Hi Elia,
Have you seen John Price's TinySA Operator's Manual in the files section, in particular, the process involved in customising the TFT_eSPI library? Although it's written for V2.3 it's still applicable to 2.7.
Good luck.
Rgds
Jim - G3ZQC
|
Hi Elia,
I think we have had a QSO via GB3AL or GB3AU repeaters?? If you want to talk something through arrange a time and we can chat via the repeater if you can reach it (or GB3MH).
Sorry I should have listed the libraries I have:
ArduinoJson Version 6.15.2 (latest via library manager)
TFT_eSPI version 2.26 (latest via library manager)
WebSockets version 2.2.0 (latest via library manager)
AsyncTCP () - library files dated 30/09/2019
ESPAsyncWebServer (. My library files are dated 17/10/2019
73
Dave M0WID
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Hi Dave,
I loaded the sketch into the Arduino IDE and started looking at what libraries I need, there are a lot!
I believe I found all of them but seems either I got the wrong version of some or a completely different library with the same name.
Do you have a list of the libraries used and at what Rev?
example, for the TFT_eSPI library that I loaded the IDE gave the following error when compiling:
'class TFT_eSPI' has no member named 'getTouchRawZ'
Any advice is appreciated.
73 Elia
M0ZHN
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Re: TinySA - low sensitivity
#tinysa
Sorry Tony, i misread your post. Email me (good on QRZ) and I'll send the test programs.?
--
John P.
WA2FZW
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Re: TinySA - low sensitivity
#tinysa
Tony, David just posted the ESP32 code on the group yesterday. It's usable, but still has some bugs? (some already found and some yet to be discovered). We're not really going to provide real support for it yet, but let us know if you find problems.
--
John P.
WA2FZW
|
Re: TinySA - low sensitivity
#tinysa
Hello Jim,
??? You are certainly not alone with Si4432 troubles. I had come to the conclusion that about 1 in four of the HW-240 modules work, and those that do give an output of -15dBm at 434MHz. I initially bought four. When only one worked I got a further two that weren't supposed to be HW-240s, but that's what came anyway. One of those worked so I had the two I needed. Removing the output filter only, brought the level up to +8dBm. Near enough for initial testing I thought.
??? Unfortunately the SA failed to display any response to a test signal input (10MHz at -20dBm). So after a lot of searching I managed to find two more modules that definately were not HW-240s. In case you can find them they were marked XL4432-SMT. Visually anyway they are identical the the one pictured in Erik's modification posting (#846). And the output is +13dBm without removing any parts, yet.
?? Would you please let me know where you found the "test program written by John Price (WA2FZW)". It sounds very useful and I have not been able to find it.
??? The bad news is that I still have no signal displayed on the SA, and for now all the bits have been put into the "someday perhaps" drawer.
?? Good liuck with yours Jim.
73.
Tony
(G3PTD)
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John, Dave,
Thank you for the info, I will enjoy the build and hopefully the software will be easy ?
Will share my progress as it goes
73 Elia,?
M0ZHN
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David forgot to mention that you'll need an additional library which can be installed using the Arduino IDE's library manager by searching for "ArduinoJson" or from "arduinojson.org".
I haven't tested everything in detail, but after a?quick hit and a lick it seems to be basically working!
--
John P.
WA2FZW
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File /WA2FZW - M0WID ESP32 - ILI9341 Version of the TinySA/tinySA_V2.7d.zip uploaded
#file-notice
The following files have been uploaded to
the Files area of the [email protected] group.
By: m0wid
|
Hi Elia (and others in the group) I have just updated the files section with a development version 2.7d.? There are almost certainly bugs in this and it is work in progress.? Please let me know of any you find. You will need to adjust the values in my_SA.h to suit your WifI, if you want that feature, and for your hardware, which is probably a parallel PE4302 instead of my serial version. To enable the web pages you will need to select Tools/ESP32 Sketch Data Upload from the Arduino IDE. Changes since previous versions:
- Various bug fixes
- Probably some new bugs
- Data is now pushed to the web page every 100 data points.? Note this is 100 actual readings, not 100 data points on the LCD so you get the full resolution possible on the web page chart for the selected RBW.? Some slower devices struggle with this.? A PC or iphone 5 is fine.? I will make this adjustable in a future release
- Zooming into a portion of the chart is possible on the web page
- Averaging is adjustable on the web page
- Some restructuring to enable different modes in the future
- Markers - still some improvements to be made here
Good luck and just ask if you have any queries or suggestions 73, Dave M0WID
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Hi,
I have finally received all major parts to try my hand at building this SA following Glenn's writeup.
On his site he mentions that the layest firmware for the ESP32 wrover is 2.7 but what is in the files section here is only 2.3. Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the layest firmware please?
73, Elia
M0ZHN
|
Re: TinySA - low sensitivity
#tinysa
Erik,?
I installed a level 13 mixer, with a 3dB pad between the LO and
the mixer, I thought setting the Si4432 output to +17dBm would be
good enough.? My problem is not enough LO drive, not a surplus.?
