Configuring and Running the Reference Design

Launch NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) and ensure MAX detects all the devices in your reference design.

For more information about detecting devices in MAX or troubleshooting, refer to the Ettus USRP X410 Getting Started Guide.

5G Signal Generating and Processing

  1. Run LabVIEW Reference Architecture Software for Prototyping Wireless Systems with Ettus USRP X410 as Administrator.
  2. Open the LabVIEW project Wireless_Prototype_Software_for_USRP_X410.lvproj.
    Figure 2. LabVIEW Project View

    LabVIEW Project View

  3. Choose the VI to configure according to your use case:
    VIUse Case
    X410_5GNR_Loopback_WithRFmx.vi Performs 5G NR transmission and analysis.
    X410_5GNR_Loopback_WithoutRFmx.vi Performs signal transmission and recording.
    You must install RFmx NR in your reference design if you use X410_5GNR_Loopback_WithRFmx.vi.
  4. Configure Setting with the NR waveform you want to playback.
    1. In MAX, configure X410 with Device name.
    2. Select Default under Select Bitfile to load the default bitfile X410ReferenceFpga_4ch_4spc.lvbitx. Alternatively, select Customize and click the 1378 button to load a customized bitfile.
    3. Configure values or use the default values for the RF parameters of X410 as shown in the following figure. Pay attention to the Tx:Gain and Rx:Gain according to your hardware connection.
      Figure 3. Setting

      Setting

  5. Configure the following tabs.
    Note You can enable only one function with one run, 5G Analysis or Rx Record.
    • 5G Analysis Configuration: Analyzes NR waveform. All the NR parameters must exactly match the parameters of NR waveform you are transmitting.
      Figure 4. 5G Analysis Configuration

      5G Analysis Configuration

    • Rx Record Configuration: Records with Rx. Click the file path browse button and specify a location to save the record files, such as RAID. Enable Disable Buffering to speed up data transfers in certain situations. Specify the record size, in four bytes per sample, in Samples to Acquire. Specify Max TDMS Asynchronous Writes to complete the configuration. The saved data has real (I) and imaginary (Q) components. I and Q are interleaved (I, Q, I, Q, ...) in the saved files.
      Figure 5. Rx Record Configuration

      Rx Record Configuration

  6. Click Run. The initialization process takes a few minutes. Do not switch tabs until the Initialization parameters have non-zero values in the Idle&Debug tab.
    Figure 6. Initialization Parameters During Initialization

    Initialization Parameters During Initialization

    Tip To optimize performance, disable the Enable Spectrum View button when navigating away from the Idle&Debug tab.
    Figure 7. Rx - Spectrum

    Rx - Spectrum

    1. Switch to the ModAcc measure tab to view the EVM of NR Rx waveform.
    2. If you previously set the Rx Record Configuration, start and monitor the record process in the Record Rx Data tab.
  7. Click Stop.

Extending to mmWave

If you have the following mmWave devices, the 5G signal generating and processing functions can be extended to mmWave using the reference code that the LabVIEW Reference Design for Wireless Research with NI Ettus USRP X410 provides.
  • TMYTEK-NI UD Box 5G - Dual Channel x1
  • TMYTEK-NI BBox One 5G x1
  • TMYTEK-NI BBox Lite 5G x1

For more information about TMYTEK-NI mmWave devices, visit Research 6G Technologies with Wideband RF Record and Playback Systems or contact your local NI sales representative.

  1. Switch to mmWave Settings.
  2. Specify parameters in the BBoxOne or BBoxLite section according to the mmWave BBox devices you have. In this case, X410 is working as an IF device and the IF output/input should be connected to UD Box.
  3. Click Control by LAN.
  4. Click Enable mmWave? in the UD section to enable your mmWave devices.
  5. Wait for 10 seconds until Active in the BBoxOne or BBoxLite section is on (green).

