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Prototype Quad RX 1 TX boards
by Bob Stricklin 26 Feb '24

26 Feb '24

Both Chris and Jim have their boards to work with. Chris has started to work with his and rotors TX is sending packets but not receiving any packets yet. Still working to understand issue. It could be hardware or software. To help sort out issues with the AX5043 I have made up a table (attached) to correlate the Select, IRQ lines with the physical chip on the board. All four AX5043s should have an RX signal so in theory any one of them could be used to receive signals. However there could be a hardware issue with any of them. The RX3 AX5043 at the top of board is configured to work single ended. The three other devices are working differentially. The code may need different register settings for each of these to work properly but in terms of the AX5043 I think they all should be looking for a differential signal. I expect the signal strength of RX3 will be lower. Bob

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Github Updates
by Bob Stricklin 23 Feb '24

23 Feb '24

Just updated the PacSatDocs GitHub with RevD schematic under Hardware and the full KICAD project under Hardware/PCB. Still a work in progress but it gets most of update out there for you to look at if needed. Bob

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Re: Pacsat dev mtg 2/22/2024
by Bob Stricklin 22 Feb '24

22 Feb '24

Burns, I do not have the file. You can send me a copy of that. Bob On Feb 22, 2024, at 3:46 PM, Burns Fisher (AMSAT) via pacsat-dev <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org> wrote: Another meeting at 7, so I may be late (or not there depending!) I've sent my Blinky back to Bob along with two programming interface boards that need the connector soldered on, and a case 3D printed for them. (Do you have the file to print these from Bob?) 73, Burns Fisher, WB1FJ AMSAT(R) Engineering -- Flight Software On Thu, Feb 22, 2024 at 4:41 PM Bill via pacsat-dev <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org<mailto:pacsat-dev@amsat.org>> wrote: Pacsat dev mtg 2/22/2024 Thu, Feb 22, 2024 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (CST) Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://meet.goto.com/533180525 You can also dial in using your phone. (For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.) United States: +1 (571) 317-3122 - One-touch: tel:+15713173122,,533180525# Access Code: 533-180-525 Join from a video-conferencing room or system. Dial in or type: 67.217.95.2 or inroomlink.goto.com<http://inroomlink.goto.com> Meeting ID: 533 180 525 Or dial directly: 533180525(a)67.217.95.2<mailto:533180525@67.217.95.2> or 67.217.95.2##533180525 Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install ----------------------------------------------------------- pacsat-dev mailing list -- pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org<mailto:pacsat-dev@amsat.org> View archives of this mailing list at https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/pacsat-dev@amsat.org To unsubscribe send an email to pacsat-dev-leave(a)amsat.org<mailto:pacsat-dev-leave@amsat.org> Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at https://mailman.amsat.org ----------------------------------------------------------- pacsat-dev mailing list -- pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org View archives of this mailing list at https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/pacsat-dev@amsat.org To unsubscribe send an email to pacsat-dev-leave(a)amsat.org Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at https://mailman.amsat.org

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Re: Pacsat dev mtg 2/22/2024
by Burns Fisher (AMSAT) 22 Feb '24

22 Feb '24

Another meeting at 7, so I may be late (or not there depending!) I've sent my Blinky back to Bob along with two programming interface boards that need the connector soldered on, and a case 3D printed for them. (Do you have the file to print these from Bob?) 73, Burns Fisher, WB1FJ *AMSAT(R) Engineering -- Flight Software* On Thu, Feb 22, 2024 at 4:41 PM Bill via pacsat-dev <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org> wrote: > Pacsat dev mtg 2/22/2024 > Thu, Feb 22, 2024 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (CST) > > Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. > > https://meet.goto.com/533180525 > > You can also dial in using your phone. > (For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.) > > United States: +1 (571) 317-3122 > - One-touch: tel:+15713173122,,533180525# > > Access Code: 533-180-525 > > Join from a video-conferencing room or system. > Dial in or type: 67.217.95.2 or inroomlink.goto.com > Meeting ID: 533 180 525 > Or dial directly: 533180525(a)67.217.95.2 or 67.217.95.2##533180525 > > > Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: > https://meet.goto.com/install > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > pacsat-dev mailing list -- pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org > View archives of this mailing list at > https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/pacsat-dev@amsat.org > To unsubscribe send an email to pacsat-dev-leave(a)amsat.org > Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at > https://mailman.amsat.org >

