Re: Tinytrak power supply low voltage from a single LiPo cell?
Hey Allen:?
Yeah, those 18650 batteries are pretty nice -- low esr as you point out, so great peak current capability.? Modest capacities of only 3000 mAh or so, but being a single cell lipo it is perfect to feed a 3.3V ldo.
I have used a lot of flat lipos in the last few years -- 500 to 800 mAh that I get in bulk from the land of covid, but adafruit has a nice selection, like the 500mAh part # 1578.? Nice little batteries, with a protection circuit (not r/c lipos).??
Lipos charge nicely from a usb 5V bus -- I have been using an MCP73831 (I like the -2AT version) for charging.? Drives status lights and set charge rate to 1C or so with a single resistor.
I have migrated most everything from pic to arm these days, but I do like a little 8-pin pic: 12F1840 -- this one I run directly off a lipo.? You need a micro than can run up to 5V for direct connection to a lipo, which takes most arms out of the running. While it is running, I measure the battery with a voltage divider into an adc input (though Byon has a nifty trick to do it without the divider), and use the following thresholds: ? - Low-BAT:??? 3.72 V??? low-batt indication??? (~ 25% capacity remaining)? ? - Min-VON:??? 3.70 V??? min voltage to turn on (~ 25% capacity remaining)?(a tad less than Low-Bat) ? - Min-VDD:??? 3.40 V??? below this threshold, shut off power Fully charged, the lipo reaches a bit over 4V for a little bit, then settles down -- the curve is very flat with a sharp knee, unlike alkalines.? Since the knee is sharp, using thresholds is a pretty rough way to determine end-of-life, but saves the cost of a gas-gauge chip.
And NiMH AAs are cheap, and a pretty nice rechargeable chemistry as well.
gil
?
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [TinyTrak] Tinytrak power supply low voltage from a single
LiPo cell?
From: "Allen Lord" < allen@...>
Date: Thu, April 30, 2020 12:34 pm
To: " [email protected] Group Moderators" < [email protected]>
Eric,
We use ( And include) a 3.7 Volt LiPo battery with our Micro-Fox 15s transmitter, which is essentially a TT3 at heart. Your TT3 has a linear 5 Volt regulator, so you will need to bypass it to provide power the the PIC, and your LED's will be a bit less bright. I suggest turning them off.? If you plan to feed a GPS from the?+5 ( or?+3.7) line on the DB-9 connector, the lower voltage serial output on your 3.3 Volt GPS may ( Or may not)? be too low to drive the TT3's serial input, so you may also have to bypass the serial input?resistor of the TT3. Don't cut it out...you will need it again when you connect your TT3 to a computer's serial port for programming.?
Since the Zombie Apocalypse?(The CHICOM-V ) I have been having a new found love affair with rechargeable LiPO batteries. Using 3 X 18650 batteries of doubtful parentage, I have been running new test prototypes of our MT-AIO, and their low ESR and lightweight are incredible, at least compared to AA batteries. Three of these 18650's can run an AIO for three days at 12 to 10 Watts output power, and then just stop...no decay to speak of, they just turn off. This is probably not exciting to many people, but I am sure that some of you have seen battery hysteresis using the TT3 and cheap alkaline batteries, so it make me very happy! Is it wrong for a man to love a battery? Even in California?
73,
Allen AF6OF VHS/Byonics Hi All,
The datasheet for the Microchip PIC16F628 (used on my Tinytrak 3) says it can run from 3.0 to 5.5 V. The PIC16F1827 (used on my Tinytrak 3+) is 1.8 to 5.5 V. Looking to run from a single Lipo battery for weight and volume constraints. Lipo (lithium ion polymer) run from 4.2 volts when full to 3.7 when discharged. Anybody have any experience running at 3.7 to 4.2 volts?
Thanks,
Eric
|
Re: Tinytrak power supply low voltage from a single LiPo cell?
Hi Allen,
Thank you for the info. Made a APRS tracker for model rockets using a TT3 chip. Going to put it in a small rocket with a single 250 mA lipo cell - it only has to last 30 minutes.
