Resolve Issues with Connecting Radio to Host
R2026bIssue
NI™ USRP™ radios use an Ethernet connection to communicate between the host computer and the radio hardware. The Ethernet connection is often referred to as a network connection. This connection is necessary for transmitting data, such as the FPGA image or firmware image, from the computer to the radio. It is necessary also for sending and receiving control packets and data to and from the radio. The data rates you can achieve depend on this connection.
The Radio Setup wizard shows you how to connect your radio to your host computer in two steps:
The Select Link Configuration step shows you how to identify what kind of network interface card (NIC) you have.
The Connect Radio step shows you how to make the connection between your radio and your host computer with an Ethernet cable.
If you do not have the correct hardware to make the connection, or you do not make the connection as described in the wizard, you cannot use your radio with Wireless Testbench™.
Possible Solutions
Identify Your Network Interface Card
Your host computer should contain at least one dedicated network interface card (NIC) for connecting to the radio. If you do not have a dedicated NIC available because your host computer does not have one or if you have a single NIC that is required for internet access, you can use a USB3/Ethernet adapter dongle, but performance might be affected.
For USRP E320 radios, the host computer should contain a 1 Gigabit NIC.
For USRP X410 radios, the host computer should contain a 10 Gigabit NIC.
For other supported radio devices, the host computer should contain either a 1 Gigabit or 10 Gigabit NIC.
If your host computer does not contain a dedicated NIC, see Use a USB3/Ethernet Adapter Dongle.
On Windows®, you may need to manually configure the network adapter driver settings. For details, see Configure Network Settings on Windows Host.
For a USRP E320 radio, to use a 10 Gigabit Ethernet connection you must first set up your radio using a 1 Gigabit Ethernet connection. For details, see Set Up USRP E320 Radio for 10 Gigabit Ethernet.
Use a USB3/Ethernet Adapter Dongle
If you do not have a dedicated NIC available because your host computer does not have one or if you have a single NIC that is required for internet access, you can use a USB3/Ethernet adapter dongle.
Note
Using an adapter can reduce data transfer speed between the computer and the radio.
Some adapters do not provide high enough data transfer speeds, which can result in connection errors.
If you encounter issues with data transfer using a USB3/Ethernet adapter dongle, see Resolve Issues with Data Transfer.
Connect Radio to Host Computer
The Connect Radio step in the Radio Setup wizard tells you which SFP port to use based on your NIC and the correct sequence for connecting the radio ports and powering on the device.
