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I may be late to the party, but I have just discovered the NEXTION?display. I am using it on my BitX. What makes it really neat is the software that can be downloaded from the manufacturer's site. It takes all the pain out of graphics programming. I have also replaced the UNO with an STM32 as in addition to the normal stuff I have added a GPS module to display time/location/grid square data as well as using the 1PPS to do a continuous correction to the SI oscillator. The higher resolution allows calculating the SWR etc with much finer gradations.? I will be adding a filter board from a CODAN that will allow all band operation.(bought for $12.00 on EBay). Amazing what is available to the?homebrewer today!
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Fred:
Are you running the Nextion from the STM32? No driver issues?
Jack, W8TEE
From: Dr Fred Hambrecht <w4jle@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 2:13 PM
Subject: [BITX20] Nextion Display
I may be late to the party, but I have just discovered the NEXTION?display. I am using it on my BitX. What makes it really neat is the software that can be downloaded from the manufacturer's site. It takes all the pain out of graphics programming. I have also replaced the UNO with an STM32 as in addition to the normal stuff I have added a GPS module to display time/location/grid square data as well as using the 1PPS to do a continuous correction to the SI oscillator. The higher resolution allows calculating the SWR etc with much finer gradations.? I will be adding a filter board from a CODAN that will allow all band operation.(bought for $12.00 on EBay). Amazing what is available to the?homebrewer today!
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Which STM32???
There's a whole bunch of them, from Arm Cortex M0's to M7F's.
The M0 is extremely cheap, can be well under a buck for the chip.
The M7F has caches,memory mapping, and floating point, 216mhz clock.?
I'm currently playing with a "Blue Pill", has the STM32F103C8, $2 on ebay
? ??
Has the M3 core at 72mhz,? 64meg of flash, 20meg of ram, 12bit ADC.
Otherwise much like like the Nano, IO is primarily 3.3v with some 5v tolerant pins.
Get one that reads "PC13" in the silk towards the lower right corner (most these days do).
I got it to speak Arduino with some messing around, though not all the libraries are supported.
Arduino is a good way to get your feet wet, I may move on to the Atollic Eclipse IDE someday.
Jerry, KE7ER
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On Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 11:13 am, Dr Fred Hambrecht wrote:
I have also replaced the UNO with an STM32
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Scratch that.
The STM32F103C8 has a measly 64kbytes of flash, 20kbytes of ram.
For megabytes, you'll have to shell out $5 for the RasberryPi-zero.
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On Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 12:14 pm, Jerry Gaffke wrote:
I'm currently playing with a "Blue Pill", has the STM32F103C8, $2 on ebay
? ??
Has the M3 core at 72mhz,? 64meg of flash, 20meg of ram, 12bit ADC.
Otherwise much like like the Nano, IO is primarily 3.3v with some 5v tolerant pins.
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Jack,
?The Nextion display only uses a serial port.? Software is written on the processor on the display to change the display contents based on data sent back and forth on the serial port.??? This allows in this case the external processor to deal with data a processing and letting the display itself to handle graphics content.?
73, Michael
KM4OLT
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On Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 11:48 am, Jack Purdum wrote:
Fred:
?
Are you running the Nextion from the STM32? No driver issues?
?
Jack, W8TEE
?
?
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Jerry,
?You can do a ESP32 Widora Air for about $12 with free shipping.?? The ESP32 packs quite a punch in I/O, memory, and processing.? That and Bluetooth and WiFi.?? The Widora particular package is about the same as the STM32 device you're talking about.?
73, Michael
KM4OLT
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On Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 01:32 pm, Jerry Gaffke wrote:
Scratch that.
The STM32F103C8 has a measly 64kbytes of flash, 20kbytes of ram.
For megabytes, you'll have to shell out $5 for the RasberryPi-zero.
. . .
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Jack, I am using the serial connection. No drivers needed. ? v/r Fred W4JLE ? ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jack Purdum via Groups.Io
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 14:48
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Nextion Display? Are you running the Nextion from the STM32? No driver issues?
