From 36c294ce54e8a04a4a33139d2c969c89e13799e8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: f4exb Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2015 23:38:51 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] Updated the readme with the latest developments --- Readme.md | 30 +++++++++++++++++++++--------- 1 file changed, 21 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-) diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md index 12a252774..082d8a08c 100644 --- a/Readme.md +++ b/Readme.md @@ -5,6 +5,15 @@ Cloning the repository - Clone as usual - Checkout the f4exb branch: `git checkout f4exb` +======================= +GNURadio and libosmosdr +======================= + +These plugins have a lot of bugs and they have been removed trom the build. Original sources still exist in the tree. So current version only supports the following hardware: + - RTL-SDR + - Funcube + - BladeRF (standard and with XB-200 transverter) + ============== Funcube Dongle ============== @@ -17,7 +26,11 @@ Funcube Dongle Pro+ USB drivers are broken on some hardware with recent kernels. BladeRF ======= -You need a very recent (May 2015) version of gr-osmosdr. 0.1.1 does not work but 0.1.5 does. Check to which library points the symbolic link `libgnuradio-osmosdr.so`. It should be something like: `libgnuradio-osmosdr-0.1.5git.so.0.0.` +A complete new plugin has been written for the BladeRF that interfaces libbladeRF directly. Osmosdr/GnuRadio interface is not implemented correctly and has a lot of bugs as mentioned previously and was not reasonably usable with the BladeRF. + +If you use your own location for libbladeRF install directory you need to specify library and include locations. Example with `opt/install/libbladerf` with the following defines on `cmake` command line: + +`-DLIBBLADERF_LIBRARIES=/opt/install/libbladeRF/lib/libbladeRF.so -DLIBBLADERF_INCLUDE_DIR=/opt/install/libbladeRF/include` ========== For Ubuntu @@ -64,13 +77,9 @@ Known Issues ============ - Actually NFM seems to be working pretty well - - Does not work properly for RTL-SDR sampling rates not multiple of AF sampling rate (48000 Hz). This is because the interpolator/decimator is not a rational resampler actually (just does one or the other). For now please use 288, 1152 or 1536 kHz sampling rates, - RTL frontend will have bad aliasing in noisy environments. Considering the size of the hardware there is no place for proper filters. With good filtering and a good antenna up front these devices work remarkably well for the price! - Aliasing can be annoying for broadcast FM. In this case try to shift the signal until you find a clear background for your station. This is a limitation of the RTL hardware so just use this workaround. - - GNU Radio plugin is still not fully functional: - - Current settings are not saved and retrieved on the next session - - DC offset and I/Q policy is not working properly and has been disabled (effectively enforces the - "keep" mode always) + - GNU Radio plugin is not fully functional and has serious bugs (frequent segfaults). Trying to repair it is abandonned. =================== Done since the fork @@ -83,6 +92,7 @@ Done since the fork - Added display and precise control of the shift frequency from center frequency of the NFM receivers. - Removed useless spectrum visualizer in NFM receivers. Created a null sink class to fit corresponding parameter in NFMDemod class constructor. - Added display and precise control of the shift frequency from center frequency of the SSB receivers. + - SSB filter bounds are tunable so that filter can be set off from center frequency allowing aural decoding of CW - Make the sidebands appear correctly on SSB channel overlay. Limit to +/- 6 kHz to fit channel spectrum analyzer window - SSB bandwidth can now be tuned in steps of 100 Hz - NFM and SSB receiver in focus trigger the display of the central frequency line on the spectrum frequency scale thus facilitating its identification @@ -91,16 +101,18 @@ Done since the fork - Make the low cutoff frequency of the SSB filter variable so it can be used for CW also. - NFM demodulation without using atan and smooth squelch with AGC suppressing most clicks on low level signals and hiss on carrier tails. Only useful modulation comes through. - Added working WFM demodulation. Optimized for no atan2. - - Improved GNU Radio plugin usability with most settings saved on a preset + - OsmoSDR and GNURAdio plugins removed from the build as they have too many bugs that are too difficult to correct + - New plugin for BladeRF interfacing libbladeRF directly + - Corrected the nasty audio band resampling bug preventing use of sample rates that are not power of 2 multiples of 48kHz. This was because the resampling ratio was calculated with an integer division instead of a float division. + - As a consequence of the above added more interesting values for the available sampling rates of the BladeRF plugin ===== To Do ===== - Enhance WFM (stereo, RDS?) - - Make the the SSB filter frequency bounds tunable so that it can be used for CW. Change marker overlay accordingly. - Possibility to completely undock the receiver in a separate window. Useful when there are many receivers - - Larger decimation capability for narrowband and very narrowband work (32, 64, ...) + - Even larger decimation capability for narrowband and very narrowband work? (64, ...) - Even more demods ... - Triggering capability like on expensive spectrum analyzers to trap burst signals - recording capability