SDRplay Community Forum

Hi,
First of all, i am NOT a Linux/GIT/C++ wonder. I juist want to enjoy my SDRPlay device receiving NOAA and other signales.
So please be patient with me and use a MickeyMouse explanation (just tell me what to type )

At this time i am using a Raspberry2 and a RTL dongle to receive NOAA passes with SDR#. My Raspberry is located 3 floors up and i use a TCP connection to 'stream' the signales to my computer downstairs. All this i managed by installing an IMG file on my Rpi2.

So... now i want to do the same with the SDRPlay

What is did so far...
I installed the API (i think)

chmod 755 SDRplay_RSP_MiricsAPI-1.9.2.RPi.run
./SDRplay_RSP_MiricsAPI-1.9.2.RPi.run

Created the 66-mirics.rules file in /etc/udev/rules.d

Installed Soapysdr and tried to test with: SoapySDRUtil --probe=sdrplay

output:

pi@SDRSERV2:/etc/udev/rules.d $ SoapySDRUtil --probe=sdrplay
######################################################
## Soapy SDR -- the SDR abstraction library
######################################################

Probe device sdrplay

----------------------------------------------------
-- Device identification
----------------------------------------------------
driver=null
hardware=null

----------------------------------------------------
-- Peripheral summary
----------------------------------------------------
Channels: 0 Rx, 0 Tx
Timestamps: NO

And that's where i got lost

So, please, can somebody help me to get this done (step by step)

Bgrds,
Frank

This is what i did so far.... no luck

====================================================================
07-06-2016 - SDRSERV2 INSTALLATION (Based on: KS4JU October 21, 2012)
Raspberry Pi 2 Model B 1Gb
RTL Stick used: 820T2 & SDR (DVB-T+FM+DAB)
====================================================================
1. Install the latest Debian release (Wheezy?) on your Pi and update it.

Find the correct IP adress (when using a netsanner, most Pi mac-adresses start with B8:27:EB) of the Pi and connect with Putty (user:pi password:raspberry)

Make necessary changes for your Pi (hostname, overclocking,...).

sudo raspi-config (make changes to Pi)
reboot

Connect with Putty again.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade (...... teatime)


2. Before you install the RTL drivers, you will have to install the following dependencies if they are not already installed by typing the following commands in terminal window at the prompt.

sudo apt-get install git
sudo apt-get install cmake
sudo apt-get install libusb-1.0-0.dev
sudo apt-get install build-essential


3. Now we are ready to install the RTL drivers using the following commands:

sudo git clone git://git.osmocom.org/rtl-sdr.git
cd rtl-sdr/
sudo mkdir build
cd build
sudo cmake ../
sudo make
sudo make install
sudo ldconfig


4. Before this will work you will need to locate your RTL directory using the file manger where the drivers where downloaded and copy the rules file into the etc/udev/rules.d directory.

cd ..
sudo cp rtl-sdr.rules /etc/udev/rules.d
sudo service udev restart
rtl_test -t

If test fails, add the following lines to the file ‘/etc/modprobe.d/raspi-blacklist.conf’ and reboot.

# blacklist the DVB drivers to avoid conflict with the SDR driver
blacklist dvb_usb_rtl28xxu
blacklist rtl2830
blacklist dvb_usb_v2
blacklist dvb_core

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/raspi-blacklist.conf
add # blacklist the DVB drivers to avoid conflict with the SDR driver
add blacklist dvb_usb_rtl28xxu
add blacklist rtl2830
add blacklist dvb_usb_v2
add blacklist dvb_core
sudo reboot


5. Plug in the RTL-2832U stick and issue the rtl_test -t command to make sure the Raspberry Pi sees your stick.

rtl_test -t


6. Be sure that port 1234 is open on your router
7. To start the rtl server type rtl_tcp -a plus the ip address of your Pi. For example rtl_tcp -a 192.168.1.30

sudo rtl_tcp -a 10.0.0.217


8. Start as a Service

sudo nano /etc/rc.local
above “exit 0” insert this line: sudo rtl_tcp -a 10.0.0.217

====================================================================
SDRPlay API installation
====================================================================
check for SDRplay connection on USB

lsusb

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:9514 Standard Microsystems Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:ec00 Standard Microsystems Corp.
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 1df7:2500

wget http://www.sdrplay.com/software/SDRplay ... .2.RPi.run
chmod 755 SDRplay_RSP_MiricsAPI-1.9.2.RPi.run
./SDRplay_RSP_MiricsAPI-1.9.2.RPi.run
cd /etc/udev/rules.d
sudo nano 66-mirics.rules
add SUBSYSTEM=="usb" ATTR{idVendor}=="1df7" ATTR{idProduct}=="2500" MODE:="0666"
sudo service udev restart