Fast Beam Steering

  1. Open X410_5GNR_Loopback_WithRFmx.vi or X410_5GNR_Loopback_WithoutRFmx.vi.
    Note You must install RFmx NR in your reference design if you use X410_5GNR_Loopback_WithRFmx.vi.
  2. In the Setting section, select FastBeamSteering under Select Bitfile to load X410ReferenceFpga_4ch_4spc_FBS.lvbitx. Alternatively, select Customize and click the 1378 button to load a customized fast beam steering bitfile.
  3. Switch to the mmWave Settings tab.
  4. Specify parameters in the BBoxOne or BBoxLite section according to the mmWave BBox devices you have.
  5. Click Control by SPI.
  6. Click Enable mmWave? in the UD section to enable your mmWave devices.
  7. Wait for 10 seconds until Active in the BBoxOne or BBoxLite section is on (green).
  8. Under Control by SPI, select a row in Beam Pattern Table.
    Each row specifies a default beam pattern.
  9. Optional: Click Edit selected pattern and modify beam forming parameters to adjust the default beam pattern based on your test needs.
  10. Select a port from the SPI Port list according to your hardware connection.
  11. Click Commit.
    The Ettus USRP X410 generates an SPI command based on the beam pattern you configured and sends the SPI command to the mmWave BBox devices. The mmWave BBox devices perform fast beam steering after receiving the SPI command.
  12. Switch to the Spectrum TRX tab to check the impact of fast beam steering on spectrums.

Multi-Channel Rx Recording (Single Device)

  1. Run LabVIEW Reference Architecture Software for Prototyping Wireless Systems with Ettus USRP X410 as Administrator.
  2. Open the LabVIEW project Wireless_Prototype_Software_for_USRP_X410.lvproj.
    Figure 8. LabVIEW Project View - X410_Record.vi

    LabVIEW Project View - X410_Record.vi

  3. Open X410_Record.vi for multi-channel streaming with a single X410 device.
    Figure 9. Rx Recording - Multi-Channels

    Rx Recording - Multi-Channels

  4. Complete the following configuration:
    1. Specify Device Name according to the X410 name in MAX.
    2. Specify Enabled Channel (0, 1, 2, 3) to capture signal. You can only enable one, two, or four channels. When specifying more than one channel, enter channel names in numerical order. For example, to enable four channels, enter channel names as 0, 1, 2, 3.
    3. Specify IQ rate. IQ rate can be up to 491.52 MSps with one or two channels enabled, and up to 245.76 MSps with four channels enabled.
    4. Under Bitfile Path, keep the default bitfile RxRecording.lvbitx or load a customized Rx recording bitfile.
    5. Specify Rx Gain according to the received signal, RF frequency, and Active Antenna as RX1.
    6. Specify file information, including file path, file size, and block size per write. You can use the default values or specify values based on your test needs. This recording VI saves data as Samples of U32 (combining I data I16 and Q data I16 into U32, with high-order byte is Q and low-order byte is I). For example, if you use PXIe-8267, the maximum samples to acquire is close to 1 T samples.
  5. Click Run to start recording.
  6. Monitor the CustomizedData.status. If overflow shows up, you can adjust your setting parameters.
  7. X410_Record.vi stops when recording finishes.

Multi-Channel Tx Playback (Single Device)

  1. Run LabVIEW Reference Architecture Software for Prototyping Wireless Systems with Ettus USRP X410 as Administrator.
  2. Open the LabVIEW project Wireless_Prototype_Software_for_USRP_X410.lvproj.
    Figure 10. LabVIEW Project View - X410_Playback.vi

    LabVIEW Project View - X410_Playback.vi

  3. Open X410_Playback.vi for multi-channel streaming with a single X410 device.
    Figure 11. Tx Playback - Multi-Channels

    Tx Playback - Multi-Channels

  4. Complete the following configuration:
    1. Specify Device Name according to the X410 name in MAX.
    2. Specify Enabled Channel (0, 1, 2, 3) to transmit signal. You can only enable one, two, or four channels. When specifying more than one channel, enter channel names in numerical order. For example, to enable four channels, enter channel names as 0, 1, 2, 3.
    3. Specify IQ rate. IQ rate can be up to 491.52 MSps with one or two channels enabled, and up to 245.76 MSps with four channels enabled.
    4. Under Bitfile Path, keep the default bitfile TxPlayback.lvbitx or load a customized Tx playback bitfile.
    5. Specify Tx Gain according to the received signal, RF frequency, and Active Antenna as Tx/RX0.
    6. Specify file information, including playback file path, write block size, and Max TDMS Asynchronous Read. You can use the default values or specify values based on your test needs. This playback VI transmits data as Samples of U32 (combining I data I16 and Q data I16 into U32, where high-order byte is Q and low-order byte is I). For example, if you use PXIe-8267, the maximum samples to transmit is close to 1 T samples.
  5. Click Run to start transmitting.
  6. Monitor the CustomizedDataTx.status. If overflow shows up, you can adjust your setting parameters.
  7. X410_Playback.vi stops when transmitting finishes.