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
ni.com
2
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.
© National Instruments 3
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

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.
ni.com
4
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

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
© National Instruments 5
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

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
ni.com
6
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.
© National Instruments 7
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

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.
ni.com
8
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

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.
© National Instruments 9
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

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.
ni.com
10
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

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.
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.
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
© National Instruments 11
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

Device Host IP Address Host Subnet Mask Device IP Address
USRP Device 1 192.168.11.1 255.255.255.0 192.168.11.2
Table 4. Multiple Host Ethernet Interface Configuration
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.
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
Table 4. Single Host Ethernet Interface—MIMO Configuration
2. Connect Device 0 to the Ethernet interface and connect Device 1 to Device 0
using a MIMO cable.
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.
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
Table 4. Single Host Ethernet Interface—Unmanaged Switch Configuration
Programming the Device
You can use the NI-USRP instrument driver to create communications applications
for the USRP device.
ni.com
12
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

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 concepts
■Refer to the NI-USRP Manual for information about using the instrument
driver in your applications.
NI-USRP Examples
NI-USRP includes several example applications that serve as interactive tools,
programming models, and building blocks in your own applications.
NI-USRP examples are available in the following locations.
■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
Note You can access additional examples from the Code Sharing
Community at ni.com/usrp.
Note The NI Example Finder does not include NI-USRP examples.
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.
© National Instruments 13
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

3. Run USRP Rx Continuous Async.
If the device is receiving signals you will see data on the front panel graphs.
4. Click STOP to conclude the test.
Verifying the Device Connection Using LabVIEW
Perform a loopback test to confirm that the device transmits and receives signals
and is connected correctly to the host computer.
1. Attach the included 30 dB attenuator to one end of the SMA (m)-to-SMA (m)
cable.
2. Connect the 30 dB attenuator to the RX 2 TX 2 connector on the front panel of
the USRP device and connect the other end of the SMA (m)-to-SMA (m) cable
to the RX 1 TX 1 port.
3. On the host computer, navigate to <NIDIR> » National Instruments » LabVIEW
<Year> » examples » instr » niUSRP.
4. Open the niUSRP EX Tx Continuous Async example VI and run it.
If the device is transmitting signals, the I/Q graph displays I and Q waveforms.
5. Open the niUSRP EX Rx Continuous Async example VI and run it.
If the device is transmitting signals, the I/Q graph displays I and Q waveforms.
Troubleshooting
If an issue persists aer you complete a troubleshooting procedure, search our
KnowledgeBase for additional information our technical support engineers create
as they answer common user questions and resolve unexpected issues.
Why Doesn't the Device Power On?
Check the power supply by substituting a dierent adapter.
Why Does USRP2 Appear Instead of the USRP Device in the NI-USRP
Configuration Utility?
■An incorrect IP address on the computer may cause this error. Check the IP
address and run the NI-USRP Configuration Utility again.
ni.com
14
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

■An old FPGA or firmware image on the device may also cause this error.
Upgrade the FPGA and firmware using the NI-USRP Configuration Utility.
Should I Update Device Firmware and FPGA Images?
USRP devices ship with firmware and FPGA images compatible with NI-USRP driver
soware. You may need to update the device for compatibility with the latest
version of the soware.
When you use the NI-USRP API, a default FPGA loads from persistent storage on the
device.
The driver soware media also includes the NI-USRP Configuration Utility, which
you can use to update the devices.
Updating Device Firmware and FPGA Images (Optional)
The firmware and FPGA images for USRP devices are stored in the device internal
memory. You can reload the FPGA image or firmware image using the NI-USRP
Configuration Utility and an Ethernet connection, but you cannot create custom
FPGA images using the Ethernet connection.
1. If you have not already done so, connect the host computer to the device
using the Ethernet port.
2. Select Start » All Programs » National Instruments » NI-USRP » NI-USRP
Configuration Utility to open the NI-USRP Configuration Utility.
3. Select the N2xx/NI-29xx Image Updater tab. The utility automatically
populates the Firmware Image and FPGA Image fields with the paths to the
default firmware and FPGA image files. If you want to use dierent files, click
the Browse button next to the file you want to change, and navigate to the file
you want to use.
4. Verify that the firmware and FPGA image paths are entered correctly.
5. Click the Refresh Device List button to scan for USRP devices and update the
device list.
If your device does not appear in the list, verify that the device is on and is
correctly connected to the computer.
© National Instruments 15
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

