[amsat-bb] Re: LVB Tracker Questions

[Howard Long]

Hi Sion Chow

Sorry, I only just noticed your post.

Putting my finger in the air, the LCD you suggest should work as it looks
like it uses the standard Hitachi parallel interface.

Regarding the Lantronix Ethernet adapter, exactly as Gould suggests,
essentially it's simply converting Ethernet to a logic level UART interface
just like the FTDI device does. Like the FTDI device you need to install a
virtual COM port driver on your PC.

I wrote up some (very) rough notes a few months ago.

It consists of a 3.3V LDO and some resistors to do 5V to 3.3V conversion
from the PIC to the Lantronix device. The PIC inputs are compatible with the
3.3V levels provided by the Lantronix: this is why there are two unused
TO-92 transistors on the board that I originally thought would be necessary
to do the voltage upconversion.

http://www.g6lvb.com/Articles/LVBTracker/Ethernet/IMG_0057small.jpg
http://www.g6lvb.com/Articles/LVBTracker/Ethernet/IMG_0058small.jpg
http://www.g6lvb.com/Articles/LVBTracker/Ethernet/IMG_0059small.jpg
http://www.g6lvb.com/Articles/LVBTracker/Ethernet/IMG_0061small.jpg

The Lantronix takes a lot of juice so you must adequately heatsink the 5V
regulator on the main LVB board. I don't think that a simple clip-on
heatsink is sufficient if you adhere to the "too hot to touch" rule of
thumb. The LDO doesn't need a heatsink.

73, Howard G6LVB




-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On
Behalf Of Gould Smith
Sent: 25 February 2008 20:33
To: 9w2qc at 9w2qc.net; amsat-bb at amsat.org
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LVB Tracker Questions

Hello Sion Chow,

I have placed information on LCD selection for the LVB Tracker on  the
LVBTracker.com .  These were generated from problems we experienced in
selecting LCDs for the complete tracker box.

The ethernet interface has only been tested by building a handmade interface
board between the Lantronix part and the 28 pin Tracker box socket.  The
Lantronix software driver does essentially what the FTDI software does for
the USB module - it converts the serial data between the LVB processor and
computer serial port (real or redirected) to either USB or ethernet
communication.  The computer tracking software thinks it is taking out a
standard serial port and the LVB Tracker processor thinks it is taking
through a RS232 serial port.

If you have a special program on the computer to generate rotor data into a
USB port or Ethernet port you can use the modules.  Essentialy you are just
faking the computer tracking software into thinking it is still talking
through a serial port and using a USB or Ethernet connection between the
two.

73,
Gould, WA4SXM

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <9w2qc at 9w2qc.net>
To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 2:53 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] LVB Tracker Questions


> Dear All,
>
> Greetings from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
>
> I have built one LVB Tracker complete kit from AMSAT-UK, and am
> extremely pleased with it. Now I would like to build another unit, but
> this time from scratch.  I have two questions about this tracker,
> which I hope someone can help me clarify.
>
> 1. Can someone kindly advice a suitable LCD panel for this tracker?
> Would the Powertip PC1602ARU-HWB-G be compatible with this tracker?
> (RS Part Number 466-6452)
>
> 2. I am also very interested into the Ethernet interface, but have no
> clue on how this works.  I know a suitable unit is produced by
> Lantronix but that is about it.  Could someone kindly advice what do I
> need to get the Ethernet interface going?  Is there an evaluation kit
> readily available like the one from FTDI for the USB interface?
>
> Any help and advice is really appreciated.  Thank you very much in 
> advance.
>
> 73,
> Sion Chow Q. C.,
> 9W2QC.
>
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