WA0UWH - HAM Radio Blog

OPERA Running on Ubuntu, It "sort of" Works

2012-01-21T19:23:00.000-08:00

I have OPERA 1.1.6 . . . "sort of" working on Ubuntu via Wine :-)

NOTE: The following has "Hung" the Ubuntu Gnome Display System, I had to ESC to command line to recover (ctrl-alt-F1), kill the OPERA process, and then return to the Desktop via F7.

CAUTION: Use at Your Own Risk

Two DLL's were needed; MSVBVM60.DLL and pdh.dll. I found them online, but was advised not to download from un-trusted sites. I have a local XP system from which the files were found, and I copied them into the Ubuntu OPERA directory,

To make things easier, I change the default permission of the executable to "mode 755", with:

$ chmod 755 Oper*.exe

Then I ran the Install as:

$ wine ./Opera*Install*.exe

To run OPERA, execute:

$ wine ./Opera\ v1.1.6.exe

After adding my Operator Information and selected the sound card for input, the waterfall came alive with signals. The sound card was over driving the Decoder, but a quick adjustment to the Ubuntu Volume control fixed that.

I was able to decode several signals on 10135mHz.

Sill known problems that I have not solved:

The CPU Usage meter does not work.
The CAT Rig control does not work for my FT-817, but Tones are created on the output as can be heard with a temporary speaker connected.
Attempting to Set Configuration sometimes Hangs the Display System

Like most MS programs running under WINE, there will be a lot of WINE "fixme:" errors logged to the command line window form which OPERA was started, most can be ignored.

Maybe these problems will be solved by someone knowing much more than I.

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Mackinaw

2012-01-20T12:13:00.000-08:00

Tess and I just survived 4.5 days without Power, Heat, and the Internet.

Without the Internet, I only had my paper "Sprat Magazines", "Radio-Frequency Electronics" book and few catalogs to read for entertainment. I will stock more printed material for next time.

Driveway
(the way out)

We are still snowed in (10 inches in a 300' driveway), but the power is back on, and the Hanger/Shop is warming up.

Life may soon return to normal.

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Propeller Beacon Feld-Hell Font

2012-01-16T18:26:00.000-08:00

The Propeller QRSS Beacon gets a Feld-Hell Font, the mode and font is known as Hellschreiber.

Check it out, on Jeff's Blog:

http://ko7m.blogspot.com/2012/01/more-propeller-madness.html

Soon, Hellschreiber mode will be added to my Propeller QRSS Beacon.

Note: Jeff created the font from scratch.

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Propeller Tests on WSPR

2012-01-15T01:52:00.000-08:00

My friend, Jeff - KO7M, has been experimenting with WSPR on the Propeller. Check out his blog at:

http://ko7m.blogspot.com/2012/01/wspr-on-propeller.html

We have been trading Propeller code segments for experimental Beacons. Due to his lack of a Low Pass filter, I do not think he has actually put it on an antenna yet, but he is working on a HB design. Soon I am sure on-air experiments will follow.

Jeff and I talked about how we could provide non integer frequency shifts as needed by WSPR, I suggested that maybe we could just use "1Hz" shift and let the proclaimed PLL Jitter do the rest. It looks like it has worked - now that's a hack!

Thanks Jeff, I will have to include WSPR into my current Propeller 30m Beacon, maybe after you completed your tests.

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Beacon Stacking via 10 Minute Sync

2012-01-14T15:19:00.000-08:00

I received the following via Google+ and emails, it is archived here for myself and my blog readers.

---------------
From Peter Mulhare

Eldon

Just got in from Dinner........here is your first Stack pretty amazing, absolutely perfect copy from a stack of 6 images - 1 hours worth. I think you will be suitably impressed. Note that ZL1EE, W4HBK have also shown up stacked, also in there are G0MBA (@ '090), KC7VHS (@ '070), G0PKT (@ '980), and another station @ '925. These stations are not stacked because they are not running 10 minute frames.

Excellent result Eldon!

Pete
iK

Six Stacked Frames

Single Frame

--------------
From Eldon Brown

Peter,

Would you mind if I share your message and Initial Stacked Results on my blog? I have many readers that do not have Google+ and I want to Archive the results within the blog.

When we establish all is working as expected, I want to disconnect the Power Amp (62mW) and run directly from the Propeller with only 3mW. Your stacked images maybe be the only way to see the results.

