Extension Framework documentation

Introduction

The extension framework enables custom libraries to attach to UHD. This can be used for instance when an external frontend module shall be used together with a USRP while maintaining the control via the UHD API.

For getting started with the extensions framework please refer to the extension example in the examples directory. It can be built by

• changing into the example_extension directory,
• creating a build directory and changing into it,
• calling cmake .. && make && make install

Depending on your UHD installation prefix root privileges may be required for make install.

Capabilities of the Extension Framework

The Extension Framework attaches to multi_usrp and will work for all RFNoC-capable devices. The following methods in multi_usrp offer hooks which allow for manipulating the behavior of the USRP and controlling the extension:

RX:

• set_rx_freq()
• get_rx_freq()
• get_rx_freq_range()
• get_fe_rx_freq_range()
• set_rx_gain()
• set_rx_agc()
• get_rx_gain()
• get_rx_gain_range()
• get_rx_gain_names()
• set_rx_antenna()
• get_rx_antenna()
• get_rx_antennas()
• set_rx_bandwidth()
• get_rx_bandwidth()
• get_rx_bandwidth_range()

TX:

• set_tx_freq()
• get_tx_freq()
• get_tx_freq_range()
• get_fe_tx_freq_range()
• set_tx_gain()
• get_tx_gain()
• get_tx_gain_range()
• get_tx_gain_names()
• set_tx_antenna()
• get_tx_antenna()
• get_tx_antennas()
• set_tx_bandwidth()
• get_tx_bandwidth()
• get_tx_bandwidth_range()

Further hooks may be implemented in the future. These hooks call into the following methods in an extension:

RX:

• set_rx_tune_args()
• set_rx_frequency()
• get_rx_frequency()
• get_rx_frequency_range()
• set_rx_bandwidth()
• get_rx_bandwidth()
• get_rx_bandwidth_range()
• set_rx_gain()
• get_rx_gain()
• set_rx_agc()
• get_rx_gain_range()
• get_rx_gain_names()
• set_rx_antenna()
• get_rx_antenna()
• get_rx_antennas()

TX:

• set_tx_tune_args()
• set_tx_frequency()
• get_tx_frequency()
• get_tx_frequency_range()
• set_tx_bandwidth()
• get_tx_bandwidth()
• get_tx_bandwidth_range()
• set_tx_gain()
• get_tx_gain()
• get_tx_gain_range()
• get_tx_gain_names()
• set_tx_antenna()
• get_tx_antenna()
• get_tx_antennas()

The implementation of these methods in the extension may just pass this through to the equivalent method on the radio or it can change values, call other methods e.g. of other devices etc.

How to use the Extension Framework

To use the Extension Framework, uhd::extension::extension from uhd/extension/extension.hpp needs to be implemented.

The implementation of the extension will have to register itself by calling UHD_REGISTER_EXTENSION([extension_name], [class_name]). After building the extension library it must be either:

• found in the UHD_MODULE_PATH environment variable,
• installed into the \<install-path\>/share/uhd/modules directory,
• or installed into /usr/share/uhd/modules directory (UNIX only).

To use the extension its name will have to be passed to the arguments string like "extension=[extension_name]".