A lot of the raw cells you can (like 18650) are brand knockoffs. They may not have the advertised capacity, but sounds like the ones you got still have a proper protection circuit included. "Protected" cells have a over charge and under voltage shutoff - good stuff.
|
Re: Tinytrak power supply low voltage from a single LiPo cell?
Eric,
We use ( And include) a 3.7 Volt LiPo battery with our Micro-Fox 15s transmitter, which is essentially a TT3 at heart. Your TT3 has a linear 5 Volt regulator, so you will need to bypass it to provide power the the PIC, and your LED's will be a bit less bright. I suggest turning them off.? If you plan to feed a GPS from the?+5 ( or?+3.7) line on the DB-9 connector, the lower voltage serial output on your 3.3 Volt GPS may ( Or may not)? be too low to drive the TT3's serial input, so you may also have to bypass the serial input?resistor of the TT3. Don't cut it out...you will need it again when you connect your TT3 to a computer's serial port for programming.?
Since the Zombie Apocalypse?(The CHICOM-V ) I have been having a new found love affair with rechargeable LiPO batteries. Using 3 X 18650 batteries of doubtful parentage, I have been running new test prototypes of our MT-AIO, and their low ESR and lightweight are incredible, at least compared to AA batteries. Three of these 18650's can run an AIO for three days at 12 to 10 Watts output power, and then just stop...no decay to speak of, they just turn off. This is probably not exciting to many people, but I am sure that some of you have seen battery hysteresis using the TT3 and cheap alkaline batteries, so it make me very happy! Is it wrong for a man to love a battery? Even in California?
73,
Allen AF6OF VHS/Byonics
Hi All,
The datasheet for the Microchip PIC16F628 (used on my Tinytrak 3) says it can run from 3.0 to 5.5 V. The PIC16F1827 (used on my Tinytrak 3+) is 1.8 to 5.5 V. Looking to run from a single Lipo battery for weight and volume constraints. Lipo (lithium ion polymer) run from 4.2 volts when full to 3.7 when discharged. Anybody have any experience running at 3.7 to 4.2 volts?
Thanks,
Eric
|
Tinytrak power supply low voltage from a single LiPo cell?
Hi All,
The datasheet for the Microchip PIC16F628 (used on my Tinytrak 3) says it can run from 3.0 to 5.5 V. The PIC16F1827 (used on my Tinytrak 3+) is 1.8 to 5.5 V. Looking to run from a single Lipo battery for weight and volume constraints. Lipo (lithium ion polymer) run from 4.2 volts when full to 3.7 when discharged. Anybody have any experience running at 3.7 to 4.2 volts?
Thanks,
Eric
|
Re: APRS Overview - Virtual Presentation
Thanks Joe,
It's on my to view list.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Sat, Apr 18, 2020, 10:36 PM Doug J < vk2xlj@...> wrote:
Thats great Joe, thanks for letting us know.
Yes, the presentation - including comments - will be recorded. Our host will post it to YouTube soon thereafter and I will post the link.
Thanks again for the question,
Joe, N2QOJ
|
Re: APRS Overview - Virtual Presentation
I hope you figured out by now that it is not my video.
Its AG7GK.
Joe, N2QOJ
On Sat, Apr 25, 2020, 3:51 PM Lee Besing < lee@...> wrote: If you change the status on your YouTube video to "not made for kids", it will allow comments and allow people to save it to a watch later list.?
YouTube really messed things up when they added that new feature. I understand why they did it, but my videos are all made for general population, no racy language your video, but if you don't say your video is "for adults only," nobody else can comment on your video and nobody can save it to a list watch later. There's just a lot of stuff that you can't do if your video is labeled as "made for kids".
Just an observation.
Lee Besing
210-771-7075
San Antonio TX -----Original Message----- From: Joe Sammartino < jsammartino@...> To: [email protected]Sent: Sat, 25 Apr 2020 8:33 AM Subject: Re: [TinyTrak] APRS Overview - Virtual Presentation
On Sat, Apr 18, 2020, 10:36 PM Doug J < vk2xlj@...> wrote:
Thats great Joe, thanks for letting us know.
Yes, the presentation - including comments - will be recorded. Our host will post it to YouTube soon thereafter and I will post the link.