Thanks Eldon - WA0UWH

-----------------
From Peter Mulhare

Hi Eldon

I don’t mind if you share the results, that’s fine by me. The best I’ve done at those kind of powers was to Western Australia, 5500 km to VK6JY, running 7mW from the output of my FEI 5680A Rubidium Frequency Standard, keyed FSK with an ATmega16 keyer I designed. I think we would need pretty good conditions to do it, but let’s give a shot!

The windows of opportunity at the moment are pretty short, limited to grey line propagation around one or other of our sunrises or sunsets, with the other one in darkness. I will have a play with DXAtlas, and see if I can come up with some dates to try.

Note that Bill W4HBK was in nearly all night on the Grabber, now that’s due to the way the grey line effects work between me and Florida. The problem with Washington is that you’re so far North and much closer to my Longitude, making us a north/south path, where to Florida the path is so much more east/west.

I’m impressed with the accuracy of your timing! the stacked signal has no thickening due to timing jitter, which is excellent, the computer clock here, is sync’d to the UTC second with several NZ University Caesium Beam controlled NTP servers, over the net. Software is Meinberg V4 Timeserver.

Pete
iK

-----------------

The First Snow - 2012

2012-01-14T14:56:00.000-08:00

This is the First Snow of the year has just started, it is a good time to be inside with Ham Radio, and having fun coding my Propeller Beacon (see previous posts).

The First Snow - 2012

The photo was taken from my Loft (shack) window, with the 450 ohm Ladder Line in the foreground. The Ladder Line feeds a Off Center Fed (OCF) Dipole 90 feet above ground. So far the 30m 62.5mW Beacon and Antenna have received good reports from many remote locations. The beacon is transmitting both QRSS and OPERA on a 10 minute sync cycle.

A nice map of Generic OPERA reports are available at http://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html

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Beacons in Sync

2012-01-13T19:46:00.000-08:00

Propeller "Multi-COG" Programming is much simpler than I had imagined.

To date, I have used time delays to to pace my QRSS and OPERA Beacons, both running on same Propeller Micro Processor (using only one COG). The timing was typically just a 6 minute delay after the last transmitted data.

Peter and some other Grabber owners can Stack grabs to provide even more sensitive reports. A similar technique is used by Astronomers to photograph very faint stars. The typical QRSS Grabber is programmed to capture a frame each 10 minutes. To play the game, QRSS Beacons need to sync to a 10 minute interval, it does not matter where in time, but repeat in sync with itself.

So, this requirement provided me an opportunity to learn more Propeller Spin Programming. I tried several approaches to provide a Real Time Clock or Sync Timer Function, but nothing I programmed was working very well. With more reading, learning, and experimenting, I decided to try to build a "Epoch" counter in a second COG.

It was so easy I could not believe it. To start a new COG, the following line is all that is needed within the first (default) COG:

cognew(procedureName, @someStackSpace)

The "cognew" statement specifies the new COG's default starting procedure, in the same way as the default GOG (0) always starts with the first listed procedure in the Spin file.

The new COG has access to all of the routines, variable, and constants listed in Spin file. In my case, I need a "delay(1000)" routine to update the Epoch counter within the new COG.



PUB UpdateEpoch                 ' Runs In its own COG
    repeat
      delay(1000)
      Epoch++

Here is the First COG Code for "Main" that starts and uses the Epoch for Sync:



VAR
    Long RFFreq

    Long Epoch, EpochStack[16]

PUB Main | Sync

    doInitialize

    cognew(UpdateEpoch, @EpochStack)

    Sync := 60 * 10             '10 minutes
    Epoch := 0

    repeat

      RFFreq := Qrss_Tx_30m
      doQrssBeacon
      noTone
      delay(10000)

      RFFreq := Opera_Tx_30m
      doOperaBeacon
      noTone
      delay(10000)


      ' Delay for Sync
      repeat while Epoch // Sync
        delay(100)

Note: The "//" operator is modulus function.

The new and much improved (published) delay routine is:


PUB delay(ms)  | t

    t := cnt - 1088             ' 1088 is Published Time for Overhead at 80mHz
    repeat ms
       waitcnt(t += MS_001)

Now, my Beacons should now show up on the Grabbers in 10 minute Sync.

I am enjoying Programming the Propeller !

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Propeller QRSS and OPERA Beacon

2012-01-10T06:39:00.000-08:00

My Propeller 30m QRSS and OPERA Beacon Station

Currently I am running the Propeller; on QRSS at 10.140080mHz, and OPERA at 10.150380mHz, in single program time sequence order, with a 6 minute Receive-only delay between beacon transmit sections.



