National Instruments USRP-2920 User manual

GETTING STARTED GUIDE
USRP-2920/2921/2922
USRP Software Defined Radio Device
This document explains how to install, configure, and test the following USRP devices:
• USRP-2920 Software Defined Radio Device
• USRP-2921 Software Defined Radio Device
• USRP-2922 Software Defined Radio Device
The USRP-2920/2921/2922 device can send and receive signals for use in various
communications applications. This device ships with the NI-USRP instrument driver, which
you can use to program the device.
Contents
Verifying the System Requirements..........................................................................................2
Unpacking the Kit..................................................................................................................... 2
Verifying the Kit Contents................................................................................................ 3
Environmental Guidelines.........................................................................................................4
Environmental Characteristics.......................................................................................... 4
Installing the Software.............................................................................................................. 4
Installing the Software Using NI Package Manager.........................................................4
Installing the Software Using the Driver Download Page................................................5
Installing the Device................................................................................................................. 5
Synchronizing Multiple Devices (Optional)..................................................................... 5
Configuring the Device.............................................................................................................6
Setting Up the Network (Ethernet Only).......................................................................... 6
Programming the Device.......................................................................................................... 9
NI-USRP Instrument Driver............................................................................................. 9
NI-USRP Examples and Lessons......................................................................................9
Verifying the Device Connection (Optional).................................................................. 10
Troubleshooting.......................................................................................................................11
Device Troubleshooting.................................................................................................. 11
Network Troubleshooting............................................................................................... 13
Front Panels and Connectors...................................................................................................15
Direct Connections to the Device................................................................................... 15
USRP-2920 Front Panel and LEDs.................................................................................15
USRP-2921 Front Panel and LEDs.................................................................................17
USRP-2922 Front Panel and LEDs ................................................................................19
Where to Go Next................................................................................................................... 21
Worldwide Support and Services............................................................................................ 21

Verifying the System Requirements
To use the NI-USRP instrument driver, your system must meet certain requirements.
Refer to the product readme, which is available on the driver software media or online at
ni.com/manuals, for more information about minimum system requirements, recommended
system, and supported application development environments (ADEs).
Unpacking the Kit
Notice To prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) from damaging the device, ground
yourself using a grounding strap or by holding a grounded object, such as your
computer chassis.
1. Touch the antistatic package to a metal part of the computer chassis.
2. Remove the device from the package and inspect the device for loose components or any
other sign of damage.
Notice Never touch the exposed pins of connectors.
Note Do not install a device if it appears damaged in any way.
3. Unpack any other items and documentation from the kit.
Store the device in the antistatic package when the device is not in use.
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Verifying the Kit Contents
2 3
54 6
1
NI USRP-2920RNI USRP-2920R
1. USRP Device
2. AC/DC Power Supply and Power Cable
3. Shielded Ethernet Cable
4. SMA (m)-to-SMA (m) Cable
5. 30 dB SMA Attenuator
6. Getting Started Guide (This Document) and
Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory
Information Document
Notice If you directly connect or cable a signal generator to your device, or if you
connect multiple USRP devices together, you must connect a 30 dB attenuator to the
RF input (RX1 or RX2) of each receiving USRP device.
Other Required Item(s)
In addition to the kit contents, you must provide a computer with available gigabit Ethernet
interface.
Optional Items
• LabVIEW Modulation Toolkit (MT), available for download at ni.com/downloads and
included in LabVIEW Communications System Design Suite, which includes MT VIs
and functions, examples, and documentation
Note You must install the LabVIEW Modulation Toolkit for proper operation
of the NI-USRP Modulation Toolkit example VIs.
• LabVIEW Digital Filter Design Toolkit, available for download at ni.com/downloads and
included in LabVIEW Communications System Design Suite
• LabVIEW MathScript RT Module, available for download at ni.com/downloads
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• USRP MIMO sync and data cable, available at ni.com, to synchronize clock sources
• Additional SMA (m)-to-SMA (m) cables to connect both channels with external devices
or to use the REF IN and PPS IN signals
Environmental Guidelines
Notice This model is intended for use in indoor applications only.
Environmental Characteristics
Operating temperature 0 °C to 45 °C
Operating humidity 10% to 90% relative humidity, noncondensing
Pollution Degree 2
Maximum altitude 2,000 m (800 mbar) (at 25 °C ambient temperature)
Installing the Software
You must be an Administrator to install NI software on your computer.
1. Install an application development environment (ADE), such as LabVIEW or LabVIEW
Communications System Design Suite.
2. Follow the instructions below that correspond with the ADE that you installed.
Installing the Software Using NI Package Manager
Ensure that you have installed the latest version of NI Package Manager. To access the
download page for NI Package Manager, go to ni.com/info and enter info code
NIPMDownload.