Thanks again for the question,
Joe, N2QOJ
|
Re: APRS Overview - Virtual Presentation
If you change the status on your YouTube video to "not made for kids", it will allow comments and allow people to save it to a watch later list.?
YouTube really messed things up when they added that new feature. I understand why they did it, but my videos are all made for general population, no racy language your video, but if you don't say your video is "for adults only," nobody else can comment on your video and nobody can save it to a list watch later. There's just a lot of stuff that you can't do if your video is labeled as "made for kids".
Just an observation.
Lee Besing
210-771-7075
San Antonio TX
-----Original Message----- From: Joe Sammartino <jsammartino@...> To: [email protected]Sent: Sat, 25 Apr 2020 8:33 AM Subject: Re: [TinyTrak] APRS Overview - Virtual Presentation On Sat, Apr 18, 2020, 10:36 PM Doug J < vk2xlj@...> wrote:
Thats great Joe, thanks for letting us know.
Yes, the presentation - including comments - will be recorded. Our host will post it to YouTube soon thereafter and I will post the link.
Thanks again for the question,
Joe, N2QOJ
|
Re: New User with TT4 Alpha
Hi Rob, Thanks for the info, I will give it a go.? Best regards.?
|
Re: New User with TT4 Alpha
Yes, The zip file with the previius version 0.68 has one.? I am pretty sure I I've used it.
Byon could tell you what it wouldn't change, but I think it handles most of the settings. The change log doesn't list any settings ghat changed.?
Changes in v0.72 ---------------------- Transceiver Squelch support Fixed CDMODE Tones hang bug Prevented PATH1 - and clearing MYCALL Improved back to back (1 FLAG) decoding by increasing ? Audio Buffer size and optimizing serial output
Changes in v0.69/v0.70/v0.71 ---------------------- Added PORTB support for Config menu Added Transceiver Support (MTT4A fixed freq with Amp) Added Transceiver Support (MTT4B TX/RX Freq)
Changes in v0.68 ---------------------- Fixed Wind Speed Errors Added DECSTAT to show incoming audio level and decoded TXD length for received packets. Fixed MIC-E long decoding bug Added support for AvMap weather reporting Added DIGIMY setting to enable digipeating of MYCALL Default AMODE & BMODE to GPS Stopped digipeating unused WIDE2-0 (bugfix for KPC-3) Send CR LF in GKRELAY Added PASSTHRU command to help setting TT4BT settings
On Sat, Apr 25, 2020 at 12:49, steveshuff64@... <steveshuff64@...> wrote: Hi All,
Just finished building my TT4 and have installed the Alpha firmware,?
I am aware it can be set up by the command line interface ,
However I am curious as to wheather a Windows config utility has been developed yet ?
Thanks for any info.
|
Hi All,
Just finished building my TT4 and have installed the Alpha firmware,?
I am aware it can be set up by the command line interface ,
However I am curious as to wheather a Windows config utility has been developed yet ?
Thanks for any info.
|
Re: APRS Overview - Virtual Presentation
Here is the recording of the APRS Overview presentation:
Joe, N2QOJ
APRS Overview - Virtual PresentationAaron, AG7GK, will be hosting a presentation on April 21st. This will be a casual overview of APRS on
2 Meters, equipment, tips and tricks, fun stuff, etc. This will be a video conference but you can just call and/or video conference
via phone, tablet, or PC.
Here are the details:
Topic: APRS Overview
Time: Apr 21, 2020 08:00 PM Arizona
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 346 248 7799? or +1 669 900 6833? or +1 253 215 8782? or +1 301 715 8592? or +1 312 626 6799? or +1 646 876 9923
Meeting ID: 287 539 5168
International numbers available:
Or iPhone one-tap (US Toll):? +13462487799,,2875395168# or +16699006833,,2875395168#
|
Re: APRS Overview - Virtual Presentation
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Sat, Apr 18, 2020, 10:36 PM Doug J < vk2xlj@...> wrote:
Thats great Joe, thanks for letting us know.
Yes, the presentation - including comments - will be recorded. Our host will post it to YouTube soon thereafter and I will post the link.
Thanks again for the question,
Joe, N2QOJ
|
Re: TT4 As iGateUsing A Raspberry Pi
Good plan!
