Showing posts with label APRS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label APRS. Show all posts

18 October 2024

LoRa APRS with Meshtastic DevBoard

After I played a little with my Meshtastic Development Board I previously made (and write about) I decided it will be nice to give it a try into LoRa APRS.

This raise some issues about how different modules are connected to the GPIO's of the ESP32 in my configuration.

I was directed by some early adopters in Romania to the CA2RXU web flasher where I found that the Tracker FW can be loaded into a pretty good selection of boards.


But, what board from those would be compatible with my one? Hmmm.... this would require some research!

First, I had to go to CA2RXU's excellent repository and find some clues about pin mapping; how the LoRa transceiver is connected to the ESP32 on various boards in order to choose the proper version of the already compiled FW from the web flasher tool...

Yes, I could compiled it myself but, apart from being a brave ham, I like to cut corners because I'm a lazy one!

Using the already compiled FW will be a good "investment" because I can keep up with the future versions without going to the compiling process everytime a newer version is released.

Flashing the LoRa APRS I-Gate was easy and I already had one working on my bench but the tracker is a different animal because it needs the GPS input to really be usefull as a "tracker"!

So, I land onto the GitHub page of the project and searched for anything that could hint to my problem. Soon I found boards_pinout.h where various ready-made boards are described.

LoRa module is tied to the ESP32 using this diagram:

MISO > D19

MOSI > D27

NSS/CS > D18

SCK > D5

RST > D23

DIO0 > D26

so I searched for this particular definition.

I found two of them that could suit my needs.

First was the TTGO T-Beam family that catched my eye. Almost all of them have the LoRa transcever connected as I needed.

The main problem with the newer versions of the BOARD (!!!) have the battery management circuit APX192 and this is used for informations about the battery voltage.

 


Well, my board is reading the voltage with ESP32's ADC so, using the firmware could cause some problems. Or not. I don't want (yet) to explore the full code to see how APX192 is integrated into the workflow therefore I choose an early version, of T-Beam FW, the 0.7.

 
I connected the GPS Tx to GPIO 12 as defined into the code but, to my surprise, a message on the small LCD told me that there is no GPS data incoming.
Scratched my head a few hours... Everything was right on the HW side but no GPS valid frames and a suggestion to reset it. Well, that was not an option because I was sure my GPS junk was OK because I previously tested on Meshtastic and it performed like expected!

Left the things like that at around 2AM and next morning I was eager to see the schematic of the TTGO TBeam 0.7... Where the heck that GPS Tx was tied to ESP32?
The schematic is hard to find but a picture of the board told the whole story!
The GPS Tx was connected to GPIO 34!!!

Well well, you little TBeam prick, gotcha! I connected the GPS Tx to GPIO 34 and, voila! that message dissapeared and soon a fix was achieved!

Looking into the code I saw that another board had the same pinout definitions on LoRa TRX with some minor variations.

OK, so, what else do I need to look for? 
The Battery ADC..
 
Most of them are at GPIO 35 which is the same as my dev board so, "cheked".
 
Button? 
Well, I might be a nice feature but I think I can use the tracker without it after I tested the programming interface (web based) -most of them are on GPIO's that are not available on my board...

So? I think we are good with GPS and LoRa Trx working properly!

The next step was to play a little bit with the firmware for other boards and found one that fits well:
TTGO_T_LORA32 V2.1
 
 
 
The blue LED connected to GPIO 15 is there to show me when the tracker is transmitting because I intend to use it without the OLED display; that was just to see how the things works..
 
The battery voltage is not correct, it should indicate 4.2V but this is due to the voltage divider that have different resistors than the TBeam original board for which the FW was written. Yeah, Yeah, I know, I can change the ratio by replacing one resistor... I will think about it, I promise!
 

 
73!
 


31 October 2020

RaspberryPi + RTL-SDR iGate

 -Schimbarea frecventei de lucru:  sudo nano /usr/local/bin/dw.sh

-Starile iGate: sudo nano -c sdr.conf

= COMENZI:

-rtl_fm -f 144.80M - | direwolf -c sdr.conf -r 24000 -D 1 -

-sudo systemctl status direwolf

-sudo journalctl -o cat -af -u direwolf

-sudo systemctl enable direwolf

-sudo systemctl start direwolf

-sudo systemctl stop direwolf






05 February 2018

APRS via LoRa III

Se punea problema de a modifica valorile interfetei radio cu valori "custom" folosind libraria RadioMaster:

