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    27Mhz - Radio Ideas

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    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 Empty Re: 27Mhz - Radio Ideas

    Post  geofrancis Mon Jan 17, 2022 1:35 pm

    yes i think your right, the fact that it uses pulses makes any plan of using them rather difficult. we would have to find a way of disabling the pulsing before we could use it for a serial link.

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    Post  david f Sat Jan 22, 2022 12:28 pm

    To summarize my views so far.

    2.4 GHz can be used with a trailing surface aerial i.e no underwater performance.

    The LoRa system at 433/458  MHz looks good and I have been using it on two of my model subs for several months. Underwater performance and telemetry are good features. Hardware is up to date and available. The frequency legislation does not make it much good for "global" development (e.g a Licence needed in US).

    27 MHz systems are much more problematic. Good underwater performance  but not much possibility for telemetry. Hardware is difficult (see thoughts below). This frequency does represent a "global" possibility with the only competitive use being toys and die-hard CB enthusiasts.

    27 MHz hardware development thoughts:

    - Buy 2nd hand. Only very old gear available and not dirt cheap.

    - The AX5043 chip is up to date, low cost, easy to make legal and would look to have potential but is complex and only suitable for development professionals (certainly not me!)

    - Radiometrix modules . These look good but are rather too expensive.

    - Raspberry Pi and SDR approaches. Show potential but I wonder what would be involved in making them legal?
    See also:
    http://www.icrobotics.co.uk/wiki/index.php/Turning_the_Raspberry_Pi_Into_an_FM_Transmitter

    - Cheap Chinese Toy modules. Just because they can be imported doesn't necessarily mean they are legal?! Trials show they could be used "as is" for small, simple submarines. Further development would be difficult. (See notes below.)

    David

    Notes on development of cheap Chinese models - pictured in earlier post.
    I have been able to send a PPM stream to the RX. A scope shows something like a correct waveform but I haven't been able to get a PPM decoder (see photo) to give a PWM servo signal. (I tried an invertor circuit also.) I had to re-tune the TX, for some reason, to stay within the 27MHz (CB) band.) These TXs do not use crystals.
    For anyone wanting to build on this, here is what I tried;
    - TX board. I cut the PCB trace leaving pin 6 and injected the PPM signal.
    - RX board. I tapped off the signal at pin 16 of the chip.

    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 43a44c11


    JHEMCU SPP 8CH Signal Converter Module Support SBUS PPM PWM Output for Receiver
    ID: 1549017 (Banggood UK)
    Price:US$8.76

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    Post  geofrancis Sat Jan 22, 2022 3:34 pm

    david f wrote:To summarize my views so far.

    2.4 GHz can be used with a trailing surface aerial i.e no underwater performance.

    The LoRa system at 433/458  MHz looks good and I have been using it on two of my model subs for several months. Underwater performance and telemetry are good features. Hardware is up to date and available. The frequency legislation does not make it much good for "global" development (e.g a Licence needed in US).

    27 MHz systems are much more problematic. Good underwater performance  but not much possibility for telemetry. Hardware is difficult (see thoughts below). This frequency does represent a "global" possibility with the only competitive use being toys and die-hard CB enthusiasts.

    27 MHz hardware development thoughts:

    - Buy 2nd hand. Only very old gear available and not dirt cheap.

    - The AX5043 chip is up to date, low cost, easy to make legal and would look to have potential but is complex and only suitable for development professionals (certainly not me!)

    - Radiometrix modules . These look good but are rather too expensive.

    - Raspberry Pi and SDR approaches. Show potential but I wonder what would be involved in making them legal?
    See also:
    http://www.icrobotics.co.uk/wiki/index.php/Turning_the_Raspberry_Pi_Into_an_FM_Transmitter

    - Cheap Chinese Toy modules. Just because they can be imported doesn't necessarily mean they are legal?! Trials show they could be used "as is" for small, simple submarines. Further development would be difficult. (See notes below.)

