Distributed MIMO Node Synchronization System

Overview

Distributed MIMO measurement systems depend on a highly stable timing infrastructure capable of maintaining phase coherence and minimal jitter across geographically separated radio nodes. This project focused on the implementation and adaptation of a fiber-based synchronization network that could deliver research-grade timing performance while meeting the practical requirements of a distributed wireless measurement platform.

An established open-source timing framework was selected as the foundation and subsequently extended through custom firmware and FPGA development to support the target architecture. The resulting solution achieved picosecond-level synchronization precision and sub-nanosecond timing accuracy, providing a robust path from advanced timing research to real-world MIMO deployments and experimental radio systems.

Key Contributions:

• Integration and customization of an open-source high-precision timing platform
• FPGA development and firmware adaptation on a Xilinx Spartan-6 platform
• Fiber-optic timing distribution network for low-jitter synchronization across distributed nodes
• Picosecond-level synchronization precision for phase-coherent measurements
• Sub-nanosecond timing accuracy across multiple radio endpoints
• Scalable foundation for future distributed sensing, communication, and wireless synchronization applications