Official bladeRF forum

Hi All,

I am testing the BladeRF on different computers, and I observe different performance results, depending on the computer.
So far, newer computers with Windows 8 or 10 performed well, I was able to Tx over USB 3.0 at 25MSPS without drops, using the libusbK driver.
(MacbookPro, ASUS Z97)

On older computers, its a different story.
Some of them would only see the bladeRF when using the Cypress Driver. But using Cypress driver, the Tx would timeout.

Q1: Is there a general recommendation between Cypress and libusbK driver on Windows?
Q2: Is it possible to get good performances (25MSPS) under Windows 7 and USB 3.0, with a 4-5 year old computer (Intel core i5/i7 of 2nd/3rd generation)? Any rule-of-thumb/general guideline would be appreciated!

Best regards,
Serge

I forgot to mention:
I'm using libbladeRF 2015.07 and firmware 1.8.0

I think the Cypress driver typically works a little better, but jynik knows for sure.

It typically comes down to the XHCI performance and which one you're using. You can check the working configurations on the wiki and see if one of the USB controllers that is in that system is also listed there.

Typically the Intel controllers do best and are the gold standard.

Are you using default buffering configurations? TX timing out definitely sounds very bad. You're just taking a file and using the CLI to try to transmit it at 25Msps?

Hi all,

Thanks for the information.
There is certainly something wrong in my side when using the Cypress Driver, it times out during the first samples transfer. I'm not using the default buffer size, but it is a multiple of 1024. I will try different values tomorrow and give you the results. I will focus on that first.

The controller that is giving me a hard time is a Renesas Electronics USB 3.0 Controller. It is installed on my Intel DH67BL M/B.

Thanks again,
Serge

Hi,

Thanks again for the feedback.
So far, I haven't be able to use the Cypress driver correctly, even with a newer computer and the bladerf-cli. Something must be wrong on my side, I'll have to take more time to verify everything.

I have changed the number of Buffers from 500/250 to 32/16 (Default). It seems to run smoother at any sampling rates. But again, I have to run more tests.

I will also try to run on GNU-Radio Live SDR image in Linux to see if I get better results.

One question I have:
When I call bladerf_sync_tx, does it matter if I send a number of samples lower than the buffer size? Does it have an impact on performance if this number is not aligned on 1024?

Best regards,
Serge

Hi Jon,

Thanks for the update regarding the Tx under-runs, I'd like to try this today.
I have tried to compile and used the latest code.
Its running fine with libusbK driver, but I still can't use Cypress the driver correctly: I always get timeouts on the bladerf_sync_tx.
Should my could be different when using Cypress vs libusbK?

I'm using:
Windows 10
fx3 image: 1.8.1
FPGA: 0.4.1
latest code from master
Cypress SDK 1.3.3
--> Cypress driver from "latest BladeRF Windows installer". Is this the driver I should use?

Best regards,
Serge

Hi Jon,

Thanks for the update regarding the Tx under-runs, I'd like to try this today.
I have tried to compile and used the latest code.
Its running fine with libusbK driver, but I still can't use Cypress the driver correctly: I always get timeouts on the bladerf_sync_tx.
Should my code be different when using Cypress vs libusbK? I suppose not.

I'm using:
Windows 10
fx3 image: 1.8.1
FPGA: 0.4.1
latest code from master
Cypress SDK 1.3.3
--> Cypress driver from "latest BladeRF Windows installer". Is this the driver I should use?

I also have reproduced the Cypress driver timeouts with bladerf-cli.
I run the attached script file perfectly with libusbK driver (10s Tx streaming)
But with Cypress driver, it seems hanging forever.
Let me know if you need the bin file I'm streaming, I can share it via Dropbox.


Best regards,
Serge

Hi Jon,

Thanks for the info. There must be something wrong with my driver or USB Controller.
I have a ASUS Z97-A USB 3.1 Mobo.
It has 2 USB Controllers: the one from the Intel Z97 chipset and a ASMedia XHCI 1.1 USB 3.1 controller.
I have tried both USB 3.0 ad USB 3.1 ports: No success with Cypress driver, but they work fine with libusbK driver.
The Intel USB Controller is using the generic driver from Microsoft. The Intel driver won't install on Windows 10 x64.

