Releases · Nuand/bladeRF

2025.10 (2025-10-06)

This release candidate consists of the following versions:

FPGA bitstream v0.16.0
FX3 firmware v2.6.0
libbladeRF v2.6.0
bladeRF-cli v1.10.0
MATLAB & Simulink bindings v1.1.0
Python bindings v1.4.0

API docs: https://www.nuand.com/bladeRF-doc/libbladeRF/
FX3 firmware: https://www.nuand.com/fx3_images/
FPGA bitstreams: https://www.nuand.com/fpga_images/
Ubuntu PPA: https://launchpad.net/~nuandllc/+archive/ubuntu/bladerf
Windows installer: https://www.nuand.com/win_installers/

Summary of changes in 2025.10

libbladeRF:

Add SC16Q11 packed format support for improved bandwidth efficiency
Add comprehensive gain calibration system with CSV import/export
Add RX reordering and prime worker before RX enable
Add oversample feature with configurable gain controls
Improve GPIF buffer size support with larger 2048 sample buffers
Add cross-platform threading support (removed libpthreadswin32 dependency)
Add extensive test suite and regression testing framework
Fix various sync TX/RX initialization and timing issues

FPGA:

Add SC16Q11 packed format support to FIFO reader and writer
Add larger GPIF buffer support for improved USB throughput
Fix RX/TX DMA request prioritization and meta timestamp handling
Add system and FX3 PLL clock control blocks
Fix timing issues and improve signal integrity

Tools:

Add bladeRF-power utility for RF power measurements with CLI interface
Add bladeRF-fsk project as separate submodule
Add bladeRF-update utility for firmware and FPGA updates
Improve cross-platform Windows build support
Add comprehensive hardware-in-the-loop testing framework

RC2 of 2025.05

Includes a Windows build

Full Changelog: 2024.05...2025.05-rc2

Tagging this release to get Windows installer hosted on Github.

2023.02 (2023-02-13)

This release candidate consists of the following versions:

* FPGA bitstream                v0.15.0
* FX3 firmware                  v2.4.0
* libbladeRF                    v2.5.0
* bladeRF-cli                   v1.9.0
* MATLAB & Simulink bindings    v1.0.5
* Python bindings               v1.3.0

API docs: https://www.nuand.com/bladeRF-doc/libbladeRF/
FX3 firmware: https://www.nuand.com/fx3_images/
FPGA bitstreams: https://www.nuand.com/fpga_images/
Ubuntu PPA: https://launchpad.net/~nuandllc/+archive/ubuntu/bladerf
Windows installer: https://www.nuand.com/win_installers/

Summary of changes in 2023.02

libbladeRF
- Add 8bit format mode support
- Add AD936x overclocking feature
- Fix bugs, including a locking bug
FPGA:
- Add 8bit mode support to FIFO reader and writer

2021.10 (2021-10-04)

This release candidate consists of the following versions:

* FPGA bitstream                v0.14.0
* FX3 firmware                  v2.4.0
* libbladeRF                    v2.4.1
* bladeRF-cli                   v1.8.0
* MATLAB & Simulink bindings    v1.0.5
* Python bindings               v1.2.1

API docs: https://www.nuand.com/bladeRF-doc/libbladeRF/
FX3 firmware: https://www.nuand.com/fx3_images/
FPGA bitstreams: https://www.nuand.com/fpga_images/
Ubuntu PPA: https://launchpad.net/~nuandllc/+archive/ubuntu/bladerf
Windows installer: https://www.nuand.com/win_installers/

Summary of changes in 2021.10

libbladeRF
- Fix up packet mode bugs
- Add Wishbone master core as NiOS peripheral
FPGA:
- Fix several bugs in packet mode buffering mechanism
- Add Wishbone master core as NiOS peripheral
- Add support for bladeRF 2.0 micro xA5

This release candidate consists of the following versions:

* FPGA bitstream                v0.12.0
* FX3 firmware                  v2.4.0
* libbladeRF                    v2.4.0
* bladeRF-cli                   v1.8.0
* MATLAB & Simulink bindings    v1.0.3
* Python bindings               v1.2.0

API docs: https://www.nuand.com/bladeRF-doc/libbladeRF/
FX3 firmware: https://www.nuand.com/fx3_images/
FPGA bitstreams: https://www.nuand.com/fpga_images/
Ubuntu PPA: https://launchpad.net/~nuand/+archive/ubuntu/bladerf
Windows installer: https://www.nuand.com/win_installers/

