Command line interface and test utility
bladeRF-cli \,<options>\/
The bladeRF-cli utility is used to flash firmware files, load FPGA bitstreams, and perform other tasks on the nuand bladeRF software-defined radio system.
For more information on obtaining or building firmware files and FPGA bitstreams, please visit http://nuand.com/.
bladeRF command line interface and test utility (0.11.1-git)
-d, --device <device>
Use the specified bladeRF device.
-f, --flash-firmware <file>
Write the provided FX3 firmware file to flash.
-l, --load-fpga <file>
Load the provided FPGA bitstream.
-L, --flash-fpga <file>
Write the provided FPGA image to flash for autoloading. Use -L X or --flash-fpga X to disable FPGA autoloading.
-p, --probe
Probe for devices, print results, then exit.
-e, --exec <command>
Execute the specified interactive mode command. Multiple -e flags may be specified. The commands will be executed in the provided order.
-s, --script <file>
Run provided script.
-i, --interactive
Enter interactive mode.
--lib-version
Print libbladeRF version and exit.
-v, --verbosity <level>
Set the libbladeRF verbosity level. Levels, listed in increasing verbosity, are:
critical, error, warning,
info, debug, verbose
--version
Print CLI version and exit.
-h, --help
Show this help text.
--help-interactive
Print help information for all interactive commands.
The -d option takes a device specifier string. See the bladerf_open() documentation for more information about the format of this string.
If the -d parameter is not provided, the first available device will be used for the provided command, or will be opened prior to entering interactive mode.
Commands are executed in the following order:
Command line options, -e <command>, script commands, interactive mode commands.
When running 'rx/tx start' from a script or via -e, ensure these commands are later followed by 'rx/tx wait [timeout]' to ensure the program will not attempt to exit before reception/transmission is complete.
bladeRF-cli supports a scriptable interactive mode. Run bladeRF-cli --interactive to enter this mode. Type "help" for a listing of all commands, or "help <command>" for more information about <command>.
Usage: calibrate <operation> [options]
Perform the specified transceiver calibration operation.
Available operations:
LMS internal DC offset auto-calibrations
calibrate lms [show]
calibrate lms tuning [value]
calibrate lms txlpf [<I filter> <Q filter>]
calibrate lms rxlpf [<I filter> <Q filter>]
calibrate lms rxvga2 [<DC ref> <I1> <Q1> <I2> <Q2>]
Perform the specified auto-calibration, or all of them if none are provided. When values are provided, these are used instead of the results of the auto-calibration procedure. Use lms show to read and print the current LMS calibration values.
For rxvga2, I1 and Q1 are the Stage 1 I and Q components respectively, and I2 and Q2 are the Stage 2 I and Q components.
RX and TX I/Q DC offset correction parameter calibration
calibrate dc <rx|tx> [<I> <Q>]
calibrate dc <rxtx> dc
Calibrate the DC offset correction parameters for the current frequency and gain settings. If a I/Q values are provided, they are applied directly. cal rxtx is shorthand for cal rx followed by cal tx.
RX and TX I/Q balance correction parameter calibration
calibrate iq <rx|tx> <gain|phase> <value>
Set the specified IQ gain or phase balance parameters.
Generate RX or TX I/Q DC correction parameter tables
calibrate table dc <rx|tx> [<f_min> <f_max> [f_inc]]
Generate and write an I/Q correction parameter table to the current working directory, in a file named <serial>_dc_<rx|tx>.tbl. f_min and f_max are min and max frequencies to include in the table. f_inc is the frequency increment.
By default, tables are generated over the entire frequency range, in 2 MHz steps.
Usage: clear
Clears the screen.
Usage: echo [arg 1] [arg 2] ... [arg n]
Echo each argument on a new line.
Usage: erase <offset> <count>
Erase specified erase blocks SPI flash.
<offset> - Erase block offset
<count> - Number of erase blocks to erase
Usage: flash_backup <file> (<type> | <address> <length>)
Back up flash data to the specified file. This command takes either two or four arguments. The two-argument invocation is generally recommended for non-development use.
Parameters:
<type> - Type of backup.
This selects the appropriate address and length values based upon the selected type.
