Nuand Launches BladeRF 2.0 Micro xA5 as Component Shortages Bite the Cheaper xA4 SDR
Shortages of lower-cost FPGAs have given Nuand cause to launch a new model, offering 77k logic elements to its predecessor's 49k.
Software-defined radio specialist Nuand has announced the impending release of the bladeRF 2.0 micro xA5 — designed as a temporary replacement for the earlier xA4 design, to work around ongoing component shortages.
That companies are struggling with supply chain disruption and shortages of key components is well-known: Earlier this month Raspberry Pi announced the first price-hike in its history when it increased the cost of the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 2GB and reintroduced the previously-discontinued 1GB model to retain a $35 entry point to the family.
Now, Nuand has announced its own workaround for shortages: A redesigned bladeRF 2.0 micro, the xA5. "The bladeRF 2.0 micro xA5 will temporarily replace availability of the bladeRF 2.0 micro xA4," Nuand's Robert Ghulduta explains.
"The xA4 is expected to re-enter mass production around April 2022. At the moment, the xA4 is the only bladeRF 2.0 micro size that is anticipated to be affected by the global chip supply chain shortage. The bladeRF 2.0 micro xA5 is entering mass production to fill the place of the bladeRF 2.0 micro xA4. It is likely the bladeRF 2.0 micro xA4 will not be available for back-order until a certain production date is known."
Being supplied on a first-come first-served basis, the xA5 switches to an Intel Cyclone V FPGA with 77k logic elements — up from the 49k of the bladeRF 2.0 micro xA4 but below the 301k of the range-topping xA9 model, which Ghulduta says is not affected by the component shortages. The move does, however, come at a cost: Where the xA4 costs $480, the xA5 is priced at $580.
The bladeRF 2.0 micro xA5 is now available to order on the Nuand website, with shipping expected to begin the week of November 8th.