Solutia:

  const RH_RF95::ModemConfig custom1 =  { 
            RH_RF95_BW_20_8KHZ | RH_RF95_CODING_RATE_4_5,
            RH_RF95_SPREADING_FACTOR_256CPS 
            };
            
  rf95.setModemRegisters(&custom1);

14 May 2016

APRS pocket transceiver bazat pe Arduino

M-am apucat sa experimentez cu un Arduino niscaiva traznai de APRS. Pana la urma a iesit un tracker care poate sa so receptioneze traficul APRS, inclusiv mesajele.
Transceiverul este un DORJI, v

ia LCCOM, placa uC este custom dar merge bine mersi si un Arduino UNO cu oarece componente pe langa ea. Cateva rezistente, condensator


i si un potentiometru. Comenzile la DORJI nu necesita curenti mari astfel ca un port I/O Arduino suporta fara probleme PTT ul.

27 April 2016

APRS at smallest footprint

Today I received the APRS modem boards.
They are made around a ATMEGA328 and can be programmed with Arduino IDE.
All they need is a small GPS and a transceiver. Of course, the exigent hams can put a small I2C LCD to have a nice visual feedback.
After the Easter Holiday I will put them to work and I'll keep you in touch!

73 de Adrian



09 September 2014

Kantronics KAM Plus

So...
I found on my junk box a Kantronics Kam Plus modem. It stayed there about 2 years untill I found (yes, in my other junkbox) a 25 to 9 pin COM adapter...
I connected to a terminal and nothing happened, just garbage on my screen so I search on internet  and came to this reset procedure:

1)  Open the case
2)  With modem power off, install Reset Jumper, K6 (near the largest IC), on the two posts.  ( no need to touch the battery).
3)  Using terminal program (WinPack or others) with baud rate set to 1200, power on the modem.
Modem should respond with :

CHECKSUM OK
....RAM OK
128K BYTES
REPLACE TEST JUMPER

4) Power off the modem; return jumper K6 to one pin only.

5)  Power up the modem;  Watch for: 
PRESS (*) TO SET BAUD RATE*   (You must do this within 2 seconds).

ENTER YOUR CALLSIGN=>
ENTER YOUR CALLSIGN=> yo3hjv
yo3hjv
KANTRONICS ALL MODE COMMUNICATOR PLUS Version 8.2P
(C) COPYRIGHT 1988-1997 BY KANTRONICS INC.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
DUPLICATION PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF KANTRONICS.
cmd:

You should now be in NEW USER mode. 

6)   Check your call sign by typing    MYCALL

8)  To change from NEWUSER mode to TERMINAL mode type    INTERFACE  TERMINAL

cmd:in terminal
in terminal
INTFACE was NEWUSER
cmd:

9)  To change from 1200 baud (because Airmail doesn't go that slow)  type in ABAUD  0 
cmd:abaud 0
abaud 0
ABAUD was 1200
cmd:

Now, everything is ok , awaiting a proper radio and setup to test. Unfortunately, only CW and RTTY seems to be appropiate in these days since PACTOR, AMTOR and other modes like that ceased in favor of PSK.
Maybe this nice modem will find it's place as a APRS digipeater, who knows!



30 January 2010

OEM GPS inside TM-D710 Front Panel

Acum aproape un an, scriam aici un post despre cum am adaptat un GPS Holux pentru utilizarea pe TM D-710 cu un minim de conectica.
Am cautat un modul convenabil din punct de vedere al dimensiunilor dar si al pretului. Un alt criteriu a fost acela al sensibilitatii de receptie, intrucat antena urma sa fie obturata de capacul de plastic al panoului frontal.
Am achizitionat de la Farnell un GPS Leadtek LR9552, cu antena incorporata. Dimensiunile sunt de 25x25 mm cu o grosime de aproximativ 7 mm!
Am fost impresionat de cat de mic este modulul; practic, antena acestuia este mai mare decat montajul propriu-zis...


Asadar, aveam in cutia cu "maimute" un modul GPS. (De fapt, mai am unul, HI).
Multa vreme am incercat sa gasesc si conectorul mama, corespondent conectorului existent pe modulul GPS. Nu am reusit sa il gasesc iar astazi, am avut ideea salvatoare, asa ca am trecut la fapte!
Am taiat partea de sus a conectorului si am capatat astfel acces la pini, urmand sa lipesc direct pe ei alimentarea si iesirea de semnal NMEA.
Conectorul este foarte mic, astfel incat operatiunea se recomanda celor cu vedere buna si mana sigura.



