Manual Host-Radio Hardware Setup

To implement the features in the Communications Toolbox™ Support Package for Xilinx^® Zynq^®-Based 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

Use this list to confirm that you have all required hardware and accessories to complete the hardware setup.

1. Gigabit Ethernet connection

This connection is often referred to as a network connection. You can use either an integrated network interface card (NIC) with a Gigabit Ethernet cable or a USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet adapter dongle. This connection is necessary for transmitting data, such as a programming file, from the host computer to the radio hardware. It is also necessary for sending and receiving signals to and from the radio hardware.

Note

• Ethernet connection is the only supported method for connecting the radio hardware and host computer.

• To have simultaneous Internet access in the absence of a wireless connection, the host computer must have two Ethernet connections.

2. SD card reader and writable SD card

If the host machine does not have an integrated card reader, use an external USB SD card reader.

3. Supported radio hardware

For a list of supported radio hardware, see Hardware Support. Do not connect or turn on the device until you are prompted at a later step.

4. Ethernet cable

You need this cable to connect the radio hardware to the host.

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 the AD936x-based radio hardware. For an FMCOMMS5 radio hardware, you must call sdrdev with 'FMCOMMS5' instead of 'AD936x'.

dev = sdrdev('AD936x');

sdrdev also sets up architecture-specific environment variables for the radio hardware. These variables enable communication between MATLAB or Simulink^® and the radio hardware.

For more information on creating radio objects, see sdrdev.

Step 3. Configure Host Computer

To connect the radio hardware to the host, you must configure an available network connection for it on the host. Follow the steps outlined for your specific operating system.

 Configure Windows

These instructions are for Windows^® 7. For other Windows operating systems, the steps are similar.

1. From the Start menu, click Control Panel.

2. Set View by to Category.

3. Click Network and Internet.

4. Click Network and Sharing Center.

5. On the left pane, click Change adapter settings.

   

6. Right-click the local area network connection that is connected to the radio hardware and select Properties.

   • If an unused network connection is available, the local area connection appears as Unidentified network.

   • If you plan to repurpose your network connection, select the local area connection that you plan to use for the radio hardware.

   • If you have only one network connection, check if you can connect wireless to the existing local area network. If you can, you can use the network connection for the radio hardware.

   • You can use a pluggable USB to Gigabit Ethernet LAN adapter instead of a NIC. The instructions are the same.

7. On the Networking tab of the Properties dialog box, clear all options except Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Other services, particularly antivirus software, can cause intermittent connection problems with the radio hardware.

8. Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

9. On the General tab, select Use the following IP Address.

10. The default IP address of the radio hardware is 192.168.3.2. The host network connection must be on the same subnet as the radio hardware. To meet this requirement, a compatible IP address must be assigned to the host network connection. Set the host network IP address to 192.168.3.x, where x is any number in the range 1 through 255, apart from 2.

    

    If the first three octets of the IP address field are not 192.168.3, then your radio hardware is on another subnet. Enter the same subnet number in the IP address.

11. Leave the subnet mask set to the default value of 255.255.255.0.

12. Click OK.

 Configure Linux

Set the host Ethernet interface to have a static IP address. This configuration enables communication with the radio hardware. The default IP address of the radio hardware is 192.168.3.2 and the default subnet is 255.255.255.0. The host network connection must be on the same subnet as the radio hardware. To meet this requirement, you must assign a compatible IP address to the host network connection:

• Set the host network IP address to 192.168.3.x, where x is any number in the range 1 through 255, apart from 2.

• Set the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0.

If the NetworkManager daemon runs, you must set these values by using the network manager UI.

If the NetworkManager daemon does not run, set these values by using the ifconfig command. For example, enter this command in a shell, where ethZ is the name of the host Ethernet port (usually eth0, eth1, and so on):

% sudo ifconfig ethZ 192.168.3.1 netmask 255.255.255.0 

To confirm the updated network configuration for the host Ethernet port, call the ifconfig command again.

% ifconfig ethZ

Step 4. Write Firmware

You need an SD memory card that is configured with the firmware of this support package. The firmware includes the embedded software and the FPGA programming file necessary for using the radio hardware as an I/O peripheral. If you have already configured an SD card with this image, skip this step.

