GNU RADIO - DAB MODULES

[Hugo Almeida]

Hello. We are a student group from University of Aveiro(Portugal),
belongings to the subject "Project in Electrical Engineering" course
Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering.
We are working in GNU Radio.We would like to use your file (CRC and
CRC-DABMUX DABMOD) because we want to develop a DAB transmitter.
However, we can not access the libraries of the facility, which makest
us doubt about the success of the installation.
For this reason, we ask your cooperation in resolving the problem. To
install your files perform the following steps:
(http://mmbtools.crc.ca/content/view/39/65/)
--------
tar xzf fec_3.0.1-?.src.tar.gz
tar xzf fec_3.0.1.orig.tar.gz
zcat fec_3.0.1-?.diff.gz | patch -p0
cd fec-3.0.1/
autoreconf --install
./configure ->Here is the error: fec.h: Assembler messages:
fec.h:267: Error: badregistername `%sil'
make: *** [viterbi27_mmx.o] Error 1
make
sudo make install

tar xjf crc-dabmux-0.3.0.3.tar.bz2
cd crc-dabmux-0.3.0.3
./configure -> Here is the error: fec.h: Assembler messages:
fec.h:267: Error: bad register name `%sil'
make: *** [viterbi27_mmx.o] Error 1
make
sudo make install

However the installation according to these commands is unsuccessful.
Then install the second our teacher(Professor Atilio Gameiro)
suggested:
We used a script sent by the teacher, in which the installation was
successful.
(Script sent by Professor: atilio-mmbtools-crc.tar.gz sent in the
mail)
-----------
cd /tmp
tar -xf atilio-mmbtools-crc.tar.gz
cdatilio-mmbtools-crc
# programa 1
./build.crc-dabmod
cd crc-dabmod-0.2.0&sudomakeinstall&& cd ..
# programa 2
./build.fec
cd fec-3.0.1 &&sudo make install && cd ..
./build.crc-dabmux
cd crc-dabmux-0.3.0.4 &&sudo make install &&cd ..

Then based on site http://www.slideshare.net/pcharest/ebu-drw2011-crcmmbtoolssoftwareradioworkshop,
says the installed library is located in / usr / share / crc-dabmux.
It was necessary to have the library to see the blocks we had to use.
The problem is that opening the program and searching the library does
not find the DAB_MUX.

Thank you for your availability, and apologize for the inconvenience,
Group of students from the University of Aveiro

[Pascal Charest]

Hello Hugo,

I think that your problem is related to compilation on a 64 bits system.
This issue should be solved with the latest libfec patch. I've realized
that the compilation instructions on the website were not clear. I've
updated the web page accordingly.

Then, can you try to compile again replacing the ? with version number
and tell me if you still have the same issue (or any new problems) ?

tar xzf fec_3.0.1-2.src.tar.gz
tar xzf fec_3.0.1.orig.tar.gz
zcat fec_3.0.1-2.diff.gz | patch -p0

cd fec-3.0.1/
autoreconf --install
./configure

make
sudo make install


Thanks,

Pascal

[Alex To]

I compiled libfec on Ubuntu 10.04 x64 sometimes ago and I do not recall that I have any problems.

FYI, I was using fec_3.0.1-2

[Pascal Charest]

Thanks for reporting. Exactly, fec_3.0.1-2 should solve the 64 bits
issue. In fact, %sil register is a register that can't be used on 64
bits system.

> <http://mmbtools.crc.ca/content/view/39/65/>)

> <http://www.slideshare.net/pcharest/ebu-drw2011-crcmmbtoolssoftwareradioworkshop>,

[Hugo Almeida]

Thank you for answering so quickly. I followed the steps indicated and
no error occurred (my version is Ubuntu 11.04 32 bits). I am now
having problems using the DAB and DAB MUX MOD. How do I know if it was
properly installed and how can I use?
Thank you for availability and apologize for the inconvenience.

[Ulrik Brinck]

As for your problems using the software, I think you will have to explain what the problem is, if anyone should be able to help you along.

Were you able to compile the software without errors? If yes, there is a good chance, that it was properly installed.

As for how to use the software, all the software components (CRC-DabMux, CRC-DabMod etc.) come with a documentation PDF. Next, I will recommend you to request the Live-cd from CRC if you don't already have it, and work your way from the script examples there. And there are also some examples on opendigitalradio.org.

