RF Loopback Test Fails

General Discussion
1

en1gma@M4800:~$ LimeUtil --info
######################################################

LimeSuite information summary

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

Version information:
Library version: v19.01.0-myriadrf1~bionic
Build timestamp: 2019-02-08
Interface version: v2019.1.0
Binary interface: 19.01-1

System resources:
Installation root: /usr
User home directory: /home/en1gma
App data directory: /home/en1gma/.local/share/LimeSuite
Config directory: /home/en1gma/.limesuite
Image search paths:
- /home/en1gma/.local/share/LimeSuite/images
- /usr/share/LimeSuite/images

Supported connections:

  • FT601
  • FX3
  • PCIEXillybus

en1gma@M4800:~$ LimeUtil --find

  • [LimeSDR Mini, media=USB 3.0, module=FT601, addr=24607:1027, serial=1D3BD0C4F0CDFF]

en1gma@M4800:~$ LimeQuickTest
[ TESTING STARTED ]
->Start time: Thu Apr 11 07:56:23 2019

->Device: LimeSDR Mini, media=USB 3.0, module=FT601, addr=24607:1027, serial=1D3BD0C4F0CDFF
Serial Number: 1D3BD0C4F0CDFF

[ Clock Network Test ]
->REF clock test
Test results: 48023; 61220; 8881 - PASSED
->VCTCXO test
Results : 6711004 (min); 6711168 (max) - PASSED
->Clock Network Test PASSED

[ FPGA EEPROM Test ]
->Read EEPROM
->Read data: 12 03 10 12 03 10 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:(-28.3 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - FAILED
->Run Tests (TX_1 -> LNA_H):
CH0 (SXR=2100.0MHz, SXT=2105.0MHz): Result:(-12.8 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
->RF Loopback Test FAILED

=> Board tests FAILED <=

Elapsed time: 2.45 seconds

now my limesdr-mini was working perfect until i did a clean install of ubuntu 18.04.2 amd64 Desktop last night.
i also installed LimeSuite 19.01 (build-date = 2019-02-08) from Myriad PPA.
i then did the command ‘limesuite --update’ and it updated the firmware.
just wondering why i am now getting this RF Loopback error on (TX_2 -> LNA_W)
any info will help greatly.
thanks

i did have ubuntu 18.04.1 installed before this and was using limesuite 18.04 (i believe)

just wanted to add that i switched to my windows 10 64bit drive and it has PothosSDR-2019.03.24-vc14-x64.exe installed on it.
it fails limesuitegui calibrate all with same mcu error 4

if i want to go back to the firmware my lime-mini was using before (i think was 1.27) but maybe it was 1.24?
anyhow do i need to install a certain limesuite or pothosware to flash to lower gateware or can i just use this limesuite 19.01 to flash to lower gateware?
thanks

fixed my own problem by using windows 10 pothos 19.01 and downgrading fpga to 1.27
i then uninstalled pothos and installed pothos from 2018-11-04
calibration passes.

this has NOT fixed my problem.
although i can now successfully “Calibrate All” from within limesuite gui i am still failing RF Loopback Test with the LimeQuickTest program

2

im pretty sure LimeUtil --update installed “LimeSDR-Mini_HW_1.2_r1.29.rpd” instead of “LimeSDR-Mini_HW_1.1_r1.27.rpd” as i had to downgrade from 1.29 manually.
im looking on the https://downloads.myriadrf.org/project/limesuite/19.01/ and i see both files there.

LimeUtil --update must have grabbed the wrong one.
would this have caused damage to my TX_2 LNA_W?
i still can not pass the RF Loopback test.
please help.

3

@Zack could you advise, please.

4

It definitely should not be related.

It suggests that TX_2 or LNS_W is damaged.

6

yes that is the weird thing.
‘LimeUtil --update’ flashed the wrong one i belive.
it flashed “LimeSDR-Mini_HW_1.2_r1.29.rpd” instead of “LimeSDR-Mini_HW_1.1_r1.27.rpd”
i had to manually use LimeSuiteGui in the “programming” (modules).
why did LimeUtil --update flash 1.29rpd to my limesdr-mini 1.1 board?