    David

    Notes on development of cheap Chinese models - pictured in earlier post.
    I have been able to send a PPM stream to the RX. A scope shows something like a correct waveform but I haven't been able to get a PPM decoder (see photo) to give a PWM servo signal. (I tried an invertor circuit also.) I had to re-tune the TX, for some reason, to stay within the 27MHz (CB) band.) These TXs do not use crystals.
    For anyone wanting to build on this, here is what I tried;
    - TX board. I cut the PCB trace leaving pin 6 and injected the PPM signal.
    - RX board. I tapped off the signal at pin 16 of the chip.

    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 43a44c11


    JHEMCU SPP 8CH Signal Converter Module Support SBUS PPM PWM Output for Receiver
    ID: 1549017 (Banggood UK)
    Price:US$8.76


    I am waiting for the same ppm converter and 27mhz modules, I will replicate your setup as soon I can.



    As for the legality, these chinese toys have been sold since probably the 80s, they operate at such low power levels that just no one cares. There is nothing critical on 27mhz, the only people still using it are the CB radio usesrs but half of them are running 100w+ amps so could care less about our 10mw toys. the main reason its went away is 27mhz is really susceptible to interference from modern switching power supplies, it's the same reason you dont see medium wave or longwave radios in cars anymore because it's a problem to filter out the switching noise.


    Last edited by geofrancis on Sat Jan 22, 2022 4:04 pm; edited 1 time in total

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    Post  geofrancis Sat Jan 22, 2022 3:57 pm

    lol quote button again
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    Post  david f Fri Jan 28, 2022 2:30 pm

    I have just been working my way through using the Raspberry Pi as a transmitter and as a receiver using the RTL-SDR "dongle".

    Firstly, I'm very impressed by the ability of the Pi to produce a 27MHz signal (I still find it hard to believe!). (This trace shows the transmission of a regular tone burst. (pulses.wav from the software))

    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 2022-016


    The use of Raspberries means that the equipment is quite small and could fit in a submarine.

    Still a long way to go in terms of (any) development. The best range I got was only about 5m using the simple piano wire ones form the Chinese modules.

    I found that the following sets of instructions worked for me. (many didn't!). Both Pi's were installed with the up to date versions of the Raspbian operating system.

    For the TX using  a Raspberry Pi 3

    https://github.com/mundeepl/PiFM

    For the RX using a Raspberry Pi 4 and a standard and (cheap!) RTL-SDR using the RTL2832U chip:

    https://hamprojects.wordpress.com/2020/09/06/raspberry-pi-for-ham-radio/

    This tutorial downloaded from the above website was particularly useful:

    RPI part 3-V1.3 Using RTL-SDR Key;


    Last edited by david f on Sat Jan 29, 2022 9:51 am; edited 3 times in total

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    Post  SimonH Fri Jan 28, 2022 10:09 pm

    Just been scrolling about the web and one idea to help using the AX5043 is to use a contract manufacturer to assemble the chips to a small adapter board that converts to a bigger ffotprint on a 0.1" grid. This at least gets round the problems of physically soldering the chip to any PCB.
    One source I found is http://www.proto-advantage.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2200069
    that seem to make the QFN28 to DIP adapter PCB and can assemble a user specified chip to it, with a price quoted of £4.20 when I entered the Dikey part (AX5043-1-TW30).
    This would probably not work for UHF but at 27MHz is probably OK.

    The idea would be to gat a batch made so providing at least a supply of modules that can be used with hand soldering skills, I might go down to 0.05"/1mm but 0.5mm spacing would make me reach for a good technician at work!
    Actualy not sure you could use a soldering iron however good you are as the pads are underneath the chip so some form of hot air/hot plate is used in the small set-ups I've used in various companies but I've also seen board de-laminate due to too much heat.

    This still leaves the actual design to be done, but that is realy 'just' the chip to antenna filter/impedance adapter network, the rest seems to be digital, assuming an Arduino/Pi type controller.
    Looking at the schematic, the coils from ant pins to GND are simply DC coupling so probably aren't critical, havent looked at the others in detail.

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    Post  david f Sat Jan 29, 2022 9:35 am

    That is a very interesting piece of information.

    I now have some AX5043 chips and some break out  boards and I intend to have a go at soldering them when my Quick hot air rework station arrives (but will probably take months from China at the moment!)