PUB Main

    doInitialize

    repeat

      RFFreq := Qrss_Tx_30m
      doQrssBeacon

      RFFreq := Opera_Tx_30m
      doOperaBeacon

      noTone
      delay(60000*6)

The time sequence is controlled via a single program, but eventually my goal is to simulcast, both QRSS and OPERA Beacons during the same Tx Window, leaving more time for Receive and reporting.

And, then I plan to add WSPR Tx to the mix :-)

With the 8 COG's (processors) of the Propeller, it should be all very do able. It is, . . . just software!

I also want to provide for TX-Relay control or Receiver Power Control, as my poor Ensemble RX receiver (on another antenna) is currently having to swallow the near field 62.5mW's of the Propeller's After Burner, which is not good. Also, a TX-Relay would allow for TX and RX to use the same (my new higher) antenna.

As stated, I am currently only operating on 30m, but the Propeller can operate on any HF Band and I plan to do so. But a Band switched Low Pass Filter is necessary, I have one sketched on a napkin, but have not committed anything to a protoboard, yet.

Note: my custom "delay" routine had to be modified to accept large delay values. There maybe a better approach, but this works for now.



PUB delay(ms)
  repeat while ms > 10000
    waitcnt(cnt + clkfreq * 10)
    ms -= 10000
  waitcnt(cnt + clkfreq/1000 * ms)

UPDATE: I found a published "delay" routine, and now using it, see the next post.

I am just have fun with Beacons and the Prop.

--

My Propeller On OPERA

2012-01-08T16:36:00.000-08:00

My Propeller is now transmitting using "OPERA", and have received a few initial report, see Julian-G4ILO's blog. Thanks Julian.

More information is available at the Opera Yahoo group .

I plan to fold the QRSS and OPERA Code together into one Operating System with multi-Modes. For now I am running Julian's code with my CALL inserted. It took a while for me to figure out how to do that, and more details will follow.

My OPERA Reports in Red

OPERA is a little like "WSPR" but it was designed for the "CW" crowed, it is reported to work at weak signal levels than WSPR.

This operating mode from QRSS to OPERA was easy, because (most) everything is in software.

I think we need a few new term: "SDT" = Software Defined Transmitter, and "SDX" for Software Defined Transceiver.

Note: I am using the OPERA PC software (see above) just to receive my reports vis the Internet, the Propeller is doing the transmitting without the aid of the PC.

--

New Antenna Measurements

2012-01-07T16:20:00.000-08:00

My Off Center Fed (OCF) Dipole that Jeff - KO7M and I recently installed, had not been physically measured until today. The size of the elements were chosen to fit the available space, and the height was, what ever support was shot into the trees.

Today with some reasonable weather, measurements were taken.

The short end of the dipole is 23 feet long
The long end is about 300 feet long
The height at the feed point is 90 feet, the ends are a little higher.
The Antenna is strung East - West, with the long end West.
The Feed Line is 450 ohm Open Ladder Line

The antenna height was measured with a Cell Phone, that is, the "Level App" was used to sight the feed insulator, while moving away until the talking Phone App announced "45 degrees". The distance along the ground (plus eye height) should be the same as the height of the insulator, it is 90 feet.

Judging from the recent received QRSS reports, I think the antenna is working very well. Thanks Jeff.

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Propeller 30m QRSS Received in Tasmania

2012-01-07T06:59:00.000-08:00

Another DX report for the Propeller 30m QRSS Beacon, it has been received by Edgar - SWL in Tasmania, at 8355 miles.

Faint Propeller Signal Upper 1/5th

The Current Data Format
as Received by my Local Grabber

The transmit path map:

8355 Miles

For specmanship, that is (8355 / .0625) = 133,680 miles / Watt :-)

Propeller 30m QRSS Received in New Zealand

2012-01-06T01:27:00.000-08:00

Another report for the Propeller 30m QRSS Beacon, it has been received by Peter - ZL2IK in New Zealand, at 6992.5 miles. Peter incorrectly decode my CALL, but it was close.

My Propeller 30m Beacon
Received In New Zealand

The transmit path map:

6992.5 Miles

For specmanship, that is (6992.5 miles / 62.5mW) = 111,880 miles / Watt :-)

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Propeller 30m QRSS Received in California

2012-01-05T13:36:00.000-08:00

Another report for the Propeller 30m QRSS Beacon, it has been received by Mark - K6HX of the Brainwagon.com blog and can be seen on his Grabber.

