LimeSDR on FreeBSD

Democratising Wireless Innovation
Revision as of 15:52, 14 January 2021 by Cederom (talk | contribs) (Initial version. Reprint of https://github.com/myriadrf/LimeSuite/wiki/LimeSDR-on-FreeBSD.)
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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.


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.


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.

References