Which USRP hardware do you have? Is it USRP1 or another USRP model? And which daughterboard? Most of the examples are for USRP1 with WBX or BasicTX daughterboard.

Best regards,
Ulrik.

[Fábio Lourenço]

Hi, I am one of the members from the group that was already mentioned.

Regarding the problems: we don't know what they are, because we can't confirm that the libfec and the crc dabmux are installed.

During the installing proccess do not occured any errors, but we aren't able to check if the libfec and the crc dabmux are properly installed.

We already sent a e-mail requesting the Live CD and we are waiting for an answer.

Regarding the USRP board, we are not using any, because our project will be only on software.

Thanks for answering,

Fábio Lourenço

[Alex To]

You may start with explaining what do you want to achieve with the software i.e what your project is about? What is the objective?

It is impossible that you don't even know your problems. At least you should elaborate about the steps you have tried after the installation of the software.

Normally if things are compiled and "make install" is executed without errors means the software is installed so if you want to confirm, simply run it from the installation location.

In summary, maybe let us know the followings

1. Your overall objectives?
2. What documents have you read?
3. What steps have you tried? What outcome do you expect from each step and what are the actual outputs?

Regards

Alex

[Pascal Charest]

Hi,

I guess the first step to test the installation is to launch the
software. I suggest to call the command line help:
CRC-DabMux -h
crc-dabmod -h

After, you can go to mmbTools Documention section at
http://mmbtools.crc.ca/content/view/35/61/ and look at the different
links. Although this document is not up to date, I suggest to start
with HOWTO - CRC mmbTools. The section Limitations and the first
command line example are not anymore valid.

Pascal

[Fábio Lourenço]

I guess I have the libraries properly installed, because something came up when i run those commands mentioned.
We tried to run some examples but nothing happened.

when running:
- CRC-DabMux -A filename -S -L "Service Label" -C -L "Component Label" -O file://output

we get:
<6> Welcome to CRC-DabMux 0.3.0.4, compiled at May  2 2012, 10:22:40
<6>
<6> Copyright (C) 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
<6> Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada,
<6> (Communications Research Centre Canada) All rights reserved.
<6>
<6> Input URLs supported: prbs test slip udp fifo file
<6> Inputs format supported: raw bridge mpeg packet dmb epm
<6> Output URLs supported: file fifo udp tcp raw simul
<6>
<5> reach end of file -> rewinding
<3> file rewinded and still empty -> frame muted
<3> can't set bitrate for source filename
<7> exiting...
<0> ...aborting

and we don't know what it means.

We will still explore de HOW TO document and then report to you.

Thanks for answering,
Fábio Lourenço

[Brendan Kehoe]

You can't just type 'filename' for the source, you actually need to put the path to a MP2 audio file with DAB extensions in there as the output from DabMux is complaining about the source file. If you don't have any content then make some with toolame - lots of stuff on opendigitalradio.org with samples. 

B. 

[Fábio Lourenço]

The final objective of our project is to build, in software, a dab transmitter ready to implement with one USRP1 board. We have to make a block that converts audio stream to dab signal and then connect it to a dab transmitter block.
Our objective now is to convert an audio file to dab, put it to dab transmitter block, then to a dab receiver block and final to the computer speaker. We need your blocks to make that exactly, mainly the convertion to dab signal and the transmition.

Thanks for reporting so fast,
Fábio Lourenço

[Alex To]

Then I would suggest download the live cd, run the sample and you are done. It contains some samples and mp2 files as well for you.

Regards

Alex

[Hugo Almeida]

Hi Thank you for your availability. We have already downloaded the
live cd, and mount the file. Iso, but did not find any executable
file. As for the samples. Mp2, did not find any...
I apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your help

[Alex To]

Hi you don't mount the iso. You boot from it, it is a LiveCD. Insert the CD and during BIOS select to boot from CD.

It will boot a modified Ubuntu distro comes with software installed and samples.

Alex

[Pascal Charest]

Hi Hugo, Fábio,

Follow Alex's instruction. Once you have launched the live CD, go in the
Application menu and select the CRC-mmbTools section. There you will
find demos. But these require an USRP. The scripts are available in the
/usr/share/crc-mmbtools folder. Also, as Ulrick said, many other
examples are available on opendigitalradio.