1. Insert a 4 GB or larger SD memory card into the memory card reader on the host computer. Ensure that the SD card has only one partition with a FAT16 or FAT32 file system.

   Note

   If the SD card is lockable, you must unlock it first.

   

2. At the MATLAB command prompt, enter the following command:

   downloadImage(dev,'BoardName',DeviceName, ...
       'SDCardLocation',SDCardDrive) 
   

   • dev — Radio object created using the sdrdev function in Step 2. Set Up Support Package in MATLAB.

   • DeviceName — Name of the Zynq radio hardware, specified as a character vector.

     If dev is a radio object interfacing an AD936x-based radio hardware, specify the board name as one of these options:

     • 'ADI RF SOM'

     • 'ZC706 and FMCOMMS2/3/4'

     • 'ZCU102 and FMCOMMS2/3/4'

     • 'ZedBoard and FMCOMMS2/3/4'

     If dev is a radio object interfacing an FMCOMMS5 radio hardware, specify the board name as 'ZC706 and FMCOMMS5'.

   • SDCardDrive — Name of the SD card drive on the host computer, specified as a character vector. For example, '/media/F8FF-1F5F' or 'S:'

   For example:

   dev = sdrdev('AD936x');
   downloadImage(dev,'BoardName','ADI RF SOM', ...
       'SDCardLocation','S:')

Step 5. Connect Radio Hardware

 Connect ADI RF SOM Radio Hardware

To use the development board as a radio hardware, you must set its switch before connecting it to the host computer. This setting makes the board restart from the SD card. Make sure that the board is turned off. Then switch S1 off as highlighted in the following picture.

You can now connect the radio hardware to the host.

1. Remove the SD memory card from the host computer and insert it into the card reader of the development board.

   Note

   The SD card must be kept unlocked while inserted in the card reader of the development board.

2. Make sure that the ADI RF SOM is correctly installed in the carrier board.

3. Connect an Ethernet cable to the development board. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the network connection selected previously.

4. Connect the power cable to the development board.

5. Connect the antennas to the ports. The mapping of port numbers to antennas is as follows:

   Port	Antenna
   J8	TX1
   J10	TX2
   J4	RX1
   J6	RX2

   

6. Turn the board power on.

7. Wait until you see the following LEDs (near the DIP switches) indicating the readiness of the radio hardware.

   • CFG-DONE (blue, steady)

   • DS3-GPIO0 (red, blinking)

   

   If the LED does not light up as indicated after waiting one minute, press the CARRIER RESET push button to reset and restart the board.

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

 Connect ZC706 Radio Hardware and FMCOMMS2/3/4

To use the development board as a radio hardware, you must set its jumper positions and switches before connecting it to the host computer. These settings make the board restart from the SD card. Make sure that the board is turned off. Then set the jumper positions and switches as highlighted in the following picture.

The switches must be positioned as follows:

Switch	Switch Position
1	Down
2	Down
3	Up
4	Up
5	Down

You can now connect the radio hardware to the host.

1. Remove the SD memory card from the host computer and insert it into the card reader of the development board.

   Note

   The SD card must be kept unlocked while inserted in the card reader of the development board.

2. Plug the RF card into the FMC connector (LPC) on the development board.

3. Connect an Ethernet cable to the development board. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the network connection selected previously.

4. Connect the power cable to the development board.

5. Connect the antennas to the RF card.

6. Turn the board power on.

7. Wait until you see the following LEDs indicating readiness of the radio hardware. The LEDs are located near the power switches.

   • DONE (green, steady)

   • GPIO-0 (green, blinking)

   

   If the LEDs do not light up as indicated after waiting one minute, press PS-POR push button to reset and restart the board.

8. When the LEDs light up as indicated, proceed to Step 6. Verify Radio Hardware Setup.

 Connect ZC706 Radio Hardware and FMCOMMS5

To use the development board as a radio hardware, you must set its jumper positions and switches before connecting it to the host computer. These settings make the board restart from the SD card. Make sure that the board is turned off. Then set the jumper positions and switches highlighted in the following picture.

The switches must be positioned as follows:

Switch	Switch Position
1	Down
2	Down
3	Up
4	Up
5	Down

You can now connect the radio hardware to the host.

