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If I could only find it for $5, locally it is around €25, on ebay and aliexpress ~$20 Rpi with wireless would be ideal for over the net SDR (thinking about setting up a satellite dish for Oscar 100).
But I'd much prefer a $5 RPi-Zero.
? ??/g/HBTE/message/596
Can do software development right on the RPi, has 3.3v IO pins that speak SPI,
and can drive anything from a $2 16x2 LCD to a 30" 1080p HDMI monitor.
?
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If I could only find it for $5, locally it is around €25, on ebay and aliexpress ~$20 Rpi with wireless would be ideal for over the net SDR (thinking about setting up a satellite dish for Oscar 100).
But I'd much prefer a $5 RPi-Zero.
? ??/g/HBTE/message/596
Can do software development right on the RPi, has 3.3v IO pins that speak SPI,
and can drive anything from a $2 16x2 LCD to a 30" 1080p HDMI monitor.
?
|
I was indeed able to move tinySA Arduino code into PlatformIO, build and upload through STLink into the blue pill.
Very nice to have real debugging possibilities
?For me probably the #1 reason why I moved to STM. If you have some free time try the BMP, the "integrated" serial console
?is quite convenient, one cable less to get tangled ;)
? On a side note:
When I started with programming C I had one application where I had to wait 3 hours before the code was compiled and downloaded on the real time target.
By the time it was done I often already knew where the bugs would be purely by reviewing the source. I learned to program in increments and be first time right.
I'm still amazed by the short turnaround time of today's development systems.
These days I mostly do Go (golang), so when I do something in C (simple hobby stuff) the compile upload routine feels like tracking in waist deep snow.
Funny enough moving to Go forced me to pay much more attention to the code I write as the Go debugger is a bit slow and clunky.
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Jerry, You make a good point about being able to do software development right on the RPi. In your opinion, what are the RFI concerns about using the Pi-Zero?
Al, N8WQ
On Sun, 19 Jan 2020 00:28:37 -0500, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io <jgaffke@...> wrote:
Indeed, the $2 Blue Pill has two 12bit A/D's, good to 1 msps, up to 16 channels.??
A 72mhz 32bit ARM processor, 64kbytes of flash, 20kbytes of SRAM, lots of IO pins
Runs on 3.3v, so no need for level shifters talking to an Si4432.
Totally blows the doors off a Nano in every way.
> I tried the blue pill but most don't come with the maple bootloader so it's another step to take.
Documentation on the web telling how to program it is confusing.
No need to mess with special bootloader code for the USB port, you can program
any blue pill through the two pin UART port using a $2 CP2102 USB-to-UART dongle.
Read my old post here:
? ??/g/BITX20/message/50141
But I'd much prefer a $5 RPi-Zero.
? ??/g/HBTE/message/596
Can do software development right on the RPi, has 3.3v IO pins that speak SPI,
and can drive anything from a $2 16x2 LCD to a 30" 1080p HDMI monitor.
Now on the RPi, the (nonexistant) A/D is definitely not up to the Nano spec.?
Though I don't see where the tinySA needs an A/D.
And would be easy to add an A/D as a peripheral if it is needed.
Jerry, KE7ER
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Re: Tuning the frequency of the tinySA calibration output
#tinysa
You can also do it externally with a varactor diode¡ but the onboard seems simpler at this point.? Whats then really needed is a good separate/calibrated frequency counter, which could be integral to the project very cheaply.? You probably want this anyway as a standard marker. ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch ¨C K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner ¨C Operator Villa Grand Piton ¨C J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: Like us on Facebook! ? Moderator ¨C North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of erik@...
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2020 8:29 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [HBTE] Tuning the frequency of the tinySA calibration output #tinysa ? While it is possible to tune the analyzer and signal generator frequency using the two LO offset fields in tinySA.exe it would be nice if we could tune the frequency of the calibration output from GPIO2 to an exact frequency.
As this calibration output is a direct divide from the crystal frequency this implies tuning the crystal oscillator.
When you are using a txco this could be difficult but if you use a simple 30MHz crystal, like most SI4432 modules do, there is an on-chip option to tune the frequency of the crystal.
Through register 0x09 of the SI4432 you can select capacitance from a capacitor bank??parallel?to the crystal?to change the frequency of the crystal oscillator.
In practice you need to take a number of steps.
First connect a calibrated frequency counter to the tinySA calibration output (or zero beat to a known reference).
Select the LO SI4432 using the V1 command in the Arduino monitor and then set the value of the 0x09 register anywhere between 0x00 and 0x7f to tune the crystal
I used the command "X9 64" to set register 0x09 to value 0x64 to get the crystal within 10Hz of the target frequency of 10MHz.
Once this is done you set the tinySA in signal generator mode at 10MHz (be sure not to reset the tinySA when doing so as the LO SI4432 should stay tuned with the right capacitors) and connect the frequency counter to the tinySA input/output and measure the output frequency.
