LimeSDR-Mini Problems with DATV-Express
Re: LimeSDR-Mini Problems with DATV-Express
Hi Shaun
That's not what I meant. I believe that the LimeSDR Mini does perform well with good USB3 hardware and drivers, it's just that poor computer USB3 implementations (hardware and drivers) have been a source of trouble for a number of LimeSDR users.
Of course the Portsdown is limited to the USB2 on the Raspberry Pi.
Dave
That's not what I meant. I believe that the LimeSDR Mini does perform well with good USB3 hardware and drivers, it's just that poor computer USB3 implementations (hardware and drivers) have been a source of trouble for a number of LimeSDR users.
Of course the Portsdown is limited to the USB2 on the Raspberry Pi.
Dave
Re: LimeSDR-Mini Problems with DATV-Express
No the Lime uses USB3.
As far as settings are concerned I just use default settings.
In the LimeSuite one option that can be set is to trade latency vs performance
my code chooses maximum performance (highest latency), that is not a user settable value though.
I also only use motherboards with Intel chipsets.
- Charles
As far as settings are concerned I just use default settings.
In the LimeSuite one option that can be set is to trade latency vs performance
my code chooses maximum performance (highest latency), that is not a user settable value though.
I also only use motherboards with Intel chipsets.
- Charles
Re: LimeSDR-Mini Problems with DATV-Express
As far as USB2 is concerned.
The DATV-Express hardware is capable of 10 MS/s with no dropouts but I have hand crafted
the FPGA code for high speed transfer between the USB2 controller chip and the FPGA. I feed
a very large FIFO inside the FPGA.
Even with all that it seems I am one of the few people able to achieve those sustained transfer rates
so I can only conclude it is a PC hardware problem. How fast the processor is does not seem to matter
(within reason of course).
- Charles
The DATV-Express hardware is capable of 10 MS/s with no dropouts but I have hand crafted
the FPGA code for high speed transfer between the USB2 controller chip and the FPGA. I feed
a very large FIFO inside the FPGA.
Even with all that it seems I am one of the few people able to achieve those sustained transfer rates
so I can only conclude it is a PC hardware problem. How fast the processor is does not seem to matter
(within reason of course).
- Charles
Re: LimeSDR-Mini Problems with DATV-Express
Hi Charles,
Could you please share with us your PC brand/era/build spec?
and maybe your best guess minimum spec to get higher msym
Is there anything else except Intel chipset that you feel might be key
Cheers Roger VK5YYY
Could you please share with us your PC brand/era/build spec?
and maybe your best guess minimum spec to get higher msym
Is there anything else except Intel chipset that you feel might be key
Cheers Roger VK5YYY
Re: LimeSDR-Mini Problems with DATV-Express
Hello Roger,
Mostly I build my own P.Cs so anything I have is no longer available.
You can't go too wrong with an Intel chipset.
This post from the Ettus Research forum seems to agree with me
http://lists.ettus.com/pipermail/usrp-u ... 16271.html
That post is out of date as I think all my current PCs use USB 3.1 rather than 3.0
- Charles
Mostly I build my own P.Cs so anything I have is no longer available.
You can't go too wrong with an Intel chipset.
This post from the Ettus Research forum seems to agree with me
http://lists.ettus.com/pipermail/usrp-u ... 16271.html
That post is out of date as I think all my current PCs use USB 3.1 rather than 3.0
- Charles
Re: LimeSDR-Mini Problems with DATV-Express
Yes I will be waiting a long time for this to get fixed because everyone seems more interested in Low Symbol Rates with the Portsdown on Bands not meant for Wide Band Modes such as 50, 70 and 144 Mhz. Your P.C may be capable of well in excess of 4 MS/s but many are not as lucky as you as seen in other posts. I can also use 4MS/s without difficulty using my existing Pluto which only has USB2 even though it is plugged into the same USB3 Ports and yes both PC's I have are Intel Chipsets with USB 3.1 implementation
As Dave say's you and him have better things to do than implement the latest Lime Suite Firmware Version to work with DATV-Express when the Portsdown work perfectly, but not all of us are using the Portsdown.
I wish I had not bought the Lime Mini now but thanks anyway.
