Limesdr mini with soapyuhd don't work

Hi,

Is it possible to do SoapySDRUtil --probe=“driver=uhd,type=b200” with limesdr mini ?

Don’t work with me.

Sory for my english… I am french.

Has anyone been successful with limesdr mini or not?

If I take the limesdr “normal” and I do SoapySDRUtil --probe=“driver=uhd,type=b200” I can use openbts as if I had the b200 or b210?

a help ? an info?

Seems like me and you both wasted our money on this little expensive thing… REFUND PLEASE!!!

Hi @Ninobrtv,

Try running

SoapySDRUtil --probe=“driver=lime”

Are you getting expected result?

Yes I get the expected result

limes@Mini:~$ SoapySDRUtil --probe=“driver=lime”
######################################################

Soapy SDR – the SDR abstraction library

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

Probe device driver=lime
linux; GNU C++ version 5.4.0 20160609; Boost_105800; UHD_003.008.004-0-g93011c14

[INFO] Make connection: ‘LimeSDR Mini [USB 2.0] 1D3AC8211A6C3E’
[INFO] Reference clock 40.00 MHz
[INFO] Device name: LimeSDR-Mini
[INFO] Reference: 40 MHz
[INFO] LMS7002M calibration values caching Disable


– Device identification

driver=FT601
hardware=LimeSDR-Mini
boardSerialNumber=0x1d3ac8211a6c3e
firmwareVersion=5
gatewareVersion=1.26
hardwareVersion=1
protocolVersion=1


– Peripheral summary

Channels: 1 Rx, 1 Tx
Timestamps: YES
Sensors: clock_locked, lms7_temp
Registers: BBIC
GPIOs: MAIN


– RX Channel 0

Full-duplex: YES
Supports AGC: NO
Stream formats: CF32, CS12, CS16
Native format: CS16 [full-scale=2048]
Stream args:
* Buffer Length - The buffer transfer size over the link.
[key=bufferLength, units=samples, default=0, type=int]
* Link Format - The format of the samples over the link.
[key=linkFormat, default=CS16, type=string, options=(CS16, CS12)]
* Skip Calibration - Skip automatic activation calibration.
[key=skipCal, default=false, type=bool]
Antennas: NONE, LNAH, LNAL_NC, LNAW
Corrections: DC removal
Full gain range: [-12, 61] dB
TIA gain range: [0, 12] dB
LNA gain range: [0, 30] dB
PGA gain range: [-12, 19] dB
Full freq range: [0, 3800] MHz
RF freq range: [30, 3800] MHz
BB freq range: [-10, 10] MHz
Tune args:
* LO Offset - Tune the LO with an offset and compensate with the baseband CORDIC.
[key=OFFSET, units=Hz, default=0.0, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07]]
* BB - Specify a specific value for this component or IGNORE to skip tuning it.
[key=BB, units=Hz, default=DEFAULT, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07], options=(DEFAULT, IGNORE)]
Sample rates: [0.1, 65] MSps
Filter bandwidths: [1.4, 130] MHz
Sensors: lo_locked
Other Settings:
* TSP DC Level - Digital DC level in LMS7002M TSP chain.
[key=TSP_CONST, type=int, range=[0, 32767]]


– TX Channel 0

Full-duplex: YES
Supports AGC: NO
Stream formats: CF32, CS12, CS16
Native format: CS16 [full-scale=2048]
Stream args:
* Buffer Length - The buffer transfer size over the link.
[key=bufferLength, units=samples, default=0, type=int]
* Link Format - The format of the samples over the link.
[key=linkFormat, default=CS16, type=string, options=(CS16, CS12)]
* Skip Calibration - Skip automatic activation calibration.
[key=skipCal, default=false, type=bool]
Antennas: NONE, BAND1, BAND2
Full gain range: [-12, 64] dB
PAD gain range: [0, 52] dB
IAMP gain range: [-12, 12] dB
Full freq range: [0, 3800] MHz
RF freq range: [30, 3800] MHz
BB freq range: [-10, 10] MHz
Tune args:
* LO Offset - Tune the LO with an offset and compensate with the baseband CORDIC.
[key=OFFSET, units=Hz, default=0.0, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07]]
* BB - Specify a specific value for this component or IGNORE to skip tuning it.
[key=BB, units=Hz, default=DEFAULT, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07], options=(DEFAULT, IGNORE)]
Sample rates: [0.1, 65] MSps
Filter bandwidths: [5, 40], [50, 130] MHz
Sensors: lo_locked
Other Settings:
* TSP DC Level - Digital DC level in LMS7002M TSP chain.
[key=TSP_CONST, type=int, range=[0, 32767]]

limes@Mini:~$ SoapySDRUtil --info
######################################################

