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Re: Xcat 9000 Rev B
Mux Genius!
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I am very interested in X9000. Has there been further discussion about how to interface data with outside world (outside the Personality Board RF can and radio itself)? Also a general sense of the development path to either a new control head or extension of X9000 control head to the new memory capabilities? or both? On Fri, Aug 26, 2022 at 02:33 PM, Skip Hansen wrote: X9000 |
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Re: Xcat 9000 Rev B
I am most definitely interested in the XCAT as well as the XCAT9000 Jeff kd6gdb On Fri, Aug 26, 2022 at 11:51 AM Sam Skolfield <kj6qfs@...> wrote:
-- Pursuant to U.S. Code, title 47, Chapter 5, Sub chapter II, ?227, "Any and all non solicited commercial E-mail sent to this address is subject to a download and archival fee of $500.00 U.S.". E-mailing denotes acceptance of these terms. |
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Re: Xcat 9000 Rev B
 MUX MAGIC! Huge interest here. You rock?Skip!? Cheers Sam KJ6QFS? On Fri, Aug 26, 2022 at 11:33 AM, Skip Hansen <skip@...> wrote: Hi Group! |
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Xcat 9000 Rev B
Hi Group!
I've rediscovered 1970 technology!? What did we do in the bad old days when there weren't enough pins on a package???? We MULTIPLEXED the address and data! By multiplexing A0-A7 with DB0-DB7 we get 6 MORE pins!? These additional pins make it possible to support Doug Hall, CI-V, and I2C! I've attached a new cut of a schematic for a possible Xcat for?the X9000. This project will only move forward if there's enough interest from?the group to make it worthwhile. Comments please! 73's Skip WB6YMH |
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Re: SB9600 tools
I was assuming Morrison was either the tech's name or the customer's
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name... now if it has said "Dead Morrision '' it might have rung that bell for me too! Hopefully it won't light my fire when I get around to hooking it up. 73's Skip On Mon, Aug 22, 2022 at 6:44 PM Casey Crane <ccrane148@...> wrote:
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Re: SB9600 tools
Bad Morrison? WTF? Maybe there's a tiny tape of a Doors song that never made an album cut hiding in there. You could be rich! On Mon, Aug 22, 2022 at 8:21 PM Skip Hansen <skip@...> wrote: Thanks for trying Casey.? Sure I'd be interested in any samples of |
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Re: SB9600 tools
Thanks for trying Casey. Sure I'd be interested in any samples of
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SB9600 traffic. My ebay VHF X9000 showed up today, but I don't have a cable or head yet. I opened it up and looked around... written in pencil on the inside cover was "Bad Morrison", so an adventure for sure. 73's Skip WB6YMH On Mon, Aug 22, 2022 at 9:10 AM Casey Crane <ccrane148@...> wrote:
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Re: SB9600 tools
I've captured some dumps from the CDM series as well. On Mon, Aug 22, 2022, 09:10 Casey Crane <ccrane148@...> wrote:
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Re: DIY Xcats
Mine too! The SMT osc resonator was the hardest thing to solder. I think I'll change it back to a through-hole if I have more PCBs made. 73 Brad KB9BPF On Monday, August 22, 2022, 08:24:46 AM CDT, Skip Hansen <skip@...> wrote: 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=[email protected]> 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=[email protected]> 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 > > > > > > > > > > |
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Re: SB9600 tools
My hardware interface is messed up so I can't get an RSS read/write intercept right now but I was able to get one of an eeprom read using comport sniffer and the X9000DUMP program. Would that be of use? On Wed, Aug 17, 2022 at 4:53 PM Skip Hansen <skip@...> wrote: Thanks Casey! |
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Re: 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:
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Re: DIY Xcats
Update 21AUG22:
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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: 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. You need to program the bootloader first. In addition to the bootloader itself there are configuration bits which are needed. 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. That would be EXCELLENT ! Hopefully you've added the pullup resistors that we forgot ! 73's Skip WB6YMH |
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Re: DIY Xcats
I was writing the other while you were writing this. Sounds like I may have to build a programming adapter access the appropriate pins on the Xcat, like you did. I need to have a think on it and do some reading so that I don't bother you or the group with my ignorance. When I have more intelligent questions I'll come back. Thanks for your willingness to help! 73 Brad KB9BPF On Saturday, August 20, 2022, 10:06:42 PM CDT, Skip Hansen <skip@...> wrote: Hi Bradley, It should be possible to combine the two hex files by just deleting the end of file line in one and then appending the contents of the other.? On the other hand, just flashing both of them sequentially is probably way easier than screwing around combining the files.? Just make sure you aren't doing a whole chip erase twice (grin). The bootrom's hex file should contain the values for the PICs configuration bits as well as the code.? The configuration bits are one time programmable if I remember correctly and they are not in the application image.? If the configuration bits aren't correct the oscillator won't even startup. 73's Skip On Sat, Aug 20, 2022 at 7:24 PM Bradley Andrews via groups.io
<kb9bpf=[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Skip, and thanks for the tips. > > Yes, I did include the extra SIP resistor network. I also changed the two smaller SIPs to a single SOIC resistor network, included a couple extra bypass caps, and scooted things around slightly for space. And I changed the resonator to an SMT. > > I'm attempting to attach a PDF of the schematic and the artwork for perusal. Only when I have confirmed that the circuit boards work will I post the ExpressPCB files. I don’t remember of this group allows attachments or not, but I'll try it. > > Regarding programming, when you say "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." Do you mean an overlay of the two? I haven't looked at PIC programming for a long time, and only did a couple easy things when I did do it. Back then I used a serial programmer from MBasic, if I remember correctly, and it used standard DIP sockets. I thought I'd use the Phyton because it I have a PLCC adapter for it, but it's made for the ZIF DIP socket on the Phyton, not regular DIP sockets. I'll have to get out the PIC docs again and study up on programming requirements before I waste a lot of people's time and patience asking questions I should figure out on my own. > > -----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=[email protected]> 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 > > > > > > > > > |
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Re: DIY Xcats
I just quickly compared the picldr and v033 hex files.