If your device still does not appear in the list, you can manually add the device
to the list. Click the Manually Add Device button, enter the IP address of the
device in the dialog box that displays, and click OK.
6. Select the device to update from the device list and verify that you selected
the correct device.
7. Verify that the version of the FPGA image file matches the board revision for
the device you are updating.
8. To update the device, click the WRITE IMAGES button.
9. A confirmation dialog box displays. Confirm your selections and click OK to
continue.
A progress bar indicates the status of the update.
10. When the update completes, a dialog box prompts you to reset the device. A
device reset applies the new images to the device. Click OK to reset the
device.
Note The utility is unresponsive while it verifies that the device
reset correctly.
11. Close the utility.
Related concepts
■Refer to the Load the Images onto the On-board Flash (USRP-N Series Only)
section of the UHD - USRP2 and N Series Application Notes
Why Doesn't the USRP Device Appear in MAX?
MAX does not support the USRP device. Use the NI-USRP Configuration Utility
instead. Open the NI-USRP Configuration Utility from the Start menu at Start » All
Programs » National Instruments » NI-USRP » NI-USRP Configuration Utility.
Why Doesn't the USRP Device Appear in the NI-USRP Configuration Utility?
1. Check the connection between the USRP device and the computer.
2. Ensure that the USRP device is connected to a computer with a gigabit-
compatible Ethernet adapter.
ni.com
16
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

3. Ensure that a static IP address of 192.168.10.1 is assigned to the adapter in
your computer.
4. Allow up to 15 seconds for the device to completely start up.
Why Don't NI-USRP Examples Appear in the NI Example Finder in LabVIEW?
NI-USRP does not install examples into the NI Example Finder.
Related reference
■NI-USRP Examples
Why Doesn't the Device Respond to a Ping (ICMP Echo Request)?
The device should reply to an internet control message protocol (ICMP) echo
request. Complete the following steps to ping the device and receive a response.
1. To ping the device, open a Windows command prompt and enter ping
192.168.10.2, where 192.168.10.2 is the IP address for your USRP device.
2. If you do not receive a response, verify that the host network interface card is
set to a static IP address corresponding to the same subnet as the IP address
of the corresponding device.
3. Verify that the device IP address is set properly.
4. Repeat step 1.
Related tasks
■Changing the IP Address
Why Doesn't the NI-USRP Configuration Utility Return a Listing for My
Device?
If the NI-USRP Configuration Utility does not return a listing for your device, search
for a specific IP address.
1. Navigate to <Program Files>\National Instruments\NI-USRP\.
2. <Shi>-right-click the utilities folder, and select Open command window here
from the shortcut menu to open a Windows command prompt.
© National Instruments 17
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

3. Enter uhd_find_devices --args=addr=192.168.10.2 in the command prompt,
where 192.168.10.2 is the IP address for your USRP device.
4. Press <Enter>.
If the uhd_find_devices command does not return the listing for your device,
the firewall may be blocking replies to UDP broadcast packets. Windows
installs and enables a firewall by default. To allow UDP communication with a
device, disable any firewall soware associated with the network interface for
the device.
Why Doesn't the Device IP Address Reset to the Default?
If you cannot reset the default device IP address, your device may be on a dierent
subnet than the host network adapter. You can power cycle the device in a safe
(read-only) image, which sets the device to the default IP address of 192.168.10.2.
1. Open the device enclosure, making sure to take appropriate static
precautions.
2. Locate the safe-mode button, a push-button switch (S2), inside the enclosure.
3. Press and hold the safe-mode button while you power cycle the device.
4. Continue to press the safe-mode button until the front panel LEDs blink and
remain solid.
5. While in safe-mode, run the NI-USRP Configuration Utility to change the IP
address from the default, 192.168.10.2, to a new value.
6. Power cycle the device without holding the safe-mode button to return the
normal mode.
Note NI recommends that you use a dedicated network with no
other USRP devices connected to the host computer to avoid the
possibility of an IP address conflict. Also, verify that the static IP
address of the host network adapter on the computer that runs the
NI-USRP Configuration Utility is dierent from the device default IP
address of 192.168.10.2 and dierent from the new IP address to
which you want to set the device.
ni.com
18
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

