UDB4 just went live at SparkFun

[ben levitt]

Here's the link:
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10582

And today's blog post at Spark fun is all about the UDB:
http://www.sparkfun.com/news/698

And it's only $99.95!

Ben

[ben levitt]

Wow, and the tried and true UDB3 is now discounted to $85.

http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9980

Ben

[Claudio Carbone]

Big applause!
What's the battery for?

Are the schematics already online?

Congratulations to all the involved people, great accomplishment!

Claudio

[Peter Vogel]

Very cool!

The board pictures don't show the pins -- how many channel + power in/out pins are available?

Peter+

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[Netfoot]

Wow!  Wasn't expecting that!  And for $99 a pop, why buy a UDB3, even at $85 bucks?

[J. L.]

On the Sparkfun page it says the pickit 3 is the programmer to get. Does that mean my pickit 2 debug express wont work with it?

Thanks for any info on this.

On Thu, Oct 20, 2011 at 10:45 AM, ben levitt <ben...@gmail.com> wrote:

[William Premerlani]

Team,

There is a way to use a pickit2 to program the UDB4:

1. Build the software using MPLAB, and export the hex file.

2. Run the pickit2 in stand alone mode, and import the hex file.

3. Program the UDB4.

There is free pickit2 standalone software on the Microchip website. I have used it, it works ok, but right now I cannot find the link to what you need on the Microchip website. Perhaps Ben, Peter, or Ric might know the name of the pickit2 standalone software.

Best regards,

Bill

[William Premerlani]

Team,

Here is a link that might be a good starting point on using the pickit2 to program the UDB4, which is using the dsPIC33FJ256GP710A:

http://www.microchip.com/forums/m487219.aspx

If I find a better link, I will repost.

Best regards,

Bill

On Thu, Oct 20, 2011 at 3:39 PM, J. L. <vwyod...@gmail.com> wrote:

[William Premerlani]

Team,

Here is a link to the software for running the PICkit2 in standalone mode to program the UDB4.

Best regards,

Bill

On Thu, Oct 20, 2011 at 3:39 PM, J. L. <vwyod...@gmail.com> wrote:

[J. L.]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the info and link, saves money being able to use my old programmer much appreciated.

[peshao]

i bought one udb3 from sparkfun 3 days ago..noooo!!!!...but now i
bought a new one and the UDB4...my wife is going to kill me. jejejej

On Oct 20, 5:20 pm, "J. L. " <vwyodap...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Bill,
>
> Thanks for the info and link, saves money being able to use my old
> programmer much appreciated.
>
> On Thu, Oct 20, 2011 at 1:06 PM, William Premerlani

> <wpremerl...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Team,
>
> > Here is a link<http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/PICkit%202%20v2.61.00...>to the software for running the PICkit2 in standalone mode to program the
> > UDB4.
>
> > Best regards,
> > Bill

[Phil Giacalone]

Wow! Congrats to everyone that made this possible. More features,
better performance and at a lower price?! This team is just awesome.

Best regards,
Phil

[Paul Bizard]

Congratulations ! Very nice board.

 

Paul

[tshado]

Hello,

I have been waiting for this new UDB4 board
Congratulations to all the team for your work, support and dedication
spirit to this open-source project !!!!!!!!!!

I just ordered the UDB4 and Openlog from Sparkfun
I am happy i can still use the Pickit 2 which I already ordered some
time ago

I looked at Gentlenav Wiki pages and didn't find the UDB4 board
specifications.

*Could someone tell me if they exist , even if it is a draft version ?

Also, by reading the wiki, I saw the "MatrixPilot's Native On-Screen-
Display" mainly using
the Breakout Board for MAX7456 On Screen Display from SparkFun.

*Is it working with UDB4 ?

I am hasitating between this MatrixPilot's Native OSD (if usable with
UDB4) or
Remzibi OSD

*What are the pro and cons between them ?

Best regards,
JC

[tshado]

I also searched for UDB4 schematics
I found "UDB4-v11-sch.pdf" file in one of the "uavdevboard-dev"
Group discussion

http://uavdevboard-dev.googlegroups.com/attach/3b1b7e91320f1d26/UDB4-v11-sch.pdf?view=1&part=5

They are dated 1/26/2011

Can you please provide last level of UDB4 schematics ?

Best regards,
JC

[Peter Hollands]

JC,

The link to the PDF's of the schematics are on the Sparkfun page at the bottom.
Here is the actual document for your convenience.