Valid options are:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| cal | Calibration data |
| fw | Firmware |
| fpga40 | Metadata and bitstream for 40 kLE FPGA |
| fpga115 | Metadata and bitstream for 115 kLE FPGA |
<address> - Address of data to back up. Must be erase block-aligned.
<len> - Length of region to back up. Must be erase block-aligned.
Note: When an address and length are provided, the image type will default to raw.
Examples:
flash_backup cal.bin cal
Backs up the calibration data region.
flash_backup cal_raw.bin 0x30000 0x10000
Backs up the calibration region as a raw data image.
Usage: flash_image <image> [output options]
Print a flash image\[aq]s metadata or create a new flash image. When provided with the name of a flash image file as the only argument, this command will print the metadata contents of the image.
The following options may be used to create a new flash image.
data=<file>
File to containing data to store in the image.
address=<addr>
Flash address. The default depends upon type parameter.
type=<type>
Type of flash image. Defaults to raw.
Valid options are:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| cal | Calibration data |
| fw | Firmware |
| fpga40 | Metadata and bitstream for 40 kLE FPGA |
| fpga115 | Metadata and bitstream for 115 kLE FPGA |
| raw | Raw data. The address and length parameters must be provided if this type is selected. |
serial=<serial>
Serial # to store in image. Defaults to zeros.
Usage: flash_init_cal <fpga_size> <vctcxo_trim> [<output_file>]
Create and write a new calibration data region to the currently opened device, or to a file. Be sure to back up calibration data prior to running this command. (See the flash_backup command.)
<fpga_size>
Either 40 or 115, depending on the device model.
<vctcxo_trim>
VCTCXO/DAC trim value (0x0-0xffff)
<output_file>
File to write calibration data to. When this argument is provided, no data will be written to the device\[aq]s flash.
Usage: flash_restore <file> [<address> <length>]
Restore flash data from a file, optionally overriding values in the image metadata.
<address>
Defaults to the address specified in the provided flash image file.
<length>
Defaults to length of the data in the provided image file.
Usage: help [<command>]
Provides extended help, like this, on any command.
Usage: info
Prints the following information about an opened device:
Serial number
VCTCXO DAC calibration value
FPGA size
Whether or not the FPGA is loaded
USB bus, address, and speed
Backend (libusb or kernel module)
Instance number
Usage: jump_to_boot
Jumps to the FX3 bootloader.
Usage: load <fpga|fx3> <filename>
Load an FPGA bitstream or program the FX3\[aq]s SPI flash.
Usage: xb <board_model> <subcommand> [parameters]
Enable or configure an expansion board.
Valid values for board_model:
100
XB-100 GPIO expansion board.
200
XB-200 LF/MF/HF/VHF transverter expansion board
Valid subcommands:
enable <board_model>
Enable the XB-100 or XB-200 expansion board.
filter 200 [rx|tx] [50|144|222|custom|auto_1db|auto_3db]
Selects the specified RX or TX filter on the XB-200 board. Below are descriptions of each of the filter options.
50
Selects the 50-54 MHz (6 meter band) filter
144
Selects the 144-148 MHz (2 meter band) filter
222
Selects 222-225 MHz (1.25 meter band) filter. Realistically, this filter option is actually slightly wider, covering 206 MHz - 235 MHz.
custom
Selects the custom filter path. The user should connect a filter along the corresponding FILT and FILT-ANT connections when using this option. Alternatively one may jumper the FILT and FILT-ANT connections to achieve "no filter" for reception. (However, this is _highly_ discouraged for transmissions.)
auto_1db
Automatically selects one of the above choices based upon frequency and the filters\[aq] 1dB points. The custom path is used for cases that are not associated with the on-board filters.
auto_3db
Automatically selects one of the above choices based upon frequency and the filters\[aq] 3dB points. The custom path is used for cases that are not associated with the on-board filters.
Examples:
xb 100 enable
Enables the XB-100 GPIO expansion board.
xb 200 filter rx 144
Selects the 144-148 MHz receive filter on the XB-200 expansion board.
Usage: mimo [master | slave]
Modify device MIMO operation.
Usage: open [device identifiers]
Open the specified device for use with successive commands. Any previously opened device will be closed.
The general form of the device identifier string is:
<backend>:[device=<bus>:<addr>] [instance=<n>] [serial=<serial>]
See the bladerf_open() documentation in libbladeRF for the complete device specifier format.