    (I have been wanting to have go at SMD devices for some time at John Robinson's original suggestion and  I don't mind messing  some parts up as part of my learning curve.)

    BUT, as you say, if they are available commercially at that kind of price then that is the way to go.

    Simon wrote:The matching circuit for the antenna is certainly a bit of a monster though the link you included does seem to have a lot of detail in it.

    This matching circuit worries me, as you say, Simon. I think even the inductors would need to be SMD devices, but my knowledge of RF components is a bit limited. With your knowledge of production is there any way this could be manufactured at a reasonable price?

    LATER EDIT:
    Thinking a bit more about this, maybe just the Class E network section would be required for early trials and wouldn't be too daunting to build with a mix of DIY wound inductors or
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/113710838065?hash=item1a79b1b131:g:dBIAAOSwm-1cqda3
    etc? (Sometimes I wish I was a HAM!)

    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 Aerial10
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    Post  SimonH Mon Jan 31, 2022 11:14 pm

    I started having a play today with LTSpice a free analogue simulation package by Analog devices or whatever they brand themselves as now, but you can simply add L,C,R etc to play, unless you have another package.
    I was thinking of adding in the values for the 169MHz version and sweeping from 100MHz to 200MHz to see what happened, driving from a 50ohm source at the antenna and starting with 50ohms load at the ANTN & ANTP pins, i.e. simulating the Rx effect.
    I'm guessing that the inductors from ANTN/ANTP to gnd are needed to provide a DC path, possibly some kind of open source/open drain type switching output.

    The balun is probably needed to convert what looks like a sort of push-pull double output to a single. You could make a try, but I'm guessing that each output switches on for each half-cycle and would cut outout by half and also the Rx side by half (probably more) so would inpact on range a lot. Its probably quite a broadband network so hopefully not too critical.

    Obviously for 27MHz the values are different but should scale by sqrt(f) I think but not sure.
    From those values round the inductors to prefered values as its easier to get varied cap values in general, but check the SRF (self resonant frequency) of the inductors' data sheet to make sure its well above 27MHz.
    Having found the inductors pick the caps but possibly drop a few pF to allow for strays.
    As you say, the filter could be ignored for now, esp if you connect direcly to your sofware radio/scope or whatever.
    Changing the L/C ratio in the balun might be needed to optimise as I think that sets the impedance conversion, but I'm not a ham either! Not sure what data is given on the pin impedance at 27MHz.

    I seem to recall from my youth that 27MHz antenna on the Tx tended to have a loading coil in the middle so it didn't need to be 1/2 wave, but antenna theory is even more arcane than 'normal' RF to me so you might have to tweak the balun to match the Tx/Master antenna on the one unit and the Rx/slave wire on the other.

    Appologies if you already knew all that, but LTspice is worth a look at, I find it quick and easy to simulate little analogue snippets. For PCB layouts etc. I use Eagle CAD, also a free tool and good for smallish boards, but there are several options there as well.
    Have fun!

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    Post  david f Fri Feb 04, 2022 1:18 pm

    Thanks for the suggestion about LTspice. I had heard about it but I have never used it before now. It's very good but I find it odd that you have to enter values in whole Farads and Henrys - large units - maybe some shortcut available?
    This plot shows (I think!) the frequency plot for the final filter in the antenna matching circuit. Presumably this is to minimise harmonics in the 27MHz signal.

    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 2022-011

    Thinking more about this complete antenna circuit, I don't think it will be that difficult to make, for a trial prototype anyway. Using wired components and "dead- bug" construction will be quite easy and I understand works well for RF circuits. (e.g less capacitance between components.)

    I tried but did not succeed in ordering an AX5043 chip fitted to an adapter board from Proto Advantage.

    Not VERY cheap at €16.92 but when I clicked on the final order I got this message:

    "Some of the parts we are purchasing for you are not rated EAR99. Unfortunately due to export restrictions we only ship this parts to United States and Canada. Please remove the assembled ICs from your cart and we can process your order. If you believe you've received this message in error please contact us at: info@proto-advantage.com or (888) 880-0297."

