I’ve followed every instruction in setting up my Kraken. At first, it would not connect without a hot spot. I tried ethernet connection, but that did not work either. So, I purchased a SIM card and activated service, just so I can have hot spot capability on my Android Phone (Samsung Galaxy 9).
I installed the Kraken SDR App from the Google Play Store. Everything connects as it should (Correct IP Address), but the Kraken doesn’t not do anything. In fact, the waterfall just shows an orange blob, and nothing processes at all. I’ve included a photo of what I see on the Kraken SDR server.
I have a lot of projects that I wanted to use this device for, but it simply doesn’t work. I believe the Kraken SDR I have is faulty, and want to exchange for one that works. I just bought this, and unfortunately, it is just a very expensive paper weight. I did everything right in setup.
What does the configuration page status entry show?
What device are you running the KrakenSDR on?
The most likely cause of something like this where the UI boots, but the SDR isn’t running is that the KrakenSDR hasn’t booted up properly due to a poor power supply, or a poor quality USB cable.
Having the same problems here. Spent the last 2 hours in the 100 degree heat fighting the thing.
Same power bank (fully charged) same 1’ USBC cables, same fully charged power bank that worked fine last weekend. Cables plugged into the same ports on the PI, Kraken and Powerbank. Power port on Kraken connected thru 1’ USBC cable to the powerbank using the same port as last weekend, Data port on Kraken connected to PI5 USB3 port. Pi powered from the same port on the powebank that worked fine for hours last weekend. No indication from the Kraken that anything is wrong other than Frame Sync LOSS, Connection status Disconnected, Sample Delay Sync LOSS and IQ Sync LOSS.
The PI once again selected another apparently random IP address, which means going through seven screens to get the IP address so I can input it to the Kraken app. PITA, but if that were the only problem I’d live with it. Having a way to FIX the IP address would sure make the setup process faster.
I tried resetting the settings, which seemed to work except that once I re-entered my working frequency and antenna radius, I was back to the problem above.
Once connected, the phone is talking to the server in the Pi (RP5 in my case) but it seems that the Pi isn’t talking to the Kraken. I can enter settings but I believe this is only going as far as the server in the Pi. If power is such an issue then there should be some sort of EASY diagnostics rather than “Lets play GUESS THE CABLE!”
Having the same issues, see below. I tried multiple reboots, always plugging power into the Kraken, then Kraken data to the Pi, then power into the Pi, carefully using the exact same short USB3 cables, power bank (fully charged) and ports on the power bank that worked fine last weekend.
The KrakenSDR needs 5V, 2.4A minimum. The Pi 5 needs 5V, 3A (and ideally 5A). I noted that you’re running off a battery, so please double check that the battery is able to provide 2.4A and 3A at the two outputs simultaneously. Some batteries cannot support high current draw from two ports at the same time and the total output capacity is not always advertised by the manufacturer correctly. Batteries might also degrade their output capacity when hot, so it’s possible your high ambient temperatures caused the battery to not perform as well as it did previously.
For the data cable, there’s not really any spec I can refer to in terms of USB-C cable quality. I can only suggest purchasing a short cable from a reputable brand.
I don’t see any mention of what the total output power specs are. It mentions being able to charge 4 devices at once, but it doesn’t say if that is with reduced output, or full output on all four ports simultaneously.
Can you do a home test with wall powered supplies?
That shows what is possible from each individual port, but unfortunately it has no information on what the total output is of all the ports combined.
My initial guess is that you are normally on the edge of what the total output capability is, but the hot environment degrades the performance of the battery on those hot days such that the total output starts dropping.
If it’s only pulling 0.6A, then the 5x internal RTL-SDRs haven’t been activated by the software, which makes sense because your UI shows that the SDR isn’t running.
As I am using it mounted on my car, i am using a car power converter fitting the needs of the pi and Kraken.
While I dont have any diagnostic tools to measure the power of usb cables there was in other possibility for me to figure out the problem than „Play lets guess the cable“ but I totally Unterstand what you mean. Following the troubleshooting Guides mostly solves the issue.
But if you have the possibility to Test it With Wall power and it works With your cables you are using would proof that your powerbank may Lack of providing power.
But I want to mention that I also recognized starting the devices in a „wrong order“ will result in the issue you described above for me. Dont know if its neccessary or Not but I think carl could answer that.
I bought another power bank for the kraken, the same as the other one, so each has a dedicated large power bank and the shortest cables I can get… As to quality, all cables are better than any other cable of course, according to the seller. I went with short cables to minimize voltage drop. If there is a known, blessed power cable I’d like to know.
The Pi always comes up and runs, no matter what cable I use, what power bank, and what port I use.
The kraken comes up about 30% of the time, no matter what cable, power bank, or port I use.
On those occasions where I can get the system up and running, it will run for a few minutes, then quit.
I’m always powering the Kraken first (no idea how long it takes to be ready to run. Some LED blink or other indication would be useful…) and then the Pi.
I see the instructions for troubleshooting, I suppose then I need to figure out how to make the Kraken connect to my home Wifi and go down that path.
The whole thing seems very, very “twitchy”. I’m glad that others are up and running, but after all the effort I’ve put in on this, it so far has been a very expensive waste of time. I’d be happy to go in with a scope and make measurements, I’m an embedded systems engineer with 40+ years experience and a well equipped lab, but without a schematic I’m not really inclined. I know I’ve never designed a product in all my years that is as “picky” as this one is with regard to power, assuming that power really is the issue. Everything I can measure outside the box says it’s not a problem.