From: Dr Fred Hambrecht <w4jle@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 2:13 PM
Subject: [BITX20] Nextion Display ? I may be late to the party, but I have just discovered the NEXTION?display. I am using it on my BitX. What makes it really neat is the software that can be downloaded from the manufacturer's site. It takes all the pain out of graphics programming. I have also replaced the UNO with an STM32 as in addition to the normal stuff I have added a GPS module to display time/location/grid square data as well as using the 1PPS to do a continuous correction to the SI oscillator. The higher resolution allows calculating the SWR etc with much finer gradations.? I will be adding a filter board from a CODAN that will allow all band operation.(bought for $12.00 on EBay). Amazing what is available to the?homebrewer today! ?
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How's the refresh rate? Any flicker?
Jack, W8TEE
From: Dr Fred Hambrecht <w4jle@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 7:43 PM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Nextion Display
Jack, I am using the serial connection. No drivers needed. ? v/r Fred W4JLE ? ? ? Are you running the Nextion from the STM32? No driver issues?
From: Dr Fred Hambrecht <w4jle@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 2:13 PM
Subject: [BITX20] Nextion Display ? I may be late to the party, but I have just discovered the NEXTION?display. I am using it on my BitX. What makes it really neat is the software that can be downloaded from the manufacturer's site. It takes all the pain out of graphics programming. I have also replaced the UNO with an STM32 as in addition to the normal stuff I have added a GPS module to display time/location/grid square data as well as using the 1PPS to do a continuous correction to the SI oscillator. The higher resolution allows calculating the SWR etc with much finer gradations.? I will be adding a filter board from a CODAN that will allow all band operation.(bought for $12.00 on EBay). Amazing what is available to the?homebrewer today! ?
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Did not know that, as I've never had one. Thanks!
Jack, W8TEE
From: Michael Monteith via Groups.Io <michael_r_monteith@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 6:24 PM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Nextion Display
Jack, ?The Nextion display only uses a serial port.? Software is written on the processor on the display to change the display contents based on data sent back and forth on the serial port.??? This allows in this case the external processor to deal with data a processing and letting the display itself to handle graphics content.? 73, Michael KM4OLT On Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 11:48 am, Jack Purdum wrote:
Fred:
?
Are you running the Nextion from the STM32? No driver issues?
?
Jack, W8TEE
?
?
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Which display width did you procure for the NEXTION?
Pat, VU3PAT
On Thursday, February 1, 2018 7:55 AM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io <jjpurdum@...> wrote:
Did not know that, as I've never had one. Thanks!
Jack, W8TEE
From: Michael Monteith via Groups.Io <michael_r_monteith@...> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 6:24 PM Subject: Re: [BITX20] Nextion Display Jack, ?The Nextion display only uses a serial port.? Software is written on the processor on the display to change the display contents based on data sent back and forth on the serial port.??? This allows in this case the external processor to deal with data a processing and letting the display itself to handle graphics content.? 73, Michael KM4OLT On Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 11:48 am, Jack Purdum wrote:
Fred:
?
Are you running the Nextion from the STM32? No driver issues?
?
Jack, W8TEE
?
?
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Jack, ? Nope, it has its own processor that takes care of the refresh. With the downloadable software you define touch areas, display areas etc. This is downloaded to the onboard processor via either serial of much faster via an SD card. The data defining characteristics and page numbers once down loaded are populated via the serial bus. The STM32 discovery boards availabl for less than $20 contain the BitX program (you can use the same IDE as used for the Arduino once the libraries are downloaded). It took me less than 20 minutes to define 4 pages to control all the functions. Thanks to your tutelage I was able to simply modify the portions of the BitX program I used with a 20X4 display. With the touch screen I can enter the frequency directly and pass it to the STM32 processor. Works well with the Arduino Mega as well using TX2/RX2. The software from the screen vendor allows you to prepare the files, simulate the screen and then when you happy send it to the SD card for installation. Once you get familiar with the simulator you can create an application in less than an hour. Once data has been passed to the screen you can disconnect the Arduiano/STM32 and the display continues on displaying the last data received in the fields defined by the SD card info. Screen sizes up to 7 inch are available albeit a bit pricey. I am using the 3.5 inch. ? v/r Fred W4JLE ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jack Purdum via Groups.Io
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 21:22
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Nextion Display? How's the refresh rate? Any flicker?
From: Dr Fred Hambrecht <w4jle@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 7:43 PM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Nextion Display ? I am using the serial connection. No drivers needed. Are you running the Nextion from the STM32? No driver issues?