    So we proceed, albeit a bit slowly due to the vagaries of global trade! I will wait for my rework station to arrive from China and then try soldering what chips I have. (Ironically the chips I recently received were also from China and were probably manufactured there so I don't understand the export restriction!)

    But I think we may be able to breathe some new technological life into 27MHz for use in our hobby. My concerns are now with the digital side. I have found a developed library for the AX5043 and the Raspberry Pi on Github which may provide insights:

    https://github.com/BrandenburgTech/DigitalTxRxRPi

    Yes, I remember that all my Dad's 27MHz transmitters had loading coils in their already bulky aerials. I have observed that one or two yachties in our club, still using 27MHz, find the transmitter aerials very handy for recovering models!

    Thanks again for the tip about LTspice.

    David


    Last edited by david f on Mon Feb 07, 2022 8:11 am; edited 1 time in total

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    Post  SimonH Sun Feb 06, 2022 5:39 pm

    Welcome to the world of analogue simulation...never a dull moment.
    In general I would always have a series resistance in the voltage source and a restive load to make it more realistic.

    I also had a rumage arround and found a couple of web sites that might help:
    http://rfic.eecs.berkeley.edu/~niknejad/ee242/pdf/eecs242_class_EF_PAs.pdf
    https://people.physics.anu.edu.au/~dxt103/class-e/
    these deal with how to match class E outputs. It looks as if the matching is dependant on the voltage swing and load impedance. I did re-create an excel spreadsheet from the equations which seems to work, with the idea of using the data sheet values for 169MHz to see if I could reverse engineer the output switching resistance, voltage switch and load impedance, but though close not an exact match, seeing as all are unkown. I can't see a way of posting the spread sheet here if anyone is interested.
    It looks as if the idea is to get the time response of the current and voltage to be what is wanted, but you can do time based simulation in LTspice as well, using a pulsed voltage source (or 2) as the source. I seem to recall making a time opperated switch is more tricky but can be done and is a better model for the Tx outputs that seem to be open drain/open gate type configuration.

    For Baluns search for 'lumped balun', I found various and this looks helpfull: http://educypedia.karadimov.info/library/Balun%20Design.pdf

    The balun will convert the 50 unbalanced to some other impedance (haven't tried calculating yet) which then becomes the load impedance for the class E networks. As far as I can see the idea is to get the phase shift at the working frequency to be +90 or -90 for each arm so giving 180 between arms i.e. balanced.

    simples!!

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    Post  SimonH Sun Feb 06, 2022 5:45 pm

    I forgot to add that compnent values in LTspice can use multipliers, use u, n, p e.g. 10p is 10pF, 1u is 1uF, or 10k is 10kOhm for resistors etc. The sneaky one is I think you have to use 'meg' for Mohm, using m results in mOhm regardless of the upper/lower case

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    Post  david f Sat Feb 12, 2022 9:48 am

    This looks much more understandable now. Thanks.

    David

    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 2022-012

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    Post  SimonH Wed Mar 02, 2022 9:32 pm

    Hi,
    I've been having a bit of a play with LTspice creating models for the 169MHz version given and extrapolating down to 27MHz, and I think the trick might be to look at them in the time domain rather than frequency domain.
    I only have pdfs at home as my simulator is at work at the moment, so I hope they come across OK.
    the 169MHz model is
    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 Ax504310

    whilst the 27MHz version is

    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 Ax504311

    To model the driver outputs (i.e. in Tx mode) I've used a pulsed source with two diodes and a source resistor so that it is a bit like an open drain/source driver.
    both pulsed sources have a 50:50 on/off ratio with a fast rise/fall time, but the 'antn' source is delayed by half cycle to give the 180 deg phase shift.

    I can't show many results but some are

    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 Pictur10

    They rapidly get very cluttered, even more so if you try to add both phases!. The results shown are actualy a chart in an excel spread sheet from data exported from LTSpice so all a bit complicated.

    They seem to show that the rise/fall times of the currents though L3 and L4 show a rise time of about half cycle, so that just as the current peaks the drive switches off. The voltage at 'filt' or 'ant' is then the sum of the pull & push from each half and generates a reasonable sine wave.

    There is a bit of a startup time of a few cycles as every thing reaches some kind of equilibrium, but it looks plausible.