My signal is shown about 1/3 down from the top, the transmitted repeated pattern is above the white line (oops, all of the lines are white :-)

Beacon Signal Received
at: http://qrss.info

700 Miles

The Propeller QRSS Beacon output at 62.5mW on 10,140060MHz, the current data format is:

CW ID at ~15WPM,
A Propeller Graphic,
My CALL in SlashCode (i.e,. "/\\ /\ \\\\\ //\ /\\ ////" ), where "/" is a dit, and "\" is a dah.
Followed by a WA Graphic

Of course, because the signal (and output format) is just software, it could change on a whim.

-

Propeller 30m Beacon Received in Pensacola FA

2012-01-03T16:49:00.000-08:00

My Propeller 30m QRSS Beacon is being received by the W4HBK Grabber in Pensacola FA, about 2206 miles, with only 62.5mW.

I know that Watts/Mile are not real specs, but, 2206/.0625 = 35296 Miles / Watt

W4HBK QRSS Grabber

My SlashCode ID can be see upper left above the red line.

The transmit path map is shown below.

2206 Miles with 62.5mW

Note: other Grabbers are located around the world, an index or Compendium is provided by I2NDT.

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Propeller 30m QRSS Signal Received in Las Vegas

2012-01-03T15:47:00.000-08:00

With the help of a QRP After Burner (see previous post). That is: a power amplifier that boost my 3mW signal to a whopping 63.5mW, my Propeller 30m QRSS Beacon has been received 900 miles away by KK7CC Grabber in Las Vegas !!

KK7CC QRSS Grabber

My SlashCode ID is weak, but it can be seen and decoded above the red line.

The interactive grid map shows the path.

The Transmit Path

Here is the set up, Antenna Connection far left, Power Amp upper left, Low Pass Filter upper right, Propeller and Battery below. The PA is a simple un-tuned single IR-510 FET circuit, feeding a ~200 foot long Off Center Fed (OCF) Dipole at 60 feet high, strung East-West.

Update: The antenna was recently physical measure at 325 feet long and 90 feet high.

My Propeller 30m QRSS Beacon Station

Antenna Adjustments

2012-01-03T12:24:00.000-08:00

Early this morning, without a rain drop in site, I decided to check the new Antenna that Jeff and I installed yesterday (see previous post). When installed, the feed point did not line up with the apex of the roof and therefore the Ladder Line could be wind blown and touch the metal roof. I can fix that by adjusting the support lines.

I knew I was temping fate and the performance of the antenna, by adjusting it in clear weather. The Great Antenna Gods would not like that.

Starting at the far end, I released about 20 feet of support line and retied it off. By the time I had the extra line coiled an secured, it started to sprinkle, and by the time I got to the other end to take up the slack, it was raining! The Great Antenna Gods have once again provided the inclement weather to ensure the performance of this new Antenna, Thanks :-)

Back in the Shack (loft) I noticed that I must have raised the feed point a little higher than before, the proper drip loop was gone. Another adjustment is necessary, but that will wait.

Also, when the weather clears, I will attempt to measure the height of the Antenna, a little trig should do the trick.

The Propeller 30m Beacon has been running on this new Antenna, but no reports so far.

--

Propeller 30m QRSS Spectrum

2012-01-03T09:30:00.000-08:00

I had reluctantly attached my Propeller Beacon and new Low Pass Filter to an older 30m 1/4 wave vertical antenna near my Ham Shack. I know the Beacon output is very low power (3mW), but I did not know if the low pass filter was working as designed. I did not want my Beacon to disrupt others. But, it was attached, anyway.

Low Pass Filter

Yesterday, my friend Jeff - KO7M came over to help install a proper longwire/dipole antenna (see previous post), and I had plan to attached the Beacon to it. Jeff brought along his Spectrum Analyzer, so that we could take a look at the Propeller Beacon's output.

As expected, without the Low Pass Filter, the raw Propeller output fed into terminated 50 ohm load was full of trash and harmonics, which is VERY undesirable for a Amateur Radio Transmitter.

Raw Output
Without Low Pass Filter

After attaching the Low Pass Filter, the trash and harmonics were still there, but at much low levels, more than 40db lower, and unseen at the same scale. Now, I felt good about attaching the Beacon and Filter to the Newly Installed Longwire Antenna.

