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Re: DIY Xcats

 

OK, I've debugged and proven my Xcat PCB layout works. I've uploaded the files to the Files section of the group.

Xcat PCB layout by Brad KB9BPF: Notes 26SEP22

- I am NOT interested in building Xcats. These resources are for those who are interested in DIY.
- I used free ExpressPCB Classic software to create these files. It is available at
- I've found ExpressPCB to be extremely easy to learn and use.
- Boards are ordered through the ExpressPCB software using an internet connection.
- If I have spare PCBs I would be willing to sell them. Contact me if interested.
- If I have spare parts I would be willing to sell them. Contact me if interested.
- I can program PICs. Contact me if interested.

Anything I sell will be as close to my cost as possible. I would like to defray some of the modest costs I incurred developing and debugging.

I do not make any guarantees or provide any warranties.
- You must judge for yourself whether or not these resources meet your specifications or standards.
- You must judge for yourself whether or not your skills and tools are adequate to the task of assembling these very small surface mount devices.
- Any parts I provide will be new, or NOS, from a reputable source, usually Digikey or Mouser. All sales will be final - no refunds or returns.

Contact:
Brad Andrews KB9BPF

kb9bpf
- at -
A R R L
- dot -
ORG

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Skip Hansen
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2022 8:24 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [xcat] DIY Xcats

Wow that was fast! My fingers are crossed!

73's Skip WB6YMH

On Sun, Aug 21, 2022 at 8:06 PM Bradley Andrews via groups.io
<kb9bpf@...> wrote:

Update 21AUG22:
I put it together this morning but didn't have a chance to test it. Next weekend!

I programmed the picldr with the Phyton before soldering to the Xcat PCB. I need to make a jig to provide 5v to the Xcat then I'll use the on-board RS232 to program v033 into the PIC.

I need to dig out my SyntorX stuff to do the functional test.

Will let y'all know how it turns out.

73,
Brad

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Skip Hansen
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2022 7:45 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [xcat] DIY Xcats

On Sat, Aug 20, 2022 at 4:53 PM Bradley Andrews via groups.io
<kb9bpf@...> wrote:

Hi Skip,

Thank you for giving your blessing to those of us who are brave/crazy in this way. I’ve wanted to do this for some time but didn’t want to step on your (or Lee’s) toes.



Would you mind answering a couple questions for me?

1. How did you guys program your PICs? Did you do it in a stand-alone programmer before soldering to the PCB, or did you do it via the RS232 serial port on the Xcat?
Neither. The programming pins are available via a combination of the
accessory cable and the connector normally connected to the Syntor. I
connected the necessary pins to a PIC programmer and programmed the
bootloader. Once the bootloader has been programmed I flashed the
application firmware via the serial port. The two steps aren't
necessary; you can flash everything in one go if you combine the hex
files. I did it that way to test the serial port.


2. Regarding the Xcat firmware, xcat_v033/xcat.hex, if I wanted to program it in my standalone programmer before soldering, would I use ‘Standard/Extended Intel HEX (*.hex, *.mcs)’ whose checksum comes to 001EA2F4, or force it to read in Binary whose checksum is 000CF1CF? I don’t want to do it incorrectly and not find out until the PIC is soldered in place.
You need to program the bootloader first. In addition to the
bootloader itself there are configuration bits which are needed.


FYI, my programmer is a Phyton ChipProg-40.
I don't recall what my programmer was. It wasn't a Microchip product
and the company that made it when out of business long ago. If your
programmer supports the chip it should be fine.




I like ExpressPCB and that’s what I used to lay out my Xcat ‘clone’ boards. If it works, and I expect it will, I’ll have some spares available if anyone is interested in obtaining them (at my cost) and using them to assemble their own. I’ll also be happy to upload the ExpressPCB .sch and .pcb files to the file section of this group, if you give that your blessing, Skip. I’d be willing to provide programmed PICs for those who are interested, as well as the other parts, but only with your blessing, Skip.
That would be EXCELLENT !

Hopefully you've added the pullup resistors that we forgot !

73's Skip WB6YMH
File /X9000 files/U70_8_16_Bit_Multi-Chip_Microcomputer_Data_Book.pdf uploaded #file-notice

Group Notification
 

The following files and folders have been uploaded to the Files area of the [email protected] group.

By: Skip Hansen <skip@...>

Description:
Hitachi 8/16 Bit Multi-Chip Microcomputer Data Book (covers the hd63a03y used in the X9000)
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Cool stuff, excellent work!

I've been working on trying to make an emulator from a Teensy 4.0 and some level converters. It seems to be spitting out the right data but I'm having a time trying to get 5v logic out of the 3.3 to 5 tri-state octal transceiver. I can see that it's reading the radio's addresses and picking out emulated eeprom data from the data map I encoded into it but it's still showing a fail 01/84 or whatever eeprom corruption.?