Soapy SDR – the SDR abstraction library

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

Lib Version: v0.7.0-gd79a09d3
API Version: v0.7.0
ABI Version: v0.7
Install root: /usr/local
Search path: /usr/local/lib/SoapySDR/modules0.7
Module found: /usr/local/lib/SoapySDR/modules0.7/libHackRFSupport.so (0.3.3-4426c99)
Module found: /usr/local/lib/SoapySDR/modules0.7/libLMS7Support.so (18.06.1-373e26a)
Module found: /usr/local/lib/SoapySDR/modules0.7/libbladeRFSupport.so (0.3.5-4fa4566)
Module found: /usr/local/lib/SoapySDR/modules0.7/libuhdSupport.solinux; GNU C++ version 5.4.0 20160609; Boost_105800; UHD_003.008.004-0-g93011c14

 (0.3.4-55da7da)

Available factories… bladerf, hackrf, lime, uhd
Available converters…

  • CF32 -> [CF32, CS16, CS8, CU16, CU8]
  • CS16 -> [CF32, CS16, CS8, CU16, CU8]
  • CS32 -> [CS32]
  • CS8 -> [CF32, CS16, CS8, CU16, CU8]
  • CU16 -> [CF32, CS16, CS8]
  • CU8 -> [CF32, CS16, CS8]
  • F32 -> [F32, S16, S8, U16, U8]
  • S16 -> [F32, S16, S8, U16, U8]
  • S32 -> [S32]
  • S8 -> [F32, S16, S8, U16, U8]
  • U16 -> [F32, S16, S8]
  • U8 -> [F32, S16, S8]

But the rest does not work, I do not have a “normal” LimeSDR to test.

limes@Mini:~$ SoapySDRUtil --probe=“driver=uhd,type=b200”
######################################################

Soapy SDR – the SDR abstraction library

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

Probe device driver=uhd,type=b200
linux; GNU C++ version 5.4.0 20160609; Boost_105800; UHD_003.008.004-0-g93011c14

Error probing device: LookupError: KeyError: No devices found for ----->
Device Address:
driver: uhd
type: b200

limes@Mini:~$ SoapySDRUtil --probe=“driver=hackrf”
######################################################

Soapy SDR – the SDR abstraction library

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

Probe device driver=hackrf
linux; GNU C++ version 5.4.0 20160609; Boost_105800; UHD_003.008.004-0-g93011c14

Error probing device: no hackrf device matches

Have you succeeded with LimeSDR mini?

Thanks for your help.

Make sure you are using USB 3.0 port. You can check your connection by typing

LimeUtil --find

USB 3.0 port is nice to have, but LimeSDR-mini should work with USB 2.0. LimeSDR-mini might need more current than one USB 2.0 port can supply.

1 Like

I do not have a USB port 3.0 on the current computer.

I will redo the installation on my computer with usb 3.0 via vmware.

I had already done the test on USB 3.0 and I had the same thing, but I will try again.

Waiting, no one to confirm me:

Has anyone been successful with limesdr mini or not?

If I take the limesdr “normal” or “mini” and I do SoapySDRUtil --probe = “driver = uhd, type = b200”, and that it works … Can I use openbts as if I had the b200 or the b210?

There are entire threads on this discussion forum about using osmo-trx-lms and OpenBTS. I think osmo-trx-lms was written to bypass soapy because of the issues you are seeing.

I just installed SoapySDR and Lime Suite.

I going to the installation of SoapyUHD.

nino@ubuntu:~$ SoapySDRUtil --probe=“driver=lime”
######################################################

Soapy SDR – the SDR abstraction library

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

Probe device “driver=lime”
[INFO] Make connection: ‘LimeSDR Mini [USB 3.0] 1D3AC8211A6C3E’
[INFO] Reference clock 40.00 MHz
[INFO] Device name: LimeSDR-Mini
[INFO] Reference: 40 MHz
[INFO] LMS7002M calibration values caching Disable


– Device identification

driver=FT601
hardware=LimeSDR-Mini
boardSerialNumber=0x1d3ac8211a6c3e
firmwareVersion=5
gatewareVersion=1.26
hardwareVersion=1
protocolVersion=1


