Simultaneous TX/RX Sample Code for RFX (FLEX) 400

Greetings,

I am having an issue receiving signals properly using a single RFX
(FLEX)
400. I am using usrp_siggen.py (with a sinusoid) to transmit via
“TX/RX” in
the 450 MHz range, and have verified its functionality via a spectrum
analyzer. The transmitter (“TX/RX”) is hardwired to the receiver
(“RX2”)
via an SMA to SMA cable. I have tried the following:

  1. Using usrp_rx_cfile.py directly
    ==> This results in incorrect data.
  2. Adding the following line to usrp_rx_cfile:
    u.select_rx_antenna(1)
    ==> This results in an error, as the method (“select_rx_antenna”) is
    not
    found.
  3. Adding the following line to usrp_rx_cfile:
    u.subdev.select_rx_antenna(1)
    ==> This also results in an invalid method error.

My question is whether or not any of the above tests should work. If
not,
can someone proved some simple sample code to properly receive data
using
“RX2” of the RFX 400 while the “TX/RX” port is being used as a
transmitter?

Thanks!
Rob

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On Fri, May 19, 2006 at 11:26:54AM -0700, rdmiller wrote:

==> This results in incorrect data.
2. Adding the following line to usrp_rx_cfile:
u.select_rx_antenna(1)
==> This results in an error, as the method (“select_rx_antenna”) is not
found.
3. Adding the following line to usrp_rx_cfile:
u.subdev.select_rx_antenna(1)
==> This also results in an invalid method error.

not tested, but expected to work…

self.subdev.select_rx_antenna(‘RX2’)

My question is whether or not any of the above tests should work. If not,
can someone proved some simple sample code to properly receive data using
“RX2” of the RFX 400 while the “TX/RX” port is being used as a transmitter?

You’re going to need a serious amount of attenuation (pad).
Connecting the 100mW transmitter output directly into the Rx input
port isn’t going to work.

Eric

Eric,

Thank you very much for the reply. I noticed that I was actually
modifying
a very old version of usrp_rx_cfile.py (found at
http://www.koders.com/python/fidB649E66943F7649C67371CB015D6E5ACAE276523.aspx).
I’ve taken a look at the latest version from cvs and have a question
regarding the proper way to add the call to select_rx_antenna( ). It
appears that the mux value is set based upon user input or another
method,
and that this may result in improper operation using RX2. I’ve tried
setting the rx_subdev_spec to ‘RX2’ from the command line argument with
error. The message is to use ‘A’, ‘A:0’, or ‘A:1’ when using the A side
of
the usrp. When trying ‘A:1’, an error also results. So, when I run the
code I am using ‘A:0’ as the input. I am therefore fearful of having
bad
mux values even though the modified code (listed below) runs without
error
in terms of creating the data file. My question is whether or not there
is
a simple alteration to the code below that will result in using RX2 for
receiving data while transmitting simultaneously from RX/TX?

Although I am aware that the signal will need to be attenuated severely,
I
am unsure what the RF front end of the RFX-400 is spec’d for. With a 20
dBm
signal at the TX, I am planning to use anywhere from 40 to 60 dB of
attenuation. I believe this will give me a -20 to -40 dBm signal at
RX2.
This should be acceptable, right? Thanks again for your help, it is
much
appreciated.

Best Regards,
Rob

As a note, the version of code I am now using follows:

========================================
#!/usr/bin/env python

“”"
Read samples from the USRP and write to file formatted as binary
single-precision complex values.

“”"

from gnuradio import gr, eng_notation
from gnuradio import audio
from gnuradio import usrp
from gnuradio.eng_option import eng_option
from optparse import OptionParser

class my_graph(gr.flow_graph):

def __init__(self):
    gr.flow_graph.__init__(self)

    usage="%prog: [options] output_filename"
    parser = OptionParser(option_class=eng_option, usage=usage)
    parser.add_option("-R", "--rx-subdev-spec", type="subdev",

default=(0, 0),
help=“select USRP Rx side A or B (default=A)”)
parser.add_option(“-d”, “–decim”, type=“int”, default=16,
help=“set fgpa decimation rate to DECIM
[default=%default]”)
parser.add_option(“-f”, “–freq”, type=“eng_float”,
default=None,
help=“set frequency to FREQ”, metavar=“FREQ”)
parser.add_option(“-g”, “–gain”, type=“eng_float”,
default=None,
help=“set gain in dB (default is midpoint)”)
parser.add_option(“-N”, “–nsamples”, type=“eng_float”,
default=None,
help=“number of samples to collect
[default=+inf]”)
(options, args) = parser.parse_args ()
if len(args) != 1:
parser.print_help()
raise SystemExit, 1
filename = args[0]

    if options.freq is None:
        parser.print_help()
        sys.stderr.write('You must specify the frequency with -f