Best wishes, Pete

[tshado]

Hi Peter,

I feel sorry...
Was so excited to order the board I missed them ;)
Thanks for your quick answer as always !

For my other questions :
- UDB4 specs or draft documentation
- Native MatrixPilot's Native OSD support
- Pro / cons between MatrixPilot's Native and Remzibi OSD

Do you think it would be more effcient to open different discussions ?

Best regards,JC

On Oct 21, 3:32 pm, Peter Hollands <peter.holla...@gmail.com> wrote:
> JC,
>
> The link to the PDF's of the schematics are on the Sparkfun page at the

> bottom. <http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10582>

> Here is the actual document for your

> convenience.<http://dlnmh9ip6v2uc.cloudfront.net/datasheets/Sensors/GPS/UDB4-v14.pdf>

>
> Best wishes, Pete
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Oct 21, 2011 at 2:05 PM, tshado <kanume...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I also searched for UDB4 schematics
> > I found  "UDB4-v11-sch.pdf"  file  in one of  the "uavdevboard-dev"
> > Group discussion
>

> >http://uavdevboard-dev.googlegroups.com/attach/3b1b7e91320f1d26/UDB4-...

[ben levitt]

Yes, the OSD is compatible wit the UDB4. :)

More OSD info is here:
http://code.google.com/p/gentlenav/wiki/OSD

Ben

[Claudio Carbone]

Hi all,
I've been skimming the schematics of the new board and it seems (but I'm guessing based on a quick overview of the pdf on my phone!) that the new pic has the I2Cs not shared anymore with PGC/PGD.
Am I right? So the magneto could be left connected when programming and debugging?

also what is the battery for?
Rtc?

Personally I would have liked a more distinguishable positioning of all the external connection busses (spi, i2c, 232) instead of the actual "all together!" but anyway...

Regards
Claudio
-- Sent from my LG Optimus 2x with K-9 Mail.

[Peter Hollands]

Claudio,

Yes, correct regarding separation of I2C from programming.

Battery is to provide backup power to GPS unit from Sparkfun when UDB turned off. Retains information about satellites for a few hours.

Best wishes, Pete

[Claudio Carbone]

Thank you Pete.

 

I have still more questions.

I've been looking at the eagle schematics and there are visually missing connections in the board layout.

Example:  highlighting the 3.3v signal, pads at (0.60 0.45), (0.60, 0.50), (0.50, 0.40) and (0.65, 0.20) are all part of the net, but there are no routes connecting them.

I have all the 4 layers enabled so it should not be that.

Also, there are many vias which appear floating: (0.80, 0.45), (0.85, 0.30), (1.10, 0.40), (1.25, 0.40).

I'm sure they are connected: I have only clearance, stop mask, overlapping and dimension errors, so they are connected.

 

Am I lagging to far behind on the eagle version?

Running 5.11 light.

 

Regards

Claudio

[Claudio Carbone]

I thought it best to share an image of what I'm seeing.

It's attached.

 

Regards

Claudio

[Belli Button]

I THink they connect ground planes on the islands.  Try deleting them and running the net list.

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Claudio Carbone

To: uavde...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011 11:55 AM

Subject: RE: UDB4 just went live at SparkFun

I thought it best to share an image of what I'm seeing.

It's attached.

 

Regards

Claudio

 

From: uavde...@googlegroups.com [mailto:uavde...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Claudio Carbone
Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011 11:36 AM
To: uavde...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: UDB4 just went live at SparkFun

 

Thank you Pete.

 

I have still more questions.

I've been looking at the eagle schematics and there are visually missing connections in the board layout.

Example:  highlighting the 3.3v signal, pads at (0.60 0.45), (0.60, 0.50), (0.50, 0.40) and (0.65, 0.20) are all part of the net, but there are no routes connecting them.

I have all the 4 layers enabled so it should not be that.

Also, there are many vias which appear floating: (0.80, 0.45), (0.85, 0.30), (1.10, 0.40), (1.25, 0.40).

I'm sure they are connected: I have only clearance, stop mask, overlapping and dimension errors, so they are connected.

 

Am I lagging to far behind on the eagle version?

Running 5.11 light.

 

Regards

Claudio

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[Peter Hollands]

Hi Claudio,

When it comes to deep expertise on board layout, that is not me.
This year I have learnt about the schematics and the chips, and have helped to review them,
and debug the layout.

Detailed layout of the board is done by Aaron and his team at Sparkfun.

So I'm not in a position to answer your question about revisions of Eagle,
and the routes and the floating vias.

Best wishes, Pete