Programming the Device

You can use the NI-USRP instrument driver to create communications applications for the USRP device .

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 (Optional)

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.
  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.