    The scaling from 269MHz to 27MHz was simply multiplying each component by 6.25 (i.e. 169/27) and the pulsed sources period from 6nsec to 37nsec.

    All a bit approx but does look reasonable, in theory :)

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    Post  SimonH Wed Mar 02, 2022 9:37 pm

    just a quick PS as I forgot to label the axes, horizontal is time (secs), left hand vertical (primary) is volts whilst the right hand vertical (secondary) is current, but note that the zero voltage is not level with the zero current, auto scaling for you!

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    Post  david f Sat Mar 05, 2022 9:12 am

    Fascinating this.
    It is a bit like Class D audio (digital) amplifiers which I remember a few decades back were still regarded as a theoretical possibility but I now listen to the radio using one!
    My hot air rework thingy has just arrived so I hope to be getting my physical hands on an AX5043 with connections I can get to!

    David
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    Post  david f Sat Apr 02, 2022 11:40 am

    A report back on this attempt to use the AX5043 chip for a 27MHz RX/TX. Slow progress so far!

    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 Image112

    Hardware (See photo).
    This went together quite well. The initially rather daunting RF antenna section was actually OK using components with leads assembled on  a "dead-bug" basis using some tinplate as a ground plane. (I am using the circuit configuration for 433MHz to begin with.)

    My hot air re-work station seemed to do a good job of making the break out boards. (See photo)

    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 Image310

    Actually such a good job of making these, for not much money, that if anyone contributing to this project would like one (I have 2 or 3 available) for free, let me know. (On the basis that you report back with details of your success or failure. I could probably also dig out the components for the RF section if it would help.)

    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 Image210


    Initial Testing (See photo)
    The chips all seemed to generate some RF carrier output when powered up. The marked dotted line on the "waterfall" is me sending morse by powering off the chip!

    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 2022-013

    I have been able to analyse the SPI connection  with a logic analyzer  but this is early days - I'm learning. (See photo)

    Communicating with the chip.
    All my attempts have been made using a Raspberry Pi Zero with up to date Debian operating system. (The Zero would be just about practical in an RX and TX in terms of size and power consumption  (I am not that familiar with the Raspberry Pi and this has contributed to my problems so far.)

    I was hoping that existing software from contributors to Github would work easily and quickly. WRONG! I have had difficulty in getting the software available to compile, link and run. (I don't want to use the expensive test gear offered by the chip manufacturer and the much criticized Radiolab software. )

    It would be very useful if anyone with more experience could get the software to run so I will go over the different sources in some detail:

    https://github.com/BrandenburgTech/DigitalTxRxRPi
    This is very comprehensive and I used his schematics for my hardware. It has been written for the Raspberry Pi and the AX5043 but it is complicated and I cannot run the software. Help please!

    https://github.com/richardeoin/ax
    This is clearly written and I can get the python software to run. But sadly it is written for the Raspberry Pi and two AX5243 chips - so it is difficult to adapt.

    https://github.com/UTRocketry/AX5043-Radio
    This was written with the Arduino in mind (Which is probably the way to go for a practical RX in subs. The Pico may be a contender eventually but see my other post today) but it is incomplete and has not been worked on for 3 years.

    So, somewhat limited progress. Help with compiling software and ideas would be much appreciated.

    I am pleased to say that I am very content with the Lora system on 458 MHz for my subs. I don't use anything else now in my models.

    Background OFCOM information on r/c in UK:

    https://www.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/radio-spectrum-and-the-law/licence-exempt-radio-use/licence-exempt-devices/Radio-controlled-models

    David

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    Post  C-3PO Tue Apr 12, 2022 4:13 pm

    Hi David,

    Always up for a challenge - if you still have any of those boards going I would be interested to give it a go getting them to fire.

    If you do, let me know and I will send you my address (not sure how) - happy to drop some money to you via PayPal to cover post and board cost

    Recently been working on a new concept of pitch controller/leveller - very promising - trials will tell if it's any good.....