As this output is created by mixing to high frequencies (433MHz and 434MHz) there could be a big offset. Make sure both LO frequency correction fields in tinySA.exe are set to zero.
Now stop tinySA.exe and go back to the Arduino monitor, select the RX SI4432 with the "V0" command the tune the capacitors through register 0x09 till the output frequency is 10MHz.
I had to use again the command "X9 64" so I assume both my SI4432 modules use crystals from the same badge.
You can now switch back to spectrum analyzer mode and measure the calibration output.
The level should be -30dBm and the? frequency should be spot on.
Last step is to change the tinySA.ino to include setting both 0x09 registers to the tuned values.
Keep in mind this tuning is temperature dependent so give the SI4432 modules some time to stabilize.
?
--
HBTE Files section:?/g/HBTE/files
Erik, PD0EK
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I was indeed able to move tinySA Arduino code into PlatformIO, build and upload through STLink into the blue pill. Very nice to have real debugging possibilities On a side note: When I started with programming C I had one application where I had to wait 3 hours before the code was compiled and downloaded on the real time target. By the time it was done I often already knew where the bugs would be purely by reviewing the source. I learned to program in increments and be first time right. I'm still amazed by the short turnaround time of today's development systems. -- HBTE Files section:? /g/HBTE/filesErik, PD0EK
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PlatformIO + VSCode. It's sometimes a bit finicky but since I use VSCode
for pretty much everything else these days, it's a good fit.
On Sun, 19 Jan 2020 at 09:45, < erik@...> wrote: On Sat, Jan 18, 2020 at 01:25 PM, Dragan Milivojevic wrote:
BMP debugger
With the black magic probe or a STLINK-V2 indeed no need to upload via USB
Are you using PlatformIO in VSCode?
Or the Arduino debugger plugin?
?
--
HBTE Files section:?/g/HBTE/files
Erik, PD0EK
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Tuning the frequency of the tinySA calibration output
#tinysa
While it is possible to tune the analyzer and signal generator frequency using the two LO offset fields in tinySA.exe it would be nice if we could tune the frequency of the calibration output from GPIO2 to an exact frequency. As this calibration output is a direct divide from the crystal frequency this implies tuning the crystal oscillator. When you are using a txco this could be difficult but if you use a simple 30MHz crystal, like most SI4432 modules do, there is an on-chip option to tune the frequency of the crystal. Through register 0x09 of the SI4432 you can select capacitance from a capacitor bank??parallel?to the crystal?to change the frequency of the crystal oscillator. In practice you need to take a number of steps. First connect a calibrated frequency counter to the tinySA calibration output (or zero beat to a known reference). Select the LO SI4432 using the V1 command in the Arduino monitor and then set the value of the 0x09 register anywhere between 0x00 and 0x7f to tune the crystal I used the command "X9 64" to set register 0x09 to value 0x64 to get the crystal within 10Hz of the target frequency of 10MHz. Once this is done you set the tinySA in signal generator mode at 10MHz (be sure not to reset the tinySA when doing so as the LO SI4432 should stay tuned with the right capacitors) and connect the frequency counter to the tinySA input/output and measure the output frequency. As this output is created by mixing to high frequencies (433MHz and 434MHz) there could be a big offset. Make sure both LO frequency correction fields in tinySA.exe are set to zero. Now stop tinySA.exe and go back to the Arduino monitor, select the RX SI4432 with the "V0" command the tune the capacitors through register 0x09 till the output frequency is 10MHz. I had to use again the command "X9 64" so I assume both my SI4432 modules use crystals from the same badge. You can now switch back to spectrum analyzer mode and measure the calibration output. The level should be -30dBm and the? frequency should be spot on. Last step is to change the tinySA.ino to include setting both 0x09 registers to the tuned values. Keep in mind this tuning is temperature dependent so give the SI4432 modules some time to stabilize. ? -- HBTE Files section:? /g/HBTE/filesErik, PD0EK
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On Sat, Jan 18, 2020 at 01:25 PM, Dragan Milivojevic wrote:
BMP debugger
With the black magic probe or a STLINK-V2 indeed no need to upload via USB Are you using PlatformIO in VSCode? Or the Arduino debugger plugin? ? -- HBTE Files section:? /g/HBTE/filesErik, PD0EK
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On Sat, Jan 18, 2020 at 06:49 PM, wb6ogd wrote:
SDO pin.. you hook both SDO Si pins to one Arduino pin??? Normally you shouldn't do that...