I will try to update my BIOS later today or tomorrow.

Best regards,
Serge

Hi all,

I have reproduced the Cyrpess driver issue I'm facing with a 3rd computer (Macbook pro, running Windows 8.1).

Here are the detailed steps I do to see that issue:
1- Install "BladeRF for Windows" from this installer:
http://www.nuand.com/windows_installers ... latest.exe
2- During the installation, select "Cyoress CyUSB3 driver"
3- Copy my files "br_script.txt" and "GPS10s.iq" to "C:\Program Files\bladeRF\x64"
4- Open a Windows command-prompt in C:\Program Files\bladeRF\x64
5- Call "bladeRF-cli.exe -s br_script.txt"

Then, no Tx is actually going on, and bladerf-cli seems hung. The binary file is 10s long, so bladerf-cli should exit after 10s.
At step #2, if I select "WinUSB" driver, then bladerf-cli runs the script as expected, Tx is going on, and it exists after 10s.

Versions are:
bladeRF> version

bladeRF-cli version: 1.2.1
libbladeRF version: 1.4.3

Firmware version: 1.8.0
FPGA version: 0.3.4

Content of the "br_script.txt":
set frequency 1575420000
set samplerate 2500000
set txvga1 -4
set txvga2 0
tx config file=GPS10s.iq format=bin
tx start
tx wait

I would like to know how I can use the Cypress Driver under Windows.
Is there anything different I should do, or another version I should use?

Best regards,
Serge

Hi,

I've updated to latest-and-greatest. Here's the output from my script:
C:\bladeRF\host\build\output\Release>bladeRF-cli.exe -v debug -s br_script.txt
[DEBUG @ bladerf.c:1317] Log verbosity has been set to: 1[DEBUG @ libusb.c:431] Could not open bladeRF device: LIBUSB_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED
[DEBUG @ libusb.c:545] No devices available on the libusb backend.
[DEBUG @ tuning.c:82] Default tuning mode: FPGA

bladeRF-cli version: 1.2.1-git-19c7f7c
libbladeRF version: 1.4.3-git-19c7f7c

Firmware version: 1.8.1
FPGA version: 0.4.1


Using device string: cypress:device=0:18 instance=0 serial=94ea0bdd54d55619b94c592068132875
[DEBUG @ device_identifier.c:82] Device: 0:18
[DEBUG @ device_identifier.c:100] Instance: 0
[DEBUG @ tuning.c:82] Default tuning mode: FPGA


[DEBUG @ tuning.c:134] Setting TX frequency to 1575420000
Set TX frequency: 1575420000Hz


Set TX bandwidth - req: 2500000 Hz actual: 2500000 Hz


Setting RX sample rate - req: 2500000 0/1Hz, actual: 2500000 0/1Hz
Setting TX sample rate - req: 2500000 0/1Hz, actual: 2500000 0/1Hz


TXVGA1 Gain: -4 dB


TXVGA2 Gain: 0 dB

[DEBUG @ bladerf.c:345] Enable Module: TX - True
[DEBUG @ sync.c:832] sync_tx: Worker is now running.
[DEBUG @ cyapi.c:745] Non-blocking buffer submission requested, but no transfers are currently available.[DEBUG @ cyapi.c:647] Steam timed out.


We can see "No transfers are currently available". I'm using the default buffer sizes, as you can see in my script:
Any idea of what is wrong?
Thanks!

I have never tried transmitting i only use SDR#

But I do have a ASUS Z97 motherboard also and i have issues on receive with Cypress (Bizzarly works set on 40Msps but drops at lower rates))

I am ok using the Lib drivers so to be sounds like your hitting a cypress issue.

Hi Jon,

Thanks for your feedback. I really have no clue of what's the problem.
Let me know if you want me try something on my end, it's very quick to setup.
Also, I can recompile easily libbladerf under Windows now, if you want me to try a modification in a special branch.

Regards,
Serge