Spectrum shaping with a hardware digital filter

Digital filters have certain characteristics which make possible some things that are either difficult or essentially impossible using analog equipment. Among the most useful characteristics are steep transition band slopes and the capability to shape the passband transfer function in great detail. Unlike most digital filters implemented in software, hardware digital filters can be used to filter signals in real-time. Also, they can be designed to provide a linear phase response. They have some disadvantages as well, however, including moderately high cost, the need for supporting equipment, and at the present time, the need for a moderate degree of computer programming and interfacing skill. We have used hardware digital filters in a number of applications. These applications and the relevant filter performance characteristics are described.