OP25 Crashing; Newbie Help Please?

[ToTheBitCave]

Hello,
So I've been trying to get boatbod's OP25 to run, but I keep hitting a brick wall. Maybe it's the type of RTL card I have?

I started with Ubuntu 22.X and that was a mistake (RTFM, right? ), so I clean installed to 20.04.

After installing Ubuntu 20.04 with GNURadio 3.8 and running ./install.sh, trying to run ./rx_py instantly drops me back to the shell whenever I try to run several variations of ./rx.py. I'm not sure what's up as ./rtl_sdr is logging stuff to a temp file to show the tuner card (NooElec NESDR Smart XTR Bundle) is working :/ This is my first attempt at running GNURadio, so any help on troubleshooting would be REALLLLLY appreciated. _SOMETIMES_ I can see it flash to a different screen before dropping me back, but most times it doesn't. I've tried variations of the -q parameter to no avail.

...
owner@owner:~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps$ ./rx.py --args 'rtl' -N 'LNA:47' -S 2500000 -x 2 -f 857.2625e6 -o 17e3 -q 2
Using Python /usr/bin/python3
gr-osmosdr 0.2.0.0 (0.2.0) gnuradio 3.8.1.0
built-in source types: file osmosdr fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd miri hackrf bladerf rfspace airspy airspyhf soapy redpitaya freesrp
Using device #0 Realtek RTL2838UHIDIR SN: 00000001
Found Elonics E4000 tuner
gain: name: LNA range: start -1 stop -1 step 0
gain: name: IF range: start 3 stop 56 step 1
setting gain LNA to 47
supported sample rates 250000-2560000 step 24000
Exact sample rate is: 2500000.107620 Hz
Using two-stage decimator for speed=2500000, decim=25/4 if1=100000 if2=25000
p25_frame_assembler_impl: do_imbe[0], do_output[0], do_audio_output[0], do_phase2_tdma[0], do_nocrypt[0]
owner@owner:~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps$
....

Sometimes I can run the exact same command and it DOES dump something... I feel like I'm doing something wrong?


main: exception occurred
main: exception:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "./rx.py", line 1004, in run self.tb.start()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/gnuradio/gr/top_block.py", line 111, in start
top_block_start_unlocked(self._impl, max_noutput_items)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/gnuradio/gr/runtime_swig.py", line 4832, in top_block_start_unlocked
return _runtime_swig.top_block_start_unlocked(r, max_noutput_items)
RuntimeError: list contains invalid format!

 

[boatbod]

Hello,
So I've been trying to get boatbod's OP25 to run, but I keep hitting a brick wall. Maybe it's the type of RTL card I have?

I started with Ubuntu 22.X and that was a mistake (RTFM, right? ), so I clean installed to 20.04.

After installing Ubuntu 20.04 with GNURadio 3.8 and running ./install.sh, trying to run ./rx_py instantly drops me back to the shell whenever I try to run several variations of ./rx.py. I'm not sure what's up as ./rtl_sdr is logging stuff to a temp file to show the tuner card (NooElec NESDR Smart XTR Bundle) is working :/ This is my first attempt at running GNURadio, so any help on troubleshooting would be REALLLLLY appreciated. _SOMETIMES_ I can see it flash to a different screen before dropping me back, but most times it doesn't. I've tried variations of the -q parameter to no avail.

...
owner@owner:~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps$ ./rx.py --args 'rtl' -N 'LNA:47' -S 2500000 -x 2 -f 857.2625e6 -o 17e3 -q 2
Using Python /usr/bin/python3
gr-osmosdr 0.2.0.0 (0.2.0) gnuradio 3.8.1.0
built-in source types: file osmosdr fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd miri hackrf bladerf rfspace airspy airspyhf soapy redpitaya freesrp
Using device #0 Realtek RTL2838UHIDIR SN: 00000001
Found Elonics E4000 tuner
gain: name: LNA range: start -1 stop -1 step 0
gain: name: IF range: start 3 stop 56 step 1
setting gain LNA to 47
supported sample rates 250000-2560000 step 24000
Exact sample rate is: 2500000.107620 Hz
Using two-stage decimator for speed=2500000, decim=25/4 if1=100000 if2=25000
p25_frame_assembler_impl: do_imbe[0], do_output[0], do_audio_output[0], do_phase2_tdma[0], do_nocrypt[0]
owner@owner:~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps$
....

