Issues running LimeSDR using OSX

Hi guys,

I´m wondering if any of you is seeing the same issue or can help me out here. I´m trying to use my LimeSDR v1.4 running in OSX. I´m seeing following issue:

SoapySDRUtil --probe=lime
######################################################

Soapy SDR – the SDR abstraction library

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

Probe device lime
[INFO] Make connection: ‘LimeSDR-USB [USB 3.0] 9060B0046101B’
Estimated reference clock 30.7195 MHz
Selected reference clock 30.720 MHz
[INFO] Device name: LimeSDR-USB
[INFO] Reference: 30.72 MHz
[INFO] Init LMS7002M(0)
LMS7002M values cache at /Users/home/.limesuite/LMS7002M_cache_values.db
[INFO] Ver=7, Rev=1, Mask=1
[INFO] LMS7002M calibration values caching Enable
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setFrequency(Rx, 0, BB, 0 MHz)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setFrequency(Tx, 0, BB, 0 MHz)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setAntenna(Rx, 0, LNAL)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setAntenna(Tx, 0, BAND1)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setGain(Rx, 0, PGA, 0 dB)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setGain(Rx, 0, LNA, 0 dB)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setGain(Rx, 0, TIA, 0 dB)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setGain(Tx, 0, PAD, -50 dB)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setSampleRate(Rx, 0, 10 MHz), CGEN=80 MHz, ADC=20 MHz, decim=2
ConnectionSTREAM::ConfigureFPGA_PLL(tx=20MHz, rx=10MHz)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setSampleRate(Tx, 0, 10 MHz), CGEN=80 MHz, DAC=20 MHz, interp=2
ConnectionSTREAM::ConfigureFPGA_PLL(tx=10MHz, rx=10MHz)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setBandwidth(Rx, 0, 30 MHz)
SetFrequency using cache values vco:2, csw:0
SetFrequency using cache values vco:0, csw:137
SetFrequency using cache values vco:0, csw:86
[ERROR] setBandwidth(Rx, 0, 30 MHz) Failed - C_CTL_LPFL_RBB step size out of range
Error probing device: C_CTL_LPFL_RBB step size out of range
libusb: warning [libusb_exit] application left some devices open

I have installed limesuite as recommended using brew and made sure to use the latest code using --HEAD option. The board is nevertheless working without any issues on same HW under Win10 OS. So that should help to rule out fault HW in general. Appreciate any clues or help here. Thanks guys!

BR
Roman

Hi @maedula

Not quite the same situation, but I have noticed similar issue when using gqrx on linux. Every second time gqrx can not connect to the limesdr and I also see the message:

libusb: warning [libusb_exit] application left some devices open

It sounds like the device is not closed/released properly, but I’m not sure. Haven’t had time to look into the details.

Hi @csete

Appreciate your feedback here. For me it is a consistent failure every time I run it :cry:

Hi Roman (@maedula),

How did you install libusb?

Could you do a ‘brew info libusb’ …My output looks like the following

His-MBP:~ Ramsin$ brew info libusb
libusb: stable 1.0.21 (bottled), HEAD
Library for USB device access
http://libusb.info
/usr/local/Cellar/libusb/1.0.21 (29 files, 510.5K) *
Poured from bottle on 2017-02-20 at 18:20:15
From: https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-core/blob/master/Formula/libusb.rb

I’m also on a Mac, and don’t seem to have this issue, though I do have issues updating the firmware using the terminal, I personally think it’s related to LibUSB…though I’m more of a hacker and not an actual programmer to know what to do to resolve the issue, but if I figure anything out, I’ll let you know.

Hi @Ramsin,

thought so too but I´m using the same version as you do

brew info libusb
libusb: stable 1.0.21 (bottled), HEAD
Library for USB device access
http://libusb.info
/usr/local/Cellar/libusb/1.0.21 (29 files, 510.5K) *
Poured from bottle on 2017-02-10 at 22:34:26

So that does not seem to be the root cause. I´m running VMWare on OSX and starting up a Win10 VM will make LimeSDR work with SDR console. If I execute a Kali Linux VM, I do get the following output error…similar but not the same:

SoapySDRUtil --probe=driver=lime
######################################################

Soapy SDR – the SDR abstraction library

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

Probe device driver=lime
linux; GNU C++ version 6.2.0 20161103; Boost_106200; UHD_003.009.005-0-unknown

[INFO] Make connection: ‘USB 3.0 (LimeSDR-USB)’

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

!!! Warning: firmware version mismatch !!!

Expected firmware version 2, but found version 3

Follow the FW and FPGA upgrade instructions:

http://wiki.myriadrf.org/Lime_Suite#Flashing_images

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

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

!!! Warning: gateware version mismatch !!!

