bladerf.md

+# Nuand bladeRF 2.0 micro
+
+The bladeRF 2.0 micro is the second generation of highly capable SDRs produced
+by Nuand, LLC. It will be the main SDR used for the CDC design project.
+
+## Content
+
+1. [Overview](#overview)  
+2. [Command Line Interface](#command-line-interface)  
+3. [SoapySDR Block](#soapysdr-block)
+   - [Block Configuration](#block-configuration)  
+   - [Message Port Interface](#message-port-interface)  
+   - [Stream Tag Interface](#stream-tag-interface)  
+4. [libbladeRF](#libbladerf)
+5. [Performance](#performance)
+
+## Overview
+
+The key component on the bladeRF 2.0 board is an Analog Devices AD9361 wideband
+transceiver, an RFIC which is also found in many other common SDRs (Ettus
+USRP B series and ADALM PlutoSDRs).
+
+The following is a list of useful references for understanding and using the
+bladeRF. The bladeRF wiki is the best place to start.
+
+- [bladeRF 2.0 micro](https://www.nuand.com/bladerf-2-0-micro/)
+- [bladeRF wiki](https://github.com/Nuand/bladeRF/wiki)
+- [libbladeRF documentation](https://nuand.com/bladeRF-doc/libbladeRF/v2.2.1/)
+- [bladeRF source code](https://github.com/Nuand/bladeRF)
+- [bladeRF 2.0 Schematic](datasheets/bladeRF-micro.pdf)
+
+To use the bladeRF within our Ubuntu environment, it first must be connected to
+the VM by selecting: *Devices > USB > Nuand bladeRF 2.0*
+
+In CDC we will use the *xA9* version of the board, where board versions vary
+only in the size of the onboard FPGA.
+
+<div align="center">
+
+| Version | Logic Elements |
+| ------- | :------------: |
+|   xA4   |       49k      |
+|   xA5   |       77k      |
+|   xA9   |      301k      |
+
+</div>
+
+> **Important Note:** To avoid violating governmental regulations and damaging
+> the hardware, please acknowledge and adhere to the following guidelines:
+> - Never transmit or receive on any band on which you are not licensed to
+> operate
+> - Always terminate TX and RX ports with a 50 Ohm load (either an antenna or SMA
+> terminator)
+> - Never connect a TX port directly to an RX port without proper attenuation
+> at least 30 dB)
+
+
+## Command Line Interface
+
+The `bladeRF-cli` command line utility can be used to verify device connectivity
+as well as query and set device parameters. For complete information, see the
+following references.
+
+- [Verifying Basic Device Operation](https://github.com/Nuand/bladeRF/wiki/Getting-Started%3A-Verifying-Basic-Device-Operation)
+- [bladeRF CLI Tips and Tricks](https://github.com/Nuand/bladeRF/wiki/bladeRF-CLI-Tips-and-Tricks)
+
+For our purposes, we will only use `bladeRF-cli` to verify connectivity and not
+to set device parameters. To ensure the bladeRF is correctly attached, the
+`--probe` or `-p` command can be used.
+
+```
+$ bladeRF-cli -p # probe for connected bladeRF devices
+
+  Description:    Nuand bladeRF 2.0
+  Backend:        libusb
+  Serial:         991431a963384f8289baea2ba586720d
+  USB Bus:        2
+  USB Address:    2
+```
+
+The command line tool also has an interactive mode, which can be a more
+convenient way of querying and configuring the board.
+
+```
+$ bladeRF-cli -i # enter interactive mode
+```
+
+Within interactive mode you can check the bladeRF driver, device firmware, and
+FPGA versions currently loaded.
+
+```
+bladeRF> version
+
+  bladeRF-cli version:       1.8.0-0.2019.07.rbuild1
+  libbladeRF version:        2.2.1-0.2019.07-4build1
+
+  Firmware version:          2.3.2
+  FPGA version:              0.11.0 (configured by USB)
+```
+
+You can also read expanded device information.
+
+```
+bladeRF> info
+
+  Board:                    Nuand bladeRF 2.0 (bladerf2)
+  Serial #:                 991431a963384f8289baea2ba586720d
+  VCTCXO DAC calibration:   0x1d11
+  FPGA size:                301 KLE
+  FPGA loaded:              yes
+  Flash size:               128 Mbit
+  USB bus:                  2
+  USB address:              2
+  USB speed:                SuperSpeed
+  Backend:                  libusb
+  Instance:                 0
+```
+
+See `bladeRF --help` for a full list of possible commands.
+
+## SoapySDR Block
+
+TODO
+
+## libbladeRF
+
+The bladeRF device can be controlled directly from Python and C/C++ programs
+using the libbladeRF library.
+
+- [libbladeRF documentation](https://nuand.com/bladeRF-doc/libbladeRF/v2.2.1/)
+
+## Performance
+
+This section will describe procedures for characterizing performance of the
+bladeRF boards and report typical results.
+
+Metrics:
+- USB throughput
+- Noise figure/floor
+- Frequency Stability
+- DC offset
+- IQ imbalance