I'm trying to figure out what they are doing with the two chip access lines. There is chip enable and output enable. The firmware eprom and codeplug eeprom's?output enable lines are tied together but the radio selects chip enable independently. I have my SN74LVT245 chip output enable tied to the chip enable line currently but I'm not sure how to handle the radio's IE line.?

On Sat, Sep 24, 2022 at 8:10 PM Skip Hansen <skip@...> wrote:
Quick progress report... the concept proved!

Today I "edited" mode 1 to receive on 147.00, updated the checksum and the (re)selected mode 1 all via SB9600.? It worked!
The values were hard coded, but I believe I know now to calculate them so it's just a matter of writing some more code.

I finally hooked my X9000 to a supply with decent power supply and tested the transmitter, works 94 watts @ 18 amps.

Stay tuned...

73's Skip WB6YMH

Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Today I "edited" mode 1 to receive on 147.00, updated the checksum
> and the (re)selected mode 1 all via SB9600. It worked! The values
> were hard coded, but I believe I know now to calculate them so it's
> just a matter of writing some more code.

Very cool! Finally got past assorted other commitments and issues and
can invest some time in this again. Started digging out radio and
accoutrements so I can do some testing.

De
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Quick progress report... the concept proved!

Today I "edited" mode 1 to receive on 147.00, updated the checksum and the (re)selected mode 1 all via SB9600.? It worked!
The values were hard coded, but I believe I know now to calculate them so it's just a matter of writing some more code.

I finally hooked my X9000 to a supply with decent power supply and tested the transmitter, works 94 watts @ 18 amps.

Stay tuned...

73's Skip WB6YMH
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Feel free to upload anything to the files section that won't cause
lawyers to come calling... i.e. nothing that even remotely smells of
maybe I shouldn't...

73's Skip WB6YMH

On Mon, Sep 19, 2022 at 9:51 AM swguest via groups.io
<swguest@...> wrote:

@ Dennis,
Yeah, after some "now where did I see (or think I saw) that" digging I actually found them over on our favorite Kanuk site.

If I ever Dl'd them before I cant find them... or if I did, I dont remember doing it....and that scenario is becomming all TOO common anymore...lol

@ Skip,
Yeah, in the broad strokes seems most HHLs all pretty much fit "....and they look like sisters" as the saying goes.

I can usually muddle my way around/thru most of them, but exact syntax differences always force me to Google to compare them with known interpretations.

I'm in the research, extract and modify to suit, and apply to my needs camp as well.

Yes, from what little I looked at it, LUA seems it may be something to learn more about.

The fall event of one of the major gatherings for Texas is comming up in less than 2 weeks (10/1)
You never know anymore about turnout/variety, but travelwise, Belton is central to much of Texas so it gets a pretty diverse crowd.

I REALLY dont need to wag anymore crap home but more often than not, I just cant resist...lol

Anyway, hope you can gleen something useful out of those files.

I'm thinking they should be the latest/last versions since the post was in 2015, and the original files were posted 2012-2013 era.

BTW, should I be putting this kind of stuff in the files section as opposed to burying them in the discussion section?
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

@ Dennis,
Yeah, after some "now where did I see (or think I saw) that" digging I actually found them over on our favorite Kanuk site.

If I ever Dl'd them before I cant find them... or if I did, I dont remember doing it....and that scenario is becomming all TOO common anymore...lol

@ Skip,
Yeah, in the broad strokes seems most HHLs all pretty much fit? "....and they look like sisters" as the saying goes.
?
I can usually muddle my way around/thru most of them,? but exact syntax differences always force me to Google to compare them with known interpretations.

I'm in the research, extract and modify to suit, and apply to my needs camp as well.

Yes, from what little I looked at it, LUA seems it may be something to learn more about.

The fall event of one of the major gatherings for Texas is comming up in less than 2 weeks (10/1)
You never know anymore about turnout/variety, but travelwise, Belton is central to much of Texas so it gets a pretty diverse crowd.
?
I REALLY dont need to wag anymore crap home but more often than not, I just cant resist...lol

Anyway, hope you can gleen something useful out? of those files.
?
I'm thinking they should be the latest/last versions since the post was in 2015, and the original files were posted 2012-2013 era.??

BTW, should I be putting this kind of stuff in the files section as opposed to burying them in the discussion section?
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Thanks! I find most computer languages other than Forth pretty
readable. It's information gathering I'm interested in anyway, I'm
not looking to modify and compile... The lua based gui on the other
hand might be an interesting squirrel hole all of its own.

Next weekend is the local ham swap meet again ... it's not what it
used to be but at least I don't need to pay shipping for boat anchors.

73's Skip WB6YMH

On Mon, Sep 19, 2022 at 12:20 AM swguest via groups.io
<swguest@...> wrote:

Hi Skip,
Not sure it will help but I found these.........
How's your Pascal?
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Not sure it will help but I found these......... How's your Pascal?
Nice job finding these!

De
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Hi Skip,
Not sure it will help but I found these.........
How's your Pascal?

