Looking for help with SDRplay and Ubuntu

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Chuck
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2016 4:10 am

Looking for help with SDRplay and Ubuntu

Post by Chuck » Sun Mar 13, 2016 4:21 am

Hi all, I was recently given an SDRplay and I'm trying to get it working with a Ubuntu laptop with GNURADIO but having some difficulty. I'm completely sure the difficulty stems from my being a beginner with both SDRplay and Linux... Nevertheless, it's what I have on hand so I'm giving it my best! I've followed the instructions found on the SDRplay Linux page and get the below results when I test the "SoapySDR" install and OSMOSDR install:

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!!!



$ SoapySDRUtil --probe=sdrplay
######################################################
## Soapy SDR -- the SDR abstraction library
######################################################

Probe device sdrplay
mir_sdr_Init: starting hardware initialization
mir_sdr_Init: gR=40dB fs=2.048MHz rf=222.064MHz bw=1.536MHz if=0.000MHz

mir_sdr_usb_USB DLL: Revision 0.1.1

Warning: libusb_claim_interface() -6

mir_sdr_2500_Init: revisionId = 0x0200, doing FW update
fwDownload: FW image size = 6008
mir_sdr_usb_USB DLL: Revision 0.1.1

Warning: libusb_claim_interface() -6

mir_sdr_2500_Init: fnaddr = 4

mir_sdr_2500_Init: adjusting squelch trim 0x1, rx gating enable 1, tx_trim 0, reg2 = 0x4801
initHw: Register7 = 0x000005
initHw: Tuner Register0 = 0x04f440
mir_sdr_SetFs: Sample Freq requested 2047999.978065
mir_sdr_SetFs: Fs->FsNomHz+dFsHz=2048000.0+0.0Hz=2048000.0Hz FsToggle->1
mir_sdr_SetRf: f->222064000.000Hz (int=25 frac=20 afc=0) fSynth:3553024000.000
mir_sdr_SetRf: Rf->RfNomHz+dRfHz+LifHz+Lif1Hz=222064000.0+0.0+0.0Hz+0.0Hz=222064000.0Hz RfToggle->1
mir_sdr_SetGr: GR->40[16,24,0,0] gRset->0x210 DCCALmode=4 DCCALspd=1 GrToggle->1
setToggleStates: initialising sampNum=0x0001f802, gainSetting=0x210, FsToggle=0, RfToggle=1, GrToggle=1
setToggleStates: initialising Fs=2047999.978, Rf=222064000.000, Gr=40
mir_sdr_2500_Readback001Trim: readback = 0xe301610
mir_sdr_2500_Bypass001Trim: reg13=0x20d reg14=0x6c016e

----------------------------------------------------
-- Device identification
----------------------------------------------------
driver=SDRPlay
hardware=SDRPlay
mir_sdr_version=1.700000

----------------------------------------------------
-- Peripheral summary
----------------------------------------------------
Channels: 1 Rx, 0 Tx
Timestamps: NO
Other Settings:
* Low IF (when available) - Use low IF when available: 0.5MHz SR with 200 and 300khz BW, 1MHz SR with 600kHz BW, 2048kHz SR with 1536kHz BW
[key=use_low_if, default=true, type=bool]
* IF Mode - IF frequency in kHz
[key=if_mode, default=Zero-IF, type=string, options=(Zero-IF, 450kHz, 1620kHz, 2048kHz)]

----------------------------------------------------
-- RX Channel 0
----------------------------------------------------
Full-duplex: YES
Supports AGC: NO
Stream formats: CS16, CF32
Native format: CS16 [full-scale=2048]
Antennas: RX
Corrections: DC removal, DC offset
Full gain range: [0, 204] dB
TUNER gain range: [0, 102] dB
LNAT gain range: [0, 102] dB
Full freq range: [0.1, 2000] MHz
RF freq range: [0.1, 2000] MHz
Sample rates: [0.222222, 12] MHz
Filter bandwidths: [0.2, 8] MHz




$ osmocom_fft -a soapysdr -v
linux; GNU C++ version 4.8.2; Boost_105400; UHD_003.005.005-0-unknown

gr-osmosdr 0.1.1 (0.1.1) gnuradio 3.7.2.1
built-in source types: file osmosdr fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd hackrf bladerf rfspace

FATAL: No supported devices found to pick from.

Trying to fill up 1 missing channel(s) with null source(s).
This is being done to prevent the application from crashing
due to gnuradio bug #528.

