LimeSDR Mini LimeQuickTest Failing

Projects LimeSDR
1

So this just started happening after running LimeUtil --update going from 1.28 to 1.30… The board no longer functions properly now. I barely used it four or five times.

Device Info from LimeSuiteGUI…
Firmware 6
Hardware 2
Protocol 1
Gateware 1.30
Gateware Target LimeSDR Mini

[ TESTING STARTED ]
->Start time: Wed Mar 18 05:03:27 2020

->Device: LimeSDR Mini, media=USB 3, module=FT601, serial=1D4C299E7F215B, index=0
Serial Number: 1D4C299E7F215B

[ Clock Network Test ]
->REF clock test
Test results: 42084; 55281; 2942 - PASSED
->VCTCXO test
Results : 6711071 (min); 6711225 (max) - PASSED
->Clock Network Test PASSED

[ FPGA EEPROM Test ]
->Read EEPROM
->Read data: 13 02 0C 13 02 0C 02
->FPGA EEPROM Test PASSED

[ LMS7002M Test ]
->Perform Registers Test
->External Reset line test
Reg 0x20: Write value 0xFFFD, Read value 0xFFFD
Reg 0x20: value after reset 0x0FFFF
->LMS7002M Test PASSED

[ RF Loopback Test ]
->Configure LMS
->Run Tests (TX_2 -> LNA_W):
CH0 (SXR=1000.0MHz, SXT=1005.0MHz): Result:(-13.5 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
->Run Tests (TX_1 -> LNA_H):
CH0 (SXR=2100.0MHz, SXT=2105.0MHz): Result:(-46.5 dBFS, 1.88 MHz) - FAILED
->RF Loopback Test FAILED

=> Board tests FAILED <=

Elapsed time: 3.69 seconds

2

It seems like it randomly works every now and then. After hitting reset and default in the limesdr gui, and unplugging it and plugging it back in, it started to work. Not sure if it has a temperature or what ? It just doesn’t work sometimes.

3

The failed result looks way outside spec and so I would have expected this to be a damaged LNA, rather than something temperature related (tests should only ever be run with the board cold, as performance is expected to degrade slightly as they warm up).

@Zack thoughts?

4

What would my next step be ? a replacement board ? I basically have a 300$ paper weight at the moment.

5

What if you revert it back to 1.28?

6

It seems like it made no difference. It basically works when it wants to. I would feel a lot better if I could send it in to have it checked out by a professional who actually made the board. I will gladly pay for shipping both ways if need be. It may be something stupid that I am overlooking. I really don’t want to be out 300$.

7

Where are you located?

8

Butler Pennsylvania, its about 30 minutes from Pittsburgh