Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] Work around FPGA incompatibility (can't update device)

[Derek Kozel]

Hi Nick,

Marcus is correct, except for including the maximum UHD version you can use. The N200's FPGA compatibility number was increased in this commit on April 9, 2015. You need any version of UHD before that date. UHD 3.8.2 is the last release that did not include it.
https://github.com/EttusResearch/uhd/commit/f23e7bcc47f86ffb431aee43abe670e3e5e31647

UHD 3.8.3

https://github.com/EttusResearch/uhd/releases/tag/release_003_008_002

I would definitely recommend using the latest (so still almost three years old) version of UHD that you can. Alternatively it is worth asking if it would be OK to upgrade the FPGA for your use and then downgrade when returning it.

Regards,

Derek

On Mon, Jan 8, 2018 at 9:55 PM, Marcus Müller <address@hidden> wrote:

There's no workaround, but a single solution:

You need to use the same UHD version as they do.

So, uninstall GNU Radio and UHD, build UHD 3.6.2 (ooooold) from source,
build GNU Radio from source (which will then use that oooold version of
UHD). Then, things should work.

Other than that: consider talking to them about the non-update policy.
You can download the official 3.6.2 FPGA / firmware image package from
https://files.ettus.com/ , and then restore that later.

If they have a modified, self-built image on the USRP (which would
explain their hesitance to allow you to change the image), then it's
probably no use trying to use it with stock host software – they've
probably changed the behaviour of the USRP so that it won't work fully
with unmodified UHD. Generally, think of the FPGA image as the device
that UHD is the driver to – so, your driver needs to be designed
*exactly* for your device.

Best regards,
Marcus


On Mon, 2018-01-08 at 21:03 +0000, Nicholas Bruce wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I've borrowed some N2xx series Ettus devices and have been explicitly
> asked to not update the firmware/FPGA images on the devices. When I
> try to use the devices from GR 3.7.11.1 I get the FPGA
> incompatibility error and the commands to update the devices.
>
> Please update the firmware and FPGA images for your device.
> See the application notes for USRP2/N-Series for instructions.
> Expected FPGA compatibility number 11, but got 10:
> The FPGA build is not compatible with the host code build.
> As an Administrator, please run:
>
> "C:\Program Files\UHD\lib\uhd\utils\uhd_images_downloader.py"
>  "C:\Program Files\UHD\bin\uhd_image_loader" ^
>     --args="type=usrp2,addr=192.168.10.2
>
> Is there a workaround or way to use these devices? They were working
> on the owners Fedora box with UHD v3.6.2-5 and GR v3.7.11-2.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Nick
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Discuss-gnuradio mailing list
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