Yes, you can and should The SDO is SPI compatible so in tristate when the chip is not selected ? -- HBTE Files section:? /g/HBTE/filesErik, PD0EK
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Indeed, the $2 Blue Pill has two 12bit A/D's, good to 1 msps, up to 16 channels.?? A 72mhz 32bit ARM processor, 64kbytes of flash, 20kbytes of SRAM, lots of IO pins Runs on 3.3v, so no need for level shifters talking to an Si4432. Totally blows the doors off a Nano in every way. > I tried the blue pill but most don't come with the maple bootloader so it's another step to take. Documentation on the web telling how to program it is confusing. No need to mess with special bootloader code for the USB port, you can program any blue pill through the two pin UART port using a $2 CP2102 USB-to-UART dongle. Read my old post here: ? ?? /g/BITX20/message/50141But I'd much prefer a $5 RPi-Zero. ? ?? /g/HBTE/message/596Can do software development right on the RPi, has 3.3v IO pins that speak SPI, and can drive anything from a $2 16x2 LCD to a 30" 1080p HDMI monitor. Now on the RPi, the (nonexistant) A/D is definitely not up to the Nano spec.? Though I don't see where the tinySA needs an A/D. And would be easy to add an A/D as a peripheral if it is needed. Jerry, KE7ER
On Sat, Jan 18, 2020 at 04:31 PM, Dragan Milivojevic wrote:
If memory serves me right more bits, more channels and sampling speed up to 2M so not sure what you mean?
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Well,? I would think the NANO is fast enough.? And now after your
code cleanup it will fit fine.
Yeah, yet another software download...
I bought what I thought was a 3V Nano but it turned out to be a
Massduino.. so had to download more software.
Then figured out my micro USB cable was only a CHARGER cable.. now
waiting for a new cable..
Then I looked into the Arduino Zero like you are using...? another
software download but its compiling..
HI HI, LOL.. someday I will get to hooking up a few wires and see if
I can see some signals...
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
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I tried the blue pill but most don't come with the maple
bootloader so it's another step to take.
But I agree the blue pill is a much better choice for the tinySA.
Faster, cheaper and much more RAM and rom
--
HBTE Files section:?/g/HBTE/files
Erik, PD0EK
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Oh, one more thing I thought about...
SDO pin.. you hook both SDO Si pins to one Arduino pin??? Normally you shouldn't do that...
I suppose only the RX Si really needs to output..?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
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Good point, hadn't looked at that yet because I had Nano compile problems? ;-)
Yes, the PE4302 board has 10K pulldowns and gives good levels with a red LED.
SI board..? well I do have level shift boards in stock and will use one.
Thanks for the heads up,
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
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If memory serves me right more bits, more channels and sampling speed up to 2M so not sure what you mean?
On Sun, 19 Jan 2020 at 00:08, K9HZ < bill@...> wrote: Just a note on the blue pill¡ the A/D on that thing is not up to the nano spec. ?
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Just a note on the blue pill¡ the A/D on that thing is not up to the nano spec. ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch ¨C K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner ¨C Operator Villa Grand Piton ¨C J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: Like us on Facebook! ? Moderator ¨C North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dragan Milivojevic
Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2020 2:53 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [HBTE] TinySA Arduino ? For $1.40 you can get a STM32F103C8T6 "bluepill" board that is 3.3V (with some 5V tolerant pins) and you would not have to bother with a level shifter. ? On Sat, 18 Jan 2020 at 21:42, Joerg ex-DB2OO <jhwhu@...> wrote: I used an I2C level shifter module with 4 level shifters, which I purchased on eBay (approx EUR 1.95).
This does a conversion between the low and the high voltage in a bi-direction way:
?
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Re: Using a serial interface PE4302 with the tinySA
#tinysa
I have used the same modules many time and they work great.? Two in series (for combined 64 dB attenuation) is less than 1 dB loss.? ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch ¨C K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner ¨C Operator Villa Grand Piton ¨C J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: Like us on Facebook! ? Moderator ¨C North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of danielu@... danielu@...
Sent: Friday, January 17, 2020 3:28 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [HBTE] Using a serial interface PE4302 with the tinySA #tinysa ? I?tested two modules?in series?with PE4302 made by SV1AFN and it seems that the attenuation of insertion at 10Mhz is around 0.45dB each.
Daniel ,YO8SAK
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Is there any need for a bootloader except to enable firmware upload via usb port? None of mine have it and I see no need for it in my setup (VSCode - BMP debugger - BluePill). Did I miss something?
On Sat, 18 Jan 2020 at 22:05, < erik@...> wrote: I tried the blue pill but most don't come with the maple bootloader so it's another step to take.
But I agree the blue pill is a much better choice for the tinySA. Faster, cheaper and much more RAM and rom
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I tried the blue pill but most don't come with the maple bootloader so it's another step to take. But I agree the blue pill is a much better choice for the tinySA. Faster, cheaper and much more RAM and rom -- HBTE Files section:? /g/HBTE/filesErik, PD0EK
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Jeorg Thanks for this info I think all the nano outputs could use a resistive level converter as the SI4432 has no pull down resistors on it's inputs
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K9HZ