Note NI-USRP versions 18.1 to current are available to download using NI
Package Manager. To download another version of NI-USRP, refer to Installing the
Software Using the Driver Download Page.
1. To install the latest NI-USRP instrument driver, open NI Package Manager.
2. On the BROWSE PRODUCTS tab, click Drivers to display all available drivers.
3. Select NI-USRP and click INSTALL.
4. Follow the instructions in the installation prompts.
Note Windows users may see access and security messages during
installation. Accept the prompts to complete the installation.
Related Information
Refer to the NI Package Manager Manual for instructions on installing drivers using NI
Package Manager.
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Installing the Software Using the Driver Download
Page
Note NI recommends using NI Package Manager to download NI-USRP driver
software.
1. Visit ni.com/info and enter the Info Code usrpdriver to access the driver download
page for all versions of NI-USRP software.
2. Download a version of NI-USRP driver software.
3. Follow the instructions in the installation prompts.
Note Windows users may see access and security messages during
installation. Accept the prompts to complete the installation.
4. When the installer completes, select Shut Down in the dialog box that prompts you to
restart, shut down, or restart later.
Installing the Device
Install all the software you plan to use before you install the hardware.
Note The USRP device connects to a host computer using a standard gigabit
Ethernet interface. Refer to the documentation for your gigabit Ethernet interface for
installation and configuration instructions.
1. Power on the computer.
2. Attach the antenna or cable to the front panel terminals of the USRP device as desired.
3. Use the Ethernet cable to connect the USRP device to the computer. For maximum
throughput over Ethernet, NI recommends that you connect each USRP device to its own
dedicated gigabit Ethernet interface on the host computer.
4. Connect the AC/DC power supply to the USRP device.
5. Plug the power supply into a wall outlet. Windows automatically recognizes the USRP
device.
Synchronizing Multiple Devices (Optional)
You can connect two USRP devices so that they share clocks and the Ethernet connection to
the host.
1. Connect the MIMO cable to the MIMO EXPANSION port of each device.
NI USRP-292X
NI USRP-292X
USRP-2920/2921/2922 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 5

2. If you have not already done so, attach antennas to the USRP devices.
If you want to use one USRP device as a receiver and the other as a transmitter, attach
one antenna to the RX 1 TX 1 port of the transmitter, and attach another antenna to the
RX 2 port of the receiver.
The NI-USRP driver ships with some examples that you can use to explore the MIMO
connection, including USRP EX Rx Multiple Synchronized Inputs (MIMO Expansion) and
USRP EX Tx Multiple Synchronized Outputs (MIMO Expansion).
Configuring the Device
Setting Up the Network (Ethernet Only)
The device communicates with a host computer over gigabit Ethernet. Set up the network to
enable communication with the device.
Note The IP addresses for the host computer and each connected USRP device
must be unique.
Configuring the Host Ethernet Interface with a Static IP Address
The default IP address for the USRP device is 192.168.10.2.
1. Ensure the host computer uses a static IP address.
You may need to modify the network settings for the local area connection using the
Control Panel on the host computer. Specify the static IP address in the Properties page
for Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
2. Configure the host Ethernet interface with a static IP address on the same subnet as the
connected device to enable communication, as shown in the following table.
Table 1. Static IP Addresses
Component Address
Host Ethernet interface static IP address 192.168.10.1
Host Ethernet interface subnet mask 255.255.255.0
Default USRP device IP address 192.168.10.2
Note NI-USRP uses user datagram protocol (UDP) broadcast packets to
locate the device. On some systems, the firewall blocks UDP broadcast packets.
NI recommends that you change or disable the firewall settings to allow
communication with the device.
Changing the IP Address
To change the USRP device IP address, you must know the current address of the device, and
you must configure the network.
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1. Verify that your device is powered on and connected to your computer using the gigabit
Ethernet interface.
2. Select Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-USRP»NI-USRP
Configuration Utility to open the NI-USRP Configuration Utility, as shown in the
following figure.
Your device should appear in the list on the left side of the tab.
3. Select the Devices tab of the utility.
4. In the list, select the device for which you want to change the IP address.
If you have multiple devices, verify that you selected the correct device.
The IP address of the selected device displays in the Selected IP Address textbox.
5. Enter the new IP address for the device in the New IP Address textbox.
6. Click the Change IP Address button or press <Enter> to change the IP address.
The IP address of the selected device displays in the Selected IP Address textbox.
7. The utility prompts you to confirm your selection. Click OK if your selection is correct;
otherwise, click Cancel.
8. The utility displays a confirmation to indicate the process is complete. Click OK.
9. Power cycle the device to apply the changes.
10. After you change the IP address, you must power cycle the device and click Refresh
Devices List in the utility to update the list of devices.
