BusinessWire
October 18, 2005 04:00 AM US Pacific Timezone

Spectrum Signal Processing Introduces Rapid-Prototyping Platform with Single Slot Modem for Wideband MILCOM Applications

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 18, 2005--Spectrum Signal Processing Inc. (TSX:SSY)(NASDAQ:SSPI) today announced at MILCOM 2005 the flexComm(TM) SDR-3000 SMRDP, an "RF to Ethernet" wideband military communications (MILCOM) rapid-prototyping and development platform. This fully integrated, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software defined radio platform is designed to reduce the effort and schedule required for the development of both Software Communications Architecture (SCA) and non-SCA-enabled MILCOM programs. The SDR-3000 SMRDP is a 'skinny' version of Spectrum's SDR-3000 MRDP, launched November 2004, providing a single-slot modem hardware solution integrating the latest Xilinx(R) Virtex-4(TM) field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology with Spectrum's proven MPC7410 PowerPC(TM) and TMS320C64x(TM) digital signal processing technology. The SDR-3000 SMRDP is specifically targeted at customers who need to start with one transceiver channel and scale up in single channel increments. This platform can be expanded and extended utilizing any of the cards and modules in the flexComm product line. The SDR-3000 SMRDP integrates Spectrum's SDR-3000 SCA-enabled platform with a DRT 2110 radio frequency (RF) front-end transceiver from Digital Receiver Technology, Inc. (DRT) based in Germantown, MD, providing a complete "RF to Ethernet" solution operating from 20 MHz to 3GHz.

"The SDR-3000 SMRDP takes advantage of the latest FPGA and XMC module technology to provide effectively the same per-channel functionality as our SDR-3000 MRDP, scaled down to fewer modem processing slots and offered at a lower price. The faster FPGAs enable us to serialize the architecture of the digital down converter and digital up converter cores, which in turn allows us to pack in more functionality," said Mark Briggs, Spectrum's Vice President of Marketing. "Our continually expanding line of XMC-based modules gives our customers more options to evolve their systems to support various narrow and wide band applications."

The SDR-3000 SMRDP provides a turnkey black-side processing system for Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) and other MILCOM developers. This system includes sample application software and FPGA cores supporting frequency agile operation. The example software and cores include the source code, a key enabler in accelerating our customers' development efforts. In addition, the software and cores provide the following capabilities:

- Programmable resource-optimized digital up and down converters

- Time stamping and time triggering facility suitable for time-sensitive or time-slotted applications

- RF control application programming interface to manage the RF subsystem

The SDR-3000 SMRDP system is based upon Spectrum's SDR-3000 software defined radio processing and analog-to-digital/digital-to-analog converter boards in a four slot 2U CompactPCI(R) chassis, which leaves ample room for future expansion. These components are integrated with the DRT 2110 RF transceiver subsystem consisting of four cards (RFT2, TEX, REF2 and CTRL12 single-board computer) in a 20-slot 3U CompactPCI chassis. The system includes all software application libraries, including digital down-conversion and digital up-conversion FPGA cores, operating systems and an SCA Core Framework. The system is flexible, scalable and can be customized as required.

The package includes Spectrum's quicComm(TM) software, a hardware abstraction layer that facilitates platform programming and code portability. Technical support services and training courses are part of this comprehensive product offering.

Additional product information can be found at www.spectrumsignal.com/products.

The SDR-3000 SMRDP is available for order immediately.

ABOUT SPECTRUM SIGNAL PROCESSING INC.

Spectrum Signal Processing Inc. (TSX:SSY)(NASDAQ:SSPI) is a leading supplier of software defined platforms for defense electronics applications. Spectrum's products and services are optimized for military communications, signals intelligence, surveillance, electronic warfare and satellite communications applications. Spectrum's integrated, application-ready products provide its customers with compelling time-to-market and performance advantages while mitigating program risk and cost parameters. Spectrum Signal Processing (USA) Inc., based in Columbia, MD, provides application engineering services and modified commercial-off-the-shelf platforms to the US Government, its allies and its prime contractors. For more information on Spectrum and its flexComm product line, please visit www.spectrumsignal.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING SAFE HARBOUR STATEMENT

This news release contains forward-looking statements related to sales of the Spectrum Signal Processing Inc. flexComm product line. Although Spectrum has received orders for shipping flexComm product, development delays and customer issues could delay shipments. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and acceptance of Spectrum's new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, availability of components, changing market conditions and the other risks detailed from time to time in other company filings. Actual results may differ materially from those projected. These forward-looking statements represent the company's judgment as of the date of this release and Spectrum may or may not update these forward-looking statements in the future. Readers are referred to Spectrum's assumptions and risk factors set out in the most current Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the British Columbia Securities Commission.

(TM) flexComm and quicComm are trademarks of Spectrum Signal Processing Inc.

(R) Xilinx is a registered trademark of Xilinx Inc.

(TM) Virtex-4 is a trademark of Xilinx Inc.

(TM) Freescale is a trademark of Freescale Semiconductor Inc.

(R) PowerPC is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation

(R) CompactPCI is a registered trademark of the PCI(TM) Industry Computers Manufacturer's Group

(TM) PCI is a trademark of the Peripheral Component Interconnect - Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG)

(TM) TMS320C64x is a trademark of Texas Instruments

Spectrum Signal Processing Inc. (TSX:SSY) (NASDAQ:SSPI)