airspy mini sample rate
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Luigi Tarenga
Oct 26, 2016, 10:21:43 AM10/26/16
to Gqrx SDR
hi guys,
I'm testing my new airspy mini with gqrx. I noticed that no matter what I set as sample rate
I always get a full 10 Mhz spectrum. I think this is not correct. I have the idea that the
sample rate does not get set correctly and the dongle keep providing 10 MSPS output
(even if the firmware say it only support 6 or 3 MSPS.
I'm using gqrx 2.6 on arch linux and airspy lib 1.0.7
I'm going to check if I can upgrade airspy lib to git version and let you know if it help.
thank
Luigi
I'm testing my new airspy mini with gqrx. I noticed that no matter what I set as sample rate
I always get a full 10 Mhz spectrum. I think this is not correct. I have the idea that the
sample rate does not get set correctly and the dongle keep providing 10 MSPS output
(even if the firmware say it only support 6 or 3 MSPS.
I'm using gqrx 2.6 on arch linux and airspy lib 1.0.7
I'm going to check if I can upgrade airspy lib to git version and let you know if it help.
thank
Luigi
Alexandru Csete
Oct 26, 2016, 10:33:43 AM10/26/16
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Hi Luigi,
Unfortunately, gqrx can not see whether it is an Airspy or Airspy
Mini, so the correct sample rate has to be set manually in the
configuration dialog.
Can you use the airspy_rx program that come with 1.0.7?
If yes, then gqrx should work too.
Of course it is best to use the latest version of libairspy to get the
best performance. Maybe you can convince the packager to update the
package. It is an easy upgrade.
Alex
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Unfortunately, gqrx can not see whether it is an Airspy or Airspy
Mini, so the correct sample rate has to be set manually in the
configuration dialog.
Can you use the airspy_rx program that come with 1.0.7?
If yes, then gqrx should work too.
Of course it is best to use the latest version of libairspy to get the
best performance. Maybe you can convince the packager to update the
package. It is an easy upgrade.
Alex
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Luigi Tarenga
Oct 26, 2016, 10:46:29 AM10/26/16
to Gqrx SDR
Hi Alexandru,
thaks for the feedback. I just updated to git version. now I have libairspy 1.0.9.
I see gqrx cannot find if it's a airspy or airspy mini but I expect that when I set
3 MSPS the panadapter and waterfall automatically scale to 3 MHz but this is not
the case. I alway see 10 MHz of bandwith full of data (and I wonder what data get
drawn outside of the supposed sample bandwitdh...)
should I post a screenshot?
I'm trying with airspy_rx, the binary itself seems to works but gqrx show a full white
waterfall... maybe I misconfigured something...
Luigi
thaks for the feedback. I just updated to git version. now I have libairspy 1.0.9.
I see gqrx cannot find if it's a airspy or airspy mini but I expect that when I set
3 MSPS the panadapter and waterfall automatically scale to 3 MHz but this is not
the case. I alway see 10 MHz of bandwith full of data (and I wonder what data get
drawn outside of the supposed sample bandwitdh...)
should I post a screenshot?
I'm trying with airspy_rx, the binary itself seems to works but gqrx show a full white
waterfall... maybe I misconfigured something...
Luigi
Alexandru Csete
Oct 26, 2016, 10:59:16 AM10/26/16
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The white color on the waterfall suggests that it is not using the
airspy at all.
Try running gqrx from he terminal and post the messages that are printed.
Note that if you compile airspy lib from source it will be installed
somewhere else than the lib from the package manager and gqrx will
still use the old library
Source builds are usually installed in /usr/local/lib/
To see which library is use by gqrx try ldd /usr/bin/gqrx
Alex
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/gqrx/1e51e971-2cfd-4012-affa-c562a9ab0c03%40googlegroups.com.
airspy at all.
Try running gqrx from he terminal and post the messages that are printed.
Note that if you compile airspy lib from source it will be installed
somewhere else than the lib from the package manager and gqrx will
still use the old library
Source builds are usually installed in /usr/local/lib/
To see which library is use by gqrx try ldd /usr/bin/gqrx
Alex
Luigi Tarenga
Oct 26, 2016, 12:14:09 PM10/26/16
to Gqrx SDR
hi Alexandru,
I used a AUR package that have the explicit conflict with stock airspy package.
so I now have airspy-git package installed and this avoid have 2 libraries on different path.
