VLOG of interesting things I come across.
A simple utility to scan most state ID’s and see if data indicates they are at least 21 years of age. Scan id’s for automatic date math at bars, clubs, events or other uses to prevent date math error. Check ID’s anywhere including at remote events. No internet connection required, no ongoing fees for basic scanning, and it’s quick and simple to use. Works with all 50 States.
https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=1398621186&mt=8
Using the Titan DNC with a Fanuc Om.
Cable used –
http://amzn.to/2z4RQMA – RS 232 Cable
This is a multipart series of design, prototype and build of a small multiplexing system for UTV’s. Initially this will replace lighting and winch relays with solid state control. In this part 3, I go over the base software using OSX with the STM8.
I explain using OSHStencil to prototype a board with double sided parts. I also discuss high side switching with a MCU. The first testing happens with two development boards from STMicro using a STM8 Discovery board.
I’ve been using the BFDX TD-503 for several months on the local DMR repeater and NCPRN. The main reason I really like it and its found its place above my Mototrbo and Hytera is it the GUI by default shows the Frequency and Channel Name. Controls are standard and easy to use. The case is high quality and it has some heft to it.
It has been left out in the rain, taken on swift-water calls (submerged in the river), dropped, banged, and otherwise abused with no issues whatsoever.
Programming is easy and the cable is inexpensive. The audio quality is better or on par with both my Hytera and Mototrbo’s in both analog and digital mode. This radio works great on analog repeaters as well. I’ve been using this pretty much exclusively for any outdoor adventures (UTV’n, Rafting, Swift-water Rescue, Climbing) without fail, mainly because of its price point and performance. At $250 brand new its much less expensive than a used Mototurbo or Hytera.
I had some issues with the audio on this so bear with it. Also standard definition only.
What’s Next…
An open source codec for compression is up and going (CODEC2).
AMBE is much easier to implement and get ahold of.
Remote heads are beginning to pop up commercially in the FlexRadio line.
More embedded projects/products including SM1000, FlexRadio head unit, and many many DStar node adaptors.
DMR radios have hit the market to warm up the digital voice market, many which are under $300 new.
I have a HP 8935 E6380A service monitor that had some pretty severe screen burn. After looking around for a replacement I wanted to see how hard it would be to adapt a current LCD to the 8935. Suprisingly it was fairly easy. I had a 10.5 inch display and after probing around a bit to see what signals/power were on the A1A1 connector (400 i think) I started playing with a FPGA dev board to convert signals to something I could see on the screen. It works but doesn’t fill the entire screen and its not the right size hardware. Now that I have a PLAN B and I’ve found a 6.5″ish lcd I can readily buy cheap, I’ll troll along with the burnt display till it fails or I can’t stand it anymore. I’m hoping there is a lot of interest in this to other 8935 owners and its something I can justify doing in the near future.
Some things I played with while I had the 8935 apart and the 10.5″ connected:
– Inversion to have some way of preventing screen burn.
– Adding some color (Changed boarder color, changed color of spectrum analyzer portions of the screen) This isn’t something that can be done everywhere. If its simply which pixels get what color it’s trivial.
– Added text to the parts of the screen not used going from 512×256 to 640×480. Could add ADC to show voltages etc as extra info.
-Centered screen and added border.
I’ve been working on a hardware to spin up a homegrown DMR/NEXEDGE/VOIP/DSTAR switch using freeswitch, some AMBE hardware, and common DMR radios (Hytera and Mototrbo) for use in Ham. I have been working a board design I did last year to handle the AMBE codec. The basic idea is to have a way to convert the AMBE codec to G711 to allow interface to other systems. It also allows trunking/routing between systems. If this something you might be interested in doing or helping with please let me know. I’m really interested in hardware donations including NEXEDGE, DSTAR, and Hytera gear.
