Re: Upgrading Displays to I2C
Just did first smoke on my VFO. Worked mostly and have a couple issues to work out. But that is not what this post is about.
Back to the LCD libraries. Went to compile the VFO source code and it failed at the LiquidCrystal_I2C declaration line. Still had the library from the wikispaces link above installed. Deleted that and installed the library that came with vfo-source-rev6. Then it compiled fine.
When I get time I'm going to tinker with the two libraries and see what the issue is.
So in the meantime use my method in the first post of this thread to function check your display and your Arduino. Then when you are ready to install the Arduino on the VFO board go back to Jack's code.
Till later Hank K5HDE
|
Re: Upgrading Displays to I2C
Yes Slim...and thanks lots.
I will be in touch as to my results.
Don / N5DM
|
Re: Different values for R2 in different Forty-9er kits
Indirectly we have mentioned it as it relates to the input voltage. Typically, many power supplies output 13.8V DC to power the rig. The Forty-9er was originally designed for 12V, which places less of a burden on the PA transistor. Still, a heat sink would not hurt anything and you can make one from a soda can. I talked about this somewhere, but I've slept since then so I don't remember where. Anyway, cut a small piece from a can and make a tab that can be wrapped around the transistor, like:
? ? ? ? ? ? +-------------------------+ ? ? ? ? ? ? ?| ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? | ? ? ? ? ? ? ?| ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? | ? ? ? ? ? ? ?| ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? | ? ? ? ? ? ? ?| ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? | ? ? ? ? ? ? +---------+ ? ? ?+------+ ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? | ? ? ? | ? <---- Tab ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? +-----+
(You'll need to nick the inside corners of the tab to get it to fit tightly.) Once you have the aluminum tab bent around the transistor, slip some heat shrink tubing over the tab and transistor, feeding the piece of tubing up from the transistor legs. (Obviously, you do this before mounting the transistor to the PCB.) Shrink the tubing to hold the piece of aluminum in place. If you have thermal grease, apply it to the tab before bending it around the transistor. This would cost next to nothing, or you could buy one of the clip-on heat sinks.
It's also true that the transistors are really cheap so replacing them is not expensive, which gives rise to Jack's Second Law of?Howebrewed Electronics:?
? ? 2. Custer took a chance.
I bought 600 transistors for $12, including the case. If a circuit violates Jack's First Law of Howebrewed Electronics:
? ? 1. All electronic circuits runs on white smoke. Once that smoke escapes from the circuit, you're screwed.
But, at about a nickle a piece, the Second Law prevails.
Jack, W8TEE
From: "Gary Auchard w0mna74@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: SoftwareControlledHamRadio@...
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 12:31 PM
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Different values for R2 in different Forty-9er kits
?
Jack,
Yes indeed, I did put a heat sink on the output transistor only because it felt fairly warm during testing and I didn't want to chance blowing it. The instructions don't mention using a heat sink but for safety sake you probably should.? Nothing worse than losing the finals during a conversation.? The transistors are not expensive and I have several on hand now but I believe in an ounce of prevention. Gary A.
|
Re: Different values for R2 in different Forty-9er kits
Jack,
Yes indeed, I did put a heat sink on the output transistor only because it felt fairly warm during testing and I didn't want to chance blowing it. The instructions don't mention using a heat sink but for safety sake you probably should.? Nothing worse than losing the finals during a conversation.? The transistors are not expensive and I have several on hand now but I believe in an ounce of prevention. Gary A.
?
Gary:
As I recall, didn't you put a heat sink on the output transistor? The 220K resistor should be okay in either case, but I'd feel better if the PA transistor had a heat sink on it if you want to run it at 3W or so.
Jack, W8TEE
?
Yes, my kit had the 220K resistor and that's what I installed.? The receiver works very well and the transmitter put out almost 3.5 watts.? No complaints with using the 220K resistor at this point from me.
Gary A. - W0MNA On Tue, May 31, 2016 at 10:22 AM, g4ipz@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] <SoftwareControlledHamRadio@...> wrote:
?