– Peripheral summary

Channels: 1 Rx, 1 Tx
Timestamps: YES
Sensors: clock_locked, lms7_temp
Registers: BBIC
GPIOs: MAIN


– RX Channel 0

Full-duplex: YES
Supports AGC: NO
Stream formats: CF32, CS12, CS16
Native format: CS16 [full-scale=2048]
Stream args:
* Buffer Length - The buffer transfer size over the link.
[key=bufferLength, units=samples, default=0, type=int]
* Link Format - The format of the samples over the link.
[key=linkFormat, default=CS16, type=string, options=(CS16, CS12)]
* Skip Calibration - Skip automatic activation calibration.
[key=skipCal, default=false, type=bool]
Antennas: NONE, LNAH, LNAL_NC, LNAW
Corrections: DC removal
Full gain range: [-12, 61] dB
TIA gain range: [0, 12] dB
LNA gain range: [0, 30] dB
PGA gain range: [-12, 19] dB
Full freq range: [0, 3800] MHz
RF freq range: [30, 3800] MHz
BB freq range: [-10, 10] MHz
Tune args:
* LO Offset - Tune the LO with an offset and compensate with the baseband CORDIC.
[key=OFFSET, units=Hz, default=0.0, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07]]
* BB - Specify a specific value for this component or IGNORE to skip tuning it.
[key=BB, units=Hz, default=DEFAULT, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07], options=(DEFAULT, IGNORE)]
Sample rates: [0.1, 65] MSps
Filter bandwidths: [1.4, 130] MHz
Sensors: lo_locked
Other Settings:
* TSP DC Level - Digital DC level in LMS7002M TSP chain.
[key=TSP_CONST, type=int, range=[0, 32767]]


– TX Channel 0

Full-duplex: YES
Supports AGC: NO
Stream formats: CF32, CS12, CS16
Native format: CS16 [full-scale=2048]
Stream args:
* Buffer Length - The buffer transfer size over the link.
[key=bufferLength, units=samples, default=0, type=int]
* Link Format - The format of the samples over the link.
[key=linkFormat, default=CS16, type=string, options=(CS16, CS12)]
* Skip Calibration - Skip automatic activation calibration.
[key=skipCal, default=false, type=bool]
Antennas: NONE, BAND1, BAND2
Full gain range: [-12, 64] dB
PAD gain range: [0, 52] dB
IAMP gain range: [-12, 12] dB
Full freq range: [0, 3800] MHz
RF freq range: [30, 3800] MHz
BB freq range: [-10, 10] MHz
Tune args:
* LO Offset - Tune the LO with an offset and compensate with the baseband CORDIC.
[key=OFFSET, units=Hz, default=0.0, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07]]
* BB - Specify a specific value for this component or IGNORE to skip tuning it.
[key=BB, units=Hz, default=DEFAULT, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07], options=(DEFAULT, IGNORE)]
Sample rates: [0.1, 65] MSps
Filter bandwidths: [5, 40], [50, 130] MHz
Sensors: lo_locked
Other Settings:
* TSP DC Level - Digital DC level in LMS7002M TSP chain.
[key=TSP_CONST, type=int, range=[0, 32767]]

If it can be recognized as a b200 or b210 hold will facilitate for openbts. but still no one to confirm to me that he did it. :frowning:

I just installed on a computer with a USB port 3.0 and it still does not work, an idea ???

nino@ubuntu:~$ SoapySDRUtil --info
######################################################

Soapy SDR – the SDR abstraction library

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

Lib Version: v0.7.0-gd79a09d3
API Version: v0.7.0
ABI Version: v0.7
Install root: /usr/local
Search path: /usr/local/lib/SoapySDR/modules0.7
Module found: /usr/local/lib/SoapySDR/modules0.7/libLMS7Support.so (18.06.1-39e7883)
Module found: /usr/local/lib/SoapySDR/modules0.7/libuhdSupport.solinux; GNU C++ version 5.4.0 20160609; Boost_105800; UHD_003.008.004-0-g93011c14