Keep in mind that the internet side may have "a ton of traffic" that could be sent "over the air". You really want to limit that aspect.?
?? Knowing your repeater coverage and setting the m/{distance in km} is a good idea as well.?
????? No use getting adding traffic fro infomration that is outside the reach.
?? Also, ratelimit inside the <Repeater> are is designed to help with that.
On Thursday, April 23, 2020, 11:20:43 PM EDT, Curt M. <wu3uradio@...> wrote:
Thanks guys, I do have internet at the site. I¡¯ll take a look at APRX and maybe try to get it working here at home first and then just change it to my ID at the site and move it ?
Curt
|
Re: TT4 As iGateUsing A Raspberry Pi
Thanks guys, I do have internet at the site. I¡¯ll take a look at APRX and maybe try to get it working here at home first and then just change it to my ID at the site and move it ?
Curt
|
Re: TT4 As iGateUsing A Raspberry Pi
Yes, I've kept my eye on the products.? Thanks for the credit.
My MTT4 is still setup with a bluetooth module connected at the Max232 chip.? The GPS I use is TTL also, so PORT B is just jumpered across the socket to allow its use at TTL levels.
Kind of boring now with very little traffic - not many people moving around.
On Thursday, April 23, 2020, 9:40:38 PM EDT, Allen Lord <allen@...> wrote:
Rob,
Just FYI, the MTT4 is no longer in production, and has been replaced by the MTT4BT and MTT4BT-40. We figured for the cost of an added BT module, it was not worth having four separate stock keeping units, more PCB variations, etc., when we only really need two. The BT feature is jumper selectable, so you can still access both PORT A and PORT B through a wired serial connection. You were actually a pretty big influence in our deciding to add the BT feature to the MTT4!
73,
Allen AF6OF VHS/Byonics
I really just want to locate this at my repeater site which is currently just digipeating. By adding a Pi and some software I¡¯m really just hoping to upload the data that I am receiving and digipeating to APRS.fi.?
At my home site when I¡¯m running APRSIS32 and it is strictly uploading (IGating) and digipeating. I hardly every look at the mapping in the software.?
Curt M.
|
Re: TT4 As iGateUsing A Raspberry Pi
I assume your repeater site has some kiond of internet connection to allow the data to connect to APRS-IS. In that case, I'd suggest APRX. Pretty straight forward setup and will do what you want. ?? Manual is here:
I'd let the TT4 do all the DIGI and other functions, and setup APRX as a simple iGate.? Cutting down the aprx.conf file to the most basic components and you should have:
<aprsis> # use your callsign with unique SSID - different from APRSIS32 and TT4 #??? or any other devices on the air at the same time
?? mycall?????? <your call - SSID> # Set location (Lat and Lon) for filter and other uses
?? myloc? lat ddmm.mmN lon dddmm.mmE # Change -1 to your passcode - same as APRSIS32
?? passcode? -1
#you can add more servers if desired - each on a line ?? server noam.aprs2.net?? 14580
# I would keep this small as as you aren't looking for data from APRS-IS ?? filter?????????? m/30
</aprsis>
???
<logging>
# defaults are fine, so leave all commented out or delete
<interface> # match settings your interface - recommend KISS mode from TT4
?? serial-device??? /dev/ttyAMA0? 19200,n,8,1 ? KISS # you can commented out to use 'mycall' above, but recommend diff SSID # could use TT4 callsign and SSID as that will be TXinf from the same point
?? callsign? $mycall-SSID + 1
#? Anable this interface to send ????????????????????????????????????????????????
?? tx-ok???????????? true
</interface>
<beacon> # I'd only beacon to APRS-IS and let TT4 handle the RF side ???? beacon srccall $mycall symbol "I&" $myloc comment "aprx iGate"
# Uncomment to send over RF match call to used in interface
#?? beacon srccall $mycall-SSID+1 symbol "I&" $myloc comment "aprx iGate"
</beacon>
# Best to test this
# Tricky part.? Don't want to overload the RF side # remember, you are responsible for what goes out
<digipeater> # data from RF to APRS-IS
?? transmitter???? $mycall-SSID+1 ?????