Pentru lipirea firelor am folosit un letcon de 25W caruia i-am subtiat varful astfel incat sa nu lipesc mai multi pini deodata.
Conform fisei tehnice, modulul GPS are doua iesiri! TxDA si TxDB.


Intrucat nu stiam care dintre ele este cea care furnizeaza semnalul necesar, am lipit pe toti pinii cate un fir. De fapt, nu imi trebuiau si intrarile la modul, dar, pentru ca mi-a iesit prima lipitura, am continuat, asa, din inertie...
Ulterior, dupa identificarea pinului corect, am dezlipit celelalte fire, ca nefiind necesare.
Proba de functionare am facut-o folosind conectorul lateral al panoului de control si o sursa de alimentare exterioara (o baterie 6F22 de 9V si un stabilizator LDO de 5V). Pinul 2 de la GPS este cel care furnizeaza semnalul necesar (TxDA).

Am desfacut panoul capacul panoului frontal si am desfacut saibele de fixare de la potentiometrii de volum/squelch si de la optical encoder.


Cele doua blocuri potentiometrice sunt conectate pe doua bucatele de cablaj si, desi sunt codificate diferit, in realitate sunt identice ca valori si schema electronica, deci nici o grija ca le-ati putea incurca intre ele la montaj.
Pe placa cu componente exista o folie profilata destinata protejarii cablajulu iin zona decupata a capacului din spate. O puteti ridica fara grija, nu este prinsa nici de cablaj si nici de capac. Sub aceasta folie exista un conector flexibil si este bina sa aveti mare grija cu el!



Desfacem cele doua suruburi care fixeaza cablajul de masca si ridicam montajul.
Conectorul de 2,5mm se gaseste in stanga afisajului LCD si se observa ca este vorba de o mufa care are si circuit de autodeconectare.
In figura de mai jos se vede clar pe care dintre pini conectam firul de semnal de la GPS.


Dupa ce lipim firul de semnal de la GPS, asezam cablajul la loc in panou si folosim o degajare in PCB pentru a trece firul in spatele carcasei.
In stanga conectorului RJ45 ce foloseste la conectarea panoului frontal la unitatea centrala observam un regulator LDO. Acesta este regulatorul care furnizeaza 5V montajului.
Intre regulator si conector, pe cablaj este marcat traseul de 10V. Acest marcaj este facut exact pe traseul de GND, unde ne vom conecta cu pinul 1 de la GPS.
Pinul 7, de +5V de la GPS se va lipi direct pe pinul regulatorului LDO.



Dupa lipirea firelor de la GPS, putem face o proba:
Conectam panoul de comanda si pornim statia. In meniul APRS selectam la INPUT: GPS.
Pornim TNC-ul in regim APRS12 si apasam butonul PMON pentru a observa informatiile furnizate de modulul GPS. Dupa aproximativ 2 minute, la mine a inceput sa dea informatiile de pozitie.
Cu ESC ne intoarcem in regimul de afisare a frecventei si apasam POS. Pe afisaj ar trebui sa observam deja coordonatele locului in care ne aflam, inclusiv cu afisarea careului (KN34BK in cazul meu).
In partea din stanga sus a afisajului, va clipi "GPS"; semnificatia este aceea de semnal NMEA coerent.



Oprim statia si deconectam panoul de comanda pentru etapa urmatoare.
Dupa ce am verificat functionarea corecta, eliminam de pe capacul din spate ghidajul destinat unui beeper (nu stiu care era rostul HI). Aplicam o bucata de folie dublu adeziva pe care vom lipi modulul GPS, chiar pe partea cu antena de receptie. Am observat ca nu influenteaza cu nimic performanta receptorului GPS.


Fixam modulul dupa cum se observa din imagine si inchidem capacul de la panoul de comanda.

Din acest moment, avem un TM D-710 cu GPS incorporat in panoul frontal!

Imi cer scuze pentru calitatea imaginilor dar am folosit ce aveam la indemana, adica un telefon mobil.

Mai jos sunt cateva informatii despre modulul GPS folosit:


{Some time ago I made a GPS unit for TM D-710. Now, with a little help from Leadtek, I manage to embedd a GPS OEM unit inside the TM D-710 Control panel! Yes, I just put a GPS inside the "box". }

20-channel, miniaturized single chipset module GPS with integrated ceramic antenna

The Leadtek GPS 9952 module (LR9552) is a high sensitivity and very compact smart antenna module, with built in GPS receiver circuit. This 20-channel global positioning system (GPS) receiver is designed for a wide range of OEM applications and is based on the fast and deep GPS signal search capabilities of SiRFStarIII architecture.

