Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] Standalone USRP1 Operation

[Tony Naggs]

Hi

2009/4/24  <address@hidden>:
>
>> An easier path would be to look small processor boards such as those
>> that support embedded Linux.  For instance the web page for the
>> Gumstix Overo Earth says it has a "USB HS Host" and a micro SD slot.
>> (Not micro SDHC - so you are limited to, I think, 4Gb cards.)
>> See:
>> http://gumstix.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=31&roducts_id=211
>
> Thank you for your suggestion, but I'm looking for cheep and simple method to 
> load USRP firmware.

First I think you should verify that the USRP cannot permanently store
firmware in some way, maybe even contact Matt Ettus?


Programming for USB Host is unfortunately not simple, as it needs a
whole comms stack. It requires several months programming to get all
the functionality, though you can probably skip some parts for your
dedicated support for a single device.  But take it from someone who
has done this you will have problems, and sooner or later you will
need to purchase or rent a USB Analyser to debug the comms. (This cost
was something like $20000 the last time I needed one!)

I think approx $150 for a board that runs Linux and you can be
confident will do the job is a bargain.  ;-)
Probably there are lots of suppliers of boards for embedded Linux, I
only mentioned one brand because I have heard good comments about
their products.

If you still decide you want to build your own USB Host you should at
least get Jan Axelson's "USB Complete" book, which covers many of the
practicalities. If you can find it, the Mindshare book on USB System
Architecture by Don Anderson is easier to read than the official
standards at the USB Implementers Forum (www.usb.org).

Regards,
Tony