SImon
Re: LimeSDR-Mini Problems with DATV-Express
Hi Mike,g0mjw wrote: ↑Sun Feb 03, 2019 9:53 amPerhaps instead you should be thinking about reducing the bandwidth of the repeater and moving to H264? That would have several benefits, including increased sensitivity.g4ouk wrote: ↑Sat Feb 02, 2019 9:12 pmHi Dave,
Thanks for confirming I have the latest version of Firmware 5 and Gateware 1.27. I'm trying to use 4ms/s H262 MPEG2 for our local repeater so maybe its a software driver issue with the Lime not being able to handle that amount of data through the USB3, very odd. So really until a software upgrade on DATV Express happens which can benefit from taking advantage of USB3 I probably won't be able to use my Lime with our repeater. I will test out using 2ms/s in the shack just to confirm that 2ms/s works okay, it should be fine on an i7 with DATV Express.
Thanks again for your help
Simon, G4OUK
Mike
There is a reason we still use H262 MPEG2 on our local repeater at 4MS/s, availability of cheap receivers and more straight forward transmitters plus we should be utilizing all the bandwidth we are allocated for this use. The UHF and Microwave Bands are under threat and we should be utilising them fully, if we don't we are giving a green light to Ofcom to sell them off and we'll all suffer. We have already lost part of 2.4Ghz and 10 Ghz and 3Ghz will most likely be next if 5G is confirmed. Yes H264 is a great mode and has potential S/N benefits to us so why are we bothering with 2 MS/s when we could utilize 4 MS/s H264 at Full HD, most people have an HD camcorder round the house and they are cheap nowadays, just a thought !
Sorry bit off topic.
Simon
Re: LimeSDR-Mini Problems with DATV-Express
Simon, there is nothing I can do about it, the problem is in a part of the system that I have no control over.
- Charles
- Charles
Re: LimeSDR-Mini Problems with DATV-Express
Hi Simon,
Have a look at my comments on...
viewtopic.php?f=82&t=5839&p=18068&hilit=h264#p18067
It's so easy to loop through another sat rx on 23 or 70, etc.
I've just ordered a HDMI switch to mod to work on lock light, as an experiment, just in-case needed.
Ivor and Shaun have done lots on GB3ZZ.
I say add not take away, put in extra receivers, then all are happy, well if only we could be
Have a look at my comments on...
viewtopic.php?f=82&t=5839&p=18068&hilit=h264#p18067
It's so easy to loop through another sat rx on 23 or 70, etc.
I've just ordered a HDMI switch to mod to work on lock light, as an experiment, just in-case needed.
Ivor and Shaun have done lots on GB3ZZ.
I say add not take away, put in extra receivers, then all are happy, well if only we could be
Re: LimeSDR-Mini Problems with DATV-Express
In one of the posts above, I made this comment:
The team at Lime Microsystems are (like the Portsdown and DATV Express teams) continually trying to improve their software. To achieve this, they issue a new version of gateware and firmware for LimeSDR Mini and LimeSDR USB each month. What I was trying to say is that Charles and I will not update the Portsdown and DATV Express software every month to track these changes. Every 3-6 months is more reasonable.
To manage this, the "Lime Config" menu in the Portsdown software (latest version) has a button "Update Lime FW". This button will update your LimeSDR to the gateware/firmware standard required for the current Portsdown software. If you have updated the gateware/firmware beyond the required version, the button "Force Lime FW" will downgrade you as required.
So, all I was trying to say is that we will not be reacting to every single update published by Lime Microsytems but will update when required to improve the Portsdown capability with Lime.
Or "don't worry, it will continue to work and we will upgrade it when we can".
Dave, G8GKQ
It has been pointed out to me that this might be taken the wrong way. Some explanation:
The team at Lime Microsystems are (like the Portsdown and DATV Express teams) continually trying to improve their software. To achieve this, they issue a new version of gateware and firmware for LimeSDR Mini and LimeSDR USB each month. What I was trying to say is that Charles and I will not update the Portsdown and DATV Express software every month to track these changes. Every 3-6 months is more reasonable.
To manage this, the "Lime Config" menu in the Portsdown software (latest version) has a button "Update Lime FW". This button will update your LimeSDR to the gateware/firmware standard required for the current Portsdown software. If you have updated the gateware/firmware beyond the required version, the button "Force Lime FW" will downgrade you as required.
So, all I was trying to say is that we will not be reacting to every single update published by Lime Microsytems but will update when required to improve the Portsdown capability with Lime.
Or "don't worry, it will continue to work and we will upgrade it when we can".
Dave, G8GKQ