Source has no sample rates (wrong device arguments?).
Last edited by Chuck on Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am, edited 0 times in total.
Reason: No reason

KK6JR
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2015 12:57 pm

Re: Looking for help with SDRplay and Ubuntu

Post by KK6JR » Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:28 am

Well, I have the same problem with Linux Mint, which is a derivative of Ubuntu.

I have seen it suggested that the problem is reflected by:
Warning: libusb_claim_interface() -6

However, sdprplay works in GNU Radio Companion but not GQRX through the same USB port.
And it doesn't seem to be a permissions issue in that sudo gqrx causes no change in symptoms.
Neither does fresh booting Linux.

Moreover, my HackRF works in both GNU Radio and gqrx on the same USB port.
Even though SoapySDRUtil --probe=HackRF
gives the same Warning: libusb_claim_interface() -6
as does SoapySDRUtil --probe=sdrplay

Frustrating.
I suspect sdrplay will work well when, eventually, one is able to get it to work at all.
Until then it is GNU radio or nothing. I run a hamshack free of Microsoft's #@!ware.

Incidentally, what is the best sample rate to use with sdrplay with gqrx? Anyone know?

Henry KK6JR

Here are my diagnostics:
h@a10 ~ $ SoapySDRUtil --info
######################################################
## Soapy SDR -- the SDR abstraction library
######################################################

API Version: v0.4.0-gd17177f3
ABI Version: v0.4-2
Install root: /usr/local
Module found: /usr/local/lib/SoapySDR/modules/libHackRFSupport.so
Module found: /usr/local/lib/SoapySDR/modules/libsdrPlaySupport.so
Loading modules... done
Available factories...hackrf, null, sdrplay,
h@a10 ~ $ SoapySDRUtil --probe=sdrplay
######################################################
## Soapy SDR -- the SDR abstraction library
######################################################

Probe device sdrplay
mir_sdr_Init: starting hardware initialization
mir_sdr_Init: gR=40dB fs=2.048MHz rf=222.064MHz bw=1.536MHz if=0.000MHz

mir_sdr_usb_USB DLL: Revision 0.1.1

Warning: libusb_claim_interface() -6

mir_sdr_2500_Init: revisionId = 0x0200, doing FW update
fwDownload: FW image size = 6008
mir_sdr_usb_USB DLL: Revision 0.1.1

Warning: libusb_claim_interface() -6

mir_sdr_2500_Init: fnaddr = 1

mir_sdr_2500_Init: adjusting squelch trim 0x1, rx gating enable 1, tx_trim 0, reg2 = 0x4801
initHw: Register7 = 0x000005
initHw: Tuner Register0 = 0x04f440
mir_sdr_SetFs: Sample Freq requested 2047999.978065
mir_sdr_SetFs: Fs->FsNomHz+dFsHz=2048000.0+0.0Hz=2048000.0Hz FsToggle->1
mir_sdr_SetRf: f->222064000.000Hz (int=25 frac=20 afc=0) fSynth:3553024000.000
mir_sdr_SetRf: Rf->RfNomHz+dRfHz+LifHz+Lif1Hz=222064000.0+0.0+0.0Hz+0.0Hz=222064000.0Hz RfToggle->1
mir_sdr_SetGr: GR->40[16,24,0,0] gRset->0x210 DCCALmode=4 DCCALspd=1 GrToggle->1
setToggleStates: initialising sampNum=0x0001fd46, gainSetting=0x210, FsToggle=0, RfToggle=1, GrToggle=1
setToggleStates: initialising Fs=2047999.978, Rf=222064000.000, Gr=40
mir_sdr_2500_Readback001Trim: readback = 0xe301610
mir_sdr_2500_Bypass001Trim: reg13=0x20d reg14=0x6c016e

----------------------------------------------------
-- Device identification
----------------------------------------------------
driver=SDRPlay
hardware=SDRPlay
mir_sdr_version=1.700000

----------------------------------------------------
-- Peripheral summary
----------------------------------------------------
Channels: 1 Rx, 0 Tx
Timestamps: NO
Other Settings:
* Low IF (when available) - Use low IF when available: 0.5MHz SR with 200 and 300khz BW, 1MHz SR with 600kHz BW, 2048kHz SR with 1536kHz BW
[key=use_low_if, default=true, type=bool]
* IF Mode - IF frequency in kHz
[key=if_mode, default=Zero-IF, type=string, options=(Zero-IF, 450kHz, 1620kHz, 2048kHz)]