MotoTools-Pascal Delphi code.zip
MotoTools-Pascal Delphi code.zip
FdbTool-Pascal Delphi code.zip
FdbTool-Pascal Delphi code.zip

Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Here ya go.........

Mototools -
http://wintarif.narod.ru/index/products/0-4

FDBTool -
http://wintarif.narod.ru/index/lua/0-7

There is a Feedback link under the Menu that looks to let one send a msg/leave you email address.

As I recall, Vladimir/RussianE39 had a very open and helpful attitude in his posts.
He struck me as the type of person that enjoyed doing this type of stuff. Hopefully he's still around and able to reply.

The captcha instructions are in Russian even running the site thru Google Translate,? but you can c/p the text instructions to the text translate function of Google translate and you can see what it wants.
It was 2 level check when I tested to see if it would authorize, 1st was cars, 2nd was bicycles.
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Excellent - Proof of concept!
As far as coding the checksum calculation, I Found it easier to calculate the differential.
Of course that presumes beginning with a codeplug with a known to be good checksum.

Yes, Brian has a very nice collection of goodies on his site.
AFAIK the source for the Mototools was never posted. Both programs were originally posted in a forum on P25.ca, cira 2012? I think?....2-3 years before the re-organization and re-formatting to Communications.Support.
I dont recall seeing the OP post much else after that thread died off.
Last time I looked the the original dl site for the programs was still up.
I had it bookmarked.? I'll see if I can find it. Maybe there's more info there.
Anyway , congrats on your success!
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Ugh!? Github likes to use "main" and but I always use "master" for the (cough) master branch .... it's there in the "master" branch.?

73's Skip WB6YMH

PS: The --write option isn't implemented yet.
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

I think I've proved the concept.q I just successfully wrote two bytes
> to EEPROM, read them back and verified them and then exited
> programming mode w/o resetting the radio.q The checksum adjustment
> failed, but i'm sure that can be fixed.

Very cool!

> skip@Dell-7040:~/xcat/SB9600/sb9600_tools$ ./x9000.py

The x9000.py script doesn't seem to have gotten committed to the repo.

De
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Thanks, I'll have a look at that one too.? But it looks like it might be the same one Stan just posted.? In any case the more the merrier!

73's Skip WB6YMH
?
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Hi Group,

I think I've proved the concept.? I just successfully wrote two bytes to EEPROM, read them back and verified them and then exited programming mode w/o resetting the radio.? The checksum adjustment failed, but i'm sure that can be fixed.

My current script is here:??if anyone would like to try it.

--- snip ---
skip@Dell-7040:~/xcat/SB9600/sb9600_tools$ ./x9000.py
usage: x9000.py [-h] [-r] [-w] [--readFirmware] [-f FILE] [-s] [--EEPROM] [-p PORT] [-v]
?
optional arguments:
? -h, --help? ? ? ? ? ? show this help message and exit
? -r, --read? ? ? ? ? ? Read code plug from radio
? -w, --write? ? ? ? ? ?Write code plug to radio
? --readFirmware? ? ? ? Save EPROM (firmware) into file
? -f FILE, --File FILE? file for read and write commands
? -s, --sniff? ? ? ? ? ?sniff SB9600 bus, listen Save code plug into file
? --EEPROM? ? ? ? ? ? ? Display size of EEPROM
? -p PORT, --Port PORT? Serial port
? -v, --Verbose? ? ? ? ?be chatty
--- snip ---

73's Skip WB6YMH
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

I had looked for the source for Mototools a few week ago, but i
> failed to find it. Do you know if source for it was ever posted?

"Lua source" refers, I think, to the Astro FDB tool being mostly written
in Lua. W9CR has that zipball here:



De
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Thanks Stan!

I had looked for the source for Mototools a few week ago, but i failed to find it.? Do you know if source for it was ever posted?

73's Skip WB6YMH
Re: direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Hi Skip,

Check your "g..n" domain if it is still valid.

The "bottleneck" is in the name...9600...lol
Even a 4.77 XT will be loafing to communicate at that speed.

I dont know why this slipped my mind in all this.
The guy that wrote the Mototools program also wrote a program to read, edit and write back the FDB block on A/S, MCS, etc...VERY useful.....

It is written in LUA and the sourcode and scripts are included.

I have no idea what is needed to make it Linux compatible but I suspect it is doable.

Goofing around, I edited it to read out the entire A/S codeplug a while back. Never got around to trying to write the whole codeplug back.

The source may help format something usable for the X9000.

FdbTool.zip
FdbTool.zip

direct EEPROM editing via SB9600

 

Hi group, just a quick update.? I'm making some slow progress with testing the ability to edit code plug data on the fly using SB9600 commands.? I now have a X9000 test bed setup and working minus a computer capable to running RSS slow enough to talk to the radio.? This will make things more difficult, but it was not unexpected.

I have successfully read my code plug over SB9600 using a RIB and a Python script running on a fast Linux box.? It's slow, but it works.

More as things progress.

73's Skip WB6YMH
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