Use Gr-GSM with Airspy mini

[Al]

Hi all, I'm trying to use grgsm_scanner and Livemon with an Airspy mini SDR but am having issues. 

I have successfully used RTL and BladeRF devices in the past, so am confident I know what I am doing, however I cannot get any results using Airspy at all.

I am using Ubuntu 20.04 with the fork provided by Vasil Velichkov on Github (https://github.com/velichkov/gr-gsm.git); I know this install works as results populate using RTL device. Does anyone have any answers for me on this issue? 

Thanks very much.

Regards,

Al

[Nikos Balkanas]

Hi,

I don't have Airspy. Can you provide more information (error, messages)?

TIA
Nikos

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[Nikos Balkanas]

Hi Al,

Please address the list, so that others may help or benefit:)

I looked up airspy in their site. It is a Linux device. How is it
connected to your PC? USB?
If so there should be /var/log/syslog and /var/log/udev messages both
from your PC and your phone.
Can you post the relevant messages when you try to connect with grgsm_livemon?

Also, grgsm_livemon, uses gr-osmosdr to connect and will print to
stdout any such attempts....
Please post them, also.

gr-osmosdr needs gnuradio for the inet connections. Not sure if it can
do usb by itself...

HTH
Nikos

HTH
Nikos

On Wed, Nov 18, 2020 at 9:15 AM Al Higgins <al.hig...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Nikos, there is no error message displayed. The cursor returns as if there was no radio detected, however checking in devices confirms an openMOKO Airspy is connected.

[Nikos Balkanas]

Hi,

I checked the airspy source code. It uses usb and provides its own
tools for connections.
gr-gsm doesn't handle connections. Uses gr-osmosdr for that.
You should check with airspy whether they are gr-osmosdr compatible, and
osmocom whether they are airspy compatible.
gr- means they need gnuradio...
I know that osmocom does their own sdr with hacked Motorolla C30 mobiles...

HTH
Nikos

[Al Higgins]

Nikos - thanks very much. I was hoping there was an easy answer and I was just being daft. I'll keep digging, if I find a solution I'll post it up here as a reply.

Once again, thank you.

Al

[Nikos Balkanas]

You are welcome,

Do you already have gnuradio and gr-osmosdr installed?
What about any messages when you try to run grgsm-livemon?

HTH,
Nikos

[Al Higgins]

Both of those already installed, and also all airspy packages. I think the issue is with airspy rather than Gr-GSM as Ubuntu won't read the firmware version of the device even though lsusb and dmesg both post information about it. 

[Nikos Balkanas]

Hmmmm. That is rather strange.
You should talk to airspy about it.
Ask them about gr-osmosdr usb compatibility.
As mentioned already gr-gsm doesn't do its own connections:(