ERROR: TransferPacket: Write failed (ret=0)

yfauser · 10 February 2020 16:53

Hi!

I have quite some trouble with a LimeSDR-USB board that I bought 1 year ago, and that sat on a shelf until recently when I started experimenting with it.

When trying the quick test (https://wiki.myriadrf.org/LimeSDR-USB_Quick_Test), I open the self_test.ini file and I get the error ''TransferPacket: Write failed (ret=0)" in the Log. The connection to the LimeSDR is then lost until I plug it out and back in again. I tried on two different computers, Windows and Linux with the same symptoms.

Here’s the complete log:

[17:37:04] DEBUG: Estimated reference clock 30.6587 MHz
[17:37:04] INFO: Reference clock 30.72 MHz
[17:37:04] INFO: Connected Control port: LimeSDR-USB FW:4 HW:4 Protocol:1 GW:2.21 Ref Clk: 30.72 MHz
[17:37:12] ERROR: TransferPacket: Read failed (ret=0)
[17:37:15] ERROR: TransferPacket: Write failed (ret=0)
[17:37:15] ERROR: TransferPacket: Write failed (ret=0)
… the Write failed Error repeats a couple of times.

Any ideas? From looking at other past discussions this looks like a hardware error?

Thanks!

Yves

yfauser · 10 February 2020 19:19

I noticed that my above query had a lot of missing information. Sorry about that! Here’s the output of some LimeUtil and SoapSDRUtil commands to help to look at the problem:

root@sdrbase:/home/localadmin# LimeUtil --info
######################################################

LimeSuite information summary

######################################################

Version information:
Library version: v20.01.0-myriadrf1~bionic
Build timestamp: 2020-01-28
Interface version: v2020.1.0
Binary interface: 20.01-1

System resources:
Installation root: /usr
User home directory: /root
App data directory: /root/.local/share/LimeSuite
Config directory: /root/.limesuite
Image search paths:
- /root/.local/share/LimeSuite/images
- /usr/share/LimeSuite/images

Supported connections:

FT601
FX3
PCIEXillybus

root@sdrbase:/home/localadmin# LimeUtil --find

[LimeSDR-USB, media=USB 3.0, module=FX3, addr=1d50:6108, serial=00090706024D1E10]

root@sdrbase:/home/localadmin# SoapySDRUtil --probe
######################################################

Soapy SDR – the SDR abstraction library

######################################################

Probe device
[INFO] Make connection: ‘LimeSDR-USB [USB 3.0] 90706024D1E10’
[INFO] Reference clock 30.72 MHz
[INFO] Device name: LimeSDR-USB
[INFO] Reference: 30.72 MHz
[INFO] LMS7002M register cache: Disabled

– Device identification

driver=FX3
hardware=LimeSDR-USB
boardSerialNumber=0x90706024d1e10
firmwareVersion=4
gatewareVersion=2.22
hardwareVersion=4
protocolVersion=1

– Peripheral summary

Channels: 2 Rx, 2 Tx
Timestamps: YES
Sensors: clock_locked, lms7_temp
Registers: BBIC, RFIC0
Other Settings:
* SAVE_CONFIG - Save LMS settings to file
[key=SAVE_CONFIG, type=string]
* LOAD_CONFIG - Load LMS settings from file
[key=LOAD_CONFIG, type=string]
* OVERSAMPLING - oversampling ratio (0 - auto)
[key=OVERSAMPLING, type=int, options=(0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32)]
GPIOs: MAIN

