I recently saw this video / post in which Osmocom had be used to create a GSM Base Station with a LimeSDR mini and a Raspberry PI.
https://www.crowdsupply.com/lime-micro/limesdr-mini/updates/gsm-base-station...
I was very interested in this, because I need to be able to test cellular broadcast messages, and this seemed to provide a way to do this.. CB seems to be supported in Osmocom.
I am a bit overwhelmed about what I need to install, to get a minimal, but functioning ‘system’ running, so I can test some features.. I ordered a LimeSDR and it hopefully will arrive sometime after the new year
But I wanted to get a jump start on it now. Is there some instructions in the wiki, I just did’tn know which ones to follow.
Kind Regards
Hi,
For the specific parts when using a LimeSDR, you can check the wiki page which is already mentioned in the link you shared [1].
You will basically need to install LimeSuite, SopadySDR, SoapyUHD and libuhd, as explained in the same wiki page (there's a step by step section to compile everything yourself). I personally installed most of the dependencies required from both normal and AUR repositories since I'm using Archlinux, so not sure if there's an apt repository for debian systems.
For the generic parts you need to run the GSM network, you can easily install them using the osmocom apt repositories [2].
I think you can also find the "limesuite" package available in the osmocom repositories btw.
After my initial tests, it mostly works but I found some issues, which I started to work on. For instance, lots of times when I start osmo-trx or osmo-bts-trx, one of the two fails due to some timeout [3]. We also found out that the RX antenna is by default connected to the LowFrequency RX input which may not be suitable for arfcns in band DCS1800, which we were using at the moment, and we had to plug the antenna to the WideFrequency one.
[1] https://osmocom.org/projects/osmotrx/wiki/LimeSDR_Family [2] https://osmocom.org/projects/cellular-infrastructure/wiki/Nightly_Builds [3] https://osmocom.org/issues/2723
On Mon, Dec 18, 2017 at 10:04:28PM +0100, Pau Espin Pedrol wrote:
[1] https://osmocom.org/projects/osmotrx/wiki/LimeSDR_Family [2] https://osmocom.org/projects/cellular-infrastructure/wiki/Nightly_Builds [3] https://osmocom.org/issues/2723
For the core network, let me add https://osmocom.org/projects/cellular-infrastructure/wiki/Osmocom_Network_In...
~N
In the video that I mentioned above, there was mention that sysmocom where making an ‘all in one’ package that could be used via some kind of web app store.. Was that something that’s happened, or is going to happen.. It seems I might be able to build this all from packages however.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Neels Hofmeyr mailto:nhofmeyr@sysmocom.de Sent: Wednesday, 20 December 2017 12:33 AM To: Andrew Frazer mailto:andrew.frazer@stellascapes.com Cc: openbsc@lists.osmocom.org mailto:openbsc@lists.osmocom.org Subject: Re: Getting started with Osmocom and LimeNet Mini ?
On Mon, Dec 18, 2017 at 10:04:28PM +0100, Pau Espin Pedrol wrote:
[1] https://osmocom.org/projects/osmotrx/wiki/LimeSDR_Family
[2] https://osmocom.org/projects/cellular-infrastructure/wiki/Nightly_Builds
For the core network, let me add
https://osmocom.org/projects/cellular-infrastructure/wiki/Osmocom_Network_In...
~N
Hi Andrew,
[speaking with both my Osmocom and sysmocom hats here]
On Tue, Dec 19, 2017 at 06:33:57PM +0000, Andrew Frazer wrote:
In the video that I mentioned above, there was mention that sysmocom where making an ‘all in one’ package that could be used via some kind of web app store..
Indeed, this was and still is the plan. It would be simiar to the sysmoBTS based starter kits which sysmocom is selling for the past 5 years or so. The difference would be that it's LimeSDR based, not sysmoBTS based.
The revenue from those starter kits is a significant source of funding for sysmocom to pay an entire team of developers doing nothing else but workgin on the various cellular related Osmocom projects - from bug fixing to new features to documentation to general maintenance tasks.
Was that something that’s happened, or is going to happen..
However, we unfortunately still haven't been able to get around to build that 'snap' package for LimeSDR, sorry for that. It still is on our agenda.
It seems I might be able to build this all from packages however.
This is correct. In Osmocom (and at sysmocom) we are 100% open source. We work upstream, and we don't do "open core" models where you only get a feature crippled version of the software. What symocom ships is mainline Osmocom. So for sure, you can set up the entire Osmocom cellular stack yourself.
Regards, Harald
Indeed, this was and still is the plan.
The revenue from those starter kits is a significant source of funding for sysmocom
to pay an entire team of developers doing nothing else but workgin on the various cellular
related Osmocom projects - from bug fixing to new features to documentation to general
maintenance tasks.
I did’tn appreciate that there was a starter kit! I’m not particaully stuck with a limeSDR, it was just I saw the video and thought, great that might solve my problem
Can you point me to the starter kit, and give me an idea about what they cost. I’ve ordered a LimeSDR mini, but I’m sure it will come in handy for something else.
However, we unfortunately still haven't been able to get around to build that 'snap'
package for LimeSDR, sorry for that. It still is on our agenda.
When its done, that will be awesome.
So for sure, you can set up the
entire Osmocom cellular stack yourself.
I might just have to do this, but I’ll probably end up asking a thousand questions. In return I’ll provide a easy to follow build for the next guy who follows me!
On Tue, Dec 19, 2017 at 10:24:54PM +0000, Andrew Frazer wrote:
I might just have to do this, but I’ll probably end up asking a thousand questions. In return I’ll provide a easy to follow build for the next guy who follows me!
If you register at the osmocom.org redmine, tell us your login name and we'll grant you wiki editing rights, so that you can compose / fix how-to guides. If you can find the time, that would certainly be appreciated :)
~N
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Andrew Frazer -
Harald Welte -
Neels Hofmeyr -
Pau Espin Pedrol