(0.3.4-55da7da)
Available factories… lime, uhd
Available converters…

  • CF32 -> [CF32, CS16, CS8, CU16, CU8]
  • CS16 -> [CF32, CS16, CS8, CU16, CU8]
  • CS32 -> [CS32]
  • CS8 -> [CF32, CS16, CS8, CU16, CU8]
  • CU16 -> [CF32, CS16, CS8]
  • CU8 -> [CF32, CS16, CS8]
  • F32 -> [F32, S16, S8, U16, U8]
  • S16 -> [F32, S16, S8, U16, U8]
  • S32 -> [S32]
  • S8 -> [F32, S16, S8, U16, U8]
  • U16 -> [F32, S16, S8]
  • U8 -> [F32, S16, S8]
    nino@ubuntu:~$ SoapySDRUtil --probe=“driver=lime”
    ######################################################

Soapy SDR – the SDR abstraction library

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

Probe device driver=lime
linux; GNU C++ version 5.4.0 20160609; Boost_105800; UHD_003.008.004-0-g93011c14

[INFO] Make connection: ‘LimeSDR Mini [USB 3.0] 1D3AC8211A6C3E’
[INFO] Reference clock 40.00 MHz
[INFO] Device name: LimeSDR-Mini
[INFO] Reference: 40 MHz
[INFO] LMS7002M calibration values caching Disable


– Device identification

driver=FT601
hardware=LimeSDR-Mini
boardSerialNumber=0x1d3ac8211a6c3e
firmwareVersion=5
gatewareVersion=1.26
hardwareVersion=1
protocolVersion=1


– Peripheral summary

Channels: 1 Rx, 1 Tx
Timestamps: YES
Sensors: clock_locked, lms7_temp
Registers: BBIC
GPIOs: MAIN


– RX Channel 0

Full-duplex: YES
Supports AGC: NO
Stream formats: CF32, CS12, CS16
Native format: CS16 [full-scale=2048]
Stream args:
* Buffer Length - The buffer transfer size over the link.
[key=bufferLength, units=samples, default=0, type=int]
* Link Format - The format of the samples over the link.
[key=linkFormat, default=CS16, type=string, options=(CS16, CS12)]
* Skip Calibration - Skip automatic activation calibration.
[key=skipCal, default=false, type=bool]
Antennas: NONE, LNAH, LNAL_NC, LNAW
Corrections: DC removal
Full gain range: [-12, 61] dB
TIA gain range: [0, 12] dB
LNA gain range: [0, 30] dB
PGA gain range: [-12, 19] dB
Full freq range: [0, 3800] MHz
RF freq range: [30, 3800] MHz
BB freq range: [-10, 10] MHz
Tune args:
* LO Offset - Tune the LO with an offset and compensate with the baseband CORDIC.
[key=OFFSET, units=Hz, default=0.0, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07]]
* BB - Specify a specific value for this component or IGNORE to skip tuning it.
[key=BB, units=Hz, default=DEFAULT, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07], options=(DEFAULT, IGNORE)]
Sample rates: [0.1, 65] MSps
Filter bandwidths: [1.4, 130] MHz
Sensors: lo_locked
Other Settings:
* TSP DC Level - Digital DC level in LMS7002M TSP chain.
[key=TSP_CONST, type=int, range=[0, 32767]]


– TX Channel 0

Full-duplex: YES
Supports AGC: NO
Stream formats: CF32, CS12, CS16
Native format: CS16 [full-scale=2048]
Stream args:
* Buffer Length - The buffer transfer size over the link.
[key=bufferLength, units=samples, default=0, type=int]
* Link Format - The format of the samples over the link.
[key=linkFormat, default=CS16, type=string, options=(CS16, CS12)]
* Skip Calibration - Skip automatic activation calibration.
[key=skipCal, default=false, type=bool]
Antennas: NONE, BAND1, BAND2
Full gain range: [-12, 64] dB
PAD gain range: [0, 52] dB
IAMP gain range: [-12, 12] dB
Full freq range: [0, 3800] MHz
RF freq range: [30, 3800] MHz
BB freq range: [-10, 10] MHz
Tune args:
* LO Offset - Tune the LO with an offset and compensate with the baseband CORDIC.
[key=OFFSET, units=Hz, default=0.0, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07]]
* BB - Specify a specific value for this component or IGNORE to skip tuning it.
[key=BB, units=Hz, default=DEFAULT, type=float, range=[-1e+07, 1e+07], options=(DEFAULT, IGNORE)]
Sample rates: [0.1, 65] MSps
Filter bandwidths: [5, 40], [50, 130] MHz
Sensors: lo_locked
Other Settings:
* TSP DC Level - Digital DC level in LMS7002M TSP chain.
[key=TSP_CONST, type=int, range=[0, 32767]]

nino@ubuntu:~$ SoapySDRUtil --probe=“driver=uhd,type=b200”
######################################################