– RX Channel 0

Full-duplex: YES
Supports AGC: NO
Stream formats: CF32, CS12, CS16
Native format: CS16 [full-scale=32767]
Stream args:
* Buffer Length - The buffer transfer size over the link.
[key=bufferLength, units=samples, default=0, type=int]
* Link Format - The format of the samples over the link.
[key=linkFormat, default=CS16, type=string, options=(CS16, CS12)]
* Skip Calibration - Skip automatic activation calibration.
[key=skipCal, default=false, type=bool]
* align phase - Attempt to align phase of Rx channels.
[key=alignPhase, default=false, type=bool]
Antennas: NONE, LNAH, LNAL, LNAW, LB1, LB2
Corrections: DC removal, DC offset, IQ balance
Full gain range: [-12, 61] dB
TIA gain range: [0, 12] dB
LNA gain range: [0, 30] dB
PGA gain range: [-12, 19] dB
Full freq range: [0, 3800] MHz
RF freq range: [30, 3800] MHz
BB freq range: [-10, 10] MHz
Tune args:
* LO Offset - Tune the LO with an offset and compensate with the baseband CORDIC.
[key=OFFSET, units=Hz, default=0.0, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07]]
* BB - Specify a specific value for this component or IGNORE to skip tuning it.
[key=BB, units=Hz, default=DEFAULT, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07], options=(DEFAULT, IGNORE)]
Sample rates: [0.1, 65] MSps
Filter bandwidths: [1.4001, 130] MHz
Sensors: lo_locked
Other Settings:
* TSP_CONST - Digital DC test signal level in LMS7002M TSP chain.
[key=TSP_CONST, default=16383, type=int, range=[0, 32767]]
* CALIBRATE - DC/IQ calibration bandwidth
[key=CALIBRATE, type=float, range=[2.5e+06, 1.2e+08]]
* ENABLE_GFIR_LPF - LPF bandwidth (must be set after sample rate)
[key=ENABLE_GFIR_LPF, type=float]
* TSG_NCO - Enable NCO test signal
[key=TSG_NCO, default=4, type=int, options=(-1, 4, 8)]

– RX Channel 1

Full-duplex: YES
Supports AGC: NO
Stream formats: CF32, CS12, CS16
Native format: CS16 [full-scale=32767]
Stream args:
* Buffer Length - The buffer transfer size over the link.
[key=bufferLength, units=samples, default=0, type=int]
* Link Format - The format of the samples over the link.
[key=linkFormat, default=CS16, type=string, options=(CS16, CS12)]
* Skip Calibration - Skip automatic activation calibration.
[key=skipCal, default=false, type=bool]
* align phase - Attempt to align phase of Rx channels.
[key=alignPhase, default=false, type=bool]
Antennas: NONE, LNAH, LNAL, LNAW, LB1, LB2
Corrections: DC removal, DC offset, IQ balance
Full gain range: [-12, 61] dB
TIA gain range: [0, 12] dB
LNA gain range: [0, 30] dB
PGA gain range: [-12, 19] dB
Full freq range: [0, 3800] MHz
RF freq range: [30, 3800] MHz
BB freq range: [-10, 10] MHz
Tune args:
* LO Offset - Tune the LO with an offset and compensate with the baseband CORDIC.
[key=OFFSET, units=Hz, default=0.0, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07]]
* BB - Specify a specific value for this component or IGNORE to skip tuning it.
[key=BB, units=Hz, default=DEFAULT, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07], options=(DEFAULT, IGNORE)]
Sample rates: [0.1, 65] MSps
Filter bandwidths: [1.4001, 130] MHz
Sensors: lo_locked
Other Settings:
* TSP_CONST - Digital DC test signal level in LMS7002M TSP chain.
[key=TSP_CONST, default=16383, type=int, range=[0, 32767]]
* CALIBRATE - DC/IQ calibration bandwidth
[key=CALIBRATE, type=float, range=[2.5e+06, 1.2e+08]]
* ENABLE_GFIR_LPF - LPF bandwidth (must be set after sample rate)
[key=ENABLE_GFIR_LPF, type=float]
* TSG_NCO - Enable NCO test signal
[key=TSG_NCO, default=4, type=int, options=(-1, 4, 8)]