?? <source> ????? source??????? APRSIS ????? ratelimit?????? 60 120
????? relay-type? third-party # Adjust filter to only TX to RF what you want sent over the air # Remember, this filter only 'sees' what gets through the APRS-IS filter above
????? filter???????????? t/oimqnw
????? via-path?????? WIDE2-1
????? msg-path???? WIDE2-1
?? </source>
</digipeater>
That's pretty much it.?
On Thursday, April 23, 2020, 8:35:15 PM EDT, Curt M. <wu3uradio@...> wrote:
I really just want to locate this at my repeater site which is currently just digipeating. By adding a Pi and some software I¡¯m really just hoping to upload the data that I am receiving and digipeating to APRS.fi.?
At my home site when I¡¯m running APRSIS32 and it is strictly uploading (IGating) and digipeating. I hardly every look at the mapping in the software.?
Curt M.
|
Re: TT4 As iGateUsing A Raspberry Pi
Rob,
Just FYI, the MTT4 is no longer in production, and has been replaced by the MTT4BT and MTT4BT-40. We figured for the cost of an added BT module, it was not worth having four separate stock keeping units, more PCB variations, etc., when we only really need two. The BT feature is jumper selectable, so you can still access both PORT A and PORT B through a wired serial connection. You were actually a pretty big influence in our deciding to add the BT feature to the MTT4!
73,
Allen AF6OF VHS/Byonics
I really just want to locate this at my repeater site which is currently just digipeating. By adding a Pi and some software I¡¯m really just hoping to upload the data that I am receiving and digipeating to APRS.fi.?
At my home site when I¡¯m running APRSIS32 and it is strictly uploading (IGating) and digipeating. I hardly every look at the mapping in the software.?
Curt M.
|
Re: TT4 As iGateUsing A Raspberry Pi
I really just want to locate this at my repeater site which is currently just digipeating. By adding a Pi and some software I¡¯m really just hoping to upload the data that I am receiving and digipeating to APRS.fi.?
At my home site when I¡¯m running APRSIS32 and it is strictly uploading (IGating) and digipeating. I hardly every look at the mapping in the software.?
Curt M.
|
Re: configuring a TinyTrak3
I got my shipment from Byonics yesterday which included of a TT3Plus kit.? I installed the included PIC into my old TT3? Version 1.01 and all is fine.
Again, thanks for everyone's input
Brad
KS6R
Peoria, AZ
|
Re: TT4 As iGateUsing A Raspberry Pi
Direwolf is an excellent application, but it is not "similar to APRSIS32".
I don't see any mapping functionality in Direwolf.?
I don't see how to connect Direwolf to the TT4 (the specific question asked by Curt).?
?? It actually uses a sound card to replace the functions of the TT4.
I know many APRSIS32 users that use Direwolf as their RF interface.
Curt, This question gets asked a lot. The answer really is that there are many applications that run on the Pi that can interface with the TT4 and act as an IGate. The thing to look for are "APRS Clients that can connect to a KISS TNC through a serial port". The see if that client is available for the Raspberry Pi. From ther, ask yourself: ?? What specific functionality are you looking for? ????? * RF to IS (IGate)? ????? * RF to RF (crossband like VHF to HF)?
????? * Visuals like Maps?? -> Range circles
????? * Messaging & Bulletins? ? ? ? * NWS and weather
?? ?? * QRU
????? * Multiline objects ????? ... (any others that you may use with APRSIS32)
Keep in mind that with a Pi, you can use that as the radio interface and connect to another computer running APRSIS32 for the reast of the functionality.? I have run a Pi Zero W connected to the MTT4 (TT4 inside the radio) with no problems.? But with the Bluetooth inteface on the TT4, you can pretty much do that without the Pi.
Robert Giuliano KB8RCO
On Thursday, April 23, 2020, 3:18:55 PM EDT, Keith Kaiser <wa0tjt@...> wrote:
Direwolf does all that an much much more.
Is anyone aware of any software similar to APRSIS32 that will run on a Raspberry Pi to use a TT4 as an iGate?
Thanks,
Curt M.
|
Eric Oberg
Doug J
Joe Sammartino
Lee Besing
Brad Shaw, KS6R