[vortex@bullet ~]$ pacman -Ql airspy-git | grep libairspy.so
airspy-git /usr/lib/libairspy.so
airspy-git /usr/lib/libairspy.so.0
airspy-git /usr/lib/libairspy.so.1.0.9
[vortex@bullet ~]$ airspy_info
airspy_lib_version: 1.0.9
airspy_open() board 1 failed: AIRSPY_ERROR_NOT_FOUND (-5)
[vortex@bullet ~]$ airspy_info
airspy_lib_version: 1.0.9
Found AirSpy board 1
Board ID Number: 0 (AIRSPY)
Firmware Version: AirSpy MINI v1.0.0-rc10-0-g946184a 2016-09-19
Part ID Number: 0x6906002B 0x00000030
Serial Number: 0x04A464C837557C0B
Supported sample rates:
6.000000 MSPS
3.000000 MSPS
Close board 1
this is the output of gqrx
[vortex@bullet ~]$ gqrx-alsa -r
linux; GNU C++ version 6.2.1 20160830; Boost_106100; UHD_003.009.005-0-unknown
gr-osmosdr 0.1.4 (0.1.4) gnuradio 3.7.10.1
built-in source types: file fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd hackrf bladerf rfspace airspy
INFO: Audio sink arch: alsa
BookmarksFile is /home/vortex/.config/gqrx/bookmarks.csv
gr-osmosdr 0.1.4 (0.1.4) gnuradio 3.7.10.1
built-in source types: file fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd hackrf bladerf rfspace airspy
Using AIRSPY with firmware AirSpy MINI v1.0.0-rc10-0-g946184a 2016
and this is the effect I see.....
thanks
Luigi
Alexandru Csete
Oct 26, 2016, 1:55:28 PM10/26/16
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I have no idea how this can happen. I mean the screenshot looks right
as if your airspy mini is running at 10 Msps, yet your settings are at
3 Msps... (PS: the settings in the IO config are not applied until you
press OK).
No other messages are printed in the terminal when you start gqrx?
What happens if you try to receive something like FM radio, does it sound right?
You can try resetting the configuration using gqrx -r (or gqrx-alsa
-r) and see if it makes any difference.
I will try to see if I can reproduce the issue, but Ihave been
testing gqrx with Airspy and Airspy Mini for weeks before the 2.6
release so I'm very surprised how something like this can happen.
Alex
as if your airspy mini is running at 10 Msps, yet your settings are at
3 Msps... (PS: the settings in the IO config are not applied until you
press OK).
No other messages are printed in the terminal when you start gqrx?
What happens if you try to receive something like FM radio, does it sound right?
You can try resetting the configuration using gqrx -r (or gqrx-alsa
-r) and see if it makes any difference.
I will try to see if I can reproduce the issue, but Ihave been
testing gqrx with Airspy and Airspy Mini for weeks before the 2.6
release so I'm very surprised how something like this can happen.
Alex
Luigi Tarenga
Oct 26, 2016, 5:41:56 PM10/26/16
to Gqrx SDR
hi again Alexandru,
I can confirm that no other messages got printed on terminal and I reopened
the configuration dialog after pressing ok and letting the dsp run.
regarding the FM, it does not work as intended, It sounds like chipmunks :)
tried on mono wide FM channel.
once I turn on the demodulator I see aU messages on the console
[vortex@bullet ~]$ gqrx-alsa -r
linux; GNU C++ version 6.2.1 20160830; Boost_106100; UHD_003.009.005-0-unknown
gr-osmosdr 0.1.4 (0.1.4) gnuradio 3.7.10.1
built-in source types: file fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd hackrf bladerf rfspace airspy
INFO: Audio sink arch: alsa
BookmarksFile is /home/vortex/.config/gqrx/bookmarks.csv
gr-osmosdr 0.1.4 (0.1.4) gnuradio 3.7.10.1
built-in source types: file fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd hackrf bladerf rfspace airspy
Using AIRSPY with firmware AirSpy MINI v1.0.0-rc10-0-g946184a 2016
aUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUaUa ......
it means audio underrand? seems like a mismatch in the sample rate that end in missing samples....
if I test the same FM channel with rtl-sdr no problem, sound as usual FM radio...
I wanted to check if the problem was on gnuradio, I don't know if the test it
meaningful, I didn't read the source code of gqrx but seems to rely a lot on
gnuradio... so this is the test:
it seems that the gnuradio source block works fine and can set the rate correctly...
tomorrow I will try to dive into the source code even if I'm not a pro developer :D
anyway, all this fuss I raised is because I noticed the airspy got very hot and I hope
it can run at lower temperature if the rate is set lower. and I will be very happy if you
can take a look at this problem because I don't use windows so gqrx is my best option
to use the airspy :)
anyway if things turn out to be a hard to find problem I will try to ask for support to
airspy dev team. maybe there is a regression in their libraries.
Luigi
it means audio underrand? seems like a mismatch in the sample rate that end in missing samples....
if I test the same FM channel with rtl-sdr no problem, sound as usual FM radio...