====================================================================
Building Soapy SDR Play
====================================================================
cd ~
sudo apt-get install swig

git clone https://github.com/pothosware/SoapySDR.git
cd SoapySDR
git pull origin master
sudo mkdir build
cd build
sudo cmake ..
sudo make -j4
sudo make install
sudo ldconfig #needed on debian systems
SoapySDRUtil --info

output:
pi@SDRSERV2 ~/SoapySDR/build $ SoapySDRUtil --info
######################################################
## Soapy SDR -- the SDR abstraction library
######################################################

API Version: v0.5.0-g58a96367
ABI Version: v0.5-2
Install root: /usr/local
No modules found!
Loading modules... done
Available factories...null,


sudo git clone https://github.com/pothosware/SoapySDRPlay.git
cd SoapySDRPlay
sudo mkdir build
cd build
sudo cmake ..
sudo make
sudo make install

.... and now i'm lost, sorry!

Latest results....

pi@SDRSERV2 ~ $ SoapySDRUtil --check=sdrplay
######################################################
## Soapy SDR -- the SDR abstraction library
######################################################

Loading modules... done
Checking driver 'sdrplay'... PRESENT
pi@SDRSERV2 ~ $ 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

Segmentation fault
pi@SDRSERV2 ~ $

try...

export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lib

then run SoapySDRUtil again

Best regards,

SDRplay Support

Hi and thanks for your response.
I'm afraid the results are the same:

pi@SDRSERV2 ~ $ export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lib
pi@SDRSERV2 ~ $ 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

mir_sdr_2500_Init: revisionId = 0x0200, doing FW update
Segmentation fault
pi@SDRSERV2 ~ $

Brgds,
Frank

Hi,
A little update...
First i tried the ADSB procedure: http://sdrplay.com/rpi_adsb.html
Same results: Segmentation fault
Then i completly reinstalled Raspbian, did the ADSB procedure again, BINGO!

To test it further i installed adsbSCOPE 2.7, set IP and portnumber, BINGO! I can see aircraft flying over my house but....
The reception seems to be poor. Coverage is now 125km and before (same antenna (COCO) setup) was 350km.
So i think i have to do some recsearch again.

SDR device i used previously: Yosoo® Full Band 100KHz-1.7GHz UV HF RTL-SDR USB Tuner Receiver / R820T+8232 Ham Radio (comes in many brands )

Oeps, forgot my ADS-B 1090MHz Band-pass filter.
Coverage is now 225km

Next challenge:
Installed SoapySDRPlay...

pi@SDRPLAY:~/SoapySDR/build/SoapySDRPlay/build $ 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

mir_sdr_2500_Init: fnaddr = 5

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 = 0xe30160f
mir_sdr_2500_Bypass001Trim: reg13=0x1ed 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


pi@SDRPLAY:~/SoapySDR/build/SoapySDRPlay/build $

Looks allright to me

I think i need one (or two) final step, connect my work-pc to the Raspberry.
I installed CubicSDR on my PC (copied the API to the program folder where CubicSDR is located).
Started CubicSDR and added a remote connection to my Raspberry..... no luck
DO i have to put the Raspberry in some sort of listening state so i can connect to it?

Hope you can help me with this 'final' step...

Thanks in advance,
Frank

Hi Frank,

Glad to see you have made progress. You can use SoapyRemote to send IQ packets from your Raspberry Pi to your PC and CubicSDR supports controlling the RSP remotely using this method. Here is the link to SoapyRemote: https://github.com/pothosware/SoapyRemote/wiki

The SoapySDR/SoapySDRPlay isn't optimum yet for the RSP, we will be addressing this after we've released the new API shortly.

btw - have you tried removing any pre-amp you have in front of the RSP for ADS-B - in our tests because of the on-chip LNA, we got good results without any pre-amp - I would be interested to hear if you see the same.

Best regards,

SDRplay Support

It's working!!!!

Now for the final test i received some POSAC (P2000) signales and it looks great! Except for the 'echo' It covers some other signales completely. But i will figure that out, hopefully!

Second test, FMB radio. Works OK when set the samplerate to 1M. I see a lot of USB overflows (also in the first test)

Third test, LW and MW, no luck yet. Some weak signales on 1028KHz. Need the try with another antanna i think. I'm using now a Quadrifilar Helix Antenna (137 MHz) for NOAA.

So the last test will be the NOAA passes.

After these test i continue to do the ADS-B test. As for as i know i don't have a pre-amp connected, only a bandfilter for 1090MHz.
I let you know when i have better results!

For now, thanks for your tips and help!
Brgds,
Frank