LimeSDR on FreeBSD

Work in progress, stay tuned :-)

People involved: janBeh, HPS, CeDeROM, DB.

LimeSDR utilities on FreeBSD

GQRX + LimeSDR Mini.

• TODO

LimeSuite FreeBSD Port.

• [DONE] source port portsnap and binary package pkg available for everyone.
• [DONE] commit to port tree: https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=252032.
• [DONE] LimeSuite + SoapySDR module build.
• [ONGO] build fix / patch upstream.
  • [ONGO] cmake: https://github.com/myriadrf/LimeSuite/pull/329.
  • [ONGO] wxString debug: https://github.com/myriadrf/LimeSuite/pull/332.
  • [ONGO] connection remote: https://github.com/myriadrf/LimeSuite/pull/333.
  • [ONGO] stream unit constructor: https://github.com/myriadrf/LimeSuite/pull/336.
  • [ONGO] stream unite header: https://github.com/myriadrf/LimeSuite/pull/337.
• [TODO] less verbose console output even for GUI application.
  • one way to control LibUSB verbosity is using environmental variables like LIBUSB_DEBUG=0 LimeSuiteGUI.
• [DONE] compiler/linker errors in the Lime Suite (which contains more than the SoapySDR driver).

Known problems

Software / Utilities

LimeSuite and SoapySDR cannot open LimeSDR USB device while detect works fine.

• [ONGO] problem fixed. upstream / firmware updated.
  • [TODO] make solution public.
  • [TODO] verify the solution.
  • [TODO] fix the device open problem.
• [TODO] unable to open usb device - find a cause of the problem - probably a LibUSB reset related.
• [DONE] Make LimeSuite work with SoapySDR (LimeSuite generates a driver for SoapySDR).
• [DONE] Create LimeSuite port for FreeBSD.

wx assertions on application startup.

• [TODO] problem fixed. upstream / firmware updated.
• [TODO] cause found.
• [DONE] report issue on upstream github, done: https://github.com/myriadrf/LimeSuite/issues/338.

Software / OS / FreeBSD

Excessive debug output.

• [ONGO] problem fixed. upstream / firmware updated.
  • [TODO] make solution public.
  • [TODO] verify the solution.
  • [TODO] fix the device open problem.
• Likely setting the verbosity level to a different value in FreeBSD could fix the issue, as maybe libusb on FreeBSD is just more verbose, but I’m not sure if there are any real errors or issues).
• one way to control LibUSB verbosity is using environmental variables like LIBUSB_DEBUG=0 LimeSuiteGUI.

Firmware / USB

USB reset.

• This is a FreeBSD related issue. See post on the freebsd-usb mailinglist: https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-usb/2020-July/016715.html and its follow-ups.
• [TODO] analyze LibUSB reset problem that prevents LimeSDR working on FreeBSD.
• [TODO] enabling non-root FreeBSD users to execute a reset or removing the call from the driver, we’re still debating on how or if the first can be achieved)

Firmware / RADIO

`LimeSDR-Mini` Hardware Self-Test fail with `LimeQuickTest`.

• [TODO] problem won't fix: changes to testing application not welcome (see https://github.com/myriadrf/LimeSuite/issues/339).
• [TODO] cause found: tests need to be performed with antennas disconnected (both RX and TX port empty) and device should be cold (board temperature over 40C will fail RF Loopback Test).
• [TODO] report issue on upstream github, done: https://github.com/myriadrf/LimeSuite/issues/339
• [TODO] some tests fail, depends on hardware and firmware relese. verify. confirmed with @cederom device on FreeBSD.

MCU error 3 / SXR tune failed.

• Issue seems to be reproducible with a [test program](https://sapphire.magnetkern.de/paste_1d1b4528287690e1e2dc1200acb41427/limetest_2020-09-03_0731Z.c). Under FreeBSD, ensure that ``libLMS7Support.so`` of Lime Suite has been installed in `/usr/local/lib/SoapySDR/modules0.7` and compile with: cc -Wall -o limetest-mcu-error -I /usr/local/include limetest_2020-09-03_0731Z.c -L /usr/local/lib -l SoapySDR. Further notes on that issue can be found in the thread [MCU error 3 (SXR tune failed) on LimeSDR USB](https://discourse.myriadrf.org/t/mcu-error-3-sxr-tune-failed-on-limesdr-usb/5303).
• [TODO] problem fixed. upstream / firmware updated.
• [TODO] cause found.
• [DONE] report issue on upstream, done: https://github.com/myriadrf/LimeSuite/issues/340 and https://github.com/myriadrf/LimeSDR-Mini/issues/2.

References

• [Lime Micro](https://limemicro.com/) - Software defined radio technology for wireless networks.
• [LimeSDR](https://myriadrf.org/projects/component/limesdr/) - project main site.
• [LimeSDR-Mini](https://github.com/myriadrf/LimeSDR-Mini) - open-source device repository.
• [FreeBSD](https://www.freebsd.org) - FreeBSD is an operating system used to power modern servers, desktops, and embedded platforms.
• [FreshPorts](https://www.freshports.org/) - The Place For FreeBSD Ports - Most recent commits.