Soapy SDR – the SDR abstraction library

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

Probe device driver=uhd,type=b200
linux; GNU C++ version 5.4.0 20160609; Boost_105800; UHD_003.008.004-0-g93011c14

Error probing device: LookupError: KeyError: No devices found for ----->
Device Address:
driver: uhd
type: b200

nino@ubuntu:~$ export UHD_MODULE_PATH=/usr/local/lib/uhd/modules
nino@ubuntu:~$ SoapySDRUtil --probe=“driver=uhd,type=b200”
######################################################

Soapy SDR – the SDR abstraction library

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

Probe device driver=uhd,type=b200
linux; GNU C++ version 5.4.0 20160609; Boost_105800; UHD_003.008.004-0-g93011c14

Error probing device: LookupError: KeyError: No devices found for ----->
Device Address:
driver: uhd
type: b200

I do not have the LimeSDR “normal” to do the test but for me it does not work with the LimeSDR Mini. Maybe on a new firmware version?

Escuse me to insist but I ask again:

Has anyone been successful with limesdr mini or not?

If I take the limesdr “normal” or “mini” and I do SoapySDRUtil --probe = “driver = uhd, type = b200”, and that it works … Can I use openbts as if I had the b200 or the b210?

I will look later for osmo-trx-lms, for now I want to succeed SoapySDRUtil --probe = “driver = uhd, type = b200”.

Thanks for your help.

No, you cannot and I am not sure why you think a LimeSDR should pretend to be another vendor’s product.

If you want to use the board with OpenBTS I would suggest that you:

  • Install Lime Suite
  • Install OsmoTRX from git master and configure with --with-lms
  • Use osmo-trx-lms in place of the OpenBTS transceiver

I’ve not done this and have only used OsmoTRX with the rest of the Osmocom stack, which I can confirm works. However, OsmoTRX was derived from the OpenBTS transceiver codebase, with numerous improvements since, and I believe that you can use it with OpenBTS upper part of the stack.

1 Like

I will try OsmoTRX, which version of ubuntu do you recommend ?

For installation of Lime Suite, the best is to do manual installation or via apt-get ?

Thank you .

16.04.4 64-bit is what I’m running.

I’d build from git master.

I install OsmoTRX and it works. By cons I can not run OpenBTS.

I think if SoapyUHD works with LimeSDR-Mini, it will help me.

If you want to run OpenBTS with limesdr mini, you must build OpenBTS with SDR1 support. But before it, you must install Lime stack (SoapySDR + LimeSuite + uhd + SoapyUHD). After you install stack and compile OpenBTS, you’ll need to replace compiled transciever1 by osmo-trx-uhd and it will work. However, why do you want to use OpenBTS? It’s not work good now so there is another (as I think - better way). You can use OsmoBTS. In this way you’ll need Lime stack and osmo-nitb (you can use both new and old one variants). Here you can use osmo-trx-lms (it’s must be turn on in config) or use osmo-trx-uhd. Also you can use mine docker files - https://hub.docker.com/search/?isAutomated=0&isOfficial=0&page=1&pullCount=0&q=y2kot&starCount=0 (you’ll need to add config files for openbsc.cfg and osmobts.cfg) to use it (it simply start by startBTS script) or you can use https://hub.docker.com/search/?isAutomated=0&isOfficial=0&page=1&pullCount=0&q=cswiger&starCount=0 docker built by @cswiger

thank you very much for this information that helped me a lot.

I managed to run the network “Test PLMN 1-1” but once, it does not work, I have no error but more network.

I’m waiting for the answer from BG7YWL who managed to make it work (OpenBTS 1st test)

I am on :
OsmoTRX: version 0.4.0 (with osmo-trx-lms -C ~ / limesdr.cfg)
OpenBTS: release 5.0-master + 646bb6e79f CommonLibs: 76b71d509b + GPRS Built P 2018-08-03T03: 26: 57
LimeSuiteGUI: version 18.06.1-g39e78837
SoapySDRUtil: Lib Version: v0.7.0-gd79a09d3 - API Version: v0.7.0 - ABI Version: v0.7

PS : Sorry but for the moment Docker does not interest me.

I want OpenBTS because I come from usrp Ettus.

He use old version of osmo-trx (his osmo-trx == your osmo-trx-uhd). However It’s unlikely possible to get full OpenBTS stack work with osmo-trx.