LimeSDR mini poor performance

Projects LimeSDR
1

Hi

I have a new LimeSDR mini and my tests was very poor

First I need to set the gain above 50db to get good calibration, otherwise I get MCU 5 error

FM tx runs very poor (2mts max … with hackrf I can receive signal in all of my home 3 rooms away)

When I test GPS Spoof like GPS fake out project - #32 by cswiger whit the @cswiger grc (at 30db gain both TX and RX) he upload a picture of a FFT plot transmitting at -64db and me setting gain to 60 I only see -70db

Also if I ran LimeUtil --timing I get lot of errors

lot of this:

Timing tuning operations:
TuneVCO(CGEN) - failed to lock (cmphl!=0)
SetFrequencyCGEN(100 MHz) failed
TuneVCO(CGEN) - failed to lock (cmphl!=0)
SetFrequencyCGEN(101 MHz) failed
TuneVCO(CGEN) - failed to lock (cmphl!=0)
SetFrequencyCGEN(102 MHz) failed
TuneVCO(CGEN) - failed to lock (cmphl!=0)
SetFrequencyCGEN(103 MHz) failed
TuneVCO(CGEN) - failed to lock (cmphl!=0)
SetFrequencyCGEN(104 MHz) failed
TuneVCO(CGEN) - failed to lock (cmphl!=0)
SetFrequencyCGEN(105 MHz) failed
TuneVCO(CGEN) - failed to lock (cmphl!=0)

lot of this:

CGEN PLL tuning: 19.2089 ms
SetFrequencySXT(100 MHz) - cannot deliver frequency
SetFrequencySXT(101 MHz) - cannot deliver frequency
SetFrequencySXT(102 MHz) - cannot deliver frequency
SetFrequencySXT(103 MHz) - cannot deliver frequency
SetFrequencySXT(104 MHz) - cannot deliver frequency
SetFrequencySXT(105 MHz) - cannot deliver frequency
SetFrequencySXT(106 MHz) - cannot deliver frequency
SetFrequencySXT(107 MHz) - cannot deliver frequency
SetFrequencySXT(108 MHz) - cannot deliver frequency
SetFrequencySXT(109 MHz) - cannot deliver frequency
SetFrequencySXT(110 MHz) - cannot deliver frequency

also

Tune Tx Filter: MCU error 2 (CGEN tune failed)
Tune Tx Filter: MCU error 2 (CGEN tune failed)
Tune Tx Filter: MCU error 2 (CGEN tune failed)
Tune Tx Filter: MCU error 2 (CGEN tune failed)
Tune Tx Filter: MCU error 2 (CGEN tune failed)
Tune Tx Filter: MCU error 2 (CGEN tune failed)
Tune Tx Filter: MCU error 2 (CGEN tune failed)
Tune Tx Filter: MCU error 2 (CGEN tune failed)
Tune Tx Filter: MCU error 2 (CGEN tune failed)
Tune Tx Filter: MCU error 2 (CGEN tune failed)

and

Tx Calibration: Incorrect channel selection MAC 3
Tx Calibration: Incorrect channel selection MAC 3
Tx Calibration: Incorrect channel selection MAC 3
Tx Calibration: Incorrect channel selection MAC 3
Tx Calibration: Incorrect channel selection MAC 3
Tx Calibration: Incorrect channel selection MAC 3
Tx Calibration: Incorrect channel selection MAC 3
Tx Calibration: Incorrect channel selection MAC 3

Is my board faulty ?

Thank you

2

Post LimeQuickTest log file here, please.

3

Here is

[ TESTING STARTED ]
->Start time: Wed Jan 15 10:38:00 2020

->Device: LimeSDR Mini, media=USB 3.0, module=FT601, addr=24607:1027, serial=1D4C201CF4CE25
Serial Number: 1D4C201CF4CE25

[ Clock Network Test ]
->REF clock test
Test results: 17670; 30867; 44064 - PASSED
->VCTCXO test
Results : 6711007 (min); 6711163 (max) - PASSED
->Clock Network Test PASSED

[ FPGA EEPROM Test ]
->Read EEPROM
->Read data: 13 02 0B 13 02 0B 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:(-12.8 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
->Run Tests (TX_1 -> LNA_H):
CH0 (SXR=2100.0MHz, SXT=2105.0MHz): Result:(-10.6 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
->RF Loopback Test PASSED

=> Board tests PASSED <=

Elapsed time: 2.62 seconds

4

So, I assume that is normal this behavior, only TX at 50-60 db, the errors in the command and also high heating after 10 minutes of use