TrxAVR-Picastar hardware specification

TrxAVR is an alternative control and user interface system for the Picastar transceiver.

Microcontroller hardware:

• A TrxAVR controller board containing:
  • Atmel ATmega2560 microcontroller running at 16Mhz
  • FTDI FT245R USB interface (communicates with Hobcat program)
  • 24LC512 EEPROM (DSP code and params, SWR cal., hardware config)
  • ST232 level convertor to allow R232 communication with the DSP unit
  • Pin allocations to drive a Picastar AD9951 DDS
  • Pin alloactions for a 25 key (5x5) keyboard matrix
  • Parallel display connections for S1D13700 graphics, KS0108 graphics and
    NT3389 character displays.
  • I2C connection to colour TFT display.
  • 7805 regulator for (i) on board logic and (ii) display unit.
  • Six 10bit analogue inputs
• Encoders 8 board (optional)
  • ATmega2560 microcontroller at 16Mhz
  • Connections for 8 low-resolution phase/quad rotary encoders
  • Serial (0v5v) output stream carrying encoder movement data packets.
  • Eight low resolution (20-30/rev) phase/quad encoders.. 0.90ukp on eBay

Encoders (obligatory)

• Tuning encoder - high resolution quad/phase
  OR Picastar home brew encoder... if someone cooperates in testing!!
• Menu encoder - low resolution (20-30/rev) phase/quad....0.90ukp on eBay!

Display options:

EA graphics

• EA320W-8K3 series 320x240 graphics display (S1D13700 controller)
  • Optional resistive touch panel
  • Dislpay illumination either LED or CFL (fluorescent - needs invertor)
• EA320 motherboard (designed for home-brew construction)
  • Carries EA320 display
  • Connectors for TrxAVR-A or TrxAVR-B
  • Display contrast control
  • LED brightness control (current regulator - PWM control)
  • CFL brightness control (two P-Mosfet switched levels - PWM control with DDS74)
  • Touch panel interface (X/Y current switching, output via Opamp to ADC)
  • 18 key keypad on left:    4x3 as Picastar     2x3 below
  • Vertical 8 button strip on right - on-screen labelled.

Please note that the EA320 or equivalent display must be set to8080 mode.
On the EA display, this invloves moving the 0R 1206 link from position J68 to position J80.

Character LCD displays

• Optrex (or other) 40x2 or 20x4 NT3881D character display
• Flexible key pad options (4x3 numeric pad + upto 8 user-defined, 25 max)
  • 4 x 3 Picastar key pad
    plus others. Max total 25. Upto 8 user-menu defined.
  • 4 x 4 Hex keypad:   left 4 x 3 as Picstar, right F(menu) E(esc) D(display) C(Shift)
    plus others. Max total 25. Upto 8 user-menu defined.
  • 18 button board as EA motherboad
    plus others. Max total 25. Upto 8 user-menu defined.
  • Your own arrangement - but must have 4x3 as Picastar.

Colour TFT displays

• eDIPTFT43-ATP 480 x272 intelligent colour display.
• Programming of display flash using Hobcat - USB - TrxAVR - I2C .
  • Connects to TrxAVR via two wire I2C interface.
  • Has touch panel - 12 user defined sot keys on screen.
• Flexible key pad options as with Character LCD displays (above).
• Development work ongoing to produce a lower cost TFT display + controller.

128 x 64 mono graphics displays

• 128x64 graphics with UC0108/KS1080 controller
• Low cost compact display
• Most of TrxAVR-Picastar functions incorporated

TrxAVR-Picastar home page