Hi all.
I have just found that my two most recently acquired Chinese Forty-9er kits seem to have a changed value resistor supplied. Both kits are missing the 1M resistor that goes to the gate of Q1 but have a 220K supplied apparently instead. I was wondering if anyone else has come across this in recently supplied Chinese kits?
73
Slim G4IPZ
|
Re: Different values for R2 in different Forty-9er kits
Gary:
As I recall, didn't you put a heat sink on the output transistor? The 220K resistor should be okay in either case, but I'd feel better if the PA transistor had a heat sink on it if you want to run it at 3W or so.
Jack, W8TEE
From: "Gary Auchard w0mna74@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: SoftwareControlledHamRadio@...
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Different values for R2 in different Forty-9er kits
?
Yes, my kit had the 220K resistor and that's what I installed.? The receiver works very well and the transmitter put out almost 3.5 watts.? No complaints with using the 220K resistor at this point from me.
Gary A. - W0MNA
|
Re: Different values for R2 in different Forty-9er kits
Yes, my kit had the 220K resistor and that's what I installed.? The receiver works very well and the transmitter put out almost 3.5 watts.? No complaints with using the 220K resistor at this point from me.
Gary A. - W0MNA
?
Hi all.
I have just found that my two most recently acquired Chinese Forty-9er kits seem to have a changed value resistor supplied. Both kits are missing the 1M resistor that goes to the gate of Q1 but have a 220K supplied apparently instead. I was wondering if anyone else has come across this in recently supplied Chinese kits?
73
Slim G4IPZ
|
Re: Upgrading Displays to I2C
Line 24 in the VFO source code tells you where to find the correct library and what needs to be done to use it properly.
Jack, W8TEE
From: "donmay2@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: SoftwareControlledHamRadio@...
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 11:09 AM
Subject: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Re: Upgrading Displays to I2C
?
Hank,
Thanks for the input.
I will try your suggestion and let you know.
So far I've tried two LiquidCrystal_I2C libraries that don't work.? The original sketch lcd code line with 'POSITIVE' didn't compile. And the second sketch with code line with lcd(0x27, 16, 2); compiles but doesn't run LCD.?
I will REMOVE all LCD libraries in Arduino library files,? unzip NewliquidCrystal_1.3.4.zip (large file) and add it as sole LCD library and then let the VFOsource sketch decide...
Don
|
Re: Chinese rotary encoder PCB
Slim:
I wish you well during and after your surgery. The advances in medicine are exponential, so I'm sure all will be fine. I have two titanium knees and screws in my shoulder and all is well. I sure the same will apply to you, too.
Stiff upper lip as you guys say!
Jack, W8tee
From: "'G4IPZ.COM' g4ipz@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: SoftwareControlledHamRadio@...
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 11:15 AM
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Chinese rotary encoder PCB
?
?
Hi Jack.
?
You make me feel like a young man HI.
?
It's fingers crossed for me actually as I am going into
hospital next Monday for fairly intrusive, reconstructive surgery on my
arthritically destroyed right?hand and wrist?(my soldering hand too
dammit).
?
So far, only one of the male side of my family have made it
both in to and then out of hospital again once they were over 60 !
?
So if you don't hear from me again perhaps?him up there
or him down there needed a technician in their respective domains.
?
Slim G4IPZ
?
?
?
?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 3:26 AM
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]
Chinese rotary encoder PCB
?
I've been continuously licensed for 63
years and, no, I wasn't 1 when I got my Novice ticket!
Jack, W8TEE
|
Different values for R2 in different Forty-9er kits
Hi all.
I have just found that my two most recently acquired Chinese Forty-9er kits seem to have a changed value resistor supplied. Both kits are missing the 1M resistor that goes to the gate of Q1 but have a 220K supplied apparently instead. I was wondering if anyone else has come across this in recently supplied Chinese kits?
73
Slim G4IPZ
|
Re: Upgrading Displays to I2C
?
Don.
?
Did you see my earlier post about the differnt I2C control
boards out there?