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Pacsat dev mtg 2/22/2024
by Bill 22 Feb '24

22 Feb '24

Pacsat dev mtg 2/22/2024 Thu, Feb 22, 2024 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (CST) Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://meet.goto.com/533180525 You can also dial in using your phone. (For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.) United States: +1 (571) 317-3122 - One-touch: tel:+15713173122,,533180525# Access Code: 533-180-525 Join from a video-conferencing room or system. Dial in or type: 67.217.95.2 or inroomlink.goto.com Meeting ID: 533 180 525 Or dial directly: 533180525(a)67.217.95.2 or 67.217.95.2##533180525 Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install

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Re: PacSatSW - Transmitter Power Level
by Jim McCullers 21 Feb '24

21 Feb '24

Power supplies are never easy. Correct words if ever spoken. I have little experience with critical onboard supplies other than getting the pinouts wrong but see it coming. The newer chips are far more critical as to components and layouts which is evident by the increased number of pins. Hope to learn from you. I have to become more observant of the spec sheets. Most of my power supply work is with things that go bang and release much smoke when they go wrong. I will never become accustom to that sound! I have six here that were donated and a few need work. As the to board when it arrives, I’ll get the transmitter output under control and will look in the code for ‘other’ places that might set the value. Then we can talk about testing the PA. Want to take bets on smoke? Again, take your time. Jim I think I see the problem with the 5V regulator which has been bothering me. I just looked at the data sheet and it says the ESR of the output cap must be below 1 ohm. The output cap in this case is about .5 ohms but there is a 3.3uH inductor in series and this has a resistance of 1.2 ohms. So either the inductor has to go or be moved or another 10 uF low ESR cap must be added. The the voltage should come up some. The current rating on the inductor is also too low for this design because we are pulling so much current. Power supplies are never easy. If it's not a voltage issue its noise or heat. Bob On Feb 20, 2024, at 8:46 PM, Jim McCullers via pacsat-dev <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org <mailto:pacsat-dev@amsat.org> > wrote: Bob, I’ll look further. Thanks? Take all the time you need and don’t want to sort out the board to the max before sending it on! Jim Jim, There is another place you may be missing and I will have to find it later and let you know. But the code does this by calling a SPI write routine to the AX device and in this routine the value is truncated down to 0xff. However when I tested other values like 0xe0 the thing just stopped transmitting. I can copy the signal in my lab with 0x0d. Maybe it is increasing power someplace else but I hope not so we can get some more bang. I plane to ship you a board tomorrow. I thought I was going to get it out today but I kept finding issues on the board I had to fix. This board still has a bit of week power source. The 5V supply is running about 4.75 and the 3.3 is a little low like 3.25. May need the additional headroom from 5V. There is a resistor string on the back of the board that programs the level. I noticed today that the board did not come up when I powered it and then I removed power and reconnected and that time it worked fine. The board needs a bit more voltage feeding the preamp on the RX input to get more gain. It is operating with 30 mA and would like to have 60 mA to have full gain. The 3.3V minder chip I thought was set for enough current to feed everything but may need to move the monitor resistor up to allow a full 600 mA. I did not see these issues on a board I just sent to Chris. I am ready to share the fun though and instead of continuing to debug and chase problems I am going to send you a setup tomorrow. I may poke at it a little in the morning but not much. At this point when the board powers up it does transmit and it will receive or at least it will get the rf to the AX5043 inputs. I can see it there. Your call is programmed into the flash so play with it until you get a programmer. I will send you a programmer later. Burns is sending me two and soon as I see them and add a connector I will push one on to you. Bob _____ From: Jim McCullers via pacsat-dev <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org <mailto:pacsat-dev@amsat.org> > Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 8:24 PM To: 'Pacsat Dev' <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org <mailto:pacsat-dev@amsat.org> > Subject: [pacsat-dev] PacSatSW - Transmitter Power Level Bob, Looking at the lastest code I see two places, which is one to many, where the transmit power level is set. They are: ax5043-ax25.c Lines 435-436 TxTask.c Line 63 calls radio_set_power() at line 112 They both set the power level to 0x0020 which is very weak. I don’t see a place that sets the transmit level to 0x0d. Let me know where you found that reference. I would suggest setting both places to 0x0FFF for maximum output (+15 dbm) Jim McCullers WA4CWI ----------------------------------------------------------- pacsat-dev mailing list -- <mailto:pacsat-dev@amsat.org> pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org View archives of this mailing list at <https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/pacsat-dev@amsat.org> https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/pacsat-dev@amsat.org To unsubscribe send an email to <mailto:pacsat-dev-leave@amsat.org> pacsat-dev-leave(a)amsat.org Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at <https://mailman.amsat.org/> https://mailman.amsat.org