From: Dr Fred Hambrecht <w4jle@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 2:13 PM
Subject: [BITX20] Nextion Display I may be late to the party, but I have just discovered the NEXTION?display. I am using it on my BitX. What makes it really neat is the software that can be downloaded from the manufacturer's site. It takes all the pain out of graphics programming. I have also replaced the UNO with an STM32 as in addition to the normal stuff I have added a GPS module to display time/location/grid square data as well as using the 1PPS to do a continuous correction to the SI oscillator. The higher resolution allows calculating the SWR etc with much finer gradations.? I will be adding a filter board from a CODAN that will allow all band operation.(bought for $12.00 on EBay). Amazing what is available to the?homebrewer today! ?
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Fred,
?Have you posted your work somewhere?? I bought a Nextion display over a year ago.? At the time the software was pretty messy.? I haven't touched it since.? But I would like to again.? Now I know who to bug if I have problems trying it again. lol? It would be great to have a professional looking display for the Bitx and uBitx systems.?? I've got both to build at the moment.? Waiting on parts for one and pretty much spare time to work on the other.
73, Michael
KM4OLT
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I had not considered it Michael. If there is enough interest, I would be happy to post my meager efforts. Like you I tried other displays and plotting XX/YY for every display point, box etc was frustrating and beyond both my artistic abilities and patience. The Nextion simulator available from their web site makes it easy to set up boxes, touch areas required and testing on your PC. Once it is what you want simply save the file on an SD card and transfer it to the display. Some of the cool stuff you can do is to put a picture of an antenna tower or other chosen object and vary the height of the tower as a function such as SWR or volume. I use 4 pages as other than on/off- volume control I have no knobs or buttons on the radio. Some of what I have is pretty cheesy and done because I could. My rig does not use the standard BitX software but the sketch proffered by Gene Marcus as a base. I use a GPS module to display Zulu Time, grid square, elevation, speed and direction, mainly because it is available. What I was really after was the ability to control the SI oscillator frequency automatically via counting the 1PPS signal and correcting errors. I am able to hold the frequency to within .2Hz worst case. Not quite a disciplined oscillator, but close enough for government work. The big thing is that the Arduino is no longer burdened with refreshing and painting the display. In the Arduino you simply select the area definition and data you want to send/receive via the serial bus. ? v/r Fred W4JLE ? ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Michael Monteith via Groups.Io
Sent: Thursday, February 1, 2018 07:58
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Nextion Display ? Fred,
?Have you posted your work somewhere?? I bought a Nextion display over a year ago.? At the time the software was pretty messy.? I haven't touched it since.? But I would like to again.? Now I know who to bug if I have problems trying it again. lol? It would be great to have a professional looking display for the Bitx and uBitx systems.?? I've got both to build at the moment.? Waiting on parts for one and pretty much spare time to work on the other.
73, Michael
KM4OLT
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Fred, I am sure there are many of us out there that would be very much interested in your work. May just be the incentive to pick up a Nextion...
On Thu, Feb 1, 2018 at 8:14 PM, Dr Fred Hambrecht <w4jle@...> wrote: I had not considered it Michael. If there is enough interest, I would be happy to post my meager efforts. Like you I tried other displays and plotting XX/YY for every display point, box etc was frustrating and beyond both my artistic abilities and patience. The Nextion simulator available from their web site makes it easy to set up boxes, touch areas required and testing on your PC. Once it is what you want simply save the file on an SD card and transfer it to the display. Some of the cool stuff you can do is to put a picture of an antenna tower or other chosen object and vary the height of the tower as a function such as SWR or volume. I use 4 pages as other than on/off- volume control I have no knobs or buttons on the radio. Some of what I have is pretty cheesy and done because I could. My rig does not use the standard BitX software but the sketch proffered by Gene Marcus as a base. I use a GPS module to display Zulu Time, grid square, elevation, speed and direction, mainly because it is available. What I was really after was the ability to control the SI oscillator frequency automatically via counting the 1PPS signal and correcting errors. I am able to hold the frequency to within .2Hz worst case. Not quite a disciplined oscillator, but close enough for government work. The big thing is that the Arduino is no longer burdened with refreshing and painting the display. In the Arduino you simply select the area definition and data you want to send/receive via the serial bus. ? v/r Fred W4JLE ? ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Michael Monteith via Groups.Io
Sent: Thursday, February 1, 2018 07:58
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Nextion Display ? Fred,
?Have you posted your work somewhere?? I bought a Nextion display over a year ago.? At the time the software was pretty messy.? I haven't touched it since.? But I would like to again.? Now I know who to bug if I have problems trying it again. lol? It would be great to have a professional looking display for the Bitx and uBitx systems.?? I've got both to build at the moment.? Waiting on parts for one and pretty much spare time to work on the other.