They use different pin declarations for the LCD
control.
It might be worth checking that out
?
Slim G4IPZ
?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 4:09 PM
Subject: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Re:
Upgrading Displays to I2C
?
Hank,
Thanks for the input.
I will try your suggestion and
let you know.
So far I've tried two LiquidCrystal_I2C libraries that
don't work.? The original sketch lcd code line with 'POSITIVE' didn't
compile. And the second sketch with code line with lcd(0x27, 16, 2); compiles
but doesn't run LCD.?
I will REMOVE all LCD libraries in Arduino
library files,? unzip NewliquidCrystal_1.3.4.zip (large file) and add it
as sole LCD library and then let the VFOsource sketch
decide...
Don
|
Re: Chinese rotary encoder PCB
?
Hi Jack.
?
You make me feel like a young man HI.
?
It's fingers crossed for me actually as I am going into
hospital next Monday for fairly intrusive, reconstructive surgery on my
arthritically destroyed right?hand and wrist?(my soldering hand too
dammit).
?
So far, only one of the male side of my family have made it
both in to and then out of hospital again once they were over 60 !
?
So if you don't hear from me again perhaps?him up there
or him down there needed a technician in their respective domains.
?
Slim G4IPZ
?
?
?
?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 3:26 AM
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]
Chinese rotary encoder PCB
?
I've been continuously licensed for 63
years and, no, I wasn't 1 when I got my Novice ticket!
Jack, W8TEE
|
Re: Upgrading Displays to I2C
Hank,
Thanks for the input.
I will try your suggestion and let you know.
So far I've tried two LiquidCrystal_I2C libraries that don't work.? The original sketch lcd code line with 'POSITIVE' didn't compile. And the second sketch with code line with lcd(0x27, 16, 2); compiles but doesn't run LCD.?
I will REMOVE all LCD libraries in Arduino library files,? unzip NewliquidCrystal_1.3.4.zip (large file) and add it as sole LCD library and then let the VFOsource sketch decide...
Don
|
Another 49er DDS VFO is alive
Thanks to the authors, my 49er with DDS vfo is now Alive. ?Working perfectly!! ?I don't have it in a case yet, I need to work on that, but all the smoke stayed in the tiny components :)
The receive seems very strong. ?I think I might add a volume control and maybe RIT, not sure if anyone has done an RIT mod yet.
|
Re: Chinese rotary encoder PCB
I've been continuously licensed for 63 years and, no, I wasn't 1 when I got my Novice ticket!
Jack, W8TEE
From: "'G4IPZ.COM' g4ipz@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: SoftwareControlledHamRadio@...
Sent: Monday, May 30, 2016 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Chinese rotary encoder PCB
?
?
Well Jack I'm 64 and, for my family history of popping their
clogs, that makes me seriously old!
?
Slim G4IPZ
?
?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2016 7:26 PM
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]
Chinese rotary encoder PCB
?
Chances are I'm wearing shoes older than you are!
Jack, W8TEE
?
Hi Jack.
Thanks for pointing that mod out.
I have had to do it
before, mostly when I was playing with PIC programming.
I really
should do it as a matter of course with rotary encoders generally - I must be
getting old.
Oh yes - I forgot - I am old HI!
73
Slim
G4IPZ
|
Re: Upgrading Displays to I2C
When fooling with those I2C modules did you notice they seem to be for the 1602 LCD displays? ?With just a bit of tweaking on the code you can change from 1602 to a 20x4 display
Has anyone worked with changing from 16x2 to a 20X4 display using the modules?
Ken H> ---In SoftwareControlledHamRadio@..., <HankEllis@...> wrote :
In my junk box I have a supply of 2x16 LCD displays. These all have the analog interface where it takes several wires from the microprocessor to the display to make it work. This project introduced me to the I2C bus which only uses?two data wires plus the power and ground. Nice. Now, is it possible to upgrade the older displays to the I2C bus? Yes and it's easy.
