This guide covers the built-in Ettus Research USRP B205-mini path in the current RemoteRF server implementation. The complete USRP schema is installed automatically on a fresh server, so most setups only need the supported UHD runtime, a USB 3 connection, a detectable radio, and a correct devices.yml entry.

The Ettus Research USRP B205mini-i, a compact USB 3 software-defined radio with one RX and one TX channel.
The Ettus Research USRP B205mini-i. See the Ettus Research product page for official specifications.

Overview

RemoteRF supports the USRP B205-mini through the same built-in usrp schema used by the NI USRP-2901 and other UHD radios. Its structured b205mini profile keeps it distinct from another B200-family device connected to the same server and selects the exact radio by USB serial number.

The current path is server-local: the Linux machine running serverrf must have the supported UHD runtime installed, must be able to see the radio locally without sudo, and must have the right devices.yml entry. The B205-mini has one RX channel, one TX channel, and a high-speed USB 3 connection.

The minimum setup is as follows:

  1. Install the UHD 4.10.0.0 Python API and command-line tools in the environment used by remoterf-server.
  2. Connect the B205-mini directly to the server over USB 3.
  3. Confirm that uhd_find_devices and uhd_usrp_probe can see the serial without sudo.
  4. Add the B205-mini to the server’s devices.yml, then restart serverrf.

Schema note: A fresh RemoteRF server installs the full USRP schema automatically. If the machine already contains a custom driver registered as usrp in ~/.config/remoterf/drivers/, that custom driver takes precedence. Keep it only when that override is intentional.

Install and Detect

Step 1

Install the Supported UHD Runtime

Install UHD and its Python bindings on the Linux server that owns the B205-mini. RemoteRF requires UHD Python API version 4.10.0.0; the simplest exact-version install is the prebuilt Conda package.

Install into the same Conda environment used to run RemoteRF:
conda activate YOUR_REMOTERF_ENV
conda install -y -c conda-forge "uhd=4.10.0.0"
uhd_images_downloader
Then verify that environment:
python - <<'PY'
import uhd
print(uhd.get_version_string())
PY
Expected result: The reported native UHD version resolves to 4.10.0.0. Start serverrf from this same environment.
Step 2

Verify Detection

Connect the B205-mini by USB 3 and confirm that UHD can find and probe it before you edit devices.yml.

Run:
uhd_find_devices --args "type=b200"
uhd_usrp_probe --args "type=b200,serial=YOUR_SERIAL"
Expected result: Discovery identifies a B205mini/B205i, reports USB speed 3, and includes a serial value. The probe should complete with a passing register loopback. Copy the serial exactly for devices.yml.
If Needed

Fix USB Permissions

If UHD only finds the radio with sudo, install the udev rules supplied with your UHD 4.10 installation, reload the rules, reconnect the radio, and sign out and back in if your distribution changed group membership.

After installing the UHD udev rules, run:
sudo udevadm control --reload-rules
sudo udevadm trigger
Then check again: Rerun both discovery commands without sudo. Do not continue until the account that starts RemoteRF can probe the radio directly.

Manifest Example

Save this file as ~/.config/remoterf/devices.yml on the main RemoteRF server to which the B205-mini is physically attached.

devices.yml
yaml
devices:
  - device_id: 9
    device_type: usrp
    name: B205-mini Bench
    init:
      profile: b205mini
      type: b200
      serial: "31E9F48"

Alternatively, create the same YAML entry through the server CLI:

serverrf --device --add --usrp-b205-mini "9:B205-mini Bench:31E9F48"
serverrf --device --show

If the B205-mini is attached to a RemoteRF Host instead, use hostrf for the add command:

hostrf --device --add --usrp-b205-mini "9:B205-mini Bench:31E9F48"

The --usrp-b205mini and --b205mini spellings are accepted as aliases. The three colon-separated values are device_id:name:serial.

Important: device_type must be usrp, init.profile must be b205mini, and init.serial must match UHD. RemoteRF opens only type=b200,serial=... after an authenticated client starts a session, so the B205-mini remains distinct from an NI USRP-2901 or another B200-family radio on the same server.

Verification

Verify the B205-mini Comes Online

Start the server with serverrf -s. Use devices list in the interactive shell to confirm that the inventory entry loaded, then reserve the device from a current RemoteRF client.

from remoteRF.drivers import ensure_driver

token = "reservation-token"
ensure_driver(token=token)

from remoteRF.drivers.usrp import uhd

with uhd.usrp.MultiUSRP(token=token) as usrp:
    print(usrp.get_pp_string())
    print(usrp.get_rx_freq_range(0))

Expected result: Opening the session validates UHD 4.10.0.0 and claims the serial-bound radio. Begin with receive-only checks unless the test environment is authorized and RF-isolated for transmission.

Next Steps

Recommended
Next Step
Onboard Users

Connect clients, reserve the B205-mini, and begin with receive-safe experiments.
Related Device
NI USRP-2901 Guide

Use the same shared USRP driver with the 2 × 2 NI radio and its distinct usrp2901 profile.