Ubuntu

Ubuntu package support

The Pothosware Framework PPA contains deb packages for the Pothos framework and various Pothos toolkits. Soapy SDR and a slew of hardware support drivers are provided by the MyriadRF SDR Drivers PPA.

The PPAs support the following Ubuntu releases:

• Xenial (16.04 LTS)
• Bionic (18.04 LTS)
• Cosmic (18.10 current)

Ubuntu Packages Table of Contents

• Add PPAs to your system
• Install Pothos and toolkits
• SDR runtime Packages
• SDR hardware Packages
• Testing the installation
• Development environment

Add PPAs to your system

Add the following PPAs to your Ubuntu system based on your needs:

#core framework and toolkits (required)
sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:pothosware/framework

#support libraries for pothos (required)
sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:pothosware/support

#supplies soapysdr, and drivers (required)
sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:myriadrf/drivers

#needed when using bladerf devices
sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:bladerf/bladerf

#needed when using usrp devices
sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:ettusresearch/uhd

#always update after adding PPAs
sudo apt-get update

Install Pothos and toolkits

Install Pothos with GUI tools and all official toolkits:

sudo apt-get install pothos-all

#install bindings for python2
sudo apt-get install python-pothos

#or install bindings for python3
sudo apt-get install python3-pothos

#install development files for python blocks
sudo apt-get install pothos-python-dev

SDR runtime Packages

Install Soapy SDR runtime and utility packages:

#soapy sdr runtime and utilities
sudo apt-get install soapysdr-tools

#python language bindings
sudo apt-get install python-soapysdr python-numpy

#python3 language bindings
sudo apt-get install python3-soapysdr python3-numpy

#using soapy sdr for remote device support?
sudo apt-get install soapysdr-module-remote soapysdr-server

SDR hardware Packages

Install Soapy SDR support drivers for your hardware:

#osmo sdr support:
sudo apt-get install osmo-sdr soapysdr-module-osmosdr

#rtl sdr support:
sudo apt-get install rtl-sdr soapysdr-module-rtlsdr

#blade rf support:
sudo apt-get install bladerf soapysdr-module-bladerf

#hack rf support:
sudo apt-get install hackrf soapysdr-module-hackrf

#usrp support:
sudo apt-get install uhd-host uhd-soapysdr soapysdr-module-uhd

#miri SDR support:
sudo apt-get install miri-sdr soapysdr-module-mirisdr

#rf space support:
sudo apt-get install soapysdr-module-rfspace

#airspy support:
sudo apt-get install airspy soapysdr-module-airspy

Testing the installation

Open a terminal and run:

#print information about the install
PothosUtil --system-info
SoapySDRUtil --info

#run the design GUI -- there should also be a menu shortcut
PothosFlow

Development environment

Users may wish to build a more recent version of Pothos from source, but still use the PPAs to install various dependencies. Find this information documented in Ubuntu section of the build guide.