RTL-SDR configuration issues with macOS Catalina

I'm attempting to configure the "Communications Toolbox Support Package for RTL-SDR Radio" add-on, version 19.2.0, for MATLAB R2019b Update 3 (9.7.0.1261785). Every time I launch the "Hardware Setup" screen, I click "Next," and I get a spinning macOS "pinwheel of death" while the app consumes all of the memory on my Mac. I have to "Force Quit" the app in order to kill it. This is on a MacBook Pro with 16 GB of memory, running the latest macOS 10.15.2 "Catalina."

I'm using one of the ubiquitous Realtek RTL2832U dongles (Nooelec SESDR SMArt), and it works fine with CubicSDR, so this isn't a driver issue or an actual hardware issue. I can also "see" the device within MATLAB by using sdrinfo. However, trying to do anything further, such as launching the Hardware Setup screen, causes MATLAB to go into an infinite memory-gobbling loop.

Any suggestions on what could be preventing it from working? I'm curently using an evaluation license for MATLAB, and I want to use it with RTL-SDR for hobbyist/amateur radio purposes.

my_rtlsdr = sdrinfo

my_rtlsdr = 

                RadioName: 'Generic RTL2832U OEM'
             RadioAddress: '0'
              RadioIsOpen: 0
                TunerName: 'R820T'
             Manufacturer: 'Realtek'
                  Product: 'RTL2838UHIDIR'
               GainValues: [29×1 double]
      RTLCrystalFrequency: 28800000
    TunerCrystalFrequency: 28800000
             SamplingMode: 'Quadrature'
             OffsetTuning: 'Disabled'         

[Ethem]

Do you have any of the accessibility features turned on? For example, the VoiceOver Accessibility feature (System Preferences > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Enable VoiceOver).

[N5AB]

I didn't have any Accessibility features enabled, but I do have the Magnet app installed, and revoking its accessibility privileges from "System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Accessibillity" seems to have done the trick.

There may be other apps causing problems, since some of them I had to delete from the list, rather than uncheck the check-box. However, Magnet is definitely causing the issue.

I am going to close this, since I have a work-around. Thanks for the tip!

Answer 1

[N5AB]

The issue was caused by one or more apps using the accessibility API, in particular, the Magnet app.

I went to "System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Accessibillity" and unchecked Magnet's privileges, and the hardware configuration screen works.

There may be other apps that are interfering, but I know for sure that Magnet does interfere.

For what it's worth, Steam and iTerm2 do NOT cause any problems.

[Carlos Alberto Rodriguez]

In my case other app that interfere with matlab is Logi Option from Logitech mouse.