Airspy not receiving. FAILED - no waterfall data

m0roj · March 4, 2024, 5:16pm

Having just rebuilt my station I’m not receiving waterfall data from scheduled passes, showing ‘Failed’ and as expected No Data. Whereas previously it performed quite well.
The UHF station comprises Turnstile antenna, Nooelec LaNA Wideband filter, Airspy R2, RPi 3B.
All connections have been double checked, feeds and cables checked, and the SatNOGS client showing no errors before startup.
I have given below the results from various logs. NB: A RunTime error showing device_id missing??
Any thoughts/suggestions please on what the cause could be?
Support Report:

{
    "versions": {
        "satnogs-client": "1.8.1",
        "satnogs-client-ansible": "202209101521",
        "satnogs-flowgraphs": "1.4-1",
        "gr-satnogs": "2.3.5.0-1",
        "gr-soapy": "2.1.3.1-1",
        "gnuradio": "3.8.2.0-14",
        "satnogs-config": "0.13.2"
    },
    "state": {
        "is-applied": true,
        "pending-tags": null
    },
    "system": {
        "date": "2024-03-04T16:55:48.028343+00:00",
        "distribution": {
            "DESCRIPTION": "Raspbian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)",
            "RELEASE": "11",
            "CODENAME": "bullseye",
            "ID": "Raspbian"
        },
        "pending-updates": false,
        "platform": {
            "system": "Linux",
            "node": "snogs2122",
            "release": "6.1.21-v7+",
            "version": "#1642 SMP Mon Apr  3 17:20:52 BST 2023",
            "machine": "armv7l"
        },
        "memory": {
            "total": 779665408,
            "available": 608632832,
            "percent": 21.9,
            "used": 114413568,
            "free": 257769472,
            "active": 189964288,
            "inactive": 273932288,
            "buffers": 25812992,
            "cached": 381669376,
            "shared": 749568,
            "slab": 35364864
        },
        "disk": {
            "total": 15129337856,
            "used": 3896750080,
            "free": 10563592192,
            "percent": 26.9
        }
    },
    "configuration": {
        "satnogs_antenna": "RX",
        "satnogs_api_token": "[redacted]",
        "satnogs_gain_mode": "Settings Field",
        "satnogs_other_settings": "LNA=9,MIX=6,VGA=11",
        "satnogs_rf_gain": "43",
        "satnogs_rx_samp_rate": "2.5e6",
        "satnogs_soapy_rx_device": "driver=airspy,biastee=true",
        "satnogs_station_elev": "140",
        "satnogs_station_id": "2122",
        "satnogs_station_lat": "53.0668",
        "satnogs_station_lon": "-2.7432"
    }
}
"configuration": {

"satnogs_antenna": "RX",

"satnogs_api_token": "[redacted]",

"satnogs_gain_mode": "Settings Field",

"satnogs_other_settings": "LNA=9,MIX=6,VGA=11",

"satnogs_rf_gain": "43",

"satnogs_rx_samp_rate": "2.5e6",

"satnogs_soapy_rx_device": "driver=airspy,biastee=true",

"satnogs_station_elev": "140",

"satnogs_station_id": "",

"satnogs_station_lat": "53.0668",

"satnogs_station_lon": "-2.7432"

}

}

MetaData

{

* [radio](https://network.satnogs.org/observations/9142911/): {
* name: "gr-satnogs",
* version: "v2.3-compat-xxx-v2.3.5.0",
* [parameters](https://network.satnogs.org/observations/9142911/): {
* soapy-rx-device: "driver=airspy,biastee=true",
* samp-rate-rx: "2.5e6",
* rx-freq: "435950000",
* file-path: "/tmp/.satnogs/data/receiving_satnogs_9142911_2024-03-04T15-12-38.out",
* waterfall-file-path: "/tmp/.satnogs/data/receiving_waterfall_9142911_2024-03-04T15-12-38.dat",
* decoded-data-file-path: "/tmp/.satnogs/data/data_9142911",
* doppler-correction-per-sec: null,
* lo-offset: null,
* ppm: null,
* rigctl-port: "4532",
* gain-mode: "Settings Field",
* gain: "43",
* antenna: "RX",
* dev-args: null,
* stream-args: null,
* tune-args: null,
* other-settings: "LNA=9,MIX=6,VGA=11",
* dc-removal: null,
* bb-freq: null,
* bw: null,
* enable-iq-dump: "0",
* iq-file-path: null,
* udp-dump-host: null,
* udp-dump-port: 57356,
* wpm: null,
* baudrate: "9600",
* framing: "ax25"
* }
* },
* latitude: 53.0668,
* longitude: -2.7432,
* elevation: 140,
* frequency: 435950000

