USRP FPGA 8-bit Data Ordering

GNU Radio
1

Context: I’m adding new quantization (sample width) options to the USRP
FPGA configuration. (Long time in coming; yes, I know.)

Question: I’m seeing that in 8-bit mode, the USRP outputs samples from
its internal channels in the following sequence (an 8-bit, 8-channel
example):

1, 0,     3, 2,     5, 4,     7, 6,    1,0,   3,2,     ...

where each grouping of two channels makes one 16-bit word.

----> What is the rationale behind this convention?

As I’m deciding how to output 4, 2, and 1-bit samples, it makes much
more sense to me to use a sequential order, like this (4-bit, 8-channel
example):

0, 1, 2, 3,   4, 5, 6, 7,    0, 1, 2, 3,   ...

This way if the user writes the data directly to a file, one word after
another, everything is in sequential order for whatever post-processing
later.

----> Will the GNU Radio world fall apart if use a sequential channel
ordering for my output and submit this development for inclusion in a
future release?

Thanks,
Paul

2

Paul C. wrote:

post-processing later.

----> Will the GNU Radio world fall apart if use a sequential channel
ordering for my output and submit this development for inclusion in a
future release?

Thanks,
Paul
Amendment:

I see now why the sequence is as it is. As a real-time program reads
one word at a time and picks off samples from LSB to MSB, the ordering
makes sense. I may just include a setting to reverse the sample order
for more efficient data recording. If the powers that be have any other
thoughts, please let me know.

–Paul

3

On Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 05:47:19PM -0500, Paul C. wrote:

where each grouping of two channels makes one 16-bit word.
after another, everything is in sequential order for whatever

I see now why the sequence is as it is. As a real-time program reads
one word at a time and picks off samples from LSB to MSB, the ordering
makes sense. I may just include a setting to reverse the sample order
for more efficient data recording. If the powers that be have any other
thoughts, please let me know.

–Paul

Thanks for answering your own question :slight_smile:

The USRP1 is little endian. My not-fully-considered thought is that it
ought to go like this (everything packed into a 32-bit word):

16 bit I & Q (same as today):

±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±+
| Q0 | I0 |
±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±+

8 bit I & Q (different from today: see usrp_source_c.cc):

±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±+
| Q1 | I1 | Q0 | I0 |
±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±+

4 bit I & Q:

±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±+
| Q3 | I3 | Q2 | I2 | Q1 | I1 | Q0 | I0 |
±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±+

etc…

What are you thoughts about this?

Eric

4

On Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 09:50:41PM -0500, Paul C. wrote:

4 bit I & Q:

First off, current USRP words are 16-bit, are they not? The rx_buffer
module in the FPGA code stores data in a 16-bit FIFO. Are you
suggesting changing this, or is the 32-bit width above merely
illustrative?

illustrative.

Either way, I agree with your sample ordering above.
It’s consistent for all sample widths, and it should make host-side code
straight-forward.

OK, good. “Make it so” :slight_smile:

Eric
g

5

Eric B. wrote:

ought to go like this (everything packed into a 32-bit word):
| Q1 | I1 | Q0 | I0 |
What are you thoughts about this?
illustrative.
g

And who should I notify (this list?) when this is ready for peer
review? I’m doing my own validation right now, which is going well.

–Paul

6

On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 02:31:34PM -0500, Paul C. wrote:

etc…

Eric
g

And who should I notify (this list?) when this is ready for peer review?
I’m doing my own validation right now, which is going well.

This list is a good place. Just point us to your develeloper branch
and ask us to build and test. A couple of examples of usage would
probably be helpful. In my experience, if I want somebody to test
something, I need to make it easy for them to test it.

Thanks for all your efforts!
Eric

7

Eric B. wrote:

0, 1, 2, 3,   4, 5, 6, 7,    0, 1, 2, 3,   ...

Thanks,
–Paul
| Q0 | I0 |
±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±+
| Q3 | I3 | Q2 | I2 | Q1 | I1 | Q0 | I0 |
±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±+

etc…

What are you thoughts about this?

Eric

First off, current USRP words are 16-bit, are they not? The rx_buffer
module in the FPGA code stores data in a 16-bit FIFO. Are you
suggesting changing this, or is the 32-bit width above merely
illustrative? Either way, I agree with your sample ordering above.
It’s consistent for all sample widths, and it should make host-side code
straight-forward.

–Paul