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ZL3AI > APRDIG 20.10.03 15:47l 228 Lines 9447 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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From: ZL3AI@ZL3VML.#80.NZL.OC
To : APRDIG@WW
TAPR APRS Special Interest Group Digest for Saturday, October 18, 2003.
1. Re: Anderson Power Poles
2. OpenTracker
3. Re: OpenTracker
4. Re: Power Pole Assembly
5. FS: 110W VHF GE Deltas w/ 99 Ch S-950 Head Programmed and tuned to 144.39 >>
$50
6. Re: Power Pole Assembly
7. Re: Power Pole Assembly
8. Re: Anderson Power Poles
9. APP Sources
10. MIM Information ??
11. RE: APP Sources
12. RE: APP Sources
13. PSR deadline approaching quickly
14. RE: Balloon Information
15. Re: Power Pole Assembly
16. Re: Power Pole Assembly
17. Re: Power Pole Assembly
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Subject: Re: Anderson Power Poles
From: David VanHorn <dvanhorn@cedar.net>
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 23:49:34 -0500
X-Message-Number: 1
>>At 13:25 16-10-03 -0400, Robert Radmore wrote:
>>>Not looking to start another Power Pole fiasco....
>
>>It looks like it didn't succeed, its heading for another fiasco by the
>>looks of it...
>
>Yes, another mindless power pole debate, totally off topic. Hopefully, the
>moderator will put an end to our misery<g>.
If this is so far OT, why does it keep coming up?
AFAIK, all our radios have power connectors, and most of us seem to have at
least some interest in field day, and emergency service.
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Subject: OpenTracker
From: "Scott Miller" <scott@3xf.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 22:46:24 -0700
X-Message-Number: 2
As some of you know, I've been working on an open source TinyTrak-style
tracker as part of the OpenTrac project. Of course, there's no reason the
hardware can't support APRS formats as well, and in future software versions
it almost undoubtedly will.
I've shrunk the design considerably, and after another prototype or two I'll
be having some boards professionally fabricated. I don't intend to go into
the manufacturing business, but etching double-sided boards at home is a bit
of a pain and I might at least supply premade boards and programmed
microcontrollers for those without the equipment or inclination to build one
from scratch.
So what I want to know from the SIG is what you'd like to see done
differently, compared to the TT3. To start with, here's a quick rundown of
the major differences in the designs:
OpenTracker TinyTrak3
Motorola HC08 processor Microchip PIC
1-bit PWM audio output 4-bit resistor ladder D/A audio output
Single multi-function LED 4 LEDs, 2 software controlled
3 selectable A/D or I/O lines ?
2 I/O lines with internal pull-ups ?
IRQ available and unused
Right now the OpenTracker has no I/O lines allocated to configuration
jumpers or other user input. The MCU has fewer pins than the TT3's, but it
makes up for that with the use of pulse-width modulation for audio output,
and the fact that a single LED indicates power, GPS lock, carrier detect,
and PTT based on its flashing pattern. The 'ready' pattern is just a slow,
low duty cycle 'blink.... blink.... blink....', so it also has the advantage
of drawing less power.
It uses the same energy detect circuit as the TT3, but the I/O line used for
input is also A/D capable - since the input is just a DC biased version of
the audio input, it's theoretically possible to decode received signals in
software. In practice, I don't know if you can really do that in an 8 MHZ
processor, but at least you've got access to the raw signal.
Of the remaining 3 A/D capable inputs, one is currently connected to an
LM335 temperature sensor. That was mostly a test of the telemetry
capabilities of the device, but I might leave it on the board for those who
want it. You'd have to enable it in the config program, so leaving the
sensor out wouldn't hurt anything. Two high-current I/O lines with internal
pull-ups are also unused, as is the interrupt request input.
Right now the board is sized for a Serpac C-6 case, like the TT3. Mostly
because I have a local supply of them (and Serpac was nice enough to send me
samples of some variants), and it seems to work well for the TT3. There's
no reason it has to use that case, though. One of my complaints about this
configuration is that having it inline with two DB9's usually results in a
setup about three times as long as the case alone. Using a wider case would
allow the connectors to be side by side, and the overall length would be
less.
