RadioBerry TX drive always maximum

[N7CXI]

Hello,

I'm new to RadioBerry, but not to OpenHPSDR and Thetis. (I have ANAN radios as well)

My issue is that the RadioBerry transmit drive level runs at maximum regardless of setting in the software. I have pihpdsdr (two versions, one from the RadioBerry package and one from DL1YCF) and Thetis. Thetis runs on a Windows 11 PC and connects to the 8GB RPI 4B via Ethernet on the same gigabit switch as the PC. There is no filter board yet, since I'm using a 2M transverter to test with.

I've currently using the newest RadioBerry release from Git.  The RadioBerry board has a 10CL025 FPGA. I bought it from AURSINC on Amazon.

As above - the board, the RPI 4B, pihpsdr and Thetis all work, but the transmit level always stays at maximum. I currently have a fixed attenuator between the RadioBerry and my transverter, but I would like to be able to control the drive level.

Any ideas? I like the board and would like to build a station around it - just for fun.

I can't justify spending 1000 USD on a Red Pitaya to start, so I'll be happy with 12 bits... :-)

Thanks,

Jim N7CXI

[N7CXI]

Sorry - I forgot to mention that I'm using the Legacy 64-bit Bookworm release of Raspberry PI OS from November 24 2025.

Thanks,

Jim N7CXI

[Paulh002]

Which version of gateware are you using? 

I don't know if phipdsdr can show it.

You can otherwise try to download from github https://github.com/pa3gsb/Radioberry-2.x/tree/master/SBC/rpi-4/releases/dev/CL025

I am using this version for pi4 and works well for me

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[N7CXI]

I haven't the foggiest idea what gateware (FPGA bitfile?) I'm using.

I'll give the one you pointed out a try, thanks!

Jim N7CXI

[Paulh002]

yes, the bit file radioberry.rbf

I am not using pihpdsdr or the software you describe. But I also had this issue.

You can try to download the rbf file from github and copy it to /lib/firmware

Or check if the filesize is the same. 

You can download on the pi4 with:

wget https://github.com/paulh002/Radioberry-2.x/blob/master/SBC/rpi-4/releases/dev/CL025/radioberry.rbf

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/radioberry/01293112-a542-405a-91f3-6d6efa304b90n%40googlegroups.com.

[KK7OEA]

I think the problem is in PIHPSDR. I checked in PIHPSDR DRIVE or TUNE level doesn't follows slider position. Transmits at full power all the time. But! Same Radioberry board with same Radioberry driver 73.3 running SparkSDR on same RPI-4 and power or tune drive are adjustable. 

[N7CXI]

I have SparkSDR installed, but haven't gotten it running yet. 

I'll put in a little more effort on that and on the firmware as well. Hopefully before the weekend.

Thanks,

Jim N7CXI

[Samuel Lourenço]

I've had this same issue after a driver update. This is something that can never be allowed to happen. Someday, someone will get his expensive amplifier blown.

I've already commented on the importance of keeping experiments away from production software. It is of the utmost importance to keep separate repos for test and production code, and Johan has to solve this once and for all. Like it or not, Radioberry is being used for serious stuff. If something gets broken when some other thing gets fixed, then it is time to re-evaluate the code quality. IMHO, I would remove the spyware.

Kind regards, Samuel Lourenço

Kind regards, Samuel Lourenço

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/radioberry/282d8b38-7883-4832-96b6-c28af05eb310n%40googlegroups.com.

[KK7OEA]

Jim, I want to remind you that SparkSDR program is experimental, and you may encounter different problems in different releases. The last one has outstanding RX but dropping on FT-8 TX and won't accept MIDI. I rolled couple releases back and it sees my MIDI controller, no TX dropping but MIDI doesn't work as it assigned. So, don't expect too much. 
BTW on Hermes Lite group many people asking same questions about radio output power management.  