With Low Pass Filter Attached
The Single Spike Is the Fundamental Frequency
This is what a Transmitter Output should look like

Yet, when we looked at the spectrum via an open probe in the room, all of the trash and harmonics were still very much present.

Jeff got the idea that it was probably radiated from the processor itself. We wrapped the Propeller, Battery, and Low Pass Filter in insulating paper and then in aluminum foil attached to ground. Now, only the radiated power of the fundamental Frequency passing through the Low Pass Filter and leaking from the Ladder Line could be seen with an open probe. The open probe received signal was clean, the same as when the beacon was attached directly to the 50 ohm load at the Analyzer.

My Local View of My Beacon's Signal

My hope was to see my little 3mW Beacon on KK7CC's Grabber in Las Veges (900miles). But so far, no joy.

I have a previously built Homebrew Power Amplifier that I may try, it should boost the signal to 30mW, maybe enough to be received in Las Vegas.

My conclusion

I think the Propeller, with a Low Pass Filter, can be used for experiments with Amateur Radio Beacons. But as always, more experiments and data is needed to know how useful it will be. A report from a remote QRSS Grabber will help the investigation.

--

Antenna Installation Day

2012-01-02T20:30:00.000-08:00

Today we had a great day of Amateur Radio.

My friend Jeff - KO7M came over to help install a new off-center-fed dipole antenna. Until now (since my move), I have suffered with just a 30m Vertical at 0' AGL for all of my Amateur Radio needs.

Today, was the day to fix that.

Jeff arrived about 10:00AM, the weather was clear with some overcast, we ware concerned that the Great Antenna Gods were not going to be pleased, with an installation that was not properly bathed with enough bad weather to obtain our desired performance. We went ahead with the installation regardless, with the idea we may have to settle for less than optimum performance. But the Gods smiled on us and provide enough showers to complete the installation with the required anointment.

We used my Tennis Ball Launcher (see previous post) to put a line into two tall fir trees, about 300 feet apart. With one shot at each end we had antenna support lines up maybe 60 feet, the actual height will be measured in clear weather. We had a lot of branched to snake the support lines around, but with two people the task was not too difficult, it just took time.

The desired feed line locations was about 50 feet from one end. So the counter poise was cut to exactly 23.50937 feet (plus or minus a few feet or so) as maybe needed for 30 meters. We do not know how well this plan will work, but it is what we have, and it fits the space available.

The long wire side of the dipole was cut to exactly, . . . where Jeff stopped un-rolling wire, near the other tree, maybe 200 feet. The center insulator was installed, the long wire and counter poise were attached to the Ladder Line.

Pulling on the end lines took the antenna into the air, and into the near by tree branches and shrubs. With a little work, strong pulls and a small line over the antenna, the limbs were cleared. The antenna was now hanging is a big loop between the trees. A few more strong pulls and it was in place. The feed line location did not work out as expected, but the Gods were making it difficult to make further adjustments. We picked up our tools and guide ropes, and headed inside as it was now raining.

Jeff had to make one more trip outside in the rain, because we needed to snaked the ladder line into the upper story loft window. Once inside the ladder Line rans across the room, attached to the overhead support beam and onto the radio station area. Later I plan to run coax to just out side the window and into a balun for a match.

By this time, we were glad we were inside, and out of the rain.

Inside and with a quick cut of the ladder line, a twist of the balun terminals on the Antenna Tuner, and the receiver came alive with strong signals being heard, . . . The Great Antenna Gods must have been pleased.

Now, I agree with the stories that I have heard, "All Good Antennas must be installed in foul weather, if you expect them to perform well" :-)

A very Fun Day.

Now it was time to put my new Propeller QRSS Beacon on the air, and that as a continued report will follow.

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Propeller on 30m QRSS - SlashCode

2012-01-01T15:19:00.000-08:00

The Propeller SlashCode modifications (see a previous post) to the Dots and Dashes routines was easy, similar modification was necessary to the end-of-character and end-of-word (space) routines. I also added the standard QRSS3 code.



