[hpsdr] FPGA suggestions needed to get new system running

[Joe Martin K5SO]

Hi Tom,

Nice to hear from you again!

1 )  Given your stated desire to run diversity operations, my  
recommendation is to go ahead and load my Mercury v6.3 firmware into  
your Mercury FPGA.  The procedure is described on the download page of  
my website (http://www.k5so.com/HPSDR_downloads.html).  It will run  
fine with the PowerSDR v1.19.3.1.diversity15 program even though you  
only have one Mercury board on the Atlas bus.  Of course, with only a  
single board present you should select the "Mercury 1" button on the  
front panel (the program defaults to "Diversity" when it comes up)  
since you have only a single IQ data stream present for the program to  
work with but that's no problem.  This way you'll be all set for  
diversity operation when you obtain a second Mercury board.

2)  The invalid firmware message is due to the fact that you have an  
early version of Mercury firmware presently, so you will need to  
update the FPGA code anyway no matter what version of PowerSDR you run  
and, in my view, you should go ahead and load Mercury v6.3 now for  
diversity operations since that's your end goal anyway.

3)  Don't worry about updating the Ozy firmware.  That happens  
automatically on a fresh power up of the Atlas bus whenever PowerSDR  
is run (or when initOzy11.bat is run, if you do that).  Each version  
of the executable code for PowerSDR has in its distribution folder a  
file called Ozy_Janus.rbf and that's what gets put into the Ozy  
(Magister) FPGA when PowerSDR is run from a fresh power up of the  
Atlas bus (or when initOzy11.bat is run).  Different PowerSDR versions  
sometimes have different Ozy_Janus.rbf files but they are all named  
the same thing (it's a bit confusing, I know) but the operation is  
transparent to you so for now you needn't worry with that aspect of  
things.

4)  FB on getting Tortoise up and running to access the SVN  
repository.  You will need to configure the HPSDR folders with the  
proper information about where the SVN repository is located in order  
to perform an initial "checkout" of the files on the repository and  
for the normal "update" you will do later when new code is posted.  If  
you have trouble with getting that set up I can help you get that  
done.  However, for the Mercury v6.3 FPGA code you do not need to  
access the SVN repository at all, since the diversity code does not  
reside in the HPSDR repository at this time anyway (the diversity code  
is only on my website presently).

5)  Don't confuse Tortoise with "Altera".  Tortoise is a program to  
access the SVN repository where most HPSDR code is stored.  "Altera"  
is a company that makes the FPGAs that we use in our HPSDR boards.  We  
use a program called Quartus II  (from Altera) to load the FPGA code  
into the FPGAs, so you will need to download Quartus II from the  
Altera download site and install Quartus II on your system to be able  
to update firmware in the FPGAs.  When you install Quartus II it will  
create a folder called "Altera" on your disk drive.  The folder will  
contain the Quartus II program and associated files.

I know all this must sound terribly confusing but it's not too bad if  
you have some help getting started.  You'll get the hang of it  
quickly.  I'll be happy to help as much as you need in order to get  
rolling, as I'm sure others would be pleased to assist as well.    
We're a friendly group.  Don't fret, there are no stupid questions  
when it comes to this stuff, hihi.

You certainly may contact me directly if you have further questions.   
Others may have additional advice for you, as well.

Hope this helps!   Again, welcome to HPSDR!!   It's loads of fun!

73,  Joe K5SO


On Jan 27, 2011, at 5:41 PM, Tom Cathey wrote:

> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I'm new to HPSDR and  have gotten to this point on the computer  
> screen:
>
> "Invalid Firmware Level Ozy>=16   Penelope >= 12  Mercury >=27  
> required"
>
>
> I just got the computer to recognize the three boards, Ozy, Merc and  
> Penny.
> They are from an unbuilt kit maybe two years old.  The computer  
> recognized
> the USBIO software and the boards have lit LEDS... :-)  I have the  
> software
> toggles set the best I can from the manuals. I am using the latest  
> PowerSDR
> from the HPSDR website.
>
> ** I soon plan use dual diversity using two Mercurys with K5SO's  
> software,
> but only have one Mercury for now. I'd like to get it set up now  
> with the
> dual diversity  PowerSDR and firmware so I don't have to do it again  
> later.
> Is it OK to run Joe's versions from his website now with just one  
> Mercury?
> I see Merc and Penny firmware on the website, but no Ozy firmware.
>
> I added the boards one by one and saw  the invalid message above  
> start with
> only the Ozy board installed.  The msg stayed the same with all  
> three boards
> installed.
>
> BTW, I installed  Tortoise SVN software that appears to work.  
> However, I
> also installed Altera from the quick start guide. That is for  
> firmware, I
> think, but it only flashes a quick test message and then  
> disappears.  Should
> I use Tortoise only?
>
> How do I view what firmware version is contained in each board?
>
> This is all new to me, so I'm struggling. I am reading the SVN info  
> on this
> site, but want to be sure before I  start flashing FPGA... :-).   
> Based on
> the desire to use dual diversity, how should I proceed to get the new
> firmware up and running?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Tom, K1JJ
>
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