I wanted to check if the problem was on gnuradio, I don't know if the test it
meaningful, I didn't read the source code of gqrx but seems to rely a lot on
gnuradio... so this is the test:
it seems that the gnuradio source block works fine and can set the rate correctly...
tomorrow I will try to dive into the source code even if I'm not a pro developer :D
anyway, all this fuss I raised is because I noticed the airspy got very hot and I hope
it can run at lower temperature if the rate is set lower. and I will be very happy if you
can take a look at this problem because I don't use windows so gqrx is my best option
to use the airspy :)
anyway if things turn out to be a hard to find problem I will try to ask for support to
airspy dev team. maybe there is a regression in their libraries.
Luigi
Alexandru Csete
Oct 26, 2016, 7:03:42 PM10/26/16
to gq...@googlegroups.com
Luigi,
I think I know what the problem is...
I noticed the output in your terminal was:
> gr-osmosdr 0.1.4 (0.1.4) gnuradio 3.7.10.1
> Using AIRSPY with firmware AirSpy MINI v1.0.0-rc10-0-g946184a 2016
For me it says:
> gr-osmosdr f50de45b (0.1.5git) gnuradio 3.7.10.1
> Using AirSpy MINI v1.0.0-rc10-0-g946184a 2016-09-19, samplerates: 3M 6M
gr-osmosdr is the driver abstraction library. Never mind the actual git revision (mine is modified locally), but I am quite sure that 0.1.4 was released before the Airspy Mini was made and so it does not know about the 3 and 6 Msps rates. It thinks you have an original Airspy.
Can you update gr-osmosdr to the latest git revision also? I believe that will fix your problem :-)
Alex
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Luigi Tarenga
Oct 27, 2016, 5:01:22 AM10/27/16
to Gqrx SDR
Hi Alexandru,
you got it! this is the problem. Unfortunally the arch package is a little outdated.
I checked the AUR and things are even worse, the package have different dependencies
and one whole package is splitted in several others, a little mess.
So I decided to create my own, I started with the PKGBUILD file of the stock gnuradio-osmosdr
and changed git tag reference. Compiled and installed.
Now I have this output a little different from your:
you got it! this is the problem. Unfortunally the arch package is a little outdated.
I checked the AUR and things are even worse, the package have different dependencies
and one whole package is splitted in several others, a little mess.
So I decided to create my own, I started with the PKGBUILD file of the stock gnuradio-osmosdr
and changed git tag reference. Compiled and installed.
Now I have this output a little different from your:
[vortex@bullet ~]$ gqrx-alsa -r
linux; GNU C++ version 6.2.1 20160830; Boost_106100; UHD_003.009.005-0-unknown
gr-osmosdr v0.1.4-75-gae686c46 (0.1.5git) gnuradio 3.7.10.1
built-in source types: file fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd hackrf bladerf rfspace airspy redpitaya
built-in source types: file fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd hackrf bladerf rfspace airspy redpitaya
INFO: Audio sink arch: alsa
BookmarksFile is /home/vortex/.config/gqrx/bookmarks.csv
BookmarksFile is /home/vortex/.config/gqrx/bookmarks.csv
gr-osmosdr v0.1.4-75-gae686c46 (0.1.5git) gnuradio 3.7.10.1
built-in source types: file fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd hackrf bladerf rfspace airspy redpitaya
built-in source types: file fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd hackrf bladerf rfspace airspy redpitaya
Using AirSpy MINI v1.0.0-rc10-0-g946184a 2016-09-19, samplerates: 3M 6M
as you can see I put a wrong label to the package (0.1.5git this string is set by me)
while the correct version should be 0.1.4-75-gae686c46
I didn't find any 0.1.5 release on internet nor your commit: f50de45b
where did you get your package from? there are too many git mirror out there!!!! :)
Now I get 6 or 3 MHz spectrum and even decimation works correctly with reduced
spectrum.
many thanks for you kind support
Luigi
while the correct version should be 0.1.4-75-gae686c46
I didn't find any 0.1.5 release on internet nor your commit: f50de45b
where did you get your package from? there are too many git mirror out there!!!! :)
Now I get 6 or 3 MHz spectrum and even decimation works correctly with reduced
spectrum.
many thanks for you kind support
Luigi
Alexandru Csete
Oct 27, 2016, 10:42:23 AM10/27/16
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On Thu, Oct 27, 2016 at 11:01 AM, Luigi Tarenga <luigi....@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I didn't find any 0.1.5 release on internet nor your commit: f50de45b
> where did you get your package from? there are too many git mirror out
> there!!!! :)
I have a few patches not yet merged upstream. They are for making
>
> I didn't find any 0.1.5 release on internet nor your commit: f50de45b
> where did you get your package from? there are too many git mirror out
> there!!!! :)
RFSpace radios work and some performance improvements with Airspy when
using high decimation factors.
My patches are available for testing in separate branches here:
https://github.com/csete/gr-osmosdr-gqrx
Alex
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