Features:

  • Based on the high performance features of the SiRFstarIII single chip set
  • 20 channels with All-In-View tracking
  • Compact module size for easy integration: 25x25x8.4 mm
  • Fully automatic assembly: reflow solder assembly ready
  • Hardware compatible with SiRF GSW3 v 3. 2.2 software
  • Multiple I/O pins reserved for customizing special user applications
  • Low power consumption: up to 70 mA, and extra high sensitivity: -158dBm
  • RoHS compliance
  • Cold/Warm/Hot Start Time: 4 2 /38/ 1 sec . at open sky and stationary environments.
  • Reacquisition Time: 0.1 second
  • RF Metal Shield for best performance in noisy environments
  • Multi-path Mitigation Hardware
  • RS232 level for GPS communications interface
  • Operating temperature: -20 ℃ to +60
  • Protocol: NMEA-0183/SiRF Binary (default NMEA)
  • Baud Rate: 4800, 19200, or 57600 baud (default 4800)
  • Ideal for high volume mass production (Taping reel package)
  • Cost saving through elimination of RF and board to board digital connectors

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

Chipset SiRFstarIII single chipset (GSC 3f )
General Frequency L1, 1575.42 MHz (C/A code 1.023 MHz chip rate)
Channels 20
Sensitivity -159 dBm

Accuracy

Position 10 meters, 2D RMS
5 meters 2D RMS, WAAS corrected
<5meters(50%)>Velocity 0.1 meters/second
Time 1 microsecond synchronized to GPS time
Datum Default WGS-84
Other selectable for other Datum

Time to First Fix (TTFF)
(Open Sky & Stationary Requirements) Reacquisition 0.1 sec., average
Snap start 1 sec., average
Hot start 1 sec., average typical TTFF
Warm start 38 sec., average typical TTFF
Cold start 42 sec., average typical TTFF

Dynamic Conditions

Altitude 18,000 meters (60,000 feet) max.
Velocity 515 meters/second (1000 knots) max.
Acceleration 4g , max.
Jerk 20 meters/second 3, max.

Power

Main power input 5 +- 10% VDC input
Power consumption ≈350 mW (continuous mode)
Supply Current ≈70 mA
Backup Power 1.5 +- 10% VDC input.

Serial Port

Electrical interface Two full duplex serial TTL interface.
Protocol messages NMEA-0183/4800 bps (Default)

Time-1PPS Pulse

Level RS232 or TTL
Pulse duration The 1PPS pulse width is 1 μs, this 1PPS is NOT suited to steer various oscillators (timing receivers, telecommunications system, etc).
Time reference At the pulse positive edge.
Measurement Aligned to GPS second, ? 1 microsecond

Environmental Characteristics

Operating temperature range -20 deg. C to +60 deg. C
Storage temperature range -20 deg. C to +65 deg. C

Physical Characteristics

Length 25 mm
Width 25 mm
Height 8.9 mm (with 4mm antenna)

6.9 mm (with 4mm antenna)
Weight 13.0/8.0g

WARNING!

The Leadtek 9552 OEM GPS comes in two "flavours": RS232 and TTL I/O.
Be sure to choose and order the RS-232 version! They both share the same user manual/leaflet!
Only the RS-232 works with the TM-D710!!!

25 February 2009

GPS for Kenwood TM-D710

I was looking for a compact solution for APRS mobile operation. First, I was started with a HOLUX GM210 "mouse" GPS.
The GPS unit was powered from a little homebrew stabilizer from the 12V socket. The same case was hosting the connection between the radio and the GPS unit.
But, this solution was to messy for my auto because involved a lot of wires and boxes.
So, I started to look for a more compact solution.
And this is what I made: a little box with the GPS module inside among a double RJ45 connector. The connector is needed to have the +5V supplied directly by the radio.
At the time of making the project, I had to choose from where to have the 5V: from the remote head or directly from the radio.
The remote head of the radio is powered at 10V and has some LP stabilisers inside. The LP stabs was evaluated and the conclusion was that they must not be stressed with the supplementary current surged by the GPS unit.
Instead, I choose the main 10V from the radio, available directly from the RJ45 cable. So, I used 2 RJ45 female couplers, already with straight connections between pins.
The result is in the pictures. The case is a half of the initial housing which host the first stabilizer.
In the box is the Holux GM210 module, a LM7805 stabilizer and the conections.


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