Manual Host-Radio Hardware Setup

To implement the features in the Communications Toolbox™ Support Package for USRP®[1] Embedded Series Radio, you must configure the host computer and the radio hardware for proper communication. After the support package is installed, follow these steps to manually set up the hardware.

Step 1. Complete Hardware Checklist


1. Gigabit Ethernet connection





2. SD card reader and writable SD card

If the host machine does not have an integrated SD card reader, use an external USB SD card reader. For USRP® E310 and USRP® E312 radio hardware, you need a microSD card.

3. Supported radio hardware


4. Ethernet cable


5. Antennas or a loopback cable

You need antennas for transmitting and receiving signals over the air.

Step 2. Set Up Support Package in MATLAB

To work with the support package in MATLAB®, you must create a radio object for your radio hardware. In the following example, dev is a radio object interfacing an E3xx embedded series radio hardware.

dev = sdrdev('E3xx');


For more information on creating radio objects, see sdrdev.

Step 3. Configure Host Computer


 Configure Windows

 Configure Linux

Step 4. Write Firmware




    If you use a lockable SD card adapter for the microSD card, you must unlock it first.


    downloadImage(dev,'BoardName','E3xx', ...


    For example:

    dev = sdrdev('E3xx');

Step 5. Connect Radio Hardware

Connect USRP® E310 or USRP® E312 Radio Hardware

  1. Remove the microSD memory card from the host computer and insert it into the radio hardware.

  2. Connect an Ethernet cable to the radio hardware. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the network connection selected previously.

  3. Connect the power cable to the radio hardware.

  4. Connect the antennas or loopback cable.

  5. Turn the board power on.

  6. Wait until you see the TRX-B LED flashing, that indicates that the radio hardware is ready.

    If the LED does not light up after one minute, verify that the SD card has been properly configured.

  7. When the LEDs light up as indicated, proceed to the next step.

Step 6. Verify Radio Hardware Setup




Successful Connection


Continue with one of the following options.

Unsuccessful Connection


For example:

Warning: There was no response from the hardware. Read the 
documentation on how to diagnose connectivity issues.
 - Ensure the host and hardware are physically connected via GigE.
 - Ensure the host NIC is configured properly.
 - Check that the IPAddress of the hardware is specified correctly.


Related Topics