Sometimes I can run the exact same command and it DOES dump something... I feel like I'm doing something wrong?


main: exception occurred
main: exception:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "./rx.py", line 1004, in run self.tb.start()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/gnuradio/gr/top_block.py", line 111, in start
top_block_start_unlocked(self._impl, max_noutput_items)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/gnuradio/gr/runtime_swig.py", line 4832, in top_block_start_unlocked
return _runtime_swig.top_block_start_unlocked(r, max_noutput_items)
RuntimeError: list contains invalid format!

It's failing up while trying to start the flowgraph. Can you post your command line arguments please.
Is there any possibility you might have remnants of the previous installation?
Try increasing logging to -v 11 to see if this adds any extra clues.

 

[wgbecks]

Please also submit gnuradio-config-info --version and post that result in addition to your command line arguments and
contents of the logfile stderr.2 with the increased (-v 11) logging level.

 

[ToTheBitCave]

Thank you both for responding. I've spent hours and hours pulling my hair out and I'm desperate haha.

It's failing up while trying to start the flowgraph. Can you post your command line arguments please.
The command I've been trying to run is one from an "OP25 for dummies" just to test if it was working at all (I know it doesn't match the CC freq of the local system, just wanted to see it try): "./rx.py --args 'rtl' -N 'LNA:47' -S 2500000 -x 2 -f 857.2625e6 -o 17e3 -q 0". I've tried a variation of the "-q" value to the same result. I've tried defaults from multiple tutorials on YouTube as well and none seem to work to at least bring up the next window.

Is there any possibility you might have remnants of the previous installation?
It's possible that I made the same mistake twice, but I wiped the entire drive and did a fresh install of Ubuntu 20.04 followed by installing gcc, make, and one other dependency it needed (can't remember the name). I then removed the current ppa for the current release of GnuRadio and added the one for 3.8 followed by installing GnuRadio from the repo. After that, I pulled down the git repo for OP25 and ran ./install.sh. It seemed to compile smoothly (no obvious errors).

Please also submit gnuradio-config-info --version

owner@owner:~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps$ gnuradio-config-info --version
3.8.5.0

contents of the logfile stderr.2 with the increased (-v 11) logging level.
I am probably doing it wrong, but the contents of stderr.2 seem to be empty after running?

owner@owner:~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps$ ./rx.py --args 'rtl' -N 'LNA:47' -S 2500000 -x 2 -v 11 -f 857.2625e6 -o 17e3 -q 0 > stderr.2
Using Python /usr/bin/python3
gr-osmosdr 0.2.0.0 (0.2.0) gnuradio 3.8.1.0
built-in source types: file osmosdr fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd miri hackrf bladerf rfspace airspy airspyhf soapy redpitaya freesrp
Using device #0 Realtek RTL2838UHIDIR SN: 00000001
Found Elonics E4000 tuner
gain: name: LNA range: start -1 stop -1 step 0
gain: name: IF range: start 3 stop 56 step 1
setting gain LNA to 47
supported sample rates 250000-2560000 step 24000
Exact sample rate is: 2500000.107620 Hz
Using two-stage decimator for speed=2500000, decim=25/4 if1=100000 if2=25000
p25_frame_assembler_impl: do_imbe[0], do_output[0], do_audio_output[0], do_phase2_tdma[0], do_nocrypt[0]
metadata update not enabled
python version detected: 3.8.10 (default, Jun 22 2022, 20:18:18)
[GCC 9.4.0]
main: exception occurred
main: exception:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "./rx.py", line 1004, in run
self.tb.start()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/gnuradio/gr/top_block.py", line 111, in start
top_block_start_unlocked(self._impl, max_noutput_items)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/gnuradio/gr/runtime_swig.py", line 4832, in top_block_start_unlocked
return _runtime_swig.top_block_start_unlocked(r, max_noutput_items)
RuntimeError: list contains invalid format!

owner@owner:~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps$ cat stderr.2
owner@owner:~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps$

 

[a417]

contents of the logfile stderr.2 with the increased (-v 11) logging level.
I am probably doing it wrong, but the contents of stderr.2 seem to be empty after running?

