Converting an X310 into an NI-USRP Rio

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Application Note Number

AN-503

Revision History

Date Author Details
2016-05-03 Tim Fountain Initial creation

Abstract

This Application Note explains how to use an Ettus Research-branded USRP with LabVIEW, and in effect, convert it into an NI-USRP RIO.

NOTE: While this process is technically possible, NI/Ettus does not officially support it and does not guarantee providing any technical support for it. The user performs this process at their own risk. The process is documented here as a convenience to users.

Summary

This document outlines the steps necessary to modify an Ettus X310 + associated daughterboards (CBX, WBX, SBX or UBX) into the identical NI model (NI USRP-294x or NI USRP-295x). Note that you must have identical daughterboards in each X310 slot for LabVIEW to function. Identical daughterboards would be 2xCBX or 2xUBX for instance.

This document was created with version 15.0 of the NI USRP driver. In NI USRP 15.5 and later there will be a single LabVIEW vi that will conduct all 3 steps automatically.

There are 2 steps that need to be done to make an X310 into a USRP RIO.

Step 1

The daughterboard IDs need to be burned into the EEPROM.

The default location for the utilities is

   C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\LabVIEW 2015\vi.lib\LabVIEW Targets\FPGA\USRP\niusrprio_tools.llb
  • Note - edit path accordingly if you have a different version of LabVIEW and/or you have installed the x64 version

Use the initialize Flash.vi to load the correct daughterboard ID’s and serial numbers. The vi is auto populated with the supported daughterboard ID’s, the complete list is included in appendix 1 for reference. The serial numbers are not critical bit can be matched to the physical daughterboard serial numbers which are found on a printed label on each daughterboard.

convert x310 figure1.png

The letter revision on the X310 motherboard should be to set the HW current version (rev A = 1, B =2, etc). Set the oldest compatible version to the current HW version too. For revisions 6 and below (A-F), the 3.3v device model must be set. For revisions 7 and above (G and H), use the 1.6v device model must be set.

convert x310 figure2.png

Step 2

IQ imbalance corrections need to be loaded into the EEPROM.

The easiest way to load the IQ imbalance corrections into the daughterboard EEPROM is to create a sample USRP-RIO project. From the default LabVIEW windows, click create new project and select NI-USRP Simple Streaming:

convert x310 figure3.png

Once the project has been created, navigate to the utilities in the project window and open the Self Correct RX IQ Offset.vi:

convert x310 figure4.png

This .vi will automatically calculate the optimal IQ imbalance correction factors and load them into the factory default location on the daughterboard EEPROM. Note there is no method at this time to load DC offset corrections without sending the unit back to the factory.

Appendix 1 Motherboard and Daughterboard ID’s

MOTHER BOARDS

NAME ID
B200 0x7737
B210 0x7738
B200mini 0x7739
B205 0x773a

DAUGHTER BOARDS

Basic and Low Frequency

Name (as reported by UHD) RX ID TX ID Notes
Unknown 0xfff1 0xfff0
Basic 0x0001 0x0000
LF 0x000f 0x000e

WBX

Name (as reported by UHD) RX ID TX ID Notes
WBX LO 0x0051 0x0050 (Not registered in UHD)
WBX 0x0053 0x0052
WBX + Simple GDB 0x0053 0x004f
WBX v3 0x0057 0x0056
WBX v3 + Simple GDB 0x0057 0x004f
WBX v4 0x0063 0x0062
WBX v4 + Simple GDB 0x0063 0x004f
WBX-120 0x0081 0x0080
WBX-120 + Simple GDB 0x0081 0x004f

SBX

Name (as reported by UHD) RX ID TX ID Notes
SBX 0x0054 0x0055 v3
SBX v4 0x0065 0x0064
SBX v5 0x0069 0x0068
SBX-120 0x0083 0x0082

CBX

Name (as reported by UHD) RX ID TX ID Notes
CBX 0x0067 0x0066 v3
CBX-120 0x0085 0x0084

UBX

Name (as reported by UHD) RX ID TX ID Notes
UBX v0.3 0x0074 0x0073 Prototype
UBX v0.4 0x0076 0x0075 Prototype
UBX-40 v1 0x0078 0x0077
UBX-160 v1 0x007A 0x0079

TwinRX

Name (as reported by UHD) RX ID TX ID Notes
TwinRX v1.0 0x0091 0xffff (0x90 Reserved)

Others (Legacy)

Name ID Notes
DBS Rx 0x0002
TV Rx 0x0003
Flex 400 Rx 0x0004
Flex 900 Rx 0x0005
Flex 1200 Rx 0x0006
Flex 2400 Rx 0x0007
Flex 400 Tx 0x0008
Flex 900 Tx 0x0009
Flex 1200 Tx 0x000a
Flex 2400 Tx 0x000b
TV Rx Rev 2 0x000c
DBS Rx ClkMod 0x000d
DBSRX2 0x012
Flex 400 Rx MIMO A 0x0014
Flex 900 Rx MIMO A 0x0015
Flex 1200 Rx MIMO A 0x0016
Flex 2400 Rx MIMO A 0x0017
Flex 400 Tx MIMO A 0x0018
Flex 900 Tx MIMO A 0x0019
Flex 1200 Tx MIMO A 0x001a
Flex 2400 Tx MIMO A 0x001b
Flex 400 Rx MIMO B 0x0024
Flex 900 Rx MIMO B 0x0025
Flex 1200 Rx MIMO B 0x0026
Flex 2400 Rx MIMO B 0x0027
Flex 400 Tx MIMO B 0x0028
Flex 900 Tx MIMO B 0x0029
Flex 1200 Tx MIMO B 0x002a
Flex 2400 Tx MIMO B 0x002b
Flex 2200 Rx MIMO B 0x002c
Flex 2200 Tx MIMO B 0x002d
Flex 1800 Rx 0x0030
Flex 1800 Tx 0x0031
Flex 1800 Rx MIMO A 0x0032
Flex 1800 Tx MIMO A 0x0033
Flex 1800 Rx MIMO B 0x0034
Flex 1800 Tx MIMO B 0x0035
TV Rx Rev 3 0x0040
DTT754 0x0041
DTT768 0x0042
TV Rx MIMO 0x0043
TV Rx Rev 2 MIMO 0x0044
TV Rx Rev 3 MIMO 0x0045
TVRX2 0x0046
WCDMA US 0x004d
WCDMA EU 0x004e
XCVR2450 Tx - No Div 0x0059
XCVR2450 Tx 0x0060
XCVR2450 Rx 0x0061
Bitshark Rx 0x0070
B150 v1 TX 0x0071
B150 v1 RX 0x0072

E3xx

Name ID Notes
E300 AD9364 RevB 0x0100
E310 AD9361 RevB 0x0110
E300 AD9364 RevC 0x0101
E310 AD9361 RevC 0x0111
E330 0x0120


USB VID

Name ID Notes
Ettus Research 0x2500
National Instruments 0x3923
Cypress Semiconductor 0x04b4

USB PID

Name ID Notes
FX2 0x8613
FX3 0x00f3
FX3 (Re-enumerated) 0x00f0
B100 0x0002
B200 0x0020
B210 0x0020
B200 (NI) 0x7813
B210 (NI) 0x7814
B200mini 0x0021
B205 0x0022