Note If the device IP address is on a dierent subnet from the host
network adapter, the host system and configuration utility cannot
communicate with and configure the device. For example, the utility
recognizes, but cannot configure a device with an IP address of
192.168.11.2 connected to a host network adapter with a static IP
address of 192.168.10.1 and a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. To
communicate with and configure the device, change the host
network adapter to a static IP address on the same subnet as the
device, such as 192.168.11.1, or change the subnet mask of the host
network adapter to recognize a wider range of IP addresses, such as
255.255.0.0.
Related tasks
■Changing the IP Address
Why Does the Device Not Connect to the Host Interface?
The host Ethernet interface must be a gigabit Ethernet interface to connect to the
USRP device.
Ensure the connection between the host network interface card and the device
cable connection is valid and both the device and computer are powered on.
A lit green LED in the upper le corner of the gigabit Ethernet connection port on the
device front panel indicates a gigabit Ethernet connection.
Direct Connections to the Device
The USRP device is a precision RF instrument that is sensitive to ESD and transients.
Ensure you take the following precautions when making direct connections to the
USRP device to avoid damaging the device.
Notice Apply external signals only while the USRP device is powered on.
Applying external signals while the device is powered o may cause
damage.
■ Ensure you are properly grounded when manipulating cables or antennas
connected to the USRP device TX 1 RX 1 or RX 2 connector.
© National Instruments 19
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started

■ If you are using nonisolated devices, such as a nonisolated RF antenna,
ensure the devices are maintained in a static-free environment.
■If you are using an active device, such as a preamplifier or switch routed to
the USRP device TX 1 RX 1 or RX 2 connector, ensure that the device cannot
generate signal transients greater than the RF and DC specifications of the
USRP device TX 1 RX 1 or RX 2 connector.
USRP-2920 Front Panel and LEDs
MIMO EXPANSION GB ETHERNET
RX 1
TX 1
REF IN PPS IN
A
C
E
B
D
F
NI USRP-2920
50 MHz - 2.2 GHz
RX 2
POWER
6 V 3 A
Connector Description
RX 1
TX 1
Input and output terminal for the RF signal. RX 1TX 1 is an SMA (f) connector with
an impedance of 50 Ω and is a single-ended input or output channel.
RX 2 Input terminal for the RF signal. RX 2 is an SMA (f) connector with an impedance
of 50 Ω and is a single-ended input channel.
REF IN Input terminal for an external reference signal for the local oscillator (LO) on the
device. REF IN is an SMA (f) connector with an impedance of 50 Ω and is a single-
ended reference input. REF IN accepts a 10 MHz signal with a minimum input
power of 0 dBm(.632 Vpk-pk) and a maximum input power of
15 dBm(3.56 Vpk-pk) for a square wave or sine wave.
PPS IN Input terminal for the pulse per second (PPS) timing reference. PPS IN is an SMA
(f) connector with an impedance of 50 Ω and is a single-ended input. PPS IN
accepts 0 V to 3.3 V TTL and 0 V to 5 V TTL signals.
MIMO
EXPANSION
The MIMO EXPANSION interface port connects two USRP devices using a
compatible MIMO cable.
GB ETHERNET The gigabit Ethernet port accepts an RJ-45 connector and gigabit Ethernet
compatible cable (Category 5, Category 5e, or Category 6).
POWER The power input accepts a 6 V, 3 A external DC power connector.
Table 5. Connector Descriptions
ni.com
20
USRP-2920/2921/2022 Getting Started