Look carefully at what you told it to do. You only redirected standard output to stderr.2.

owner@owner:~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps$ ./rx.py --args 'rtl' -N 'LNA:47' -S 2500000 -x 2 -v 11 -f 857.2625e6 -o 17e3 -q 0 > stderr.2

If you want to redirect errors to stderr.2, your command line should look like;
~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps$ [B].[/B]/rx.py --args 'rtl' -N 'LNA:47' -S 2500000 -x 2 -v 11 -f 857.2625e6 -o 17e3 -q 0 2> stderr.2 .

you are literally missing one character.

 

[ToTheBitCave]

Look carefully at what you told it to do. You only redirected standard output to stderr.2.


If you want to redirect errors to stderr.2, your command line should look like;
~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps$ [B].[/B]/rx.py --args 'rtl' -N 'LNA:47' -S 2500000 -x 2 -v 11 -f 857.2625e6 -o 17e3 -q 0 2> stderr.2 .

you are literally missing one character.

I had a feeling I was doing something wrong . Pain is the lesson least forgotten they say. Thanks!

owner@owner:~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps$ ./rx.py --args 'rtl' -N 'LNA:47' -S 2500000 -x 2 -v 11 -f 857.2625e6 -q 0 2> stderr.2
owner@owner:~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps$ cat stderr.2
Using Python /usr/bin/python3
gr-osmosdr 0.2.0.0 (0.2.0) gnuradio 3.8.1.0
built-in source types: file osmosdr fcd rtl rtl_tcp uhd miri hackrf bladerf rfspace airspy airspyhf soapy redpitaya freesrp
Using device #0 Realtek RTL2838UHIDIR SN: 00000001
Found Elonics E4000 tuner
gain: name: LNA range: start -1 stop -1 step 0
gain: name: IF range: start 3 stop 56 step 1
setting gain LNA to 47
supported sample rates 250000-2560000 step 24000
Exact sample rate is: 2500000.107620 Hz
Using two-stage decimator for speed=2500000, decim=25/4 if1=100000 if2=25000
p25_frame_assembler_impl: do_imbe[0], do_output[0], do_audio_output[0], do_phase2_tdma[0], do_nocrypt[0]
metadata update not enabled
python version detected: 3.8.10 (default, Jun 22 2022, 20:18:18)
[GCC 9.4.0]
main: exception occurred
main: exception:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "./rx.py", line 1004, in run
self.tb.start()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/gnuradio/gr/top_block.py", line 111, in start
top_block_start_unlocked(self._impl, max_noutput_items)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/gnuradio/gr/runtime_swig.py", line 4832, in top_block_start_unlocked
return _runtime_swig.top_block_start_unlocked(r, max_noutput_items)
RuntimeError: list contains invalid format!

owner@owner:~/op25/op25/gr-op25_repeater/apps$

 

[wgbecks]

Yes, please run again with 2> stderr.2 at the very end of the command line and drop the -o 17e3 that's highly likely to be unnecessary and whereby any frequency tuning errors will be addressed once you get the application to execute.

 

[wgbecks]

vcrtech,

I am willing to assist by telephone and over the internet remotely if you get stuck. Let's see what you uncover in the logfile and go from there.

Bill

 

[ToTheBitCave]

Yes, please run again with 2> stderr.2 at the very end of the command line and drop the -o 17e3 that's highly likely to unnecessary and whereby
frequency tuning errors will be addressed once you get the application to execute.

