I decided I needed another challenge, so last week I taught myself some
PIC assembler programming and bought a Arizona Microchip USB programmer.
The result - a hand-wired matrix board with just a few components which
replaces all the CorsairII MCU frequency readout functionality. Here's a
couple of photos:
http://www.karinya.net/g3txq/temp/corsair_pic1.jpg
http://www.karinya.net/g3txq/temp/corsair_pic2.jpg
I've arranged the board to be a drop-in replacement for the existing
logic board - it's the same size, it will have the same mounting holes,
the header pins are in the same positions, and it drives the existing
LED display. I was surprised how easy it was - all the HFO frequency
counting, adding/subtracting the appropriate IF offsets and the
"normal/reverse" offsets, are performed in one 16F84 18 pin PIC. It took
just 180 out of the 1024 words of programme memory available.
Next step is to add a second PIC to the board to perform the keyer
function :)
When it's all complete I'll write it up as a web page for anyone who may
be interested in the details.
73,
Steve G3TXQ
On 02/08/2011 22:18, Jerry Haigwood wrote:
Steve,
You are correct. The AADE display does not include the keyer
function. However, there are probably at least 10 different keyer boards
that can be fitted into the Corsair II and all of them will have a lot more
features than the original keyer. Some of the lower cost ones are made by
K1EL (K10, K12 board) and Jackson Harbor Press WB9KZY. So far, the display
on my Corsair II is still working well. However, I have one of the AADE
displays on hand just in case it decides to take a dump. ;-) What is nice
about the AADE display is that it should also work with the original
Corsair. The Corsair used a totally different set of devices to do the
display function but the inputs are similar to the Corsair II.
Jerry W5JH
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