Multi_file usrp tuning options

GNU Radio
1

Hi-

I’m developing a 4-channel receiver using 4 rx paths and 2 LFRX
daughter boards. I’m basing my code on the multi_* examples in the
multi-antenna directory. Two of the channels I want to capture are
AM-modulated at roughly 2 MHz carrier frequency, the other two signals
are
not modulated and are low frequency on the order of 1 kHz.

My question is, can I tune each subdevice to a different frequency? I
would need to in order to capture both sets of signals simultaneously in
a
phase-locked fashion (this is important).

thanks,
eric

Eric H. Matlis, Ph.D.
Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering Dept.
120 Hessert Center for Aerospace Research
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556-5684
Phone: (574) 631-6054
Fax: (574) 631-8355

2

On Thu, May 31, 2007 at 04:11:47PM -0400, [email protected] wrote:

in a phase-locked fashion (this is important).
Yes. See multi-antenna/multi_file.py. It tunes all 4 subdevs.
It happens to tune them all to the same freq, but that’s just because
that was what was needed at the time the code was written.

Eric

3

On Fri, Jun 01, 2007 at 09:27:55AM -0400, [email protected] wrote:

Excellent. Just so I understand how this is done- when one tunes
different subdevices to different frequencies, is there one LO on the USRP
which is being switched between these frequencies, or is there more than
one LO?

In general, the tuning is split between an LO on the daughterboard and
the DDCs in the the FPGA. In the case of the Basic Rx and LF RX,
there is no LO on the daughterboard, so all the tuning is handled by
the DDC. When using std_4rx_0tx.rbf, there are 4 DDCs available in
the FPGA.

u.tune(…) handles adjusting the LO (if any) and the DDCs
transparently for the common case.

Also- Can I tune all four subdevices independently, or am I restricted to
using the same frequency on a given daughterboard?

With the Basic and LF Rx everything is independent, since there’s no
LO on the daughterboard. In the case of daughterboards with LO’s,
life is a bit more complicated and you’ll have to explicitly control
the LO on the daughterboard, and then explicitly control the 2 DDCs
that are being fed from the given daughterboard. You of course need
to ensure that that two frequencies that you want within the IF
passband of the daughterboard.

To see how this is currently handled, take a look at the
implementation of “tune” in gr-usrp/src/usrp.py

Finally- I would guess that at a minimum the decimation factor set in the
fpga must be the same for all subdevices. Is this correct?

Yes, the decimation rate applies to all subdevices.

thanks again,
eric

You’re welcome!

Eric