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Re: PacSatSW - Transmitter Power Level
by Chris Thompson 21 Feb '24

21 Feb '24

The power level is hard coded in the txtask for testing and can be removed or surround with ifdef DEBUG. The other calls need to read the value from MRAM and should be commandable. That code has not yet been written. Let's keep the value low for testing purposes if we can. I realize it needs to be at a certain level for the PA no doubt. 73 Chris On Wed, Feb 21, 2024, 07:09 Bob Stricklin via pacsat-dev < pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org> wrote: > I think I see the problem with the 5V regulator which has been bothering > me. I just looked at the data sheet and it says the ESR of the output cap > must be below 1 ohm. The output cap in this case is about .5 ohms but there > is a 3.3uH inductor in series and this has a resistance of 1.2 ohms. So > either the inductor has to go or be moved or another 10 uF low ESR cap must > be added. The the voltage should come up some. The current rating on the > inductor is also too low for this design because we are pulling so much > current. > > Power supplies are never easy. If it's not a voltage issue its noise or > heat. > > Bob > > > On Feb 20, 2024, at 8:46 PM, Jim McCullers via pacsat-dev < > pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org> wrote: > > Bob, > > I’ll look further. > Thanks? > > Take all the time you need and don’t want to sort out the board to the max > before sending it on! > > Jim > > > Jim, There is another place you may be missing and I will have to find it > later and let you know. But the code does this by calling a SPI write > routine to the AX device and in this routine the value is truncated down to > 0xff. However when I tested other values like 0xe0 the thing just stopped > transmitting. > > I can copy the signal in my lab with 0x0d. Maybe it is increasing power > someplace else but I hope not so we can get some more bang. > > I plane to ship you a board tomorrow. I thought I was going to get it out > today but I kept finding issues on the board I had to fix. This board still > has a bit of week power source. The 5V supply is running about 4.75 and the > 3.3 is a little low like 3.25. May need the additional headroom from 5V. > There is a resistor string on the back of the board that programs the > level. > > I noticed today that the board did not come up when I powered it and then > I removed power and reconnected and that time it worked fine. > > > The board needs a bit more voltage feeding the preamp on the RX input to > get more gain. It is operating with 30 mA and would like to have 60 mA to > have full gain. The 3.3V minder chip I thought was set for enough current > to feed everything but may need to move the monitor resistor up to allow a > full 600 mA. > > I did not see these issues on a board I just sent to Chris. > > I am ready to share the fun though and instead of continuing to debug and > chase problems I am going to send you a setup tomorrow. I may poke at it a > little in the morning but not much. > > At this point when the board powers up it does transmit and it will > receive or at least it will get the rf to the AX5043 inputs. I can see it > there. > > Your call is programmed into the flash so play with it until you get a > programmer. > > I will send you a programmer later. Burns is sending me two and soon as I > see them and add a connector I will push one on to you. > > Bob > ------------------------------ > *From:* Jim McCullers via pacsat-dev <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org> > *Sent:* Tuesday, February 20, 2024 8:24 PM > *To:* 'Pacsat Dev' <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org> > *Subject:* [pacsat-dev] PacSatSW - Transmitter Power Level > > Bob, > > Looking at the lastest code I see two places, which is one to many, where > the transmit power level is set. > They are: > > ax5043-ax25.c Lines 435-436 > > TxTask.c Line 63 calls > radio_set_power() at line 112 > > They both set the power level to 0x0020 which is very weak. > > I don’t see a place that sets the transmit level to 0x0d. > Let me know where you found that reference. > > I would suggest setting both places to 0x0FFF for maximum output (+15 dbm) > > Jim McCullers > WA4CWI > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > pacsat-dev mailing list -- pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org > View archives of this mailing list at > https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/pacsat-dev@amsat.org > To unsubscribe send an email to pacsat-dev-leave(a)amsat.org > Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at > https://mailman.amsat.org > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > pacsat-dev mailing list -- pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org > View archives of this mailing list at > https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/pacsat-dev@amsat.org > To unsubscribe send an email to pacsat-dev-leave(a)amsat.org > Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at > https://mailman.amsat.org >