    Regads
    Jonathan _._

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    Post  SimonH Tue Apr 12, 2022 8:50 pm

    I can't offer any help at the moment, and not sure if the following will help :)
    SPI should be a standard protocol that simply transfers data, so the lowest level should be code that can drive any SPI 'peripheral' such as a display or anything else. the RF bits should just be able to specify a sequence of register addresses and data values that need to be sent, with some code that inokes the SPI send (or receive) function and passes the address and data.
    There should be any number of SPI libraries, even if not built in, but it might be worth considering having 2 cpu systems to start with, with one being a dummy RF module that can be used to debug the SPI traffic. In fact, it should be possible to connect a 2nd 'monitor' function in parallel though you would only be able to monitor one direction at a time.
    The other option might be to create a realy simple app that requests an address/data pair via the kbd and then sends it, You could check that it works by sending data to simething like an SPI display module or some other known SPI thingy, then move on to hand setting up the RF module.
    Hopefully the RF module will accept a data value to send at any time, i.e. not requiring a constant data stream.
    I've found that seperating what you want to send and the method of sending is helpfull when trying to write control s/w for any kind of black box, but quite often have ended up noddy bits of code to just send user defined data as a proof of concept then create the app that sends that data that you have already tested.

    The board looks good, building with BGAs is impresive.

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    Post  david f Wed Apr 13, 2022 9:05 am

    Thanks Both!

    The problem seems to be connected to the SPI clock pulse. To my untutored eye D0 on the photo doesn't look like a nice regular clock. (This is connected to Pin 15 on the AX5043.)

    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 2022-017

    The screen shot shows the Raspberry running Richard Meadows Python software which seems to run OK and the output from  a logic analyser.

    I will do some quick tests to see if I have the crystal set up correctly.

    Thanks for the suggestions about testing the SPI communication, Simon. I have just put a MAX7219 SPI 8 digit Red 7 segment LED display module on order.

    I will be pleased to send you a board, Jonathan but I would like to confirm that SPI is working first so that I don't send you a "bad-un." (We can exchange addresses by PM on this Forum)

    Thanks again for the help. The major hurdle is getting the chip "talking."

    David


    Last edited by david f on Thu Apr 14, 2022 8:13 am; edited 1 time in total
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    Post  C-3PO Wed Apr 13, 2022 5:58 pm

    Hi David,

    No problem. Not sure if the crude Arduino code (Uno/Nano) below will help you - it's a very simple SPI grab of register values. Might help prove that your SPI is working or not. You should be able to see some register values in the serial monitor...

    Regards
    Jonathan
    Code:

    // ***********************************************************************************************
    //  Name:       spiTest_005.ino
    //  Date:       17 Mar 2015
    //  Brief:      Crude SPI test
    //  Author:     Jonathan Askey
    // ***********************************************************************************************


    /*  SPI connections Uno/Nano
     *  MOSI  11
     *  MISO  12
     *  SCK  13
     *  SS    10
     */

    #include <SPI.h>

      uint8_t slaveSelectPin=10;                        // SS/CS Chip Select

      uint8_t regAddr;                                  // register address
      uint8_t regVal;                                   // register value

      uint8_t xSPCR;                                    // SPCR – SPI Control Register
      uint8_t xSPSR;                                    // SPSR – SPI Status Register
      
      unsigned long loopInterval = 2000;
      unsigned long loopPreviousMillis = 0;
      
    void setup() {
      
      digitalWrite(slaveSelectPin, HIGH);               // set SS/CS pin high
      pinMode(slaveSelectPin, OUTPUT);                  // set the SS pin as an output
      SPI.begin();                                      // initialize the SPI library
      SPI.beginTransaction(SPISettings(14000000, MSBFIRST, SPI_MODE0));
      
      Serial.begin(115200);                             // start serial
    }

    void loop() {

      if (millis() - loopPreviousMillis > loopInterval)
      {

          digitalWrite(slaveSelectPin, LOW);             // set the SS pin to LOW
          
              for ( regAddr = 1; regAddr <= 0x2F; regAddr++)
              {
               xSPCR=SPCR;                                // SPCR – SPI Control Register - take a copy
               xSPSR=SPSR;                                // SPSR – SPI Status Register - take a copy
                SPI.transfer(regAddr & 0x7F);             // send address + r/w bit
                regVal = SPI.transfer(0);
                
