LimeSDR Mini "SetPllFrequency: error configuring phase" issue

Hello,

I received my LimeSDR mini one week ago, however I’m not able to make it work properly.
Indeed, on “high” frequencies I always get the error “SetPllFrequency: error configuring phase” even though I installed newest version of LimeSuite from source.

See LimeQuickTest result below:
[ TESTING STARTED ]
->Start time: Sat Dec 8 10:07:03 2018

->Device: LimeSDR Mini, media=USB 2.0, module=FT601, addr=24607:1027, serial=1D424C38BA0251
Warning: USB3 not available
Serial Number: 1D424C38BA0251

[ Clock Network Test ]
->REF clock test
Test results: 64146; 11807; 25004 - PASSED
->VCTCXO test
Results : 6711097 (min); 6711248 (max) - PASSED
->Clock Network Test PASSED

[ FPGA EEPROM Test ]
->Read EEPROM
->Read data: 12 07 1A 12 07 1A 03
->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
SetPllFrequency: error configuring phase
SetPllFrequency: error configuring phase
Failed to set sample rate
->RF Loopback Test FAILED

=> Board tests FAILED <=

Elapsed time: 2.25 seconds

Yes, I am running the board on a RaspberryPi 3 with USB 2.0 only, and don’t have USB 3.0 to test yet (waiting on an ODROID-XU4 delivery).
So, first of all, could that be a limitation due to USB?

Other details:
######################################################

LimeSuite information summary

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

Version information:
Library version: v18.10.0-1
Build timestamp: 2018-12-07
Interface version: v2018.10.0
Binary interface: 18.10-1

System resources:
Installation root: /usr
User home directory: /home/pi
App data directory: /home/pi/.local/share/LimeSuite
Config directory: /home/pi/.limesuite
Image search paths:
- /home/pi/.local/share/LimeSuite/images
- /usr/share/LimeSuite/images

Supported connections:

  • FT601
  • FX3
  • PCIEXillybus

Gateware installed currently is version 1.27, matching my LimeSuite installation.

I did some tests with LimeSuiteGUI, reading some other topics, and here are the results:
Calculate SXR 1200 MHz: PASSED
Calculate SXT 1250 MHz: PASSED
Calculate CLKGEN 10MHz with OV_CLKL at 1: PASSED
Calculate CLKGEN 30MHw with OV_CLKL at 1: FAILED
Calculate CLKGEN 30MHz with OV_CLKL at 8: PASSED (fails at 40MHz)
If Auto phase is disabled I don’t get the error.

Also pushing the “Default” button says Load Default Failed, with the same PLL error in the logs.

Please note that even though I get this error I’m able to transmit at certain frequencies.
If I take the FM_Transmitter example provided with gr-limesdr as is, it works, see below:


LimeSuite Sink (TX) info

##################
Connecting to device
##################
Devices found: 1
##################
Device list:
Nr.:|0|device:|LimeSDR Mini, media=USB 2.0, module=FT601, addr=24607:1027, serial=1D424C38BA0251
##################
Device number 0 from the list is used.
Reference clock 40.00 MHz
SetPllFrequency: error configuring phase
##################

INFO: device_handler::set_chip_mode(): SISO mode set for device number 0.
INFO: device_handler::set_rf_freq(): RF frequency set [TX]: 443.094 MHz.
INFO: device_handler::set_samp_rate(): set sampling rate: 0.48 MS/s.
Filter calibrated. Filter order-4th, filter bandwidth set to 5 MHz.Real pole 1st order filter set to 2.5 MHz. Preemphasis filter not active
TX LPF configured
INFO: device_handler::set_analog_filter(): Configured bandwidth: 5 MHz.
INFO: device_handler::set_digital_filter(): digital filter channel 0 [TX]: 0.1 MHz.
INFO: device_handler::set_antenna(): channel 0 antenna set [TX]: BAND1.
INFO: device_handler::set_gain(): set gain [TX]: 36 dB.
Tx calibration finished
INFO: device_handler::calibrate(): INFO: sink_impl::init_stream(): sink channel 0 (device nr. 0) stream setup done.

##################
INFO: device_handler::close_device(): Disconnected from device number 0.
##################

on the RX side I get the appropriate RF (please note the PLL error).

Has anyone any idea on why I’m getting this error? @Zack, I see you have been pretty active on the posts related to these kind of issues, so please allow me to tag you.

Regards,

Yanik

Hi @Yanik,

It looks like there are power related issues. I would suggest:

  1. Set “max_usb_current=1” in RPi configuration file. It sets the available current over USB to 1.2A instead of 600mA.
  2. Use 2.5A (minimum) power supply for RPi.

Hi @Zack ,

Thank you for your answer. I did following tests (always with USB 2.0), and always get the exact same results:

  1. Use different power supplies on the RPi.
  2. Use a USB 2.0 hub with an external 2.5A power supply.
  3. Test on a Windows 10 laptop with Pothos build.
  4. Change the max_usb_current setting.

Is that something you are able to reproduce and that other users already reported?

Hopefully I should get the ODROID-XU4 by the end of the week, so I’ll be able to test with USB 3.0.

Anything else you would think about apart from a power issue/weak USB?

Regards,

Yanik

Hi @Yanik,

What is the result when you run QuickTest software on Win10 platform? You can use USB Y cable to supply the board from 2 USB ports.

Hi @Zack,

I remember the results of running the quick test on a Win10 host were exactly the same as on my Debian install with LimeSuite built from source, especially that part throwing this error.

I don’t have any USB Y cable on hand and seems pretty difficult to find around my area. I would have to order it and big chances are that I’ll be able to test with the ODROID-XU4 before that, by the end of the week.

I will post the results once I have them. In the meantime, could that be an issue with hardware itself?

Regards,

Yanik

OK, waiting for results.

Can not answer this question right now. Maybe, but it looks like power supply issues.

Hi @Zack,

Alright, got my ODROID-XU4 this morning, and guess what, still fails in the exact same manner, exactly all that has been described previously, please find below results:

[ TESTING STARTED ]
->Start time: Wed Dec 12 13:11:11 2018

->Device: LimeSDR Mini, media=USB 3.0, module=FT601, addr=24607:1027, serial=1D424C38BA0251
Serial Number: 1D424C38BA0251

[ Clock Network Test ]
->REF clock test
Test results: 54058; 1719; 14916 - PASSED
->VCTCXO test
Results : 6711098 (min); 6711250 (max) - PASSED
->Clock Network Test PASSED

[ FPGA EEPROM Test ]
->Read EEPROM
->Read data: 12 07 1A 12 07 1A 03
->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
SetPllFrequency: error configuring phase
SetPllFrequency: error configuring phase
Failed to set sample rate
->RF Loopback Test FAILED

=> Board tests FAILED <=

Elapsed time: 2.12 seconds

I attach LimeSuiteGUI config I saved after connecting to the chip.

Fortunately I didn’t buy the Odroid only for this purpose, even though that triggered it…
Also note that shielding on top of the LMS7002M came in all scratched, so I’m starting to wonder if my device was new:

What are the next steps?

Regards,

Yanik

Hi @Yanik,

OK, contact Crowd Supply for replacement. I have log file of this board from factory - no issues indicated.