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Re: PacSatSW - Transmitter Power Level
by Bob Stricklin 21 Feb '24

21 Feb '24

I think I see the problem with the 5V regulator which has been bothering me. I just looked at the data sheet and it says the ESR of the output cap must be below 1 ohm. The output cap in this case is about .5 ohms but there is a 3.3uH inductor in series and this has a resistance of 1.2 ohms. So either the inductor has to go or be moved or another 10 uF low ESR cap must be added. The the voltage should come up some. The current rating on the inductor is also too low for this design because we are pulling so much current. Power supplies are never easy. If it's not a voltage issue its noise or heat. Bob On Feb 20, 2024, at 8:46 PM, Jim McCullers via pacsat-dev <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org<mailto:pacsat-dev@amsat.org>> wrote: Bob, I’ll look further. Thanks? Take all the time you need and don’t want to sort out the board to the max before sending it on! Jim Jim, There is another place you may be missing and I will have to find it later and let you know. But the code does this by calling a SPI write routine to the AX device and in this routine the value is truncated down to 0xff. However when I tested other values like 0xe0 the thing just stopped transmitting. I can copy the signal in my lab with 0x0d. Maybe it is increasing power someplace else but I hope not so we can get some more bang. I plane to ship you a board tomorrow. I thought I was going to get it out today but I kept finding issues on the board I had to fix. This board still has a bit of week power source. The 5V supply is running about 4.75 and the 3.3 is a little low like 3.25. May need the additional headroom from 5V. There is a resistor string on the back of the board that programs the level. I noticed today that the board did not come up when I powered it and then I removed power and reconnected and that time it worked fine. The board needs a bit more voltage feeding the preamp on the RX input to get more gain. It is operating with 30 mA and would like to have 60 mA to have full gain. The 3.3V minder chip I thought was set for enough current to feed everything but may need to move the monitor resistor up to allow a full 600 mA. I did not see these issues on a board I just sent to Chris. I am ready to share the fun though and instead of continuing to debug and chase problems I am going to send you a setup tomorrow. I may poke at it a little in the morning but not much. At this point when the board powers up it does transmit and it will receive or at least it will get the rf to the AX5043 inputs. I can see it there. Your call is programmed into the flash so play with it until you get a programmer. I will send you a programmer later. Burns is sending me two and soon as I see them and add a connector I will push one on to you. Bob ________________________________ From: Jim McCullers via pacsat-dev <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org<mailto:pacsat-dev@amsat.org>> Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 8:24 PM To: 'Pacsat Dev' <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org<mailto:pacsat-dev@amsat.org>> Subject: [pacsat-dev] PacSatSW - Transmitter Power Level Bob, Looking at the lastest code I see two places, which is one to many, where the transmit power level is set. They are: ax5043-ax25.c Lines 435-436 TxTask.c Line 63 calls radio_set_power() at line 112 They both set the power level to 0x0020 which is very weak. I don’t see a place that sets the transmit level to 0x0d. Let me know where you found that reference. I would suggest setting both places to 0x0FFF for maximum output (+15 dbm) Jim McCullers WA4CWI ----------------------------------------------------------- pacsat-dev mailing list -- pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org<mailto:pacsat-dev@amsat.org> View archives of this mailing list at https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/pacsat-dev@amsat.org To unsubscribe send an email to pacsat-dev-leave(a)amsat.org<mailto:pacsat-dev-leave@amsat.org> Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at https://mailman.amsat.org<https://mailman.amsat.org/>

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Re: PacSatSW - Transmitter Power Level
by Jim McCullers 20 Feb '24