Regards,

Pascal

Alex To wrote:
> Hi you don't mount the iso. You boot from it, it is a LiveCD. Insert
> the CD and during BIOS select to boot from CD.
>
> It will boot a modified Ubuntu distro comes with software installed
> and samples.
>
> Alex
>
> On Tue, May 8, 2012 at 1:37 AM, Hugo Almeida
> <eng.hug...@gmail.com <mailto:eng.hug...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Hi Thank you for your availability. We have already downloaded the
> live cd, and mount the file. Iso, but did not find any executable
> file. As for the samples. Mp2, did not find any...
> I apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your help
>
> On May 7, 6:00 pm, Alex To <tonhud...@gmail.com

> > >>>> examples on opendigitalradio.org <http://opendigitalradio.org>.

[Fábio Lourenço]

Hi,

Thank you very much for your help, we already installed successfully the liveCD.

Now we are trying to use the examples given in the files, but is the picture doens't look good.

Can you help us using the following example? We are trying to use dabmux to create an ETI file from a mp2 one, but we have been unsuccessful. We're using the next command:

» CRC-DabMux -A filename -S -C -O file://output

What do we put in filename and in output? We already downloaded a mp2 file and replaced the filename with a path to the mp2 file but we were unsuccessful.

Thanks for reporting,

Fábio Lourenço 

[Fábio Lourenço]

We already achieve success using one example in CRC-DabMux.

We'll keep reporting the further updates.

Regards,

Fábio Lourenço

[Hugo Almeida]

Hi.
We tried to use the CRC-DabMux as follows:
CRC-A-DabMux / home/hugo/CRCpub.mp2 -O file:/ / / home / hugo / test
Created a file teste.eti. The problem is that the file reaches 2GB and
the error message appears:
<3> Can not write to output file :/ / / home / hugo / test
Error while writting to file: File too large

Is there any way to limit the file size?
Thank you for your availability

[Pascal Charest]

Hi,

Hugo Almeida wrote:
> Hi.
> We tried to use the CRC-DabMux as follows:
> CRC-A-DabMux / home/hugo/CRCpub.mp2 -O file:/ / / home / hugo / test
> Created a file teste.eti. The problem is that the file reaches 2GB and

Are you aware that a 2GB file at 48kbps is more than 110 hours of encoding?

> the error message appears:
> <3> Can not write to output file :/ / / home / hugo / test
> Error while writting to file: File too large
>
> Is there any way to limit the file size?
> Thank you for your availability

You can limit the number of output frames using the -n option. See
CRC-DabMux -h for more information. Each frame has a duration of 24 ms.

Pascal

[Hugo Almeida]

Hi. Thank's very much for the help.
I am trying to use the Openmokast module to convert ETI files to
MPEG2. To test it i am using an ETI file generated by DABMUX.

The file I am using is CRC pub.mp2 that comes with the Live CD and was
converted to ETI by the DABMUX.

However after launching Openmokast and selecting the ETI intended to
be converted ETI, I just got "49152 - CRC Dr.Radio" as Ensemble
selection, and do not get any options for Service Selection, and
therefore when pressing the "Play" button nothing happens, and i get
the message "Please select a component to start".(The picture in the
following link describes the problem: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15831051/Screenshot.png)

Is there anything that should have been installed so that i get
options for Service Selection and be able to do the conversion?

[Brendan Kehoe]

Have you pressed the Refresh button?

Test your use of it using an ETI file generated from http://mmbtools.crc.ca/content/view/14/29/ if you're not sure if it's working properly or not.

Brendan. 

[Rash]

Hi folks,

Possibly slightly off topic but I know Pascal knows a thing or two about it ;-)

I'm sure we are all aware about the Realtek RTL2832u hack...

How painful will it to get a demo DAB receiver running on ARM architecture/Android using this? Can OpenMokast deal with raw I/Q sample input or only an ETI stream over I.P?

I am sure you know where I am going with this!

Rash.

[Pascal Charest]

Hello,

OpenMokast only does the service decoding (and receiver control) once
the signal is demodulated. One needs to demodulate the raw I/Q sample
prior to feed OpenMokast. Demodulation is usually harder than
modulation. Porting to ARM would be easiest part, although not an easy
one... But I fear that there will be not enough horsepower in the
current CPU to run it real-time.

Pascal

[Rash]

That was the answer I was looking for - thanks!

I guess in the near future mobile processors will have enough grunt to carry out the demodulation. Probably could do it now if one handed the FFT off to a GPU.

R.