Anyway... should the design incorporate a rotary selector switch for
choosing configurations? A pusbutton for sending locations or 'ident'
packets manually? Just bring everything out to a pin header? Ditch the
DB9's and use an RJ-12 and 6-pin mini-DIN for your DigiTraveler GPS and
Japanese radio? Your suggestions are welcome.
Remember, the board layout and original CAD files will be available, along
with the source code, under an open source license.
Scott
N1VG
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Subject: Re: OpenTracker
From: Wes Johnston <wes@johnston.net>
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2003 09:46:51 -0400
X-Message-Number: 3
At 01:46 AM 10/18/2003, you wrote:
>It uses the same energy detect circuit as the TT3, but the I/O line used for
>input is also A/D capable - since the input is just a DC biased version of
>the audio input, it's theoretically possible to decode received signals in
>software. In practice, I don't know if you can really do that in an 8 MHZ
>processor, but at least you've got access to the raw signal.
You could measure deviation.... A full signal which saturates the a/d
would be considered white noise, and anything less than saturation would be
a valid signal. Using this method , you don't have to decode a
thing... Of course that also allows for decoding CW ID's ... or CW queries
(but that's more for fun than practical) (2nd question... _is_ CW fun??? lol)
>Anyway... should the design incorporate a rotary selector switch for
>choosing configurations? A pusbutton for sending locations or 'ident'
>packets manually? Just bring everything out to a pin header? Ditch the
>DB9's and use an RJ-12 and 6-pin mini-DIN for your DigiTraveler GPS and
>Japanese radio? Your suggestions are welcome.
Two configs should be fine.... no need for a rotary switch....
Force POSIT/ID is great idea... maybe double duty the pin to a "hold off"
as well... depends on config. You know, poor man's smart beacon is to tie
into the brake light of your car.
Power to radio pin (before PTT is great power management)
I vibration sensor input would be slick.... unit is in low power mode until
it senses vibration, then it powers up the GPS and radio.
please don't use rg6... I don't have a crimper for them.... I *just* got a
crimper for rg45 (and I can buy patch cables at any radio shack - it's the
only useful thing I can buy from radio shack anymore).
The mini-6 would be a problem... unless it was a PCB mount MALE plug... I
don't know of any male to male mini6 cables... and they're really hard to
solder, so I usually end up whacking off the end of a keyboard cable. Of
course if it were a male mini6 PCB mount, the entire tracker could just
clip onto the radio.... wouldn't that be cool.... we could encapsulate the
whole thing in epoxy and only have a plug out the back for GPS serial data
(and power)
Wes
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Subject: Re: Power Pole Assembly
From: Wes Johnston <wes@johnston.net>
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2003 09:51:17 -0400
X-Message-Number: 4
>We need a local source for them. Wish the ham stores or RS would
>carry them.
Check your local battery store... RC modelers use them, and also the newer
power wheels products' batteries use them. The advantage here is that the
power wheels 6v batteries have an inline fuse housing on them which is
pretty weather proof. Cut 'em off at the battery and put ring lugs on
them. Yeah, they're black and white housings but that's easy enough to fix
with a pocket knife.
Wes
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Subject: Re: Power Pole Assembly
From: "Mark Fellhauer" <sparkfel@qwest.net>
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2003 08:03:15 -0700
X-Message-Number: 6
At 10:43 AM 10/17/2003, Curt Mills, WE7U wrote:
>We need a local source for them. Wish the ham stores or RS would
>carry them.
Most hobby shops I've seen now carry them (but maybe at a premium price) as
they've become quite popular with the RC Car and electric flight crowd. In
fact, I've even found them on the Malaysian island of Penang, in
Georgetown. I went into a hobby shop in Komtar Tower, out of curiosity,
and stumbled upon them.
Mark
KC7BXS
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Subject: Re: Power Pole Assembly
From: "Ken Cechura" <kcechura@umr.edu>
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2003 10:11:58 -0500
X-Message-Number: 7
AES carries them in their milwaukee store. Might be something you have to
ask about.... But if you mean LOCAL ham stores, well, I don't see why they
COULDN'T carry them if there was a demand for them! This is one of those
"If you ask, they will order" things.
Personally, I've had pretty good luck with ordering them from powerwerx.
73
Ken
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