Possible hardware fault with LimeSDR USB

Hello I noticed many errors while using SoapySDR and calibrating the LimeSDR. The error was always “Tx Calibration: MCU error 5 (Loopback signal weak: not connected/insufficient gain?)”

I have since run LimeQuickTest which also indicated an rf loopback problem: RF Loopback Test FAILED

[ TESTING STARTED ]
->Start time: Sat Feb 23 12:52:31 2019

->Device: LimeSDR-USB, media=USB 3.0, module=FX3, addr=1d50:6108, serial=0009060A02431111
  Serial Number: 0009060A02431111

[ Clock Network Test ]
->FX3 GPIF clock test
  Test results: 28905; 32661; 36417 - PASSED
->Si5351C test
  CLK0: 17554 / 17554 - PASSED
  CLK1: 17554 / 17554 - PASSED
  CLK2: 17554 / 17554 - PASSED
  CLK3: 17554 / 17554 - PASSED
  CLK4: 17554 / 17554 - PASSED
  CLK5: 17554 / 17554 - PASSED
  CLK6: 17554 / 17554 - PASSED
->ADF4002 Test
  Result: 10 - PASSED
->VCTCXO test
  Results : 5112908 (min); 5113048 (max) - PASSED
->Clock Network Test PASSED

[ FPGA EEPROM Test ]
->Read EEPROM
->Read data: 11 02 15 11 02 15 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
CGEN: Freq=80 MHz, VCO=2.4 GHz, INT=77, FRAC=131072, DIV_OUTCH_CGEN=14
CGEN: Freq=80 MHz, VCO=2.4 GHz, INT=77, FRAC=131072, DIV_OUTCH_CGEN=14
CGEN: Freq=491.52 MHz, VCO=1.96608 GHz, INT=63, FRAC=0, DIV_OUTCH_CGEN=1
CGEN: Freq=491.52 MHz, VCO=1.96608 GHz, INT=63, FRAC=0, DIV_OUTCH_CGEN=1
->Run Tests (TX_2-> LNA_L):
  CH0 (SXR=800.0MHz, SXT=805.0MHz): Result:(-13.7 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
  CH1 (SXR=800.0MHz, SXT=805.0MHz): Result:(-15.4 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
->Run Tests (TX_1 -> LNA_W):
  CH0 (SXR=1800.0MHz, SXT=1805.0MHz): Result:(-14.4 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
  CH1 (SXR=1800.0MHz, SXT=1805.0MHz): Result:(-21.3 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - FAILED
->Run Tests (TX_2-> LNA_H):
  CH0 (SXR=2500.0MHz, SXT=2505.0MHz): Result:(-16.9 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
  CH1 (SXR=2500.0MHz, SXT=2505.0MHz): Result:(-13.8 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
->RF Loopback Test FAILED

=> Board tests FAILED <=

Elapsed time: 1.47 seconds

How do we proceed? I am quite devastated as I have never used the device because I was so scared of breaking it. Now I finally have a case for it and then this happens. I really hope we can resolve this issue.

I’m getting a similar issue, TX2 LNA_H. Device was just updated to latest firmware, was checking to make sure it works with software packages for my PhD.
System is Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

[ TESTING STARTED ]
->Start time: Wed Mar 6 12:16:42 2019

->Device: LimeSDR-USB, media=USB 3.0, module=FX3, addr=1d50:6108, serial=0009060B0049062A
Serial Number: 0009060B0049062A

[ Clock Network Test ]
->FX3 GPIF clock test
Test results: 20137; 23893; 27649 - PASSED
->Si5351C test
CLK0: 17554 / 17554 - PASSED
CLK1: 17554 / 17554 - PASSED
CLK2: 17554 / 17554 - PASSED
CLK3: 17554 / 17554 - PASSED
CLK4: 17554 / 17554 - PASSED
CLK5: 17554 / 17554 - PASSED
CLK6: 17554 / 17554 - PASSED
->ADF4002 Test
Result: 10 - PASSED
->VCTCXO test
Results : 5112952 (min); 5113078 (max) - PASSED
->Clock Network Test PASSED

[ FPGA EEPROM Test ]
->Read EEPROM
->Read data: 11 02 14 11 02 14 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
SetPllFrequency: timeout, busy bit is still 1
->Run Tests (TX_2-> LNA_L):
CH0 (SXR=800.0MHz, SXT=805.0MHz): Result:(-14.6 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
CH1 (SXR=800.0MHz, SXT=805.0MHz): Result:(-16.6 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
->Run Tests (TX_1 -> LNA_W):
CH0 (SXR=1800.0MHz, SXT=1805.0MHz): Result:(-17.3 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
CH1 (SXR=1800.0MHz, SXT=1805.0MHz): Result:(-18.0 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
->Run Tests (TX_2-> LNA_H):
CH0 (SXR=2500.0MHz, SXT=2505.0MHz): Result:(-67.5 dBFS, -8.99 MHz) - FAILED
CH1 (SXR=2500.0MHz, SXT=2505.0MHz): Result:(-63.9 dBFS, 8.12 MHz) - FAILED
->RF Loopback Test FAILED

=> Board tests FAILED <=

Elapsed time: 4.45 seconds

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LimeSuite information summary

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Version information:
Library version: v18.10.0-g02cabfde
Build timestamp: 2018-10-03
Interface version: v2018.6.0
Binary interface: 18.10-1

Supported connections:

  • FT601
  • FX3
  • PCIEXillybus

Hi @IamAComputer,

This is on the edge, but should still be OK.

Hi @eokeeffe,

It looks like LNA_H RF input is damaged.