Sent from my iPhone

[Hugo Almeida]

Hi.
I used the website to generate the eti file (http://mmbtools.crc.ca/
content/view/14/29/) and everything works, while the file generated by
CRCDabMux still having the same error(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15831051/
Screenshot.png).
I've tried to generate a eti file with bit rate indicated on the
website (http://mmbtools.crc.ca/content/view/14/29/) with the
following command: CRC-DabMux -A CRCpub.mp2 -b 192 -O file://CRCpub -n
30s
but the problem still occurs, despite using the Refresh button ...

Thanks for the help!

[Hugo Almeida]

I have another question: Is it possible to demodulate the file  that
come out of CRC DabMod to eti file, and then use the OpenMokast to
hear the result?

The idea is: with an mp2 file, use CRCDabMux and CRCMux, and finally
determine whether the modeling was successful :demodulate the signal(I
dont know how can i do it) and use the OpenMokast to listen the final
result.
Is this possible?

Thanks

[Pascal Charest]

Hugo Almeida wrote:
> Hi.
> I used the website to generate the eti file (http://mmbtools.crc.ca/
> content/view/14/29/) and everything works, while the file generated by
> CRCDabMux still having the same error(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15831051/
> Screenshot.png).
> I've tried to generate a eti file with bit rate indicated on the
> website (http://mmbtools.crc.ca/content/view/14/29/) with the

> following command: CRC-DabMux -D CRCpub -b 192000 -O file://CRCpub

> but the problem still occurs, despite using the Refresh button ...
>
> Thanks for the help!

Hi,

There is no service defined in your multiplex! The -D option create a
data sub-channel, but no service (and service component) link to it.
Please, refer to CRC-DabMux --help for a brief explanation of DAB
multiplex configuration.

For the simplest command line, go to the examples section of CRC-DABMUX
documentation and start with the first command. This document is more
up-to-date than the mmbTools HOWTO..
http://mmbtools.crc.ca/content/view/35/61/

Regards

Pascal

PS Please, change the email subject when starting a new topic. It will
be easier to follow the conversation.

[Pascal Charest]

Hi,

Sorry, but don't have a DAB demodulator. CRC-OpenMokast can take the
input from CRC-DABMUX. Otherwise, you need to use an external compatible
DAB receiver which CRC-OpenMokast understand.

Regards,

Pascal

[Pascal Charest]

Rash wrote:
> That was the answer I was looking for - thanks!
>
> I guess in the near future mobile processors will have enough grunt to carry out the demodulation. Probably could do it now if one handed the FFT off to a GPU.
>
> R.

You're welcome. From what I've heard in the past, the viterbi decoder
could require a lot more power than the FFT.

If you are curious, I was unable to run CRC-DABMOD on an Atom 330, which
I think is more powerful than current Omap processors. For modulation,
it's pretty straightforward to encode bits, but for demodulation, the
signal is never perfect.

Pascal

[Hugo Almeida]

Hi. There is some software to do the demodulation that is compatible
with the CRC-OpenMokast?
Sorry for being so annoying, but i already searched and i couldn't
find any.

Thanks for the help

[Pascal Charest]

Hugo Almeida wrote:
> Hi. There is some software to do the demodulation that is compatible
> with the CRC-OpenMokast?
> Sorry for being so annoying, but i already searched and i couldn't
> find any.

I don't know any open source DAB demodulator, compatible or not with
CRC-OpenMokast. The more advanced that I'm aware are gr-dab and OpenDAB.
But there is still a lot of development that need to be done to make
them generic.

Pascal

[Fábio Lourenço]

Hi.

I'm trying to use OpenMokast in Ubuntu 12.04. I've already installed it but when i run it, after selecting the source of the file, it just closes. Can you help me with this? Is there anything to do?

Regards,
Fábio Lourenço

[Rashid Mustapha]

Noted - yes we had discussed the suitability of the Atom processor previously.

I suppose the idea of a 'smart radio' is a long way off then....I
envisage an Android
-like device with an Elonics E4000 64 - 1700 MHz one chip tuner, one of those
realtek ADC which spits out I/Q and all of the demod done in a software 'App',
which would future proof the device somewhat, whilst making 'radio' agnostic
of standards.

R.

[Pascal Charest]

Hello,

Is the file format valid? Is the file empty? Is the file playable by
Openmokast on another computer?

If everything is ok, it's probably a version bug between Openmokast and
installed libraries. To get more info, run Openmokast from the command line.

Pascal