Expected gateware version 2, revision 2

But found version 2, revision 6

Follow the FW and FPGA upgrade instructions:

http://wiki.myriadrf.org/Lime_Suite#Flashing_images

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

[INFO] Device name: LimeSDR USB
[INFO] Reference: 30.72 MHz
[INFO] Init LMS7002M(0)
LMS7002M values cache at /root/.limesuite/LMS7002M_cache_values.db
[INFO] Ver=7, Rev=1, Mask=1
[INFO] LMS7002M calibration values caching Enable
CGEN: Freq=80 MHz, VCO=2.4 GHz, INT=77, FRAC=131072, DIV_OUTCH_CGEN=14
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setFrequency(Rx, 0, BB, 0 MHz)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setFrequency(Tx, 0, BB, 0 MHz)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setAntenna(Rx, 0, LNAL)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setAntenna(Tx, 0, BAND1)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setGain(Rx, 0, PGA, 0 dB)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setGain(Rx, 0, LNA, 0 dB)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setGain(Rx, 0, TIA, 0 dB)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setGain(Tx, 0, PAD, -50 dB)
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setSampleRate(Rx, 0, 10 MHz), CGEN=80 MHz, ADC=20 MHz, decim=2
ConnectionSTREAM::ConfigureFPGA_PLL(tx=20MHz, rx=10MHz)
----- FPGA PLL #0 CONFIG -----
M=112, N=7, Fvco=640.000 MHz
C0=16, Fout=40.000 MHz, CNT_IND=2, nSteps=0, phaseShift=0.0
C1=16, Fout=40.000 MHz, CNT_IND=3, nSteps=32, phaseShift=90.0
----- FPGA PLL #1 CONFIG -----
M=93, N=3, Fvco=620.000 MHz
C0=31, Fout=20.000 MHz, CNT_IND=2, nSteps=0, phaseShift=0.0
C1=31, Fout=20.000 MHz, CNT_IND=3, nSteps=62, phaseShift=90.0
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setSampleRate(Tx, 0, 10 MHz), CGEN=80 MHz, DAC=20 MHz, interp=2
ConnectionSTREAM::ConfigureFPGA_PLL(tx=10MHz, rx=10MHz)
----- FPGA PLL #0 CONFIG -----
M=93, N=3, Fvco=620.000 MHz
C0=31, Fout=20.000 MHz, CNT_IND=2, nSteps=0, phaseShift=0.0
C1=31, Fout=20.000 MHz, CNT_IND=3, nSteps=62, phaseShift=90.0
----- FPGA PLL #1 CONFIG -----
M=93, N=3, Fvco=620.000 MHz
C0=31, Fout=20.000 MHz, CNT_IND=2, nSteps=0, phaseShift=0.0
C1=31, Fout=20.000 MHz, CNT_IND=3, nSteps=62, phaseShift=90.0
[INFO] SoapyLMS7::setBandwidth(Rx, 0, 30 MHz)
CGEN: Freq=332.56 MHz, VCO=2.66048 GHz, INT=85, FRAC=633514, DIV_OUTCH_CGEN=3
SetFrequency using cache values vco:0, csw:116
SetFrequency using cache values vco:0, csw:138
SetFrequency using cache values vco:0, csw:87
SetFrequency using cache values vco:0, csw:94
[ERROR] setBandwidth(Rx, 0, 30 MHz) Failed - CFB_TIA_RFE step size out of range
Error probing device: CFB_TIA_RFE step size out of range
libusb: warning [libusb_exit] application left some devices open

I guess Kali Linux apt files are not latest greatest SW. My LimeSDR is flashed with 17.02. Guess I should retry using latest Ubuntu VM too to compare results.

My very old Macbook offering just USB2.0 does not have my initial reported issue. Failed to install any meaningful SDR application though too until now. Only obvious difference between my old Mac and new one (besides USB2 and USB3) is that old one is OSX 10.11 and new one latest 10.12.3

@Zack: Do you have any thoughts on this eventually? Appreciate your feedback in advance!

Installed & built LimeSuite from source. FFT viewer never works again after acquisition is stopped (console shows usb problems). Loading example.ini into LimeSuiteGUI does not update all registers in the device (GUI->chip). A simple console app linked against limesuite lib always generates errors when stopping and destroying the stream…
Definitely a libusb issue.

@WillWall: Just reinstalled libusb and LimeSuite using --HEAD option for brew. My issues have disappeared now. No clue what has been the actual root cause.

Hi… to all; I need help with very basic issues in how to run limesuite on OS X.

Equipment : MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016), 16 GB; macOS Sierra (10.12.5)
Followed the steps outlined in “https://wiki.myriadrf.org/Lime_Suite#OSX_homebrew
The process completes with out any error, but I can not get the limesuite application to run.
My system can detect the LimeSDR using the “SoapySDRUtil --find” command.
I am typing “limesuite” command in terminal and get:
-bash: limesuite: command not found

Please help me identify what I am doing wrong.

Finally figured out… LimeSuiteGUI…

Thank you…