73, Michael
KM4OLT
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Fred,
I will second that!?? I'm very interested in what you have done with the Nextion Display and STM32.? A little more detail on which Nextion display (there are so many), and I see a host of different STM32 Discovery with different Flash Memory sizes.
I am almost finished with my first uBITX with the fine work done by KD8CEC, W0EB and W2CTX to turn it into a full fledged transceiver with many features and essentially little of no hardware mods..
So the next uBITX plan on putting in a much bigger enclosure and making a much more finished radio with a few more buttons, (maybe knobs) and a TFT display, maybe even one of the 7" ones.??
The mcHF radio I have (v.6) will potentially run out of Flash memory space with future firmware additions (it's already 400KB plus 64KB boot loader on 512KB Flash) so I'm tempted to just get the 1M Flash version ($36) so I can continue to experiment with my second uBITX project.
73 Dave WI6R
On Thu, Feb 1, 2018 at 4:23 PM, Joe <joeman2116@...> wrote: Fred, I am sure there are many of us out there that would be very much interested in your work. May just be the incentive to pick up a Nextion...
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Fred,
?? When I first started programming in the 80s cpu and memory were limited.? I found out quick how to write efficient code for updating displays.? Updating the display only when something changed and only changing the parts involved.??? The Nextion is definitely the way to go by offloading all that hard work.? Not to mention freeing up I/O lines for other use as well.??
? As far as disciplining the oscillator you might take a look at QRP Labs DDS VFO documents.? Also the document on Frequency Drift at
? That might help you as well.? If not I've contacted the programmer before if you needed something specific.?? I usually do that as last resort.??
73, Michael
KM4OLT
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On Thu, Feb 1, 2018 at 04:14 pm, Dr Fred Hambrecht wrote:
I had not considered it Michael. If there is enough interest, I would be happy to post my meager efforts. Like you I tried other displays and plotting XX/YY for every display point, box etc was frustrating and beyond both my artistic abilities and patience. The Nextion simulator available from their web site makes it easy to set up boxes, touch areas required and testing on your PC. Once it is what you want simply save the file on an SD card and transfer it to the display. Some of the cool stuff you can do is to put a picture of an antenna tower or other chosen object and vary the height of the tower as a function such as SWR or volume.
I use 4 pages as other than on/off- volume control I have no knobs or buttons on the radio. Some of what I have is pretty cheesy and done because I could. My rig does not use the standard BitX software but the sketch proffered by Gene Marcus as a base. I use a GPS module to display Zulu Time, grid square, elevation, speed and direction, mainly because it is available. What I was really after was the ability to control the SI oscillator frequency automatically via counting the 1PPS signal and correcting errors. I am able to hold the frequency to within .2Hz worst case. Not quite a disciplined oscillator, but close enough for government work.
The big thing is that the Arduino is no longer burdened with refreshing and painting the display. In the Arduino you simply select the area definition and data you want to send/receive via the serial bus.
?
v/r
Fred W4JLE
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I was wondering if you would share your hmi file.? I am thinking of trying the Nextion display and would appreciate a starting place for the display.
What model are you using?
I was thinking? of either the 3.5 or 5 inch
Thanks
joe
VE1BWV
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I am interested in this too. I have not received ?my ubitx yet but have been playing around with the Arduino and stm. I've ?not had much luck with stm ?f303k8 ?nucleo , mostly because like it has been mentioned library ?issues ?I have not tried ?the ?blue pill or the f4 boards I have.
--
73's ?kn4ud
Allen ?Merrell
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I too got the display. A 5" model.
I stumbled with the examples. Googled for some useful graphics to use.?
All the nice S meter images had a needle in the image at zero and I gave up. I'd love to look over your efforts to see if I can get it going at least.
73, Bo W4GHV since '54
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I started in the 70's and saved my beer money to get more memory chips for my TRS-80. ?
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Michael Monteith
Patrick Pugh Sawian