I dropped and repasted the output.

 

[ToTheBitCave]

I also have a Raspberry Pi 3B+ laying around. I'm tempted to try it there to see if I have any better luck (maybe it's the particular SDR I have?).

 

[ToTheBitCave]

vcrtech,

I am willing to assist by telephone and over the internet remotely if you get stuck. Let's see what you uncover in the logfile and go from there.

Bill

You are too kind! I may take you up on this if I can't figure it out. I gotta drive to the office so it will be a bit before I can respond. I wanted to say thank you again to everyone. Maybe I can return the favor one day if someone else runs into the same swamp of despair I've found myself in

 

[boatbod]

Is there any possibility you might have remnants of the previous installation?
It's possible that I made the same mistake twice, but I wiped the entire drive and did a fresh install of Ubuntu 20.04 followed by installing gcc, make, and one other dependency it needed (can't remember the name). I then removed the current ppa for the current release of GnuRadio and added the one for 3.8 followed by installing GnuRadio from the repo. After that, I pulled down the git repo for OP25 and ran ./install.sh. It seemed to compile smoothly (no obvious errors).

I'm a little concerned by the bolded comments. Normally you don't have to do any messing with the PPAs or package versions when installing on 20.04 LTS. After installing the OS and before changing PPA's, what version of gnuradio was available?

apt list gnuradio-dev

 

[wgbecks]

vcrtech,

I spun up a fresh Ubuntu 20.04.4 VM this afternoon as a test and indeed the apt repository will download and install gnuradio 3.8
when you execute the ./install.sh script in the ~op25 folder to include downloading and initializing all required dependencies.

There is absolutely no need to manually install any other components or to mess with changing PPA's when building the boatbod
op25 repo on this version of Ubuntu.

Bill


p25@op25-VirtualBox:~$ cat /etc/os-release
NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION="20.04.4 LTS (Focal Fossa)"
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 20.04.4 LTS"
VERSION_ID="20.04"
HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/"
SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/"
PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-policy"
VERSION_CODENAME=focal
UBUNTU_CODENAME=focal
op25@op25-VirtualBox:~$ apt list gnuradio-dev
Listing... Done
gnuradio-dev/focal 3.8.1.0~rc1-2build2 amd64

 

[a417]

There is absolutely no need to manually install any other components or to mess with changing PPA's when building the boatbod
op25 repo on this version of Ubuntu.

I have a feeling that he has some leftovers from his .PPA changing that caused this issue. Mayhaps it would be easier for the OP to just reinstall 20.04 (or just do debian) from scratch, don't install GNURadio and then install per Boatbod instructions?

 

[wgbecks]

I have a feeling that he has some leftovers from his .PPA changing that caused this issue. Mayhaps it would be easier for the OP to just reinstall 20.04 (or just do debian) from scratch, don't install GNURadio and then install per Boatbod instructions?

As a follow-up, I went ahead and performed a git clone of the boatbod repo on the fresh Ubuntu VM then let the installer run and do all of the work that resulted in a fully operational application. Take a417's advise, just reinstall Ubuntu 20.04 and you should be good to go!

 

[a417]

just reinstall Ubuntu 20.04 and you should be good to go!

Nuke & pave isn't as daunting as it used to be.

 

[ToTheBitCave]

I wanted to extend a grande THANK YOU to everyone. I nuked and paved and it works now!! I think the issue was what boatbod pointed out where I messed with the ppa's in a default Ubuntu 20.04 install. For some reason I thought it would grab the latest version (not 3.8) GnuRadio if I didn't force it to 3.8, and that was ... wrong (if it ain't broke .....). The default works great with the latest commit and pull of OP25.

Seriously, thank you all again for your time and patience with me!!

 

[a417]

. For some reason I thought it would grab the latest version (not 3.8) GnuRadio if I didn't force it to 3.8, and that was ... wrong (if it ain't broke .....).

Seriously, thank you all again for your time and patience with me!!

Yeah, when an dev gives you an install script that pulls dependencies, you let that go.