PlutoSDR mini (7010 AD9363) - RX not working - Disconnecting

Hello guys, sharing here a problem that I have. While doing some tests with my plutosdr on SDR++ I was able to receive data but after a few seconds SDR++ was frozen, no more radio signals. It was working before so I have the (bad) idea to install the newest original firmware version (0.39). That doesn’t work but my problems got worse:

  • User orange LED was not blinking anymore.
  • SSH connection was fine but no radio device being detected
  • No signal at all on SDR++

Then I tried to move back to the same firmware version (0.38) as I received the board. I got it direct from Analog Devices, it didnt work as well, same problems as before. Then I tried to contact OpenSourceSDRLab support and I got the original files with the 0.38 firmware, followed the instructions and flashed again the firmware with Vivado. Results:

  • Orange LED started to blink again.
  • Radio signal worked for a while then disconnected again, like my initial issue.

Looking at some help with gpt it mentioned about my usb cable and usb port, my usb cable was fine but I tried to use another usb port and then everything started to work fine again (no more connection drops while receiving data).

I am sharing this to help other with same problems, from my experience you can face two situations:

  1. Orange LED blinking. RX working for a few seconds then disconnection and errors.
    Potential cause/solution: This could be usb cable or usb port, try to change both, get a nice usb cable for data transfer and use the back usb ports in case you are using on a PC.

  2. Orange LED not blinking, it is weak or not on. No Radio signal at all.
    Potential cause/solution: You probably messed with firmware version or environments variables. Get the shipped-with firmware files from OpenSourceSDRLab support. Try to flash pluto firmware and uboot-envs, it that doesn’t work try to flash from scratch using Vivado.

1 Like

Dear hellneken,

Thank you so much for sharing this with us!