My SPOT mk1

[Mathe]

Hi guys,

After some time I've managed to build my mk1 SPOT transmitter on PCB
and put it in a box similar to the one that Till used.
I noticed that it works a lot more stable then when build on a bread
board.
The main differences to Till's version are:
- It works on 868 MHz (much better range then 434)
- Internal wire antenna for the transmitter (range is around 40 meters
with plenty of obstacles in the way (my house))
- Build in PSU that increases the 2,4V from the two NiMH batteries to
3,3V
- Nokia 5110 LCD on PCB with blue backlight (very easy to connect!)
- Battery low detection (<2V) which sets LED to flash rapidly
- Use of low current LED that runs on 2,5mA
- Dissabled receiver settings in display, so it works only as a
transmitter

You can find some pics on: http://www.vaenw.nl/spot/

Marc

[tim10243]

hi marc,
has the nokia 5110 display the same connection pins as the 3110
display?
tim

[Till Seyfarth]

Marc!! This looks fantastic! I'll have a good long look at that display of yours... 

 

Would you perhaps like to extend the SPOT documentation? I would love to have access to the circuit diagram and layout...  so if you want to share and if you think it's an easy way to let others know I would give you write access to the documentation wiki.

 

Congratulations again - I know that this is a lot of work. And you have improved some major points it seems. Nice!!!

 

Cheers

Till

[Mathe]

Hi Tim,

The 5110 display has the same Philips processor as the 3110 build in.
Someone made a special PCB for it and is now selling these on Ebay.
The connection types are the same except for the external cap. This
cap is already on the PCB. The backlight is enabled by switching Vcc
onto one of the terminals.

Marc

> > Marc- Tekst uit oorspronkelijk bericht niet weergeven -
>
> - Tekst uit oorspronkelijk bericht weergeven -

[tim10243]

Hi Marc,

the "outside-work" of my first Spot-Receiver is done . The display-
window is not as perfect as I would like it to be, but for the first
one it´s not that bad either.
http://www.eyris.net/spot/Spot_Hardware_Receiver/

tim

[Till Seyfarth]

Hey, we've got another one! Congratulations for your progress Tim! I'm sure you'll get the inside-work done as well - and if you're stuck somewhere this forum is your friend...!

[Ep Woody]

Hi Tim,

Great job! :) Looks very promissing.

What kind of antenna's have you used? That's the last part I'm still
looking for. After that, and all the items have arrived I'll be
building also 3 of these SPOT triggers.

Erwin

[tim10243]

Hi Erwin,
I found my antenna at Farnell:
http://de.farnell.com/rf-solutions/phc-m4-433/antenne-compressed-m4-433mhz/dp/1200978
and bought it at HBE in Berlin (Farnell is not selling direct to
privat clients):
http://www.hbe-shop.de/katalog/
But take care about the thread. The first antennas I bought have a 4BA
thread which is not a metric one. Try to find a non-metric nut in
germany .... The antenna I bought then have a M4 thread.
Tim

[Ep Woody]

Hi Tim,

Thanks for the answer and the hint. For now I'm just building the
circuit without the antenna (maybe just a short wire). When it's
working and I've found a nice antenna I'll finish it. I also just
finished the order at conrad and found the case which has a nice
buildin battery compartment. That will be another order soon.

Will keep you posted.

Erwin

On 22 sep, 16:23, tim10243 <t...@brakemeier.info> wrote:
> Hi Erwin,

> I found my antenna at Farnell:http://de.farnell.com/rf-solutions/phc-m4-433/antenne-compressed-m4-4...

[tim10243]

Hi Erwin,
I took the case "6000" from segor:
http://www.segor.de/suche.shtml?foto=1&Q=batteriefach&M=1
You´ll get the same one from Conrad as well I think.
Its one size bigger than the ones which till and marc choose.
I prefered to have a little more space for more sockets - at least i
have 4 sockets build in to connect 4 flashes at the same receiver.
Tim

[John Pateman]

RF Solutions (Lewes, UK) are selling 1/4 wave helical whip antennae with a variety of connections - M4, 4BA, Compressed helical M4, BNC and right-angled M4. Prices look reasonable.

 

http://www.rfsolutions.co.uk/acatalog/Helical_Antenna.html

 

John

2009/9/22 tim10243 <t...@brakemeier.info>