Nicholas,

Thanks for your message, I implemented your changes to my top_block.py file, 
but was unable to get the two data streams from the X310s to start sampling at 
the same time.  I verified with the print statements that python was doing the 
time conversions and math correctly.

I used a WX Scope Sinc and analyzed recorded data in MATLAB to look at time 
offsets in the two data streams.  I also set the 1 second waits to 2 second 
waits.  I generally saw time offsets in the range of 5 to 25 samples (1 to 5 
usec with 5MHz output), and one occurrence of ~200 sample offset between the 
two sample streams.  Nicholas, how did you verify sample time alignment?

I attached my top_block python file, in case anyone has time to look at it.
Any other ideas/comments?

Thanks!
-Ben

From: Linnenkamp, Nicholas [mailto:nlinnenk...@appcomsci.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 1:54 PM
To: Robert Kossler; Lapointe, Benjamin - 1008 - MITLL
Cc: discuss-gnuradio@gnu.org
Subject: RE: [USRP-users] sample time alignment in GRC

Ben/Rob,

I addressed the issue of getting time aligned samples going for USRP devices 
sometime back.  I had similar issues until I did a deep dive and worked out 
some of the problems.  There is a bit more to the process than just setting 
sync and reference sources.

http://lists.ettus.com/pipermail/usrp-users_lists.ettus.com/2014-April/009277.html

That contains code for getting gnu-radio to perform the required initialization 
for the devices so that they sample at the same time.  Perhaps someone from the 
gnuradio camp can figure out how to do it automagically.

Nicholas

From: USRP-users [mailto:usrp-users-boun...@lists.ettus.com] On Behalf Of 
Robert Kossler via USRP-users
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 10:28 AM
To: Lapointe, Benjamin - 1008 - MITLL
Cc: usrp-us...@lists.ettus.com<mailto:usrp-us...@lists.ettus.com>; 
discuss-gnuradio@gnu.org<mailto:discuss-gnuradio@gnu.org>
Subject: Re: [USRP-users] sample time alignment in GRC

Hi Ben,
I am having a similar (but not identical issue).  I have a single X310 for 
which I am trying to make sure both channels are time aligned.  I have tried 
both the internal PPS signal and an external PPS signal.  I noticed 
channel-to-channel time delays of 1, 2, or 3 "clock" cycles (at clock rate, not 
sample rate) which varied from run to run.   My measurements were done with a 
modified "rx_samples_to_file" program and Matlab processing.  I have not yet 
duplicated using GRC.
Rob


On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 9:58 AM, Lapointe, Benjamin - 1008 - MITLL via 
USRP-users <usrp-us...@lists.ettus.com<mailto:usrp-us...@lists.ettus.com>> 
wrote:
Hi All,

I am still having trouble time aligning sample streams from two USRP X310 
devices.  In GRC I noticed a random time offset from run to run in the two data 
streams using a WX GUI Scope Sink.  Looking at recorded data in MATLAB I also 
see a random time offset from run to run in the two data streams (8, 18, and 24 
sample offset).  I verified that the two data streams that I am inputting into 
the X310 devices are time aligned using a physical scope.

My GRC setup:

USRP Source 1 (with internal GPSDO-MINI)

-          Sync = unknown PPS

-          Mb0: Clock Source = Default

-          Mb0: Time Source = Default
USRP Source 2

-          Sync = unknown PPS

-          Mb0: Clock Source = External

-          Mb0: Time Source = External

For looking at the data streams I have USRP Source -> Complex to Mag -> WX GUI 
Scope Sink.
For recording the data streams I have USRP Source -> Head (5K) -> File Sink 
(Unbuffered: OFF)

Ref Out SMA of USRP 1 is connected to Ref In SMA of USRP 2 with a 6” SMA cable.
PPS Trig Out SMA of USRP 1 is connected to PPS Trig In SMA of USRP 2 with a 6” 
SMA cable.
RF input to USRP devices is a pulsed RF signal, to make it easier to look at 
time offset.
GPS on USRP 1 is locked; however, I work with tall buildings completely 
surrounding me and so I don’t know the strength of the GPS lock.
I have an OctoClock-G on order to distribute 10 MHz Ref and 1 PPS signals, but 
until then..

Does anyone have any other ideas for getting time-aligned samples from run to 
run in GRC, or what I am doing wrong? I would expect at most a minimal constant 
time offset between data streams if the 10 MHz Ref and 1 PPS signals are locked.

Thanks!
-ben

From: Marcus Leech [mailto:mle...@ripnet.com<mailto:mle...@ripnet.com>]
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2014 2:04 PM
To: Lapointe, Benjamin - 1008 - MITLL
Cc: discuss-gnuradio@gnu.org<mailto:discuss-gnuradio@gnu.org>
Subject: Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] sample time alignment in GRC

Make sure that you specify that the 2nd X310 uses external clock and 1PPS, and 
all of them should use time synch of
  "unknown PPS".

Also, there has been a bug in the scope sink (dunno if fixed) where samples are 
*not* time-aligned in the scope sink.  The except
  is that a complex-pair will be time-aligned internally, but not necessarily 
to other streams being displayed.



on Jun 13, 2014, Lapointe, Benjamin - 1008 - MITLL 
<blapoi...@ll.mit.edu<mailto:blapoi...@ll.mit.edu>> wrote:
Hi,

I have two USRP X310 devices that I am trying to time align in GNU Radio 
Companion.  One X310 has a GPSDO that is sending 10 MHz reference and 1 PPS 
signals to the other one. The GPS is locked.  Ideally I would have matched 
length cables for 10 MHz reference and 1 PPS, but I think my setup is close 
enough. (Input signal from sig gen = pulsed 10.005 MHz, input is split with 
matched length cables, USRP output sampling rate = 5M, USRP center frequency = 
10M.)

I am using WX GUI Scope Sink to look at the magnitudes of each stream from the 
USRP devices.  I expect to see no/minimal delay between the two signal streams, 
but I am seeing delays of 24, 13, 9, 0, 3, 6, 25, 24 samples from run to run 
between the two signal streams.  The period of the signal is 50 samples, so the 
maximum delay difference is 25 samples.  Am I missing something in my 
configuration?  Since I am using a 10 MHz reference and 1 PPS signals, I expect 
time alignment between the two sample streams.  Is there a GRC block for 
forcing time alignment?

Thanks!
-Ben

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Attachment: time_align_test_no_delay.py
Description: time_align_test_no_delay.py

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