Continue reading »]]> Today made active the Raspberry PI as an ATV testscreen ‘modulator’.
The designer of this solution you can find at the website of PA3BWE.
In this log, I will show the mods, and the short (new) installation options.

* Get the ‘atv3.py’ from the website of PA3BWE
* Place this file in the folder you want to use ( /home/pi/atv)
* Make two folders extra
/home/pi/atv/images
/home/pi/atv/sounds
* In the images directory you can place about 12 files with a resolution of 768 x 576 pixels.
* In the sound  directory you place the *.wav file you like ( the ‘test-beep’ ..)

To use the RCA connector (to place the right video signal to your ATV hardware) you have make an config.txt file.
This file you have to place in the /Boot folder of the Raspberry.
In the download section of this site .. you will find the used file by myself ( and PA3BWE !).
The picture shows the old (green) computer screen, with the RCA active and nice test screen.

The next weeks I will try to make an *.py program where the ‘graphics’ are generated by the application itself. The pictures shows the original file, and if you want to give more text you are not free to do that. The third picture is the graphic made by the application (atv3.py), very basic but useful !

Note: To test the status off the picture generated by the Pi, give the command; /opt/vc/bin/tvservice -s

Continue reading »]]> In the next pictures you can see the result of the new Taurus case.
You can find the case at ‘Otto schubert GMBH‘ (click on the name), and use the Art. Nr. 228.
On the same shop you will find adds to make the box complete.
First I started with the front, this is made from pbx-board (copper on both side’s).
Next I started to make the bridge for the potmeters (picture soon).

For the results see the pictures .. soon I will place the design with the figures to use.

Continue reading »]]> Today I have finished the small RS232 interface to manage the Motorola GM950 UHF/VHF transceiver.
This small interface will cost you about 10 Euro, and will give you much fun !
I had made the PCB layout on the test board, the design is so small that you can easy do this (see picture).

The yellow line’s on the back of the PCB, will show the line cuts needed to place the parts right on the board.
In the green circle you see the small modification on pin 9 and 8 of the 9 PINS RS232 connector.
in the schema you can see that the use of a 9 Volt battery will be oke, but when you make a stable 5 Volt on the PCB the communication will go to be stable to connect to the transceiver.

The software you can get from the website in the UK (see ‘Ham links’)

The original design is made by IK5BZH, so that OM must have the credits to find out this small interface !

I have learned that it will be best worked with short RS232 cables and full wired, no crossing cables or what else.
For the connection to the RJ45 (Microphone) connector you have to pay attention, this is 180 degrees rotated – PIN 8 is on the left of the RJ45 !!

Both GM950 ( UHF and VHF) transceivers can be handled with this interface, the best software to use is version r2.00.00.

If you double click on the pictures you can see more !

Continue reading »]]> Today I have ‘repaired’ the small bulb lamps in the FC-757AT of Yaesu.
But the result is a little bad.
The bulb’s should be ready for about 12 V, but the bridness is not good!
If you have the correct bulb’s for the FC-757AT, please contact me !

On the pictures you can see the result, while opening the cover.

The broken one’s

The replaced bulb will fit in the blue tube (on top of the picture)

Continue reading »]]> The small project, LED bar S-meter, is active.

I found the schema at the website from F6BQU.

The schema is very easy and the result is nice (see the pictures) I’ve used to test the LED bar with the signal generator (function generator).

The next I have to connect the LED bar S-meter on the receiver part of the Taurus 20 or Bitx 20.
See the next pictures.