Summary of changes in 2020.12

libbladeRF
- Added packet mode format BLADERF_FORMAT_PACKET_META. libbladeRF is able to
  exchange variable length packets with the HDL if packet mode is enabled
- Added RFIC parameters for burst waveforms
- Ability to query backend for handle and lock
FX3
- Variable length packet support for PACKET_META mode
bladeRF-cli:
- Indicate presence of packet cores in FPGA
FPGA:
- Add packet mode. The HDL fabric is able to exchange variable length
  packets with the host
- Added packet_generator as an example for how to send packets to the host
- Added bladeRF 2.0 micro headless example variant "foxhunt"
- Fix metadata related arithmetic and logic
Python
- Update for libbladeRF v2.4.0

2019.07 (2019-07-31)

This release candidate consists of the following versions:

* FPGA bitstream                v0.11.0
* FX3 firmware                  v2.3.2
* libbladeRF                    v2.2.1
* bladeRF-cli                   v1.8.0
* MATLAB & Simulink bindings    v1.0.3
* Python bindings               v1.2.0

API docs: https://www.nuand.com/bladeRF-doc/libbladeRF/
FX3 firmware: https://www.nuand.com/fx3_images/
FPGA bitstreams: https://www.nuand.com/fpga_images/
Ubuntu PPA: https://launchpad.net/~nuandllc/+archive/ubuntu/bladerf
Windows installer: https://www.nuand.com/win_installers/

Summary of changes in 2019.07

libbladeRF
- Gain mode setting default is now manual
- Tuning mode setting default is now host
- Add OTP command support
- Fix metadata related arithmetic
bladeRF-cli:
- Add RFIC fitler selection
- Add tuning_mode
- Display more useful warning and error messages
FPGA:
- Increase FIFO buffer sizes for bladeRF 2.0
- Fix underflow and overflow issues in metadata code
- Refactor RFIC code for bladeRF 2.0
- Allow quicktune to control XB gpio register for XB-200
Python
- Update for libbladeRF v2.2.1

2018.12-rc2 (2018-12-21)

This release candidate consists of the following versions:

* FPGA bitstream                v0.10.2
* FX3 firmware                  v2.3.1
* libbladeRF                    v2.2.0
* bladeRF-cli                   v1.7.1
* MATLAB & Simulink bindings    v1.0.3
* Python bindings               v1.1.1

API docs: https://www.nuand.com/bladeRF-doc/libbladeRF/
FX3 firmware: https://www.nuand.com/fx3_images/
FPGA bitstreams: https://www.nuand.com/fpga_images/
Ubuntu PPA: https://launchpad.net/~bladerf/+archive/ubuntu/bladerf
Windows installer: https://www.nuand.com/win_installers/

The major new features in this release candidate are:

FPGA-based RFIC control for the bladeRF 2.0 micro family
Quick-tuning support for the bladeRF 2.0 micro family

Summary of changes since 2018.10-rc1:

FPGA
- Add quick tuning for bladerf2 devices
- Add FPGA-based RFIC control for bladerf2 devices
libbladeRF
- Fix FPGA image flashing on bladerf2 xA9 devices (#571)
- Fix bladerf_set_gain() being off by a few dB on bladerf1 devices
- Add biastee_rx and biastee_tx config file options
- Add support for quick tuning and FPGA-based RFIC control
bladeRF-cli
- Fix memory leak in CSV-to-SC16Q11 conversion (#694)
- Update for libbladeRF v2.2.0
MATLAB & Simulink bindings
- Update for libbladeRF v2.2.0
Python
- Fix warning on bladerf-tool info
- Update for libbladeRF v2.2.0

2018.10-rc1 (2018-10-30)

This release introduces new functionality and bug fixes, generally expanding
support for the bladeRF 2.0 Micro. It consists of the following versions:

* FPGA bitstream                v0.9.0
* FX3 firmware                  v2.3.1
* libbladeRF                    v2.1.0
* bladeRF-cli                   v1.7.0
* MATLAB & Simulink bindings    v1.0.2
* Python bindings               v1.1.0

Note to bladerf1 (x40/x115) users: AGC will not work with FPGA versions
older than v0.8.0, due to a change in the control register mapping. A warning
will be printed during device initialization if you are using an affected
FPGA version.

API docs: https://www.nuand.com/bladeRF-doc/libbladeRF/
FX3 firmware: https://www.nuand.com/fx3_images/
FPGA bitstreams: https://www.nuand.com/fpga_images/
Ubuntu PPA: https://launchpad.net/~bladerf/+archive/ubuntu/bladerf
Windows installer: https://www.nuand.com/win_installers/

Summary of changes since 2018.08:

