A
software defined radio (SDR) for communicating a plurality of radio signals over a
wireless communications network. The radio comprising: a programmable
system having a plurality of digital processors for
processing digital data representing a digital form of the plurality of radio signals, the programmable
system also for configuring operation of radio hardware for
processing of the radio signals themselves; a configurable
intermediate frequency (IF) interface for
processing the plurality of radio signals for subsequent processing as the
digital data communicated to the programmable
system and the
digital data received from the programmable system, the IF interface having a first connector for releasably connecting a modular
IF filter component for use in the processing of said plurality of radio signals, the modular
IF filter component being part of the radio hardware for selecting an IF
center frequency and channel bandwidth of the SDR; and an RF platform coupled to the IF interface and configured for having with at least one radio portion, each radio portion for receiving and transmitting the
radio signal over the communications
network on behalf of the IF interface, said each radio portion having a second connector for releasably connecting a modular RF filter component for use in the processing of said plurality of radio signals, the modular RF filter component being part of the radio hardware for selecting an RF sub-band and RF
center frequency of said each radio module; wherein the programmable system is adapted to configure operation of the SDR through recognition of the corresponding connected modular RF and IF filters.