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In the picldr, the first two bytes (0000-0001) are 0000 2832, then bytes 0002-000F are 3FFF, then it looks like the picldr code begins in earnest at 0010 and runs until 013F, then at 0140 it turns back into 3FFF. In v033, the bytes 0000-0001 are both 3FFF, then there is some 'stuff' from 0002-000C, and then it's 3FFF again in address 0010 to 013F and the code looks to begin at address 0140. So do I simply paste the picldr code into bytes 0000-013F of the v033? Or do I need to keep the 'stuff' from 0002-000C in the v033 code? I should probably try to figure it out by RTFM but I thought it wouldn't hurt (much) to ask... Thanks, Brad KB9BPF -----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bradley Andrews via groups.io Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2022 9:24 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [xcat] DIY Xcats Hi Skip, and thanks for the tips. Yes, I did include the extra SIP resistor network. I also changed the two smaller SIPs to a single SOIC resistor network, included a couple extra bypass caps, and scooted things around slightly for space. And I changed the resonator to an SMT. I'm attempting to attach a PDF of the schematic and the artwork for perusal Only when I have confirmed that the circuit boards work will I post the ExpressPCB files. I don’t remember of this group allows attachments or not, but I'll try it. Regarding programming, when you say "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." Do you mean an overlay of the two? I haven't looked at PIC programming for a long time, and only did a couple easy things when I did do it. Back then I used a serial programmer from MBasic, if I remember correctly, and it used standard DIP sockets. I thought I'd use the Phyton because it I have a PLCC adapter for it, but it's made for the ZIF DIP socket on the Phyton, not regular DIP sockets. I'll have to get out the PIC docs again and study up on programming requirements before I waste a lot of people's time and patience asking questions I should figure out on my own. -----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: 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. You need to program the bootloader first. In addition to the bootloader itself there are configuration bits which are needed. 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. That would be EXCELLENT ! Hopefully you've added the pullup resistors that we forgot ! 73's Skip WB6YMH |
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Re: DIY Xcats
Hi Bradley,
It should be possible to combine the two hex files by just deleting the end of file line in one and then appending the contents of the other. On the other hand, just flashing both of them sequentially is probably way easier than screwing around combining the files. Just make sure you aren't doing a whole chip erase twice (grin). The bootrom's hex file should contain the values for the PICs configuration bits as well as the code. The configuration bits are one time programmable if I remember correctly and they are not in the application image. If the configuration bits aren't correct the oscillator won't even startup. 73's Skip On Sat, Aug 20, 2022 at 7:24 PM Bradley Andrews via groups.io <kb9bpf@...> wrote:
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Re: DIY Xcats
Hi Skip, and thanks for the tips.
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Yes, I did include the extra SIP resistor network. I also changed the two smaller SIPs to a single SOIC resistor network, included a couple extra bypass caps, and scooted things around slightly for space. And I changed the resonator to an SMT. I'm attempting to attach a PDF of the schematic and the artwork for perusal. Only when I have confirmed that the circuit boards work will I post the ExpressPCB files. I don’t remember of this group allows attachments or not, but I'll try it. Regarding programming, when you say "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." Do you mean an overlay of the two? I haven't looked at PIC programming for a long time, and only did a couple easy things when I did do it. Back then I used a serial programmer from MBasic, if I remember correctly, and it used standard DIP sockets. I thought I'd use the Phyton because it I have a PLCC adapter for it, but it's made for the ZIF DIP socket on the Phyton, not regular DIP sockets. I'll have to get out the PIC docs again and study up on programming requirements before I waste a lot of people's time and patience asking questions I should figure out on my own. -----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: 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. You need to program the bootloader first. In addition to the bootloader itself there are configuration bits which are needed. 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. That would be EXCELLENT ! Hopefully you've added the pullup resistors that we forgot ! 73's Skip WB6YMH |
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Re: DIY Xcats
On Sat, Aug 20, 2022 at 4:53 PM Bradley Andrews via groups.io
<kb9bpf@...> wrote: 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. You need to program the bootloader first. In addition to the bootloader itself there are configuration bits which are needed. 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. That would be EXCELLENT ! Hopefully you've added the pullup resistors that we forgot ! 73's Skip WB6YMH |
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