}

**$** journalctl -f -u satnogs-client.service

-- Journal begins at Tue 2023-11-14 21:44:27 GMT. --

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: main()

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: File "/usr/bin/satnogs_fsk.py", line 527, in main

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: tb = top_block_cls(antenna=options.antenna, baudrate=options.baudrate, bb_freq=options.bb_freq, bw=options.bw, dc_removal=options.dc_removal, decoded_data_file_path=options.decoded_data_file_path, dev_args=options.dev_args, doppler_correction_per_sec=options.doppler_correction_per_sec, enable_iq_dump=options.enable_iq_dump, file_path=options.file_path, framing=options.framing, gain=options.gain, gain_mode=options.gain_mode, iq_file_path=options.iq_file_path, lo_offset=options.lo_offset, other_settings=options.other_settings, ppm=options.ppm, rigctl_port=options.rigctl_port, rx_freq=options.rx_freq, samp_rate_rx=options.samp_rate_rx, soapy_rx_device=options.soapy_rx_device, stream_args=options.stream_args, tune_args=options.tune_args, udp_IP=options.udp_IP, udp_dump_host=options.udp_dump_host, udp_dump_port=options.udp_dump_port, udp_port=options.udp_port, waterfall_file_path=options.waterfall_file_path)

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: File "/usr/bin/satnogs_fsk.py", line 97, in __init__

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: self.soapy_source_0_0 = soapy.source(1, dev, dev_args, stream_args,

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/soapy/soapy_swig.py", line 131, in make

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: return _soapy_swig.source_make(nchan, device, dev_args, stream_args, tune_args, other_settings, sampling_rate, type)

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: RuntimeError: device_id missing.

Mar 04 15:12:45 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: netrigctl_close: done status=Command completed successfully

Mar 04 15:12:47 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: satnogsclient.observer.observer - ERROR - No waterfall data file found

**$** lsusb

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 1d50:60a1 OpenMoko, Inc. Airspy

Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:ec00 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) SMSC9512/9514 Fast Ethernet Adapter

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:9514 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) SMC9514 Hub

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

ls -l /etc/udev/rules.d/

total 8

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 459 Mar 3 13:10 64-limesuite.rules

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1883 May 10 2023 99-com.rules

**$** sudo journalctl -f -u satnogs-client -n 512

Mar 04 14:50:40 snogs2122 satnogs-client[413]: apscheduler.executors.default - WARNING - Run time of job "get_jobs (trigger: interval[0:01:00], next run at: 2024-03-04 14:50:56 UTC)" was missed by 0:00:44.049736

Mar 04 14:50:40 snogs2122 satnogs-client[413]: apscheduler.executors.default - WARNING - Run time of job "post_data (trigger: interval[0:03:00], next run at: 2024-03-04 09:59:56 UTC)" was missed by 0:02:43.733015

Mar 04 15:03:38 snogs2122 systemd[1]: Stopping SatNOGS client...

Mar 04 15:03:38 snogs2122 systemd[1]: satnogs-client.service: Succeeded.

Mar 04 15:03:38 snogs2122 systemd[1]: Stopped SatNOGS client.

Mar 04 15:03:38 snogs2122 systemd[1]: **satnogs-client.service: Consumed 9.992s CPU time.**

Mar 04 15:03:38 snogs2122 systemd[1]: Started SatNOGS client.