Usage: peek <dac|lms|si> <address> [num_addresses]
The peek command can read any of the devices hanging off the FPGA which includes the LMS6002D transceiver, VCTCXO trim DAC or the Si5338 clock generator chip.
If num_addresses is supplied, the address is incremented by 1 and another peek is performed for that many addresses.
Valid Address Ranges:
| Device | Address Range |
|---|---|
| dac | 0 to 255 |
| lms | 0 to 127 |
| si | 0 to 255 |
Example:
peek si ...
Usage: poke <dac|lms|si> <address> <data>
The poke command can write any of the devices hanging off the FPGA which includes the LMS6002D transceiver, VCTCXO trim DAC or the Si5338 clock generator chip.
Valid Address Ranges:
| Device | Address Range |
|---|---|
| dac | 0 to 255 |
| lms | 0 to 127 |
| si | 0 to 255 |
Example:
poke lms ...
Usage: print <param>
The print command takes a parameter to print. The parameter is one of:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| bandwidth | Bandwidth settings |
| frequency | Frequency settings |
| gpio | FX3 <-> FPGA GPIO state |
| loopback | Loopback settings |
| lnagain | Gain setting of the LNA, in dB |
| rxvga1 | Gain setting of RXVGA1, in dB |
| rxvga2 | Gain setting of RXVGA2, in dB |
| txvga1 | Gain setting of TXVGA1, in dB |
| txvga2 | Gain setting of TXVGA2, in dB |
| sampling | External or internal sampling mode |
| samplerate | Samplerate settings |
| trimdac | VCTCXO Trim DAC settings |
Usage: probe
Search for attached bladeRF device and print a list of results.
Usage: quit
Exit the CLI.
Usage: recover [<bus> <address> <firmware file>]
Load firmware onto a device running in bootloader mode, or list all devices currently in bootloader mode.
With no arguments, this command lists the USB bus and address for FX3-based devices running in bootloader mode.
When provided a bus, address, and path to a firmware file, the specified device will be loaded with and begin executing the provided firmware.
In most cases, after successfully loading firmware into the device\[aq]s RAM, users should open the device with the "open" command, and write the firmware to flash via "load fx3 <firmware file>"
Note: This command is only available when bladeRF-cli is built with libusb support.
Usage: run <script>
Run the provided script.
Usage: rx <start | stop | wait | config [param=val [param=val [...]]>
Receive IQ samples and write them to the specified file. Reception is controlled and configured by one of the following:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| start | Start receiving samples |
| stop | Stop receiving samples |
| wait | Wait for sample transmission to complete, or until a specified amount of time elapses |
| config | Configure sample reception. If no parameters are provided, the current parameters are printed. |
Running rx without any additional commands is valid shorthand for rx config.
The wait command takes an optional timeout parameter. This parameter defaults to units of milliseconds (ms). The timeout unit may be specified using the ms or s suffixes. If this parameter is not provided, the command will wait until the reception completes or Ctrl-C is pressed.
Configuration parameters take the form param=value, and may be specified in a single or multiple rx config invocations. Below is a list of available parameters.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| n | Number of samples to receive. 0 = inf. |
| file | Filename to write received samples to |
| format | Output file format. One of the following: |
| csv: CSV of SC16 Q11 samples | |
| bin: Raw SC16 Q11 DAC samples | |
| samples | Number of samples per buffer to use in the asynchronous stream. Must be divisible by 1024 and >= 1024. |
| buffers | Number of sample buffers to use in the asynchronous stream. The min value is 4. |
| xfers | Number of simultaneous transfers to allow the asynchronous stream to use. This should be less than the buffers parameter. |
| timeout | Data stream timeout. With no suffix, the default unit is ms. The default value is 1000 ms (1 s). Valid suffixes are ms and s. |
Example:
rx config file=/tmp/data.bin format=bin n=10K
Receive (10240 = 10 * 1024) samples, writing them to /tmp/data.bin in the binary DAC format.
Notes:
The n, samples, buffers, and xfers parameters support the suffixes K, M, and G, which are multiples of 1024.
An rx stop followed by an rx start will result in the samples file being truncated. If this is not desired, be sure to run rx config to set another file before restarting the rx stream.
