NI USRP-2920 User manual

USRP-2920/2921/2022
Getting Started
2022-07-11

Contents
USRP device Getting Started Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Verifying the System Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Unpacking the Kit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Verifying the Kit Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Environmental Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Environmental Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Installing the Soware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Installing the Soware Using NI Package Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Installing the Soware Using the Driver Download Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Installing the Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Synchronizing Multiple Devices (Optional). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Configuring the Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Setting Up the Network (Ethernet Only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Programming the Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
NI-USRP Instrument Driver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
NI-USRP Examples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Verifying the Device Connection (Optional). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Device Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Network Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Front Panels and Connectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Direct Connections to the Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
USRP-2920 Front Panel and LEDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
USRP-2921 Front Panel and LEDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
USRP-2922 Front Panel and LEDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Where to Go Next. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
NI Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
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USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

USRP device Getting Started Guide
This document explains how to install, configure, and test the following USRP
devices:
■ USRP-2920 Soware Defined Radio Device
■ USRP-2921 Soware Defined Radio Device
■ USRP-2922 Soware 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.
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 online on the driver soware
download page or 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.
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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.
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.
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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
■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
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Maximum altitude 2,000 m (800 mbar) (at 25 °C ambient temperature)
Installing the Soware
You must be an Administrator to install NI soware 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 Soware 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 Soware 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
■Install NXG
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USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

Installing the Soware Using the Driver Download Page
Note NI recommends using NI Package Manager to download NI-USRP
driver soware.
1. Visit ni.com/info and enter the Info Code usrpdriver to access the driver
download page for all versions of NI-USRP soware.
2. Download a version of NI-USRP driver soware.
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 soware 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.
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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
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).
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.
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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.
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
Table 1. Static IP Addresses
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.
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.
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Your device should appear in the list on the le 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. Aer 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.
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