[K6BW] Homebrew Digital Projects

[Bill Smith]

Have you ever wondered what programming was like?  Here you can get in on
the ground floor of learning how to program a microcomputer - a single chip
device that you can use to make a keyer, a frequency meter, or other
projects.  The one chip replaces a whole board of logic (believe me, I have
wired them).   A course has started, info is below, which revolves around a
$35 project board.

This would be a great club project, and we can work together to figure all
this out.  It isn't too bad, there are only a few microprocessor
instructions which are used over and over again to perform functions.

Anyone interested?  Read details below.  Websites are at the bottom.

73 de Bill, AB6MT
billsmith@ispwest.com


The AmQRP "PIC-EL Kit" is a multi-function PIC16F84A-based project board
that serves as the basis for the experiments being conducted by John
McDonough, WB8RCR in the online PIC Elmer 160 course.  The course material
is geared around use of common I/O components -- pushbuttons, LEDs, LCD
display, rotary encoder and speaker -- and the experiments are designed to
take the student through a step-by-step creation of software programs that
beep, display and otherwise interact with the user in an instructional
manner.

Further, the PIC-EL project board contains an integrated, built-in serial
programmer that allows the user to download new programs directly from the
PC and "burn" them into the PIC microcontroller ... without requiring any
other specialized programming hardware!  Thus whenever you make a change in
the software source code on your PC, by following the course material or if
making your own original program, all that's needed to program the PIC
device is to connect the board to the PC with a standard serial cable.

We designed the PIC-EL project board with the QRPer specifically in mind.
Realizing that hams just love to generate RF and use it in all sorts of
ways, we provided an ability for the user to plug in the inexpensive and
ubiquitous DDS Daughtercard from the NJQRP Club. Some experiments downstream
in the Elmer 160 course will provide software that allows the PIC to control
the DDS Daughtercard to produce signals in the range of 1 Hz all the way up
to 30 MHz.  A rotary encoder "dial" provided standard on the board allows
one to use the PIC-EL and a stable signal general, a super precise VFO or
perhaps even as a signal source for receiver calibration. A BNC connector is
also provided in the kit to help enable these common uses. PIC-EL designer
Craig Johnson, AA0ZZ already provided a modified version of his popular DDS
control software signgen3a that runs on the project board, making the kit
immediately useful even while just starting the Elmer 160 course.

Can there be even more capabilities built into the PIC-EL project board?
You bet!  Not only can the PIC-EL generate signals, it can measure the
frequency of an input signal to the BNC connector. Just change the position
of an onboard jumper and you'll route signals coming into the BNC jack over
to a small circuit that conditions the signal so the PIC microcontroller can
determine its frequency. Again using software developed in one of the Elmer
160 experiments, the PIC-EL board will serve as a frequency counter for your
bench, displaying the measured signal on the LCD.

The exciting uses of the PIC-EL board continues with design team's addition
of a couple of 1/8" stereo jacks on the board. With the right software being
developed as course material by John McDonough WB8RCR, you will be able to
plug in your iambic paddles (like the nifty ones being produced by the AZ
ScQRPions www.swlink.net/~w5jh/brasspaddle.htm) and have the project board
serve as a keyer with adjustable speed, weighting and multiple memory
buffers. The onboard speaker serves as a side tone for your memory keyer.
Just connect the "keyline" output signal to your rig by cabling from the
other 1/8" jack and you'll be able to key your rig with the PIC-EL project
board. So once again, not only will you learn how to program the PIC to do
this keyer function, but you'll have a fully operational keyer for your rig
on the bench!

The PIC-EL project board was designed to fit into a common 5.25" x 5" x 1.5"
plastic enclosure, such as from Radio Shack (p/n 270-214.) The board fits
neatly in this clamshell case and the input/output jacks were layed out to
be at the top and bottom of the pc board, thus being able to protrude from
the end panels of the case.

But wait, there's more!  The AmQRP design team also provided flexibility in
the PIC-EL board layout to allow you to use an external PIC programmer, in
case you already have a favorite one. By unplugging a single jumper on the
board, you can effectively separate the programmer circuit from the PIC
microcontroller and functional circuits.  This allows you the to connect in
your external programmer to the onboard PIC so you can use the same
programming system that you've been using for years. Alternatively, you can
also use the same circuit separation technique to allow the built-in PIC-EL
programmer to connect over to another project board to program its PIC
microcontroller.  Program an external chip with the PIC-EL programmer, or
use an external programmer to program the PIC-EL chip -- either way, it's
flexibility deluxe!

SPECIFICATIONS
The PIC-EL project board provides components that allow the radio amateur to
follow along directly in the Elmer 160 course material, and perform many
useful projects in the shack with the completed board.  The PIC-EL Kit
contains ...
- Socketed PIC16F84 Microcontroller
- RS-232 serial port programmer
- Pushbuttons (3) and LEDs (3)
- Miniature piezo speaker (500 Hz to 10 KHz)
- Rotary encoder (30 steps per revolution)
- 8-character liquid crystal display
- 1/8" jacks (2) for connecting your paddle and rig
- Socket for the NJQRP DDS Daughtercard
- BNC jack for signal input and output
- Board size: 4" wide by 4.8" tall
- Power req'ts: 12-14V DC, 150 ma
- Assembly manual on CD-ROM



ORDERING
The PIC-EL Kit is now orderable from the AmQRP Club.  The kit costs $35 for
US & Canadian destinations, and $39 for other foreign destinations.
(Maryland residents must add 5% sales tax, for a total of $36.75.) You may
order by PayPal (send to n2apb@amsat.org) or by writing a check or M.O.
payable to "George Heron, N2APB" and sending to:
    George Heron, N2APB
    2419 Feather Mae Ct
    Forest Hill, MD  21050

AVAILABILITY
Production pc boards are on order and kitting will begin when they are
received, expected on Dec 30.  Shipping will then begin in early January.

Thanks, and be sure to check out the PIC-EL photos on the project web page
at www.amqrp.org/elmer160/board

73,
   from the PIC-EL Design Team:
       George N2APB, Craig AA0ZZ,
       John, WB8RCR and Joe N2CX
   See the "PIC Elmer 160" course at ...
       http://www.amqrp.org/elmer160