirStack, follow the following command in a terminal to query the AirStack version:

$ SoapySDRUtil --info

You can find the available versions of AirStack in the Software Downloads section of the Developer portal. If you need to update AirStack, you can follow the instructions in the 🔗 AirStack Installation of this documentation.

Powering Down the AIR-T

The primary method to power down the radio is to shut down the Linux operating system. This is done by choosing shutdown from the drop-down menu in the top left. If you are remotely logged into the radio, the following command may be issued from the terminal to power off:

$ sudo shutdown now

Note: the AIR-T Edge Series is design to be "always on," however the system may be halted by issuing the following command:

$ sudo halt

Frequently Asked Questions

We have assembled an extensive set of frequently asked questions by our developers. You may find those in the 🔗 FAQ tab above.

If you find that our FAQs, Tutorials, and documentation do not solve your issue, feel free to contact our support team by submitting a ticket in the Developer Portal. Note that you must be registered to access the support request form.

Support Request Form

Proper Handling of the AIR-T

The maximum recommended input power to the AIR-T RX channels varies depending on the model. Please refer to your model number to ensure that you are not exceeding this specification.

The AIR-T is a printed circuit board with many exposed conductors. It is essential that no conductive material be left near or in contact with the system, and it should not be exposed to liquids.

When handling ESD-sensitive electronic equipment, best practices include using an anti-static mat, wrist strap, and avoiding low humidity conditions.

Many AIR-T models perform RF calibrations when initializing. During the calibration procedure, calibration signals may be emitted from both the TX and RX ports. To ensure that connected equipment is not damaged, it is recommended to disconnect the AIR-T from any equipment and terminate with 50 Ohms during the radio initialization.

Compliance. The AIR-T (the "Product) is sold as test equipment. If you choose to use your Product to transmit using an antenna, it is your responsibility to make sure that you are in compliance with all laws for the country, frequency, and power levels in which the device is used. Additionally, some countries regulate reception in certain frequency bands. Again, it is the responsibility of the user to maintain compliance with all local laws and regulations. Deepwave Digital is not responsible for any lawsuits, fines, or damages that violate these laws or policies.

Terms of Sale. The AIR-T has a 12-month limited warranty as described 🔗 here.

Warranty. The AIR-T 12-month limited warranty may be found 🔗 here.