1. Remove the SD memory card from the host computer and insert it into the card reader of the development board.

   Note

   The SD card must be kept unlocked while inserted in the card reader of the development board.

2. Plug the RF card into both FMC connectors on the development board.

3. Connect an Ethernet cable to the development board. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the network connection selected previously.

4. Connect the power cable to the development board.

5. Connect the antennas to the RF card.

6. Turn the board power on.

7. Wait until you see the following LEDs indicating readiness of the radio hardware. The LEDs are located near the power switches.

   • DONE (green, steady)

   • GPIO-0 (green, blinking)

   

   If the LEDs do not light up as indicated after waiting one minute, press PS-POR push button to reset and restart the board.

8. When the LEDs light up as indicated, proceed to Step 6. Verify Radio Hardware Setup.

 Connect ZCU102 Radio Hardware

To use the development board as a radio hardware, you must set its switches before connecting it to the host computer. These settings make the board restart from the SD card. Make sure that the board is turned off. Then set the switches as highlighted in the following picture.

The switches must be positioned as follows:

Switch	Switch Position
1	On
2	Off
3	Off
4	Off

You can now connect the radio hardware to the host.

1. Remove the SD memory card from the host computer and insert it into the card reader of the development board.

   Note

   The SD card must be kept unlocked while inserted in the card reader of the development board.

2. Plug the RF card into the FMC HPC0 connector on the development board.

3. Connect an Ethernet cable to the development board. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the network connection selected previously.

4. Connect the power cable to the development board.

5. Connect the antennas to the RF card.

6. Turn the board power on.

7. Wait until you see the following LEDs indicating readiness of the radio hardware.

   • DONE (green, steady)

   • DS44 (green, blinking)

   

   If the LEDs do not light up as indicated after waiting one minute, press PS-POR push button to reset and restart the board.

8. When the LEDs light up as indicated, proceed to Step 6. Verify Radio Hardware Setup.

 Connect ZedBoard Radio Hardware

To use the development board as a radio hardware, you must set its jumpers before connecting it to the host computer. These settings make the board restart from the SD card. Make sure that the board is turned off. Then set the jumpers as highlighted in the following picture.

The jumpers must be positioned as follows:

Jumper	Jumper Position
1	Down
2	Up
3	Up
4	Down
5	Down

You can now connect the radio hardware to the host.

1. Remove the SD memory card from the host computer and insert it into the card reader of the development board.

   Note

   The SD card must be kept unlocked while inserted in the card reader of the development board.

2. Plug the RF card into the FMC connector (LPC) on the Zynq development board.

3. Connect an Ethernet cable to the development board. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the network connection selected previously.

4. Connect the power cable to the development board.

5. Connect the antennas to the RF card.

6. Turn the board power on.

7. Wait until you see the following LEDs indicating readiness of the radio hardware. The LEDs are located near the DIP switches.

   • LD12-DONE (blue, steady)

   • LD7 (red, blinking)

   

   If the LEDs do not light up as indicated after waiting one minute, press the PS-RST push button to reset and restart the board.

8. When the LEDs light up as indicated, proceed to Step 6. Verify Radio Hardware Setup.

Step 6. Verify Radio Hardware Setup

Before you can verify the setup, you must start the radio hardware properly. Wait until the radio hardware is ready as indicated in the previous step.

Check host-radio communication by calling the testConnection function. When calling testConnection, use the radio object that you created in Step 2. Set Up Support Package in MATLAB and the host IP address that you configured in Step 3. Configure Host Computer.

testConnection(dev,'192.168.3.1');

Successful Connection

If the function displays All tests PASSED, then the host is communicating successfully with the radio hardware.

Continue with one of the following options.

• To work with the hardware-software co-design workflow, you must install and configure third-party tools and additional support packages. See Installation for Hardware-Software Co-Design.

• To explore radio I/O capabilities, see What to Do After Installation.

Unsuccessful Connection

If the function returns a timeout or other error, then the host is not communicating with the radio hardware.

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.

Return to Step 5. Connect Radio Hardware. Before calling the info function, make sure that the radio hardware is properly connected to the host. If you still have trouble, check Common Problems and Fixes.

Related Topics

• Install Support Package for Xilinx Zynq-Based Radio
• Guided Host-Radio Hardware Setup
• Setup for Two Radios Connecting to One Host