Jim - G3ZQC
On 29/06/2020 14:52, Erik Kaashoek
wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
If you have a level 7 mixer (intended to receive +7dBm LO drive)
you "may" damage the mixer, or you may not. Depends on the mixer
If you have a surplus of mixer drive power you may insert a 3dB
(or even 6dB) attenuator between LO and mixer for better noise
performance
--
HBTE Files section:?/g/HBTE/files
Erik, PD0EK
|
Re: TinySA - low sensitivity
#tinysa
Thanks Dave,?
Just checked my orders.? They were all advertised as being 433MHz
parts.? The next one I test I'll look at the output over a wider
frequency range and see if there's any difference.? The fact that
they fail completely when the output is set to +20dBm perhaps
indicates I just had a bad batch.? Since they seem to be a
"generic" part, maybe it's just luck.?
Jim - G3ZQC
On 29/06/2020 12:34, m0wid wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
The SI4432 boards come with filters to match the frequency band
they are intended to be used for, some are 434MHz, some 470MHz,
some higher.??
For the TinySA the LO is required to operate over a wide range of
frequencies, from the IF(circa 434MHz) up to IF plus 350MHz, so
these filters have to be bypassed.? Bypassing these filters is
detailed in Erik's instructions.? If you have say 470Mhz modules
then these will give very poor results as the RX module as there
are the 434MHz bandpass filters in front.? Bypassing the filter on
the module for the RX may well give good enough results - worth a
try.
I have two sets of the green modules, marked the same as yours.
One set were the 470MHz modules which I ordered by mistake, but
fine when used for the LO as the filter is bypassed anyway.
I have not seen a problem when the output is set to 20dBm with my
modules, maybe I am just lucky!
Dave M0WID
|
Re: TinySA - low sensitivity
#tinysa
If you have a level 7 mixer (intended to receive +7dBm LO drive) you "may" damage the mixer, or you may not. Depends on the mixer If you have a surplus of mixer drive power you may insert a 3dB (or even 6dB) attenuator between LO and mixer for better noise performance -- HBTE Files section:? /g/HBTE/filesErik, PD0EK
|
Re: TinySA - low sensitivity
#tinysa
The SI4432 boards come with filters to match the frequency band they are intended to be used for, some are 434MHz, some 470MHz, some higher.??
For the TinySA the LO is required to operate over a wide range of frequencies, from the IF(circa 434MHz) up to IF plus 350MHz, so these filters have to be bypassed.? Bypassing these filters is detailed in Erik's instructions.? If you have say 470Mhz modules then these will give very poor results as the RX module as there are the 434MHz bandpass filters in front.? Bypassing the filter on the module for the RX may well give good enough results - worth a try.
I have two sets of the green modules, marked the same as yours. One set were the 470MHz modules which I ordered by mistake, but fine when used for the LO as the filter is bypassed anyway.
I have not seen a problem when the output is set to 20dBm with my modules, maybe I am just lucky!
Dave M0WID
|
Hi,
I built a standalone TinySA based on VK3PEs PCB designs. After the initial euphoria at seeing it displaying any signals, it became clear that my unit was about 30dB less sensitive than it should be.
To cut a (very) long story short, I bought an AD8307 based power meter, and using a Tx test program written by John Price (WA2FZW), measured to output from a couple of my Si4432 pcbs. When set to give an output of +17dBm, two gave an output of abt 0dBm, the third an output of +4dBm. All these Si4432 modules were green PCBs marked with HW-240. I also noticed that none of them gave any output at all when set to +20dBm. Then I found this post on an Arduino forum: which seemed to indicate this was not an isolated problem.
Since I had nothing to lose, I bypassed the filters in the tx path on the 4432 in the test rig, and the measured output rose to ~+15dBm (for the 17dBm setting). Bypassed the filter between the TX output of the Si4432 and the t/r switch, on my "working" RF board. The result was a big improvement in sensitivity, by about ~25dB. Maybe still not up to spec, but much more usable.
Hope this helps someone, I can't believe I'm the only person who has bought a bunch of dud Si4432s.
73
Jim - G3ZQC
|
I have a similar problem. The serial port monitor works, but the application does not find the COM port. It only finds the MOCKUP
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Re: Looking for testers of his tinySA version
Very nice. I would be very interested in this when it is finished.
/ Gerry
|
Elia, email me direct (good on QRZ.com) and I'll send you the draft documentation for the ESP32 version which describes what you need to do to set up the Arduino IDE for the ESP32.
--
John P.
WA2FZW
|
Good evening all,
Hope everyone is safe and sound in these times. Using the spare time while sitting at home I have started gathering parts to try the tinySA, it is certainly a very nice looking project. I saw Glenn's pcb's and write-up on his website (I've had some of his picastar pcb's before) and that encouraged me to have a go. I've ordered most of what I need, today I received the ESP32 board v1.7 as in Glenn's writeup and my question here is how do you programmer this board?
Forgive me, I am a bit rusty and would be grateful for someone to put me in the right direction.
73 Elia, M0ZHN
|
John P