GNUradio and LimeSDR USB - connection problems

[hansrn]

I have received a LimeSDR USB and tries to get it working with GNUradio from radioconda 3.10 installation on Windows11.

Testing by running

PS C:\> C:\Users\hanso\radioconda\Library\bin\LimeUtil.exe --find=“driver=lime”
libusb: info [get_guid] no DeviceInterfaceGUID registered for ‘USB\VID_8087&PID_0037\5&36E8B4FB&0&6’
libusb: info [get_guid] no DeviceInterfaceGUID registered for ‘USB\ROOT_HUB30\4&28BF63B&0&0’
libusb: info [get_guid] no DeviceInterfaceGUID registered for ‘USB\ROOT_HUB30\4&2370B850&0&0’

• [LimeSDR-USB, media=USB 3.0, module=FX3, addr=1d50:6108, serial=0009083401861823]

and also

PS C:\users\hanso\radioconda\library\bin> C:\Users\hanso\radioconda\Library\bin\SoapySDRUtil.exe --find
######################################################

Soapy SDR – the SDR abstraction library

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

[WARNING] Unable to scan local: -19

[INFO] [UHD] Win32; Microsoft Visual C++ version 14.2; Boost_108600; UHD_4.8.0.0-release
libusb: info [get_guid] no DeviceInterfaceGUID registered for ‘USB\VID_8087&PID_0037\5&36E8B4FB&0&6’
libusb: info [get_guid] no DeviceInterfaceGUID registered for ‘USB\ROOT_HUB30\4&28BF63B&0&0’
libusb: info [get_guid] no DeviceInterfaceGUID registered for ‘USB\ROOT_HUB30\4&2370B850&0&0’
[WARNING] Unable to scan ip: -19

Found device 0
default_input = True
default_output = False
device_id = 1
driver = audio
label = Microphone Array (Intel® Smart Sound Technology for Digital Microphones)

Found device 1
addr = 1d50:6108
driver = lime
label = LimeSDR-USB [USB 3.0] 9083401861823
media = USB 3.0
module = FX3
name = LimeSDR-USB
serial = 0009083401861823

I made a simple example in GNUradio:

and then I get these messages.

Generating: “C:\Users\hanso\untitled.py”

Executing: C:\Users\hanso\radioconda\python.exe -u C:\Users\hanso\untitled.py

libusb: warning [handle_timeout] async cancel failed -5

Done (return code 3221225477)

For 3 days I have struggled and tried to find a solution ……

Can anybody help?

[ricardas]

Why is it using libusb? Are you running GNU Radio in Linux on Windows environment (WSL)?

[hansrn]

Thanks,

I am running pure Windows11.

libusb, my be wrong, but my understanding from info on internet was that using radioconda had to replace cyUSB with libusb. This may be wrong.

I am a RF engineer and have to follow advise to get it up and running. So advice on a preferred installation package for Windows would be good.

Have tried Pothos SDR on another Windows PC, here CyUSB was installed, run LimeQuickTest successfully, but GNU radio did not work.

[Arnius]

Hello,

Based on the provided information I have been able to reproduce the steps and successfully ran your suggested soapy example in GNURadio 3.10.12.0 inside Windows radioconda environment.

I noticed that you are using PowerShell to call lime and soapy utilities from base conda environment which is not a recommended way of using radioconda. Below are steps for running LimeSDR-USB soapy plugin on GNURadio.

Radioconda set up:

1. Install the radioconda using windows installer from Releases · radioconda/radioconda-installer github page.
2. Find and run radioconda prompt with admin privileges.
3. Now create a new conda environment - conda create -n <your env name>
4. Activate the environment - conda activate <your env name>
5. Install LimeSuite and GNURadio pacakages - conda install limesuite gnuradio
6. Optionally, you can specify the required version of GNURadio. For example gnuradio=3.10.11.0

Installing the correct driver:

1. Install Zadig utility as specified in LimeSdr section: radioconda/radioconda-installer: Software radio distribution and installer for conda

2. Plug in your SDR and open Zadig utility.

3. Under options drop down menu check the “List all devices” option.

   

4. Now from dropdown list select SDR and install WinUSB driver.

   

Testing device presence:

1. If you closed the prompt window, then re-open radioconda prompt and activate your environment.

2. Try running limeutil --find or soapysdrutil --find to double check if the device is present.

3. If device is present, then run gnuradio-companion inside your active conda environment.

4. This will open GNURadio companion GUI. You can load or re-create your soapy test case example.

5. Run it and observe the results in the dialog window. You will get configuration confirmation in a dialog window and an empty GUI window.

   

Couple of notes:

1. Device argument “Driver=lime” is not necessary.
2. WinUSB driver is required only for this installation of LimeSuite conda package. Any other LimeSuite installation or source build on Windows requires drivers specified in MyriadRF page.

[hansrn]

Thank you very much for the help.

Followed your description and tested it today, all seems to work fine.