20 Feb '24

Bob, I'll look further. Thanks? Take all the time you need and don't want to sort out the board to the max before sending it on! Jim Jim, There is another place you may be missing and I will have to find it later and let you know. But the code does this by calling a SPI write routine to the AX device and in this routine the value is truncated down to 0xff. However when I tested other values like 0xe0 the thing just stopped transmitting. I can copy the signal in my lab with 0x0d. Maybe it is increasing power someplace else but I hope not so we can get some more bang. I plane to ship you a board tomorrow. I thought I was going to get it out today but I kept finding issues on the board I had to fix. This board still has a bit of week power source. The 5V supply is running about 4.75 and the 3.3 is a little low like 3.25. May need the additional headroom from 5V. There is a resistor string on the back of the board that programs the level. I noticed today that the board did not come up when I powered it and then I removed power and reconnected and that time it worked fine. The board needs a bit more voltage feeding the preamp on the RX input to get more gain. It is operating with 30 mA and would like to have 60 mA to have full gain. The 3.3V minder chip I thought was set for enough current to feed everything but may need to move the monitor resistor up to allow a full 600 mA. I did not see these issues on a board I just sent to Chris. I am ready to share the fun though and instead of continuing to debug and chase problems I am going to send you a setup tomorrow. I may poke at it a little in the morning but not much. At this point when the board powers up it does transmit and it will receive or at least it will get the rf to the AX5043 inputs. I can see it there. Your call is programmed into the flash so play with it until you get a programmer. I will send you a programmer later. Burns is sending me two and soon as I see them and add a connector I will push one on to you. Bob _____ From: Jim McCullers via pacsat-dev <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org <mailto:pacsat-dev@amsat.org> > Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 8:24 PM To: 'Pacsat Dev' <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org <mailto:pacsat-dev@amsat.org> > Subject: [pacsat-dev] PacSatSW - Transmitter Power Level Bob, Looking at the lastest code I see two places, which is one to many, where the transmit power level is set. They are: ax5043-ax25.c Lines 435-436 TxTask.c Line 63 calls radio_set_power() at line 112 They both set the power level to 0x0020 which is very weak. I don't see a place that sets the transmit level to 0x0d. Let me know where you found that reference. I would suggest setting both places to 0x0FFF for maximum output (+15 dbm) Jim McCullers WA4CWI

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Re: PacSatSW - Transmitter Power Level
by Bob Stricklin 20 Feb '24

20 Feb '24

Jim, There is another place you may be missing and I will have to find it later and let you know. But the code does this by calling a SPI write routine to the AX device and in this routine the value is truncated down to 0xff. However when I tested other values like 0xe0 the thing just stopped transmitting. I can copy the signal in my lab with 0x0d. Maybe it is increasing power someplace else but I hope not so we can get some more bang. I plane to ship you a board tomorrow. I thought I was going to get it out today but I kept finding issues on the board I had to fix. This board still has a bit of week power source. The 5V supply is running about 4.75 and the 3.3 is a little low like 3.25. May need the additional headroom from 5V. There is a resistor string on the back of the board that programs the level. I noticed today that the board did not come up when I powered it and then I removed power and reconnected and that time it worked fine. The board needs a bit more voltage feeding the preamp on the RX input to get more gain. It is operating with 30 mA and would like to have 60 mA to have full gain. The 3.3V minder chip I thought was set for enough current to feed everything but may need to move the monitor resistor up to allow a full 600 mA. I did not see these issues on a board I just sent to Chris. I am ready to share the fun though and instead of continuing to debug and chase problems I am going to send you a setup tomorrow. I may poke at it a little in the morning but not much. At this point when the board powers up it does transmit and it will receive or at least it will get the rf to the AX5043 inputs. I can see it there. Your call is programmed into the flash so play with it until you get a programmer. I will send you a programmer later. Burns is sending me two and soon as I see them and add a connector I will push one on to you. Bob ________________________________ From: Jim McCullers via pacsat-dev <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org> Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 8:24 PM To: 'Pacsat Dev' <pacsat-dev(a)amsat.org> Subject: [pacsat-dev] PacSatSW - Transmitter Power Level Bob, Looking at the lastest code I see two places, which is one to many, where the transmit power level is set. They are: ax5043-ax25.c Lines 435-436 TxTask.c Line 63 calls radio_set_power() at line 112 They both set the power level to 0x0020 which is very weak. I don’t see a place that sets the transmit level to 0x0d. Let me know where you found that reference. I would suggest setting both places to 0x0FFF for maximum output (+15 dbm) Jim McCullers WA4CWI

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