– TX Channel 0

Full-duplex: YES
Supports AGC: NO
Stream formats: CF32, CS12, CS16
Native format: CS16 [full-scale=32767]
Stream args:
* Buffer Length - The buffer transfer size over the link.
[key=bufferLength, units=samples, default=0, type=int]
* Link Format - The format of the samples over the link.
[key=linkFormat, default=CS16, type=string, options=(CS16, CS12)]
* Skip Calibration - Skip automatic activation calibration.
[key=skipCal, default=false, type=bool]
* align phase - Attempt to align phase of Rx channels.
[key=alignPhase, default=false, type=bool]
Antennas: NONE, BAND1, BAND2
Corrections: DC offset, IQ balance
Full gain range: [-12, 64] dB
PAD gain range: [0, 52] dB
IAMP gain range: [-12, 12] dB
Full freq range: [0, 3800] MHz
RF freq range: [30, 3800] MHz
BB freq range: [-10, 10] MHz
Tune args:
* LO Offset - Tune the LO with an offset and compensate with the baseband CORDIC.
[key=OFFSET, units=Hz, default=0.0, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07]]
* BB - Specify a specific value for this component or IGNORE to skip tuning it.
[key=BB, units=Hz, default=DEFAULT, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07], options=(DEFAULT, IGNORE)]
Sample rates: [0.1, 65] MSps
Filter bandwidths: [5, 40], [50, 130] MHz
Sensors: lo_locked
Other Settings:
* TSP_CONST - Digital DC test signal level in LMS7002M TSP chain.
[key=TSP_CONST, default=16383, type=int, range=[0, 32767]]
* CALIBRATE - DC/IQ calibration bandwidth
[key=CALIBRATE, type=float, range=[2.5e+06, 1.2e+08]]
* ENABLE_GFIR_LPF - LPF bandwidth (must be set after sample rate)
[key=ENABLE_GFIR_LPF, type=float]
* TSG_NCO - Enable NCO test signal
[key=TSG_NCO, default=4, type=int, options=(-1, 4, 8)]

– TX Channel 1

Full-duplex: YES
Supports AGC: NO
Stream formats: CF32, CS12, CS16
Native format: CS16 [full-scale=32767]
Stream args:
* Buffer Length - The buffer transfer size over the link.
[key=bufferLength, units=samples, default=0, type=int]
* Link Format - The format of the samples over the link.
[key=linkFormat, default=CS16, type=string, options=(CS16, CS12)]
* Skip Calibration - Skip automatic activation calibration.
[key=skipCal, default=false, type=bool]
* align phase - Attempt to align phase of Rx channels.
[key=alignPhase, default=false, type=bool]
Antennas: NONE, BAND1, BAND2
Corrections: DC offset, IQ balance
Full gain range: [-12, 64] dB
PAD gain range: [0, 52] dB
IAMP gain range: [-12, 12] dB
Full freq range: [0, 3800] MHz
RF freq range: [30, 3800] MHz
BB freq range: [-10, 10] MHz
Tune args:
* LO Offset - Tune the LO with an offset and compensate with the baseband CORDIC.
[key=OFFSET, units=Hz, default=0.0, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07]]
* BB - Specify a specific value for this component or IGNORE to skip tuning it.
[key=BB, units=Hz, default=DEFAULT, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07], options=(DEFAULT, IGNORE)]
Sample rates: [0.1, 65] MSps
Filter bandwidths: [5, 40], [50, 130] MHz
Sensors: lo_locked
Other Settings:
* TSP_CONST - Digital DC test signal level in LMS7002M TSP chain.
[key=TSP_CONST, default=16383, type=int, range=[0, 32767]]
* CALIBRATE - DC/IQ calibration bandwidth
[key=CALIBRATE, type=float, range=[2.5e+06, 1.2e+08]]
* ENABLE_GFIR_LPF - LPF bandwidth (must be set after sample rate)
[key=ENABLE_GFIR_LPF, type=float]
* TSG_NCO - Enable NCO test signal
[key=TSG_NCO, default=4, type=int, options=(-1, 4, 8)]

Thanks!

Yves

yfauser · 12 February 2020 11:33

Quick update: The issue seems to be caused by the USB extension cable that I use (rated as USB 3.0 cable). When I connect the LimeSDR USB directly to the USB port, without the USB extension cable, the issue disappears. I’ll post updates here once I have everything working

andrewback · 13 February 2020 15:20

Right, so we’ve seen this before and glad to hear it’s not an issue with the SDR.

Pooya · 9 February 2021 12:02

Hi, I have the same issue!

I also pluged in directly to USB 3 Port but the problem is still there!!!