Hi,

after some time of working CW with my TS480 by Kenwood I have realized that my CAT control via FTDI USB/COM dongle could have been better. How - you might ask? Well with a little modification of the circuit of the CAT controller a logging SW can control both frequency/mode and send CW code. 

If interested read more. 

Hi all,

I have made a prototype of OLED miniature version od the Weekender. The PCB is small (50x65 mm = 2x2 1/2 inch). I have used Arduino Pro Mini, 1.3 " OLED, for speaker/microphone I have used cheap Baofeng microphone/speaker, hence two sockets you see on the image. SW offers same as it was in the Weekender: programming Weekender Channels via simple PC program. 

 Now I have to catch all the "glitches" on the PCB and reroute a new PCB.

You can see that prototype is connected with several wires, because Arduino Pro Mini has no USB programming socket. Hence I had to use MiniPin AVR development board.

MiniPin itself cannot program an AVR that we place in it. It requires Proggy II programmer for that. But for Arduino that has no USB socket MiniPin II ins a perfect programming tool.

73s de S52CQ, Jure

Hi all,

I've done a couple of Countdown timers with simple fistly with AT89C2051, then with Tiny2313 and finally with TIny4313. First one had 2 LED digits, second had 4 LED digits, while the last one had 2x8 small LCD.

This Timer has a big readout for setting time. One can set Minutes or Seconds with a selection with one button. See images below.

When the time is set Timer starts counting down with a press to Start button. Big display shows Seconds, while there is a small number that showd Minutes that remain to count down.

See image below.

 Video can be seen on youtube.

Hi all,

a couple of days ago I have received email from Cyprus, where Stavros 5B4AFM has asked me if the Weekender would support work via satellite like SaudiSAT-1C, i.e. operate on VHF and UHF. If interested read on... 

Hi all,

some of you asked me which microphone to use with the Weekender.

Apart for using any CB radio microphone (those are quite cheap) you can use Baofeng microphone as seen on this page.

Surely you have to make some modifications:

1. cut original connector from the microphone

Read more if interested

Hi all,

just a short update. Small transceiver modules can be used also as CW practice modules. 

When you connect Call pin with + VCC then module starts transmitting modulated signal which can be heard at a remote transceiver module on the same channel.

Hence you can use it as a CW practice module that is programmed on CB or PMR frequencies (for unlicenced radio operators) or on VHF or UHF channels.

Modules can be purchased in the shop here.

Best 73s de S52CQ, Jure

Hi all,

we can now program SR_T300 modules to different frequencies than factory programmed:

Channel set No.1

446,00625 MHz (PMR CH No. 1)

446,01875 MHz (PMR CH No. 2)

Channel set No.2

446,04375 MHz (PMR CH No. 4)

446,06875 MHz (PMR CH No. 6)

Channel set No.3

27,065 MHz (CB CH. 9)

27,205 MHz (CB CH. 20)

Channel set No.4

433.500 MHz, 430.3625 MHz

Channel set No.5
145.700MHz, 145.100 MHz

Channel set No.6
431.3875 MHz, 431.2875 MHz

Channel set No.7
49.100 MHz, 49.700 MHz

Channel set No.8
29.125 MHz, 29.750 MHz

Unfortunately we cannot mix. channel sets between each other. 

We can now program following PMR frequencies:

446,00625 MHz (PMR CH No. 1)

446,01875 MHz (PMR CH No. 2)

Read more if interested...

Hi all,

high interest for small Walkie Talkie modules caused that all stock of these modules was sold.

Now I can announce that new Walkie Talkie modules have arrived.

It has taken quite a while - modules travelled from November up 'till beginning of February!

Read more if interested...

Hi all,

recently I have came across drone community. They are pretty amazing guys & girls flying their drones like anything.

When flying a drone - or driving an RC car, it's user can ask - how fast his model was. With that a simple Speed Measurement Module can help. 

Basically this is GPS receiver that receives GPS data, added Arduino processes all the data and shows them on the OLED display. Module can display Max. Speed, Current speed, Max. Altitude, Current Alltitude and Number of received satellites.

A clever design enables displaying of all that data which can be selected with a press to OLED display. 

Module is being powered with a single LiPo cell and draws less than 50 mA. 

I have made a simple video of it's performance. Video can be found on this link.

Hi all,

in the mean time I have update Weekender firmware. With a help of Marko, S56FGS (who wrote PC SW) we have sucessfully rewrote firmware so that Weekneder channels can be easily updated via Marko's PC software. 

Whether you're from the USA, Downunder or from the EU you can write your simples and/or duplex channels/frequencies with CTCSS included and upload all data to the Weekender.

You're invited to download files from Github. In the files you will find manual how to use SW to upload new channels/frequencies. You can use this or this serial adapter for uploading SW to the Weekender.

Happy Weekending :)

73s de S52CQ, Jure

PS: note that all past Weekender owners will have to update FW within AVR chip. There is a FW file at Github for that, but to do that you'd need an AVR programmer like this one. If you're not into AVR programming you can still order already preprogrammed AVR chip wiith the latest Weekender firmware.

PS2: all files on my entire web page are available only for personal use! For any other use (workshops in HAM radio clubs & HAM associations is prohibited!