After much experimentation I have finally found a way to successfully
install and fully run GRC 3.6.4.1 both under Windows XP and Windows 8.
I
presume it should therefore work equally well under Vista and 7.
First a few comments on the common causes of problems that most people
have
had:
a. It is critical to have the correct matching and complete versions
of
the various required libraries. Most installations instructions online
fail
because of this reason. The Ettus installation instructions officially
recommended on GNURadio website and provided
herehttp://code.ettus.com/redmine/ettus/projects/uhd/wiki/GNURadio_Windows
fail
now because many of the original binary versions referred to are no
longer
available. Hence those instructions are now outdated and should be
replaced
by the instructions provided in this email.
b. Although it is possible to successfully install GNURadio binaries for
versions 3.7.x, none of them include runtime DLLs for WX GUI blocks.
Hence
these blocks are not displayed, and so most of the example files
available
cannot be used as they need WX GUI blocks. Moreover, some of the QT GUI
blocks do not work in certain versions. Since I do not know how to make
these binaries, I request those who have created these version 3.7.x
Windows binaries to repack them so that we can run the latest versions
of
GNURadio in Windows. Until that is done, there is no point trying to
install those versions.
c. Only GNURadio version 3.6.x binaries have WX GUI blocks. But versions
3.6.2 does not allow moving the blocks. Only 3.6.4.1 is usable, and
works
perfectly well for all available examples tested so far including all QT
GUI and WX GUI blocks.
d. The required Python libraries versions are available only for Python
version 2.7.3 and are NOT all available for versions 2.7.6 or above, or
at
least I could not find them online. Hence we have to use libraries
compatible only with Python 2.7.3.
e. Some library versions have their quirks or bugs. For example PyGTK
2.24.0 does not allow you to add blocks in GRC. Only version PyGTK
2.24.2
works ok. Also wxPython binary called
“wxPython2.8-win32-unicode-2.8.12.1-py27” just does not work, but the
same
version but different binary called “wxPython-2.8.12.1.win32-py2.7”
works
correctly. Most online instructions do not mention the need for
“wxPython-common” library, which is absolutely necessary. Also some odd
problems such as
thishttp://gnuradio.4.n7.nabble.com/Windows-install-guide-from-Ettus-Research-missing-important-note-td44754.htmlcease
to exist when the correct libraries are matched.
f. In the instructions below I have listed all the correct working
libraries and binaries with links from which to download them. Please
use
only the binaries from these links and install them in the sequence
provided. Other versions or binaries may not work. Keep all default
options
unless otherwise specified here. If you have problems working with the
instructions below, check your binaries, and ensure that you are doing a
clean install.
Finally, please share your experiences with success and failures on this
list so that others may benefit.
Instructions to install GNURadio in Windows XP and Windows 8:
-
Uninstall all earlier installations and libraries of GNURadio and
Python
and their add-ons. Ensure that the GNURadio directory and Python
directory
are entirely removed by the uninstalls.
For Windows XP GNURadio default directory is: C:\Program Files\gnuradio
For Windows 8 it is: C:\Program Files (x86)\gnuradio
For all platforms the Python default directory is: C:\Python27
Both the GNURadio and Python directories should be non-existent. If they
still exist, then delete them and reboot. We want as clean an install as
possible. -
Download “Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86)”
from
here http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5555 and
install “vcredist_x86”.
If it says a copy is already installed and offers to repair it, and
accept
to repair. If it says a later version is already installed, then accept
to
close. -
Download and install “python-2.7.3.msi” from
herehttp://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.7.3/python-2.7.3.msi
. -
Download and install “lxml-3.0.2.win32-py2.7” from
herehttps://pypi.python.org/packages/2.7/l/lxml/lxml-3.0.2.win32-py2.7.exe#md5=a3863518b39bb260218fa6048247e0da
. -
Download and install “numpy-1.7.1-win32-superpack-python2.7” from
herehttp://garr.dl.sourceforge.net/project/numpy/NumPy/1.7.1/numpy-1.7.1-win32-superpack-python2.7.exe
. -
Download and install “PyQt-Py2.7-x86-gpl-4.9.6-1” from
herehttp://kaz.dl.sourceforge.net/project/pyqt/PyQt4/PyQt-4.9.6/PyQt-Py2.7-x86-gpl-4.9.6-1.exe
.
(Note: Keep all default options. You do NOT need to change anything.) -
Download and install “PyQwt-5.2.1-py2.7-x32-pyqt4.9.6-numpy1.7.1”
from
here http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/#pyqwt. -
Download and install “Cheetah-2.4.4.win32-py2.7” from
herehttp://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/#cheetah
. -
Download and install “PyOpenGL-3.1.0a1.win32-py2.7” from
herehttp://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/#pyopengl
. -
Download and install “pygtk-all-in-one-2.24.2.win32-py2.7” from
herehttp://ftp.gnome.org/pub/GNOME/binaries/win32/pygtk/2.24/pygtk-all-in-one-2.24.2.win32-py2.7.msi
. -
Download and install “wxPython-2.8.12.1.win32-py2.7” from
herehttp://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/#wxpython
.
On Windows 8 you may get: Runtime error R6034 “An application has made
an
attempt to load the C runtime library incorrectly. Please contact the
application’s support team for more information.” Ignore the message and
continue. -
Download and install “wxPython-common-2.8.12.1.win32-py2.7” from
herehttp://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/#wxpython
.
On Windows 8 you may get: Runtime error R6034 “An application has made
an
attempt to load the C runtime library incorrectly. Please contact the
application’s support team for more information.” Ignore the message and
continue. -
Download and install “gnuradio_3.6.4.1_Win32” (stable version)
from
herehttp://files.ettus.com/binaries/gnuradio/v3.6.4.1-stable/gnuradio_3.6.4.1_Win32.exe
.
Select the option to “Add gnuradio to the system path for all users”.
On Windows 8 you may receive “Warning! PATH too long installer unable to
modify PATH!” which seems to be a NSIS installer problem when it finds
the
total path to be longer than 1024. If you receive this message then you
must manually add the installation bin directory to the system path.
For Windows XP the PATH variable must include: “C:\Program
Files\gnuradio\bin;”
For Windows 8 the PATH must include: “C:\Program Files
(x86)\gnuradio\bin;”
The string can be added to the beginning of the PATH to ensure it gets
priority. In any case manually verify that the Path has been correctly
set
as above whether by the installer or by you.
-
Manually add the PYTHONPATH environment variable.
For Windows XP this is normally: “PYTHONPATH=C:\Program
Files\gnuradio\lib\site-packages”
For Windows 8 this is: “PYTHONPATH=C:\Program Files
(x86)\gnuradio\lib\site-packages” -
Check that the GRC_BLOCKS_PATH environment variable has been set to
by
GNURadio installer. Normally this should happen automatically. If it has
not been set, then set it manually.
For Windows XP this is: “GRC_BLOCKS_PATH=C:\Program
Files\gnuradio\share\gnuradio\grc\blocks”
For Windows 8 this is: “GRC_BLOCKS_PATH=C:\Program Files
(x86)\gnuradio\share\gnuradio\grc\blocks” -
Install any other hardware drivers that you need such as UHD, etc.
-
To run, in the command line type:
gnuradio-companion.py
If you like you can create a batch file to run this from a shortcut from
the menu or the desktop.
Hope this guide saves you many hours of wasted time so that you can
fully
enjoy the wonderful GNURadio experience!!
B