Confirming Network Connection
1. Select Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-USRP»NI-USRP
Configuration Utility to open the NI-USRP Configuration Utility.
2. Select the Devices tab of the utility.
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Your device should appear in the Device ID column.
Note If your device is not listed, verify that your device is powered on and
correctly connected, then click the Refresh Devices List button to scan for
USRP devices.
Configuring Multiple Devices with Ethernet
You can connect multiple devices in the following ways:
• Multiple Ethernet interfaces—One device for each interface
• Single Ethernet interface—One device connected to the interface, with additional devices
connected using an optional MIMO cable
• Single Ethernet interface—Multiple devices connected to an unmanaged switch
Tip Sharing a single gigabit Ethernet interface among devices may reduce overall
signal throughput. For maximum signal throughput, NI recommends that you
connect no more than one device per Ethernet interface.
Multiple Ethernet Interfaces
To configure multiple devices connected to separate gigabit Ethernet interfaces, assign each
Ethernet interface a separate subnet, and assign the corresponding device an address in that
subnet, as shown in the following table.
Table 2. Multiple Host Ethernet Interface Configuration
Device Host IP Address Host Subnet Mask Device IP Address
USRP Device 0 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0 192.168.10.2
USRP Device 1 192.168.11.1 255.255.255.0 192.168.11.2
Single Ethernet Interface—One Device
You can configure multiple devices using a single host Ethernet interface when the devices are
connected to each other using a MIMO cable.
1. Assign each device a separate IP address in the subnet of the host Ethernet interface, as
shown in the following table.
Table 3. Single Host Ethernet Interface—MIMO Configuration
Device Host IP Address Host Subnet Mask Device IP Address
USRP Device 0 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0 192.168.10.2
USRP Device 1 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0 192.168.10.3
2. Connect Device 0 to the Ethernet interface and connect Device 1 to Device 0 using a
MIMO cable.
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Single Ethernet Interface—Multiple Devices Connected to an Unmanaged
Switch
You can connect multiple USRP devices to a host computer through an unmanaged gigabit
Ethernet switch that allows a single gigabit Ethernet adapter on the computer to interface with
multiple USRP devices connected to the switch.
Assign the host Ethernet interface a subnet, and assign each device an address in that subnet,
as shown in the following table.
Table 4. Single Host Ethernet Interface—Unmanaged Switch Configuration
Device Host IP Address Host Subnet Mask Device IP Address
USRP Device 0 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0 192.168.10.2
USRP Device 1 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0 192.168.10.3
Programming the Device
You can use the NI-USRP instrument driver to create communications applications for the
USRP device.
NI-USRP Instrument Driver
The NI-USRP instrument driver features a set of functions and properties that exercise the
capabilities of the USRP device, including configuration, control, and other device-specific
functions.
Related Information
Refer to the NI-USRP Manual for information about using the instrument driver in your
applications.
NI-USRP Examples and Lessons
NI-USRP includes several examples and lessons for LabVIEW, LabVIEW NXG, and
LabVIEW Communications System Design Suite. They can be used individually or as
components of other applications.
NI-USRP examples and lessons are available in the following locations.
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Content
Type
Description LabVIEW LabVIEW NXG 2.1 to
Current or LabVIEW
Communications
System Design Suite
2.1 to Current
Examples NI-USRP includes several
example applications that
serve as interactive tools,
programming models, and
building blocks in your own
applications. NI-USRP
includes examples for
getting started and other
software-defined radio
(SDR) functionality.
Note You can
access additional
examples from
the Code Sharing
Community at
ni.com/usrp.
• From the Start
menu at Start»
All Programs»
National
Instruments»NI-
USRP»
Examples.
• From the
LabVIEW
Functions palette
at Instrument
I/O»Instrument
Drivers»NI-
USRP»
Examples.
• From the Learning
tab, select
Examples»
Hardware Input
and Output»NI-
USRP.
• From the Learning
tab, select
Examples»
Hardware Input
and Output»NI
USRP RIO.
Lessons NI-USRP includes lessons
that guide you through the
process of identifying and
demodulating an FM signal
with your device.
- From the Learning tab,
select Lessons»Getting
Started»Demodulating
FM Signals with the
NI... and choose a task to
accomplish.
Note The NI Example Finder does not include NI-USRP examples.
Verifying the Device Connection (Optional)
Verifying the Device Connection Using LabVIEW NXG or
LabVIEW Communications System Design Suite 2.1 to Current
Use USRP Rx Continuous Async to confirm that the device receives signals and is connected
correctly to the host computer.
1. Navigate to Learning»Examples »Hardware Input and Output»NI-USRP»NI-USRP.
2. Select Rx Continuous Async. Click Create.
3. Run USRP Rx Continuous Async.
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