I’ve recently procured a Novena system equipped with the Novena-RF SDR.
The system is installed with the following OS:
$ uname -a
Linux novena-one 4.4.0-00156-gc9ba6e8 #12 SMP PREEMPT Fri Feb 19 14:32:59 SGT 2016 armv7l GNU/Linux
$ cat /etc/debian_version
10.7
I’ve been able to now successfully compile the novena_rf.ko kernel module
as per the instructions provided.
At this point, I can do the following:
-
Load kernel module with prepare_novena.sh script
./prepare_novena_rf.sh
- mkdir -p /lib/firmware
- cp /home/gsamu/Novena-RF/driver/binary/novena_rf.bit /lib/firmware/novena_rf.bit
- chmod a+r /lib/firmware/novena_rf.bit
- ‘[’ -e /dev/novena_rf ‘]’
- insmod /home/gsamu/Novena-RF/driver/binary/novena_rf.ko
- chmod a+rw /dev/novena_rf
- chmod a+rw /dev/spidev2.0
- ‘[’ -e /sys/class/gpio/gpio135 ‘]’
- echo 135
- ‘[’ -e /sys/class/gpio/gpio124 ‘]’
- echo 124
- ‘[’ -e /sys/class/gpio/gpio122 ‘]’
- echo 122
- chmod a+rw /sys/class/gpio/gpio135/direction
- chmod a+rw /sys/class/gpio/gpio135/value
- chmod a+rw /sys/class/gpio/gpio124/direction
- chmod a+rw /sys/class/gpio/gpio124/value
- chmod a+rw /sys/class/gpio/gpio124/edge
- chmod a+rw /sys/class/gpio/gpio122/direction
- chmod a+rw /sys/class/gpio/gpio122/value
-
Check operation of driver
SoapySDRUtil --make=“driver=novena”
######################################################
Soapy SDR – the SDR abstraction library
######################################################
Make device driver=novena
[INFO] Loading FPGA image /lib/firmware/novena_rf.bit
GPIO122: set to 1
GPIO122: set to 1
spi mode: 0x0
bits per word: 8
max speed: 4000000 Hz (4000 KHz)
[INFO] Connected to Board on Novena | Firmware: ? Device: Novena Protocol: ?[INFO] LMS6002: ver=0x2, rev=0x0
driver=NOVENA-RF
hardware=NOVENA
Note that I also see in the system logs here:
[ 4829.841959] NovenaRF initializing EIM configuration..
[ 4829.842008] EIM_CSnGCR1 0x31910B8F
[ 4829.842014] EIM_CSnGCR2 0x00001000
[ 4829.842021] EIM_CSnRCR1 0x05000000
[ 4829.842028] EIM_CSnRCR2 0x00000000
[ 4829.842032] EIM_CSnWCR1 0x03080000
[ 4829.842038] EIM_WCR 0x00000701
[ 4829.842042] EIM_WIAR 0x00000010
[ 4829.842047] resetting CS0 space to 64M and enabling 32M CS1 and 32M CS2 space.
[ 4829.842051] EIM configured
-
Run the ASCII art FFT plotter example
/usr/lib/uhd/examples/rx_ascii_art_dft --rate=1e6 --freq=1.8e9 --gain=30 –ref-lvl=-60
Creating the usrp device with: …
[INFO] [UHD] linux; GNU C++ version 8.2.0; Boost_106700; UHD_3.13.1.0-3
Using Device: Single USRP:
Device: Audio
Mboard 0: Audio
RX Channel: 0
RX DSP: 0
RX Dboard: 0
RX Subdev: SoapyRF
TX Channel: 0
TX DSP: 0
TX Dboard: 0
TX Subdev: NoneSetting RX Rate: 1.000000 Msps…
Actual RX Rate: 1.000000 Msps…Setting RX Freq: 1800.000000 MHz…
Actual RX Freq: 1800.000000 MHz…Setting RX Gain: 30.000000 dB…
Actual RX Gain: 0.000000 dB…[INFO] [UHDSoapyDevice] Using format CF32.
Done!
(note that I get the expected output here…)
So far so good. I was hoping to take things to the next level by trying to
use the Novena-RF as an FM receiver. I’ve tried to follow the tutorial
GNURadio FM Receiver - Getting Started (http://play.fallows.ca/wp/radio/software-defined-radio/gnuradio-fm-receiver-getting-started/). I downloaded the GRC file and updated the frequencies to some local radio stations, but it does not seem to be working.
I see the following in the GNU Radio console
<<< Welcome to GNU Radio Companion 3.7.13.4 >>>
Block paths:
/usr/share/gnuradio/grc/blocks
Loading: "/home/gsamu/FM_RX_1a.grc"
>>> Done
Generating: '/home/gsamu/fm_receiver.py'
Generating: '/home/gsamu/fm_receiver.py'
Executing: /usr/bin/python2 -u /home/gsamu/fm_receiver.py
gr-osmosdr 0.1.4 (0.1.4) gnuradio 3.7.13.4
built-in source types: file osmosdr fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd miri hackrf bladerf rfspace airspy airspyhf soapy redpitaya freesrp
e[32;1m[INFO] [UHD] e[39;0mlinux; GNU C++ version 8.2.0; Boost_106700; UHD_3.13.1.0-3
e[31;0m[ERROR] [UHD] e[39;0mDevice discovery error: unknown key format: 0
e[31;0m[ERROR] [UHD] e[39;0mDevice discovery error: unknown key format: 0
e[31;0m[ERROR] [UHD] e[39;0mDevice discovery error: unknown key format: 0
e[31;0m[ERROR] [UHD] e[39;0mDevice discovery error: unknown key format: 0
-- Using subdev spec '0:0'.
e[33;1m[WARNING] [MULTI_USRP] e[39;0mSetting DC offset compensation is not possible on this device.
gr::log :INFO: audio source - Audio sink arch: alsa
e[32;1m[INFO] [UHDSoapyDevice] e[39;0mUsing format CF32.
RtApiAlsa::getDeviceInfo: snd_pcm_open error for device (hw:0,0), Device or resource busy.
aUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaU
I’m not clear on the next steps? It seems that it can’t open the sound device? The audio sink has no device specified. But ther are also device discovery
errors. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