[pa3gsb]

Jim,

If you are willing to register your radioberry i can see your config.

https://github.com/pa3gsb/Radioberry-2.x/wiki/Radioberry-Registration

Gives some idea about the behaviour of the tx driver:

https://groups.google.com/g/radioberry/c/4T-fhQBW6AE/m/9Po7oYYFAwAJ

As you see if you are looking through the message on the forum  you will find that this topic comes up now and than.

I suppose you have not the 73.4 gateware. Iam not having a rpi-4 anymore. 

Iam not sure but i have updated the gateware with the latest version ; please give it a try. 

Use the release: 

https://github.com/pa3gsb/Radioberry-2.x/releases/tag/radioberry

Hope this helps

73 Johan

PA3GSB 

Op woensdag 25 februari 2026 om 07:26:25 UTC+1 schreef N7CXI:

[N7CXI]

My RPI4B has been on the internet for several hours starting Sunday. I also just created the file as specified on your registration page. I don't know how long it takes, but I don't see it on the page yet.

I'm going to do some other experiments, perhaps try a RPI5 - but I'd like to see what firmware version I have and get any comments from you before I change things.

Thanks,

Jim N7CXI

[pa3gsb]

Jim

Another way is to open a command window ; 

sudo systemctl stop radioberry

sudo radioberry

this will also give you the info,

Johan  

Op woensdag 25 februari 2026 om 20:34:02 UTC+1 schreef N7CXI:

[N7CXI]

Here's the info from the RPI4B -

====================================================================
====================================================================
Radioberry V2.0


Supports 4 receivers and 1 transmitter.

Build version: 2025.10.25

Have fun Johan PA3GSB

Report requests or bugs to <pa3...@gmail.com>.
====================================================================
====================================================================
Radioberry gateware version 73-3.
No Alex, N2ADR or generic filters interface board connected to radioberry
MCP 4662 not present; Change of Bias Setting is not possible
Radioberry amplifier config failed; only a problem if amplifier is installed.
Radioberry, Starting packet rx part.
Radioberry, Starting packet control part.
Radioberry, Starting packet tx part.
Your Radioberry is registered: http://www.pa3gsb.nl/radioberry/api/read.php

Thanks,

Jim N7CXI

[pa3gsb]

please update and test again. Please be aware of the setting in tx menu ; tune use drive must be checked

73 Johan

PA3GSB

Op woensdag 25 februari 2026 om 20:48:51 UTC+1 schreef N7CXI:

[N7CXI]

Johan,

I updated from the release you specified, and now the version is 73-4 .

The output level is much lower, which is probably better. I haven't measured it directly yet but I can if that would be helpful.

The output range only varies by 3dB though...  With 20dB of fixed attenuation, my transverter output varies from 5W with the pihpsdr slider at minimum to 10W with the slider at maximum.

The transverter doesn't hit gain compression until ~ 15W, so should be fairly linear in this case.

The summary is:

(1) The overall output level is lower, much closer to what is advertised.

(2) Yes, that firmware/driver change made a difference and now I can control the level by 3dB. 

Thanks,

Jim N7CXI

[N7CXI]

I did a little more troubleshooting, and found the following. (with the 73-4 release)

(1) pihpsdr will only control the level between NN and NN-3dB (generally 10 to 5 watts as I have the transverter configured)
(2) SparkSDR will control the level from effectively ZERO to 6 watts (correct scaling to zero, top-level scaling may or may not be correct)

These things would *appear* to show an issue in pihpsdr, although it's hard to say that SparkSDR behaves correctly, because I don't know if the TX level scale is 8 bits or greater.

Potential gateware issue with 73-4 :

After boot, if a SDR app is loaded that does NOT attempt to set the level, the board will transmit a 15W carrier. To reproduce this, set the pihpsdr level slider to zero, close the app, reboot then transmit NBFM without touching the level slider.

Once the slider is touched, the behavior reverts to the above. (0-6W SparkSDR, 5-10W pihpsdr)

I hope this helps. Please let me know if you intend to look at this on RPI4, or stay strictly with the RPI5 code. If it's RPI5 only, I'll install on RPI5 with the appropriate patches and start again.

Thanks,

Jim N7CXI