ARM architecture is a popular reduced instruction set computing (RISC) machine architecture used in many systems on chips (SoCs) due to its low power usage. It exists across all CPU market segments from microcontrollers to high-performance servers. For amateur radio (HAM) uses, ARM boards are attractive because they are inexpensive, can run Linux software, operate on battery power, and have plenty of input/output ports. Major ARM architecture licensees produce a variety of SoCs incorporating ARM cores for applications such as single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi and Orange Pi.

1. ARM Architecture
How to get through the ARM alphabet
soup? Is it fast enough for my SDR?

2. What is ARM?
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Advanced
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RISC
– Reduced
– Instruction
– Set
– Computing
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Machine

3. Why is it so popular?
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One of the benefits of RISC – lower power usage.
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Many companies produce licensed solutions.
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Exists in all CPU market segments.
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Good software ecosystem.
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Cheap SoCs are available, capable of running
Linux and Android.

4. Why is it good for a HAM?
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Cheap boards are available.
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Runs almost all Linux software.
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Can run on battery power.
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Has plenty of IO ports.
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Rugged enough to run in the field.

5. ARM Holdings
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Develops architecture, sells licenses to integrators
producing System on Chips.
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Provides various license levels – from verified
gate netlist to synthesizable RTL and architectural
licenses.
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Price depends on perceived value.
(Microcontroller cores cheaper than High
performance)

6. Current general SoC core types
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Microcontroller – Cortex-M3, Cortex-M4 (STM32)
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Classic Raspberry Pi level boards - quad/dual-core
ARM Cortex-A7 (BCM2836, A20)
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Modern ARM boards - quad/dual-core ARM Cortex-
A72 + smaller cores (BCM2711, RK3399)
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High end boards – 32-core Vulcan (ThunderX2)
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Specialized GPU – 8-core Carmel + Nvidia Volta
GPU (Xavier)

7. Raspberry Pi 4
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Broadcom BCM2711 SoC with a 1.5 GHz 64-bit
quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 processor
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Great community
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Camera accessory
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Widely available

8. ROCKPro64
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Rockchip RK3399 SoC with Dual-Core Cortex-A72
and Quad-Core Cortex-A53
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PCIe 4x slot
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eMMC storage
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LiPo socket
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Dual video output

9. A20-OLinuXino-LIME
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Allwinner A20 with dual core Cortex-A7
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Industrial temp version -40C ... +85C
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512MB DDR3 RAM
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eMMC storage
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LiPo socket
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Open source hardware
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Native SATA port

10. Orange Pi PC2
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Allwinner H5 with quad core Cortex A53
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1GB DDR3 RAM
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3x USB 2.0 ports + 1 OTG
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20$ price tag
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HDMI port
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Mainline kernel support

11. Questions?