Information about FPGA Flash process on N210

GNU Radio
1

Hi,

I’m currently planning on buying some SDR Devices in order to implement
and assess some sensing algorithms… Right now, i’m just comparing two
SDR Devices : USRP N210 and RICE WARP.

I found almost all the information about these SDR Devices in the
documentation which is available on the website/repository.
But, still, one question remains.

In a practical way, I think, I’ll have to do some FPGA Modification (I
already know that modifications on host computer/GNURadio GUI should be
easier, it’s not the point.)
I just wanted to know a little bit more about : quoting “the FGPA is
reconfigurable over the Ethernet using the internal Flash” (form the
description of the USRP N210 on Ettus Website-News)

  1. Concretly, how is this working ? (I know, we were able to do this
    kind of FPGA modifications, using a SD Card on USRP 2, but…)

  2. Do I need Xilinx Software Tools to do these modifications ?

  3. Any documentation on this subject ? Or even examples which show what
    could be done ?

  4. Bonus Question : Why would you recommand USRP N210 instead of WARP ?
    :wink:
    http://warp.rice.edu/

Best Regards,

Matt

2

In the meantime, I found this :
http://www.ettus.com/uhd_docs/manual/html/images.html

It partially answers questions 1) and 2)

Anyone got more detailled documentation about this ?

BR,

Matt

3

Ok, found it.
http://www.ettus.com/uhd_docs/manual/html/usrp2.html

Still questions 4) remains ! :smiley:

4

I just received my N210 in the mail. I am extremely new at this.
I installed the WBX board into the N210.
I powered up the N210. And LED B and F stay lit. B means MIMO cable
link. D means CPLD loaded. This doesn’t seem to make sense since I
don’t even have a MIMO cable installed. Do I need to load firmware?
(since LED D isn’t lit. I would have thought the firmware would come
pre-loaded.

I am currently loading the latest version of Ubuntu on my laptop.
I will be installing gnuradio, grc, wxPython. Then I am not sure where
to go from there.

Do I need to install the UHD to use the N210?

I have played with gunradio in the past without the hardware.

If anyone can point me to a link for more information that would be
great. I am really excited about finally being able to buy and play
with this HW.

Thanks