Installing BladeRF and SDR-Console on Windows 8

[drew23]

Hi all,

Just a short note on how easy it can be to install BladeRF and SDR-Console on Windows 8 and get a fantastic, working SDR. The details are in my blog: http://vk4zxi.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/i ... using.html.

Main points:

Use the stand-alone Windows installer (http://nuand.com/downloads/bladerf_win_installer.exe)

As BladeRF is unsigned driver, restart in special Windows 8 mode that allows unsigned drivers, then restart normally.

Run BladeRF from Windows Start page. Load FGGA image, all LEDs should start flashing.

Use earlier version of SDR-console that was designed to work with BladeRF: Build 2.1 Beta 1545

Follow usual radio definition/setup for SDR-Console, limit bandwidth to 20 MHz to reduce CPU load.

Should have joy.

I am using BladeRF to show the spectrum of my amateur TV project using a cheap ($160) USB DVB-T TX dongle. Amazing on all fronts, especially give the low cost of both bits of hardware.

Regards Drew VK4ZXI Gold Coast, Australia.

[yvesined]

Hello, I'm also using the SDR-console but I got a problem. I'm analyzing WIFI Signals at 2417 MHz currently and the expected signal power is -40 dBm (that says my WIFI Analyzer), but the SDR-Console (V2.1) only shows a signal at -104 dBm slighly above the noise floor... (picture: small peak marked by the cursor)
I'm suggesting this is a configuration problem, so correct me if I made something wrong:
I set
LNA to Maximum
RXVGA1 to 10dB
RXVGA2 to 15 dB
LPF normal
Sample Rate 20 MHz
Frequency 2417 MHz
Loopback none

I checked these values in the bladeRF-cli e.g. with 'print rxvga1 ' and they were set right.
It doesn't matter how I change the values above, the signal power received doesn't go up. The WIFI-router is standing about 2 metres away and when I switch it of, the small signal is gone. I got a normal Wifi-Antenna which should make 7dBi: http://business.assmann.com/sec/drucken ... r=DN-70104


You would really help me fixing this error, thank you!

[robert.ghilduta]

Yvesined, what FPGA version and libbladeRF version are you using? Can you ensure that rxvga2 is being set correctly as well?

[LazyDodo]

probably wrong gender on your antenna, although an rp-sma antenna will screw into the blade just fine, it lacks the center pin to get any actual signal across.