Frequent ERROR user.sdr: Check your RTL-SDR dongle, USB cables, and power supply.

[meteo219]

Hello Weewx Users,

I have been using weewx on a RPI4 for quite some time now (a few years).  I am using an RTL-SDR dongle to capture data from an Acurite Atlas weather station.  I am also using a BME280 device for pressure.  Things have been pretty stable for years.  However, recently I am getting these errors nearly daily:

ERROR user.sdr: cb transfer status: 1, canceling...
ERROR user.sdr: LIBUSB_ERROR_NOT_FOUND: Entity not found!
Check your RTL-SDR dongle, USB cables, and power supply.
ERROR user.sdr: WARNING: async read failed (-5).
ERROR user.sdr: Library error -5, exiting...

Exception in thread stdout-thread:                                                 

Traceback (most recent call last):                                                 

File "/usr/lib/python3.11/threading.py", line 1038, in _bootstrap_inner
Exception in thread stderr-thread:
Traceback (most recent call last):                                                  

File "/usr/lib/python3.11/threading.py", line 1038, in _bootstrap_inner
self.run()                                                                      

self.run()
File "/etc/weewx/bin/user/sdr.py", line 198, in run
File "/etc/weewx/bin/user/sdr.py", line 198, in run                               

for line in iter(self._fd.readline, ''):
ValueError: PyMemoryView_FromBuffer(): info->buf must not be NULL                   

for line in iter(self._fd.readline, ''):
ValueError: PyMemoryView_FromBuffer(): info->buf must not be NULL

Rebooting the RPI generally fixes the issue without the need to touch the USB cable.  I had a USB extension cable between the RTL-SDR and the RPI so I tried bypassing the extension cable by plugging in the RTL-SDR directly into the RPI, but I'm getting the same results.  I also tried different USB ports on the RPI also with the same results. 

Versions:

Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)

Linux raspberrypi 6.1.21-v8

weewx-5.1.0-4

rtl-sdr-0.6.0-4

Does this mean it is time for a new RTL-SDR device or is there any firmware needed for the RPI usb ports or maybe a firmware update for the RTL-SDR device?

The issue is getting annoying because I don't know when it will error out again and need a reboot to fix it.

Thanks in advance!

Jeff C

[meteo219]

I am using a Nooelec RTL-SDR v5 SDR - NESDR Smart SDR by the way.  If the RTL-SDR Blog V4 is more reliable, I can look into purchase that device instead.  I am just out of ideas on how to troubleshoot this random issue moving forward since a reboot fixes the issue right now.