PRI dot | i

  case CodeMode
    CW:
        sendTone(50)
        delay(100)
        noTone
        delay(100)
    QRSS3:
        sendTone(50+4)
        delay(1000*3)
        sendTone(50)
        delay(1000*3)
    SLASH_CODE3:
      repeat i from 0 to 4
         sendTone(50+1*i)
         delay((1000*3)/5)

PRI dash | i

  case CodeMode
    CW:
        sendTone(50)
        delay(300)
        noTone
        delay(300)
    QRSS3:
        sendTone(50+4)
        delay(1000*3*3)
        sendTone(50)
        delay(1000*3)
    SLASH_CODE3:
      repeat i from 4 to 0
         sendTone(50+1*i)
         delay((1000*3)/5)

Note: this Listing has been corrected (several times)

My Local Grabber - QRSS3

My Propeller 30m Beacon is in the center, the short burst of what appears to be trash before the first SlashCode is actually my CW ID at about 15 word per minute, followed by my ID again in SlashCode, and then WA as QRSS art follows (twice).

The stuff at the bottom is several other stations mashed together, for a better view of their signals goto KK7CC Grabber site. My 3mW signal, with a poor antenna, is maybe a little too weak to show up on KK7CC Grabber in Las Vegas (about 900 miles), but I will keep trying.

Propeller code seems easy to write, I am impressed. Note: I should have be using variables for the timing, but that is JASMOP (just a small matter of programming :-)

--

Propeller on 30m QRSS - Output Power

2012-01-01T12:55:00.000-08:00

First - Happy New Year to Everyone, I hope all is well, or as good as it can be.

Another first - this is my first electronic measurement of the year. Julian - G4ILO ask (via comments) "what is the output power" of the Propeller 30m QRSS and low pass filter circuit.?

I do not have a power meter that measures that low, but I measured 1.1V p-p across an accurate non-inductive 50 ohm load. With P=(Epp/2x.707)^2/R, the measure power is; (1.1÷2×.707)^2÷50 = 3mW.

Scale = .5v / Div

I still need to measure the harmonic content, my friend Jeff - KO7M has a Spectrum Analyzer that I will use to report the results.

But, looking at the ragged output waveform, I am becoming less hopeful that the Propeller will be useful for RF generation for radio work. The Propeller may be relegated to just control of other oscillators and/or displays.

Note: I would have expected more measured output voltage, because the Propeller is sourcing from an active 3.3V CMOS circuit. I need to investigate more.

--

Propeller on 30m QRSS - Cont'd

2011-12-31T16:08:00.000-08:00

My 30m Propeller Beacon is now on the air, a low pass filter was built and attached at the output pin and ground. The output of the filter goes to a 30m vertical via the SMA connector.

The filter was designed with the help of AADE Filter Design Software V4.5.

AADE - 30m Low Pass Filter Design

The Homebrew PCB was designed with Inkscape Graphics Program and produced using the Fab-in-a-Box Toner Transfer Method.

Filter PCB's Ready to Load Parts

Note to self: My Tinnit solution must be getting a little weak.

Low Pass Filter Ready to be Connected
to the Propeller Micro Processor and the Antenna

I have not tested the frequency response of the filter, or attempted to measure actual harmonic attenuation yet, but I plan do so in the next few days.

Now to see if this beacon can be heard at any of the QRSS Grabber Stations, maybe at KK7CC.

SlashCode

I plan to do more Propeller QRSS programming, I want to implement QRSS Slash Code for my station ID. Dots are send as a "/" and Dashes are "\". Note: a Morse slash character is not actually sent, it is the slant of the visual line on a QRSS Grabber that is decoded. Each slash (dot or dash) is sent for 3 seconds, as QRSS3 SlashCode mode (the default speed). For QRSS6, a dot is sent for six seconds.

My call WA0UWH in Slash Code would appear as: "/\\ /\ \\\\\ //\ /\\ ////", which is sent faster than normal visual code sent on QRSS. My call with 25 slashes (20) and spaces (5) would only take 75 seconds to be sent (one slash and space are 3 seconds). There are no spaces within a sent character, only one slash time between characters, three between words.

In normal QRSS3 CW my call would take 165 seconds to send. That is; (2+1+5+1+1) = 10 dashes, (1+1+2+1+4) = 9 dots, and 5 spaces. That is ( (10 × 3) + (9×1) + (5×3) ) × 3 = 162 seconds. Slash Code represents a 53.6% savings over normal QRSS CW code (for my call). At this very slow speed every second counts.

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Propeller on 30m QRSS

2011-12-30T09:26:00.000-08:00

As I expected, the Propeller PLL Synthesizer Phase Jitter Shows up on QRSS (see previous post). The received signal appears "fuzzy".