For higher sample rates, it is advised that the binary output format be used, and the output file be written to RAM (e.g. /tmp, /dev/shm), if space allows. For larger captures at higher sample rates, consider using an SSD instead of a HDD.
Usage: tx <start | stop | wait | config [parameters]>
Read IQ samples from the specified file and transmit them. Transmission is controlled and configured by one of the following:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| start | Start transmitting samples |
| stop | Stop transmitting samples |
| wait | Wait for sample transmission to complete, or until a specified amount of time elapses |
| config | Configure sample transmission. If no parameters are provided, the current parameters are printed. |
Running tx without any additional commands is valid shorthand for tx config.
The wait command takes an optional timeout parameter. This parameter defaults to units of milliseconds (ms). The timeout unit may be specified using the ms or s suffixes. If this parameter is not provided, the command will wait until the transmission completes or Ctrl-C is pressed.
Configuration parameters take the form param=value, and may be specified in a single or multiple tx config invocations. Below is a list of available parameters.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| file | Filename to read samples from |
| format | Input file format. One of the following: |
| csv: CSV of SC16 Q11 samples ([-2048, 2047]) | |
| bin: Raw SC16 Q11 DAC samples ([-2048, 2047]) | |
| repeat | The number of times the file contents should be transmitted. 0 implies repeat until stopped. |
| delay | The number of microseconds to delay between retransmitting file contents. 0 implies no delay. |
| samples | Number of samples per buffer to use in the asynchronous stream. Must be divisible by 1024 and >= 1024. |
| buffers | Number of sample buffers to use in the asynchronous stream. The min value is 4. |
| xfers | Number of simultaneous transfers to allow the asynchronous stream to use. This should be < the buffers parameter. |
| timeout | Data stream timeout. With no suffix, the default unit is ms. The default value is 1000 ms (1 s). Valid suffixes are \[aq]ms\[aq] and \[aq]s\[aq]. |
Example:
tx config file=data.bin format=bin repeat=2 delay=250000
Transmitting the contents of data.bin two times, with a ~250ms delay between transmissions.
Notes:
The n, samples, buffers, and xfers parameters support the suffixes K, M, and G, which are multiples of 1024.
For higher sample rates, it is advised that the input file be stored in RAM (e.g. /tmp, /dev/shm) or on an SSD, rather than a HDD.
When providing CSV data, this command will first convert it to a binary format, stored in a file in the current working directory. During this process, out-of-range values will be clamped.
When using a binary format, the user is responsible for ensuring that the provided data values are within the allowed range. This prerequisite alleviates the need for this program to perform range checks in time-sensitive callbacks.
Usage: set <param> <arguments>
The set command takes a parameter and an arbitrary number of arguments for that particular command. The parameter is one of:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| bandwidth | Bandwidth settings |
| frequency | Frequency settings |
| gpio | FX3 <-> FPGA GPIO state |
| loopback | Loopback settings. Run \[aq]set loopback\[aq] for available modes. |
| lnagain | Gain setting of the LNA, in dB. Valid values: 0, 3, 6 |
| rxvga1 | Gain setting of RXVGA1, in dB. Range: [5, 30] |
| rxvga2 | Gain setting of RXVGA2, in dB. Range: [0, 30] |
| txvga1 | Gain setting of TXVGA1, in dB. Range: [-35, -4] |
| txvga2 | Gain setting of TXVGA2, in dB. Range: [0, 25] |
| sampling | External or internal sampling mode |
| samplerate | Samplerate settings |
| trimdac | VCTCXO Trim DAC settings |
Usage: version
Prints version information for host software and the current device.
$ bladeRF-cli -l hostedx40.rbf
Loads an FPGA image named hostedx40.rbf onto the bladeRF's FPGA.
Note: The FPGA image loaded with --load-fpga will be lost on power-off.
$ bladeRF-cli -f firmware.img
Flashes firmware.img onto the bladeRF's firmware.
$ bladeRF-cli -L hostedx40.rbf
Flashes the FPGA image named hostedx40.rbf onto the bladeRF, where it will be automatically loaded on power-up.
This utility was written by the contributors to the bladeRF Project. See the CONTRIBUTORS file for more information.
Bugs may be reported via the issue tracker at https://github.com/nuand/bladerf.
Copyright © 2013 Nuand LLC.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
More documentation is available at http://nuand.com/ and https://github.com/nuand/bladerf.