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: rot_init called

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: initrots4_dummy: _init called

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: rot_register (1)

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: rot_register (2)

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: dummy_rot_init called

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: rot_open called

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: dummy_rot_open called

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: rot_get_position called

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: dummy_rot_get_position called

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: rot_get_position: got az=0.00, el=0.00

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: rot_set_position called az=18.70 el=0.44

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: rot_set_position: south_zero=0

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: dummy_rot_set_position called: 18.70 0.44

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: rig_init: rig does not have rx_range!!

Mar 04 15:12:38 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: network_open: hoststr=127.0.0.1, portstr=4532

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: Traceback (most recent call last):

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: File "/usr/bin/satnogs_fsk.py", line 544, in <module>

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: main()

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: File "/usr/bin/satnogs_fsk.py", line 527, in main

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: tb = top_block_cls(antenna=options.antenna, baudrate=options.baudrate, bb_freq=options.bb_freq, bw=options.bw, dc_removal=options.dc_removal, decoded_data_file_path=options.decoded_data_file_path, dev_args=options.dev_args, doppler_correction_per_sec=options.doppler_correction_per_sec, enable_iq_dump=options.enable_iq_dump, file_path=options.file_path, framing=options.framing, gain=options.gain, gain_mode=options.gain_mode, iq_file_path=options.iq_file_path, lo_offset=options.lo_offset, other_settings=options.other_settings, ppm=options.ppm, rigctl_port=options.rigctl_port, rx_freq=options.rx_freq, samp_rate_rx=options.samp_rate_rx, soapy_rx_device=options.soapy_rx_device, stream_args=options.stream_args, tune_args=options.tune_args, udp_IP=options.udp_IP, udp_dump_host=options.udp_dump_host, udp_dump_port=options.udp_dump_port, udp_port=options.udp_port, waterfall_file_path=options.waterfall_file_path)

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: File "/usr/bin/satnogs_fsk.py", line 97, in __init__

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: self.soapy_source_0_0 = soapy.source(1, dev, dev_args, stream_args,

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/soapy/soapy_swig.py", line 131, in make

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: return _soapy_swig.source_make(nchan, device, dev_args, stream_args, tune_args, other_settings, sampling_rate, type)

Mar 04 15:12:43 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1127]: RuntimeError: device_id missing.

Mar 04 15:12:45 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: netrigctl_close: done status=Command completed successfully

Mar 04 15:12:47 snogs2122 satnogs-client[1040]: satnogsclient.observer.observer – ERROR – No waterfall data file

r - ERROR - No waterfall data file found

kerel · March 5, 2024, 11:14am

Hi!

The flowgraph execution failed and the relevant error output seems to be RuntimeError: device_id missing.. The error message is quite hard to read due the excess of unnecessary information.

Previously this error was reported here. It can be caused by a bad/no USB connection to the SDR.

addendum: I just opened satnogs-flowgraphs#42 to track a possible future improvement of the log output. This is not prioritized now, but shouldn’t be lost either.

PE0SAT · March 5, 2024, 2:57pm

It seems the Airspy SDR support isn’t installed.

Check the following:

Is the Airspy kernel driver blacklisted
cat /etc/modprobe.d/airspy-blacklist.conf

#
# Blacklist Airpsy kernel module
#
blacklist airspy

Are the Airspy utils and Soapy drivers installed

Is the Airspy udev rule available ?

cat /etc/udev/rules.d/53-airspy.rules

ATTR{idVendor}=="1d50", ATTR{idProduct}=="60a1", SYMLINK+="airspy-%k", MODE="660", GROUP="plugdev"

Does SoapySDRUtil --find="driver=airspy" and SoapySDRUtil --info show information of the SDR being used.

m0roj · March 10, 2024, 1:08pm

Thankyou to @kerel and @PE0SAT - problem sorted.
Found to be corrupt Soapy drivers and utils. But not a clue as to why they became corrupted.
Cheers.