7

Removed my last post just to avoid confusion.
Actually, the latest gateware (LimeSDR-Mini_HW_1.2_r1.29.rpd) is for both v1.1 and v1.2. So, your board should use LimeSDR-Mini_HW_1.2_r1.29.rpd for update.

8

ohhh.
ok will flash 1.29.rpd now.
maybe that is why it will not calibrate in limesuitegui with 19.01 and 1.27.rpd
will update to 1.29.rpd and test and report back.
thanks

9

en1gma@M4800:~$ LimeUtil --info
######################################################

LimeSuite information summary

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

Version information:
Library version: v19.01.0-myriadrf1~bionic
Build timestamp: 2019-02-08
Interface version: v2019.1.0
Binary interface: 19.01-1

System resources:
Installation root: /usr
User home directory: /home/en1gma
App data directory: /home/en1gma/.local/share/LimeSuite
Config directory: /home/en1gma/.limesuite
Image search paths:
- /home/en1gma/.local/share/LimeSuite/images
- /usr/share/LimeSuite/images

Supported connections:

  • FT601
  • FX3
  • PCIEXillybus

en1gma@M4800:~$ LimeUtil --find

  • [LimeSDR Mini, media=USB 3.0, module=FT601, addr=24607:1027, serial=1D3BD0C4F0CDFF]

en1gma@M4800:~$ LimeQuickTest
[ TESTING STARTED ]
->Start time: Fri Apr 12 09:18:14 2019

->Device: LimeSDR Mini, media=USB 3.0, module=FT601, addr=24607:1027, serial=1D3BD0C4F0CDFF
Serial Number: 1D3BD0C4F0CDFF

[ Clock Network Test ]
->REF clock test
Test results: 2822; 16019; 29216 - PASSED
->VCTCXO test
Results : 6710985 (min); 6711151 (max) - PASSED
->Clock Network Test PASSED

[ FPGA EEPROM Test ]
->Read EEPROM
->Read data: 12 03 10 12 03 10 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:(-29.6 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - FAILED
->Run Tests (TX_1 -> LNA_H):
CH0 (SXR=2100.0MHz, SXT=2105.0MHz): Result:(-11.1 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
->RF Loopback Test FAILED

=> Board tests FAILED <=

Elapsed time: 2.47 seconds

en1gma@M4800:~$

10

in windows 10 i tested alot of the “PothosSDR” builds with the 1.29.rpd gateway flashed.

after starting each limesuitegui up i select default, reset, default and then i hit “Calibrate All”
all the PothosSDR builds “Finish” fine except the most current build.“PothosSDR-2019.03.24-vc14-x64.exe”
i tested a few builds of LimeQuickTest and with all the builds i “Fail” the RF Loopback Test.
in ubuntu 18.04.2 amd64 desktop after i have added the myriad/drivers ppa the only version of LimeSuiteGui i can get is the most recent (19.01)??
how do i tell apt to not get that version with ‘sudo apt install limesuite’?
i think previous linux versions might work too but i cant test because it keeps getting latest limesuite :slight_smile:

11

if someone could help me troubleshoot this i can basically do whatever you want or need me to do.
i have a laptop with ubuntu 18.04.2 on a dedicated hdd and have windows 10 64bit also on a dedicated ssd.
i just switch the drive out to boot to the one i want.
i can also download live usb images if need be.
i have a digital multimeter to help troubleshoot too.

12

@Zack
i still need help guys…gals?
i would like to know what is wrong with my lime mini and better yet what do i need to do to fix it?
thanks

13

Tagging @Zack.

14

As I told some time ago:

15

yea but how do i make sure it is damaged and if it is damaged what do i need to do to fix?
thanks

one more thing.
its strange cause i rarely and i really do mean rarely ever use TX at all period.
i think i used TX to do vswr a few times only and that was ages ago

16

Interesting, as I also have this same issue. Quick test was passing then I updated and the quick test failed the same way as above. I just received my board yesterday could it be faulty?

17

did you connect full size antenna to rx by any chance?