FREQ\n’);
raise SystemExit, 1

    # build the graph
    self.u = usrp.source_c(decim_rate=options.decim)
    self.dst = gr.file_sink(gr.sizeof_gr_complex, filename)
    if options.nsamples is None:
        self.connect(self.u, self.dst)
    else:
        self.head = gr.head(gr.sizeof_gr_complex, 

int(options.nsamples))
self.connect(self.u, self.head, self.dst)

    if options.rx_subdev_spec is None:
        options.rx_subdev_spec = usrp.pick_rx_subdevice(self.u)
    self.u.set_mux(usrp.determine_rx_mux_value(self.u,

options.rx_subdev_spec))

   ##--- addition here ---##
   self.subdev.select_rx_antenna('RX2')

    # determine the daughterboard subdevice we're using
    self.subdev = usrp.selected_subdev(self.u, 

options.rx_subdev_spec)
print “Using RX d’board %s” % (self.subdev.side_and_name(),)
input_rate = self.u.adc_freq() / self.u.decim_rate()
print “USB sample rate %s” %
(eng_notation.num_to_str(input_rate))

    if options.gain is None:
        # if no gain was specified, use the mid-point in dB
        g = self.subdev.gain_range()
        options.gain = float(g[0]+g[1])/2
    self.subdev.set_gain(options.gain)

    r = self.u.tune(0, self.subdev, options.freq)
    if not r:
        sys.stderr.write('Failed to set frequency\n')
        raise SystemExit, 1

if name == ‘main’:
try:
my_graph().run()
except KeyboardInterrupt:
pass


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On Sat, May 20, 2006 at 08:59:00PM -0700, rdmiller wrote:

setting the rx_subdev_spec to ‘RX2’ from the command line argument with
error. The message is to use ‘A’, ‘A:0’, or ‘A:1’ when using the A side of
the usrp. When trying ‘A:1’, an error also results. So, when I run the
code I am using ‘A:0’ as the input. I am therefore fearful of having bad
mux values even though the modified code (listed below) runs without error
in terms of creating the data file. My question is whether or not there is
a simple alteration to the code below that will result in using RX2 for
receiving data while transmitting simultaneously from RX/TX?

The subdevice spec has to do with selecting either the daughterboard
on the A or B side. It has nothing to do with the selection of the
TX/RX vs RX2 antenna port. The mux is set up depending on the A vs B
selection.

Your code looks right. Sorry, not near a USRP to test it right now.

Although I am aware that the signal will need to be attenuated severely, I
am unsure what the RF front end of the RFX-400 is spec’d for. With a 20 dBm
signal at the TX, I am planning to use anywhere from 40 to 60 dB of
attenuation. I believe this will give me a -20 to -40 dBm signal at RX2.
This should be acceptable, right? Thanks again for your help, it is much
appreciated.

I’m not sure. Matt’s the guy to answer this (unless it’s already on
the daughterboard data sheet). He’s at the Dayton Hamvention now :wink:

Eric

Matt E. wrote:

TX/RX switch has about 35 dB of isolation. You may get some extra
isolation by setting the RX input to RX2 and putting another dummy load
there.

You can also lower the TX power.
I thought the TX power allways had to be at maximum for the RFX boards.

greetings,
Martin

Although I am aware that the signal will need to be attenuated severely, I
am unsure what the RF front end of the RFX-400 is spec’d for. With a 20 dBm
signal at the TX, I am planning to use anywhere from 40 to 60 dB of
attenuation. I believe this will give me a -20 to -40 dBm signal at RX2.
This should be acceptable, right? Thanks again for your help, it is much
appreciated.

There is enough leakage between the TX and RX side that you won’t need
to connect them at all. Just put a dummy load on the TX side. The
TX/RX switch has about 35 dB of isolation. You may get some extra
isolation by setting the RX input to RX2 and putting another dummy load
there.

You can also lower the TX power.

Matt

On Tue, 2006-05-23 at 12:39 +0200, Martin D. wrote:

to connect them at all. Just put a dummy load on the TX side. The
TX/RX switch has about 35 dB of isolation. You may get some extra
isolation by setting the RX input to RX2 and putting another dummy load
there.

You can also lower the TX power.
I thought the TX power allways had to be at maximum for the RFX boards.

I meant that you can change TX power by lowering your signal level
numerically. TX PGA gain must always be at the max.

Matt