In the next few weeks I will continue the experiments to see if there are modes or functions that will help reduce the annoyance to an acceptable level or irrelevancy.

30m QRSS

The top signal is my QRSS "WA" (for Washington State) and an unseen CW ID. The lower received signal is from "NM7J" (200mw) in Las Vegas, at 905.1 miles.

Note: my "A" is not a true "A", it is an open "A" without a cross bar (it was quick and easier to program).

To receive the above, I am using; a Homebrew 30m Vertical at 0 AGL, Ensemble RX, WinRAD, and Spectran, connected via Virtual Audio Cable (VAC).

I am still using only short wires for the antenna, as I have not built the necessary low pass filter for connection to a real antenna.

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30m Beacon In The Window

2011-12-26T13:21:00.000-08:00

Here is my 30m Propeller Beacon running in (near) the window (see previous post).

Beacon in the Window

Now it is time to do some electronic design and build a output filter so that it can be connected to a real antenna.

UPDATE
I thought by this time I would have some examples of received signals from my Beacon, but my HF rig, audio link, sound card and software is not working. I need to spend more time with the problem.

I will be very interested in how much Propeller Processor PLL phase noise will be present. Will it be objectionable on QRSS?

For now, the received signals would have to be received by my own receiver, as the power level is too low and the Beacon is without an outside antenna.

--

30m Beacon - a 20 min Effort

2011-12-26T10:20:00.000-08:00

So how easy was it to Program a CW and QRSS FSK Beacon with the Propeller? See previous post.

Well here is the code of the Main program, followed by the supplied Synthesizer Library. Note: in the Propeller "Spin"Programming Language, line indents (i.e., TABs or spaces) are important. They define the programming constructs for loops and other structures.

The Main Program



CON

  _CLKMODE = XTAL1 + PLL16X
  _XINFREQ = 5_000_000

  RFPin  = 27

  ReceiverDial = 10_138_700
  TuneOffset   =      1_300

  Frequency = ReceiverDial + TuneOffset          'DC to 128MHz


VAR

OBJ
  Freq : "Synth"
  
PUB Main | i
  repeat
    ' Send my Call via CW
    sendCWstr(string("de WA0UWH"))
    delay(2000)

    ' For fun, Generate 5 QRSS tones
    repeat i from 0 to 4
       sendTone(50+2*i)
       delay(3000)
       noTone
       delay(3000)

    delay(12000)

PUB delay(ms)
  waitcnt(cnt + clkfreq/1000 * ms)

PUB sendCWstr(stringptr)
  repeat strsize(stringptr)
      sendCWchr(byte[stringptr++])

PUB sendCWchr(char)    'A lookup Table of CW character

  case char
   " ":
    noTone
    delay(700)
    return

   "A", "a":
    dot
    dash
   "B", "b":
    dash
    dot
    dot
    dot
   "C", "c":
    dash
    dot
    dash
    dot

    . . . .

   "9":
    dash
    dash
    dash
    dash
    dot
   "0":
    dash
    dash
    dash
    dash
    dash

   "@":
    dot
    dash
    dash
    dot
    dash
    dot

  noTone
  delay(300)   ' Delay between each character

PUB sendTone(tone)
  Freq.Synth("A",RFPin, Frequency + tone)

PUB noTone
 Freq.Synth("A",RFPin, 0)


PRI dot
    sendTone(50)
    delay(100)
    noTone
    delay(100)


PRI dash
    sendTone(50)
    delay(300)
    noTone
    delay(100)

Here is the supplied Libaray



PUB Synth(CTR_AB, Pin, Freq) | s, d, ctr, frq

  Freq := Freq #> 0 <# 128_000_000     'limit frequency range
  
  if Freq < 500_000                    'if 0 to 499_999 Hz,
    ctr := constant(100 << 26)      '..set NCO mode
    s := 1                             '..shift = 1
  else                                 'if 500_000 to 128_000_000 Hz,
    ctr := constant(010 << 26)      '..set PLL mode
    d := >|((Freq - 1) / 1_000_000)    'determine PLLDIV
    s := 4 - d                         'determine shift
    ctr |= d << 23                     'set PLLDIV
    
  frq := fraction(Freq, CLKFREQ, s)    'Compute FRQA/FRQB value
  ctr |= Pin                           'set PINA to complete CTRA/CTRB value

  if CTR_AB == "A"
     CTRA := ctr                        'set CTRA
     FRQA := frq                        'set FRQA                   
     DIRA[Pin]~~                        'make pin output
     
  if CTR_AB == "B"
     CTRB := ctr                        'set CTRB
     FRQB := frq                        'set FRQB                   
     DIRA[Pin]~~                        'make pin output