On eBay search for 'I2C'. Then sort by 'Price + Shipping: Lowest First'. What should show up near the top is something like this. | | | | US $0.76 New in Business & Industrial, Electrical & Test Equipment, Electronic Components | | | Preview by Yahoo | |
Picked up four to try it out. All were Version 1 as described at the Arduino Wikispaces page. ?Soldered them in and gave the hardware a trial run.
First I ran the address scanner sketch and each reported 0x27. Then added in the LiquidCrystal_I2C library from the vfo-source-rev6 code for this project. Copied the demo sketch from the wikispaces page, compiled, and ... fail. The line that sets the LCD address has a call of POSITIVE that the compiler didn't like. Quick internet search revealed that it was a library issue. Downloaded and installed the library from the link at the wikispaces page. Recompiled and all is well.
Ran the sketch and each display is responding as it should. Do be aware that you will have to tinker with the LCD contrast through the pot on the I2C module. If you do not have any characters displaying it may be just a contrast issue. Had to adjust all four of mine.
One more oh by the way. The address scanner sketch has you set the Serial Monitor speed to 115200. While the demo sketch has the speed at 9600. Had me scratching my head for a minute why it wasn't working. After the forehead slap I set the speed at the Serial Monitor dropdown box to what the code asked for. Duh. As we say at my workplace, "Never overlook the obvious."
So for less than $1 shipped you can upgrade those displays.
Till later Hank K5HDE
|
Re: Chinese rotary encoder PCB
?
Well Jack I'm 64 and, for my family history of popping their
clogs, that makes me seriously old!
?
Slim G4IPZ
?
?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2016 7:26 PM
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]
Chinese rotary encoder PCB
?
Chances are I'm wearing shoes older than you are!
Jack, W8TEE
?
Hi Jack.
Thanks for pointing that mod out.
I have had to do it
before, mostly when I was playing with PIC programming.
I really
should do it as a matter of course with rotary encoders generally - I must be
getting old.
Oh yes - I forgot - I am old HI!
73
Slim
G4IPZ
|
Re: Upgrading Displays to I2C
Don;
Did you change the change the address in line 100 from 0X27 to 0x3F?
Give this a try. Delete the entire LiquidCrystal_I2C directory from the library section. Then expand everything in the NewliquidCrystal_1.3.4.zip file. Copy all of it back into the library section. Then let the compiler pick and choose what it wants.
Till later Hank K5HDE
---------------------------------------- Hank / K5HDE,
Jack / W8TEE,
I just finished assembly of Forty-9er/Nano/DDS/16x2 LCD/Encoder. Finally got the VfoSource sketch to compile but LCD only back lights and has the top row of matrix squares lighted (No alpha-numeric). I'm using a 16x2 LCD display (Chinese 1602A Ver2.0) with a piggyback I2C serial converter board (Type 1, A0, A1, A2) I soldered to LCD. I ran the suggested address scanner and got: Found Address 63 (0x3F).? I notice that the VfoSource sketch,? line 100, addresses: lcd (0x27, 16, 2);
Hank, I'm guessing that this is similar to your initial LCD problem. I downloaded the NewliquidCrystal_1.3.4.zip files but there seems to be a load of different .cpp and .h library files to choose from for various LCDs.
I'm? stuck...
Don / N5DM
Houston, Texas
|
Re: Chinese rotary encoder PCB
I had an issue with mine it would only tune down no matter which way I turned it it would only go down.? I unsoldered the board off mine and it works now.
73
Nate K7NDM
|
Thanks, I've downloaded the code file and will be studying it. ?I had considered a hardware keyer (that's the easy way), but wanted the Arduino keyer so the code speed could be displayed on LCD.
Thanks again,
Ken H>
|
I just shared a link to the sketch for the Canned Frog.
DuWayne
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 5/29/2016 6:07 PM, sailingtoo@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] wrote:
Thanks for the info - I'll be looking into the sources ya'll gave.
KV4qb.blogspot.com looks like a good resource.
Thanks again,
Ken H>
|
jjpurdum
DuWayne Schmidlkofer