TrxAVR_Picastar setup instructions - 1 - overview
Display
It is suggested that the EA320 or equivalent display must be set to
8080 mode
(unless there is no provision other than 6800 mode) The display type in Hradware
settings must
set accordingly.)
On the EA display, this invloves moving the 0R 1206 link from position J68 to
position J80.
Hardware faults
Please note
the hardware diagnostic software.
This should not be needed if there are no faults.
PC connections USB and COM port
Please refer to the interconnection diagram.
TrxAVR has bidirectional RS232 serial communication with the DSP unit (at 9600 baud).
TrxAVR has a single 3.5mm jack plug serial
port connection to the PC's COMn port.
If this jack is plugged in, the serial input to DSP is from the PC and not from
TrxAVR.
This allows G3XJP's QBasic setup programs such as Cal_IF13.bas to operate via
serial link.
Hobcat communicates with the PC via USB.
DSP
serial and PC USB telemetry example
Please note that TrxAVR always runs with DSP parameter
5.2 set to 2.
These means that a full DSP telemetry set is continually being received from
DSP
and updating a copy in TrxAVR memory. (It is 24 byte data packet)
Picastar
- Star folder
You need to set up a Star folder exactly as
for classic Picastar.
This is usually C:\Star2b.
If you have two Picastar transceivers, then it beter to have a separate Star
folder for each
transceiver. So you could use C:\TrxAVR for TrxAVR-Picastar.
We suggest that you do this - and in fact Hobcat suggests C:\TrxAVR
by default.
Please set up your Star folder and populate it in accordance with G3XJP's Picastar
documentation.
You need to install QBasic to run G3XJP's
*.bas (See downloads
page)
(Picastar documentation and software is available on the Picaproject
Yahoo group)
DSP code and parameters
- being very very clear about what does what!
The DSP code is supplied in Star2b1x.xjp which is located in
your Star folder.
It is a text file of hexadecimal numbers. It has to be built into binary code
for loading
into the DSP module. This building process incorporates DSP filter files and
your AD603
callibration curve and generates checksums for error checking.
In classic Picastar this
code build is done by XJPld29.bas and is followed by transfer
via
COM port direct to Picastar DSP or the 24LC512 EEPROM in PicNMix.
When loading direct to DSP, the code is always followed by setting default DSP
paramaeters
without which the DSP unit will not operate.
When loading to PicNmix, a full set of DSP parameters is transfered to the PicNMix
24LC512 EEPROM. (ie green, yellow and red sets for CW and SSB).
The parameters are stored in USER2b2.XJP.
With TrxAVR-Picastar,
the Hobcat.exe program builds the DSP code using exactly the
same source files and algorithms. Hobcat transfers the code via USB link to
the 24LC512
EEPROM on the TrxAVR board. Hobcat also optionally transfers the parameter sets
according to menu option. (It can also save them from TrxAvr back to USer2b2.xjp.)
Hobcat can also transfer direct to DSP by COM port. This was essential in developing
the code building software.
Hobcat does not duplicate
the functions of Cal _IF13.bas, CalS_7.bas,
ParamRR0.bas,
EQ09.bas, DenTrim.bas and the loading of
test DSP code.
G3XJP's QBasic programs must be used for these functions using the the COM port
link
direct to DSP where needed.
So, for example, you run Cal_IF13.bas
(under QBasic) using the serial link to TrxAVR's
DSP unit. This will save the calibration on the PC as C:\TrxAVR\Filters\AD603.DAT.
Hobcat then uses this calibration file in the generation of DSP code which is
followed by
it's transfer to TrxAVR's 24LC512 EEPROM.
Please be
clear: you only need the serial link with TrxAVR-Picastar in initial setup.
My AD603.DAT file is dated 9 months ago. I haven't used the serial link since
then.
All the development work has used USB communication with Hobcat.
Download summary:
You need to download and install the following (all free of charge) :
Links are on Download page
You also need an AVR programmer
to program the Atmega2560 processors.
The AVRISP USB programmer from Farnell costs approx.
£30 and is what I have used
for development. It integrates fully with the programming code in Atmel Studio
4.
It possible to use the an alterantive programmer
such as PonyProg.
HobcatSetup.exe provides Hex code as well as source. In this case you might
choose not to
install WINAVR and Studio4.
Now move on to Setup 2