PRI fraction(a, b, shift) : f

  if shift > 0                         'if shift, pre-shift a or b left
    a <<= shift                        'to maintain significant bits while 
  if shift < 0                         'insuring proper result
    b <<= -shift
 
  repeat 32                            'perform long division of a/b
    f <<= 1
    if a => b
      a -= b
      f++           
    a <<= 1

This 30m Beacon is running on; a Parallax Propeller, a 9Volt Battery, and two short 3 inch wires for the antenna.

--

A Propeller for Christmas

2011-12-25T19:05:00.000-08:00

I got a VERY unexpected surprise for Christmas, . . . even though I ordered it for myself.

I have been playing with micro processors for the last few months, with the idea that at some point they will control my beacons or other Amateur Radio Projects and Devices. So far, I have been using the Arduino and Teensy micros for most of my exploration and learning.

One of the Blogs that I follow is Wardy's Projects, he posted about a new device for him. It is the Propeller from Parallax. My initial reaction was; yeah, right, . . another "me-too micro". And, it was made by same people that made the Stamp? The Stamp is one micro that I just never got around to exploring. But, as per Wardy, the Propeller promises to have some interesting capabilities that I would find useful.

Note: while writing the post, the Parallax site appears to be down, what's with that!

After doing a little more reading/research, I decided to order a Propeller "Gadget Gangster" it was about $50.00 and it appeared similar to the Arduino Shield that I had been using. I picked up the order at the post box on Christmas eve.

Some of the attributed of the Propeller Micro Processor that I though would be interesting, are:

The processor has 8 cores, known as COG's, each is an independent processor which can run it's own code.
The master clock can run up to 80mHz (or much slower, to save power), and some people over clock it even faster.
Each COG can control two Frequency Synthesizers, from DC, to an amazing 120mHz.

Some of my concerns were; it does not use "C", it has it own languages called "Spin" and "pasm", although Spin looks a little like "C", . . . it's just another new language to learn.

The Propeller Processor looks like it maybe an ideal Amateur Radio RF Frequency Synthesizer, just ideal for my planned Transmitters, Receivers and Beacons. The raw Propeller Chip is available in DIP and SMT format, for about $8.00.

It took a bit to get the Propeller running (i.e., I am familiar with the Arduino, which obtains its power from the USB cable). By adding a 9Volt Battery and Clip, the hardware installation was complete. Installation of the Propeller IDE software was easy, a download and a few mouse clicks. It did not run, under WINE on my Ubuntu system, it ERRORd with something about the USB could not find the ports. But, there is a download for Linux and it installed quickly. The example and library directories are easily found in the MS directory structure of the first install that I did under WINE.

I clicked on the Frequency Synthesizer example, and its required library, which were loaded into two source TABs on the IDE GUI.

The source files were short and simple, I could see in the source file where "they" set the desired frequency, so therefore, with a quick edit, I picked my favorite frequency: 10.14mHz (typed as "10_140_000", the compiler ignores the under-bars).

I pressed F11, an ERROR! The compiler could not find the USB, pressing F7 fixed the problem. Pressing F11 once again --- out of the speaker across the room came a TONE!!! I had my HF receiver set for upper sideband on 10.1387mHz (the normal QRSS and WISPR receive frequency). - IT WORKED !!

My very unexpected Christmas surprise? - It was so simple.

After modifying the programs a little, I now have a Beacon sending my Call sign with CW, and sending multi-level FSK QRSS signals. Before going live with an antenna, I will need to build a low pass (or band pass) filter for the output. Currently it is just; a Battery, the Propeller, and two short 3 inch wires for an antenna.

And just think, I am only using one of 8 COGs and one of the 16 frequency synthesizers on the processor! I can do a lot more with this thing. Spin is going to take some time to learn, but I think I can like it.

The only downside that I currently see is the Propeller is not 5v TTL, it is a 3.3v CMOS processor. If real TTL levels are necessary; an input 5v TTL can be connected via a 4.7K resistor, for output a TTL driver circuit maybe necessary, and yet some TTL device will work with the CMOS 3.3v output.

I am just getting started with this thing. I am going to have fun with my Propeller in the coming mouths, . . .

Thanks to Wardy, and Santa!