                Serial.print(regAddr, HEX);
                Serial.print(" - ");
                Serial.print(regVal,HEX);
                Serial.print(" - ");
                Serial.println(regVal,BIN);
              }
              
          digitalWrite(slaveSelectPin, HIGH);             // set the SS pin HIGH
          
          SPCR=xSPCR;                                     // SPCR – SPI Control Register - restore
          SPSR=xSPSR;                                     // SPSR – SPI Status Register - restore

          loopPreviousMillis=millis();
      }  
    }

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    Post  C-3PO Thu Apr 14, 2022 9:46 am

    Hi David,

    I had some further thoughts - if you do not get any register data back from the AX5043 you may want to run my code against a RFM69 transceiver - this will should you how it the SPI commands spit out the register details.

    Writing to the registers is as easy as reading, however before any "test" writing you need to know what was in the register in the first place so you can set it back to the original value after the test session (factory reset) or you could cause more frustration.

    Regards
    Jonathan _._


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    Post  david f Thu Apr 14, 2022 10:55 am

    Yes, many thanks for the code. On the basis of this, SPI on the ax5043 doesn't seem to be working. It just returns a lot of 255s and I have tried several ax5043s.

    Would there any register values present when the chip is just powered up? I will have a go with an RFM69.

    I have added the ax5043 pins I have used on your code.

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    Post  C-3PO Thu Apr 14, 2022 11:10 am

    Hi David,

    Pinouts look good and I think it looks like SPI is working.

    Looks like register 2A contains 7F ?

    It's possible of course that the registers are "empty 11111111" and nothing has been written to them since production- I thought as you had been testing them with some Pi code they would have had some entries.

    I will send you some code later that reads an address, then writes a value to that address, reads it to see if it stored your "write" and then finally reset it back to it's original status.

    It might also be worth expanding the range of registers - amend this line of code

    for ( regAddr = 1; regAddr <= 0x2F; regAddr++)

    to

    for ( regAddr = 1; regAddr <= 0x4F; regAddr++)

    or even

    ( regAddr = 1; regAddr <= 0xFF; regAddr++)

    Regards
    Jonathan

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    Post  david f Wed Apr 20, 2022 12:24 pm

    Sadly the 7F value looked like a glitch. I couldn't repeat it.

    I also tried your suggestion of interrogating an RFM69. I actually used the Lora module (RFM95) because I had one to hand. It too returned all 11111111s.

    I have been continuing my attempts to talk to the AX5043 using a Raspberry Pi Zero via SPI, with some limited success.

    I initially tested the Zero SPI routine with a 7 segment display with poor results - too many conflicting "Guides" online!

    I had more joy with connecting the Zero to an Arduino:

    https://roboticsbackend.com/raspberry-pi-master-arduino-uno-slave-spi-communication-with-wiringpi/

    I then included this software in the Brandenburg Github project (which has always been my hope for getting something already established, to work.).

    I have still had to exclude major parts of this software to get it to compile and run. The problem with the Brandenburg software not working "out of the box" may be that  a lot of changes have occurred (e.g the WiringPi software) with the Raspberry Pi since it was written.

    Anyway here are the results:


    27Mhz - Radio Ideas - Page 3 2022-019


    The last two entries on Zero Terminal show 2 runs. One with the SPI connections disconnected.

    So I am (fairly!) confident that the AX5043 chip is a "good-un". The chips all seem to transmit a narrow band on 433MHz.

    On that basis, if you or any other person contributing to this project would like one (I have 2 or 3 available) for free, let me know and send me your address by PM. (On the basis that you report back with details of your success or failure. I could probably also dig out the components for the 433 MHz RF section if it would help.)

    David

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    Post  david f Sat Apr 30, 2022 12:34 pm

    Two AX5043 boards posted to you today, C-3PO.

    Have fun and good luck with the project!

    David

    The RF output matching circuit for 27MHz comes from an onsemi forum thread here:

    https://www.onsemi.com/forum/t/faq-how-to-operate-ax5043-at-27-mhz-custom-matching-networks-for-ax5043/274

    (The diagram in post number 57 on this thread comes from the above source.)

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