----------------------------------------------------
-- RX Channel 0
----------------------------------------------------
Full-duplex: YES
Supports AGC: NO
Stream formats: CS16, CF32
Native format: CS16 [full-scale=2048]
Antennas: RX
Corrections: DC removal, DC offset
Full gain range: [0, 204] dB
TUNER gain range: [0, 102] dB
LNAT gain range: [0, 102] dB
Full freq range: [0.1, 2000] MHz
RF freq range: [0.1, 2000] MHz
Sample rates: [0.222222, 12] MHz
Filter bandwidths: [0.2, 8] MHz


h@a10 ~ $ SoapySDRUtil --probe=HackRF
######################################################
## Soapy SDR -- the SDR abstraction library
######################################################

Probe device HackRF
mir_sdr_Init: starting hardware initialization
mir_sdr_Init: gR=40dB fs=2.048MHz rf=222.064MHz bw=1.536MHz if=0.000MHz

mir_sdr_usb_USB DLL: Revision 0.1.1

mir_sdr_usb_Init: Timeout expired/failed to establish connection with the device

mir_sdr_2500_Init: mir_sdr_usb_Init() failed
mir_sdr_Init: mir_sdr_2500_Init() Error 1

----------------------------------------------------
-- Device identification
----------------------------------------------------
driver=HackRF
hardware=HackRF One
clock source=internal
part id=a000cb3c005d474f
serial=0000000000000000406464c8231b464b
version=2014.08.1

----------------------------------------------------
-- Peripheral summary
----------------------------------------------------
Channels: 1 Rx, 1 Tx
Timestamps: NO
Other Settings:
* Antenna Bias - Antenna port power control.
[key=bias_tx, default=false, type=bool]

----------------------------------------------------
-- RX Channel 0
----------------------------------------------------
Full-duplex: NO
Supports AGC: NO
Stream formats: CS8, CS16, CF32, CF64
Native format: CS8 [full-scale=128]
Stream args:
* Buffer Count - Number of buffers per read.
[key=buffers, units=buffers, default=15, type=int]
Antennas: TX/RX
Full gain range: [0, 116] dB
LNA gain range: [0, 40] dB
VGA gain range: [0, 62] dB
AMP gain range: [0, 14] dB
Full freq range: [0, 7250] MHz
RF freq range: [0, 7250] MHz
Sample rates: [1, 20] MHz
Filter bandwidths: [1.75, 28] MHz

----------------------------------------------------
-- TX Channel 0
----------------------------------------------------
Full-duplex: NO
Supports AGC: NO
Stream formats: CS8, CS16, CF32, CF64
Native format: CS8 [full-scale=128]
Stream args:
* Buffer Count - Number of buffers per read.
[key=buffers, units=buffers, default=15, type=int]
Antennas: TX/RX
Full gain range: [0, 61] dB
VGA gain range: [0, 47] dB
AMP gain range: [0, 14] dB
Full freq range: [0, 7250] MHz
RF freq range: [0, 7250] MHz
Sample rates: [1, 20] MHz
Filter bandwidths: [1.75, 28] MHz
Last edited by KK6JR on Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am, edited 0 times in total.
Reason: No reason

sdrplay
Posts: 978
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2015 7:58 am

Re: Looking for help with SDRplay and Ubuntu

Post by sdrplay » Tue Mar 15, 2016 7:13 am

The lilbusb -6 error means that a driver has already grabbed the USB port, so the RSP API cannot get access to it.

I would check to see if you have any kernel drivers loaded that have done that by usng lsmod (you are looking for something like msi001, msi2500 or sdr_msi3101) - if that's the case you will need to blacklist them before the official API will be able to access the RSP hardware.

Best regards,

SDRplay Support
Last edited by sdrplay on Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am, edited 0 times in total.
Reason: No reason

KK6JR
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2015 12:57 pm

Re: Looking for help with SDRplay and Ubuntu

Post by KK6JR » Sat Mar 19, 2016 2:45 pm

>> The lilbusb -6 error means that a driver has already grabbed the USB port, so the RSP API cannot get access to it.

Yeah, that's what I thought too. But it really doesn't explain why the SDRPlay is working in GNU Radio but it is not working in GQRX!
Presumably the other drivers are there for some good reason so disabling them will break something else.

I'm now looking into whether perhaps I can funnel the output of GNU Radio into the input of GQRX. Likely using a named pipe.
Last edited by KK6JR on Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am, edited 0 times in total.
Reason: No reason

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