FPGA
- Support for the ADS-B core on bladeRF micro
- Add metadata flags for miniexp{1,2} IO pin status
- Fix race condition during FX3/Nios UART initialization
- Fix bugs in bladeRF AGC control
- Timing closure improvements
- Build system fixes
FX3
- Fix USB device reset interrupting SPI flash autoloading of FPGA images
- Add BLADE_USB_CMD_QUERY_FLASH_ID command
- Add BLADE_USB_CMD_QUERY_FPGA_SOURCE command
libbladeRF
- API additions:
  - Add format macros for bladerf_frequency and bladerf_timestamp
  - Add 'manufacturer' and 'product' device description strings to
    bladerf_devinfo struct
  - Add bladerf_get_serial_struct() API function
  - Add bladerf_get_flash_size() API function
  - Add bladerf_trigger_signal values for J51-1 (bladerf2) and Miniexp-1
    (generic)
  - Add bladerf_get_fpga_source() API function
  - Add meta RX hardware flags for underflow, miniexp{1,2}
- Fixes:
  - bladerf2: support TX frequencies down to 47 MHz
  - bladerf2: support sample rates down to 0.521 Msps
  - bladerf1: fix BLADERF_GPIO_AGC_ENABLE
  - bladerf2: fix bladerf_trigger_arm implementation
  - streaming: extend USB transfer timeout to match the configured stream
    timeout
- Misc:
  - Install the doxygen docs, if generated
  - Adjust RX gain mode lists for clarity
  - bladerf1: implement bladerf_{get,set}_rf_port[s]
  - bladerf1: skip initialization if BLADERF_FORCE_NO_FPGA_PRESENT is set
bladeRF-cli
- Add libedit support
- Ensure device is initialized after deferred open
- info: display manufacturer, product, flash size
- print: show RF routing on bladerf1
- print: display supported ranges for sample rate, bandwidth, frequency
- probe: handle already-open devices
- version: display FPGA configuration source
MATLAB & Simulink bindings
- Add missing BB_TXVGA1_RXLPF loopback option
- Fix tx_gain property handling in simulink
Python
- Fix rx_channel_count, tx_channel_count
- Update with latest API functions
Windows installer
- install-drivers: install a driver for the bootloader VID/PID (04b4:00f3),
  allowing easier FX3 bootloader recovery operations
- Upgrade to libusb 1.0.22

This release introduces new functionality and bug fixes, particularly support
for the bladeRF 2.0 Micro product. It consists of the following versions:

* FPGA bitstream                v0.7.3
* FX3 firmware                  v2.2.0
* libbladeRF                    v2.0.2
* bladeRF-cli                   v1.6.1
* MATLAB & Simulink bindings    v1.0.1
* Python bindings               v1.0.1

*****************************************************************************
***      libbladeRF v2.0 introduces a number of breaking changes !!       ***
*****************************************************************************
*** Please see relnotes_2_0 in the Doxygen documentation for a full       ***
*** discussion of the changes in libbladeRF v2.0.                         ***
*****************************************************************************

Summary of changes since 2016.06:

FPGA
- Added support for Automatic Gain Control
- Redesign build system to support multiple product models
- Initial release with bladeRF Micro support
- Refactoring, bug fixes, and other misc. improvements
FX3
- Add support for the bladeRF 2.0 (2cf0:5250).
- Fix loading FPGA bitstreams from flash when there is nothing connected to
  the USB connector.
- Move USB descriptor consts to .usbdscr section so the linker glomps them.
libbladeRF
- Added support for Automatic Gain Control
- Added bladeRF.conf config option file
- Refactor to support for multiple product lines
- Add support for the bladeRF Micro product
- API: replace bladerf_module with bladerf_channel, a reverse-compatible
  change to handle products with multiple independent RF paths in the same
  direction
- API: BREAKING CHANGE - on bladerf_set_frequency, et al, the frequency
  parameter is now uint64_t instead of unsigned int
- Add typedefs for common param types, e.g. bladerf_frequency -> uint64_t
bladeRF-cli
- Added support for Automatic Gain Control
- No longer initializes the bladeRF before loading a new FPGA image, to
  avoid potential catch-22 problems
- bladeRF 2.0 Micro support
- Support for MIMO RX and TX using "channel=" parameter on rx/tx config
- Various code quality fixups
MATLAB & Simulink bindings
- Add support for bladeRF 2.0 (Micro) products
- Change "not supported" (-8) library errors to Matlab warnings
  temporarily, to permit some grace while others' scripts are updated.
- Update bladeRF_XCVR to use new unified gain control
- Add bladeRF_Misc for misc measurements and controls
- Update bladeRF_rx_gui to support unified gain
- Update Simulink block to match libbladeRF v2.0.0
Python
- New in 2018.08

Releases: Nuand/bladeRF

2025.10

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2025.05-rc2

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May release

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2023.02

2023.02 (2023-02-13)

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2021.10

2021.10 (2021-10-04)

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2021.02

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2019.07

2019.07 (2019-07-31)

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2018.12-rc2

2018.12-rc2 (2018-12-21)

Uh oh!

2018.10-rc1

2018.10-rc1 (2018-10-30)

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2018.08

Uh oh!