Is the firmware available?

[AB2MD]

Hello,

I love this rig. I am impressed with the SDR/DSP that is possible with the ATMEGA328!

Is the firmware source available for this project somewhere? The website still says "(coming soon)".

Thanks

Rich

[DL2MAN]

Hello

The license of this project (PCBs, Software and Schematics) is CC-BY ND, this means it is not open source. So no source code will be published. Only the hex files.
Guido is working on a firmware release page.

73 Manuel DL2MAN

[AB2MD]

Thanks for responding Manuel. I was wanting to order 5 assembled from JLCPCB for me and some of my friends, but not without access to source code. I guess I will stick to my HACKRF SDR for now. I like building QRP rigs and this intrigued me as it uses the Dan Tayloe (N7VE) mixer. I was hoping to have something portable to develop on.

Rich

[Rob_KL7NA]

Hi Rich,
In case you were not aware, this project evolved from an open project. https://github.com/threeme3/usdx Guido showed us it could be done, and how. Manual contributed a very nicely tweaked class E amplifier section and made several nice multiband rigs, including a very nice polished version in the (tr)uSDX. Previously others have taken his work and tarnished his reputation by producing inferior incarnations of it and selling them for a substantial sum. He wants to make sure this one stays pure and inexpensive. For many operators, that is just perfect. They all get an inexpensive standardized, well-designed rig. The uSDX list on groups.io is more for those who want to tweak their own radios.
73,
Rob
KL7NA

[DL2MAN]

Perfect sum up Rob, thanks !

73 Manuel; DL2MAN

[DL2MAN]

By the way:
Firmware has been released:
(tr)uSDX Bootloader
(tr)uSDX Working Firmware

73 Manuel; DL2MAN

[VE3RRD]

In the bootloader procedure using an Arduino UNO as the ISP programmer, the picture shown after upload of the bootloader to the UNO shows response from AVRdude. Attached is an image of what I saw after a successful upload using the Arduino IDE.

arduino as ISP.JPG (24.42 KiB) Viewed 4976 times

[DL2MAN]

@VE3RRD:
Thanks for the Observation. You are right. This is what you see, when you don´t enable all the debugging messages.... SOrry for the confusion. May I use your picture to integrate in my page ?

73 Manuel; DL2MAN

[VE3RRD]

Manuel, yes go ahead and use that picture
AL

[dc8lz]

Just a notice if someone likes the shell or command line:

If you have a usbasp for example just one line for the initial fw (called "bootloader") on linux:

Code: Select all

avrdude -c usbasp -b 19200 -p m328p  -U flash:w:truSDX-initial_Bootloader.hex -U lfuse:w:0xff:m -U hfuse:w:0xd4:m -U efuse:w:0xfd:m

And after that unplug the usbasp and use the usb cable and flash the final with f.e.:

Code: Select all

avrdude -c arduino -b 115200 -P /dev/ttyUSB0  -p m328p -U flash:w:usdx.hex

On windows the port has another name. IMHO use ... -P usb... instead of ...-P /dev/ttyUSB0.

Sidenote: Check filenames and paths.

[mm0gyx]

In the bootloader procedure using an Arduino UNO as the ISP programmer, the picture shown after upload of the bootloader to the UNO shows response from AVRdude. Attached is an image of what I saw after a successful upload using the Arduino IDE.
arduino as ISP.JPG

I was just wondering the same thing, glad you asked, it's answered my puzzle too.

Although, I have another question, I guess I can use an older arduino, it's a Duemilanove clone, has 328 onboard. The ISP seems to have gone on okay.

73,

Ian MM0GYX

[DL2MAN]

As long as it's using the same pin-out it should be fine I guess...

73 Manuel DL2MAN

[Kefeur]

Hello !
I like the upgrade and I'm using an older version.
I decided to try this latest version as well, but there was a problem.
I followed the instructions on the "3b (tr) uSDX Firmware" page and downloaded the hex. file. A new sequence of numbers appeared on the display for a short time, then the bootloader again.
I feel like a new year's joke ..
What have I done wrong ?
Thanks.

[DL2MAN]

Please Update the Bootloader via ISP, then upload the latest Firmware via USB
The Bootloader has changed recently, and you need that as Basis for the latest Firmware.
This will happen some more times in Future.
Sorry, but Guido is still modifying the Firmware to give you more features.

73 Manuel; DL2MAN

[Kefeur]

Unfortunately, nothing has changed.
Bits of exactly the same personalized firmware are downloaded based on the serial number.
The numbers on the display have not changed either.
Maybe Guido isn't done with the new version yet.
I'll try later.
Thanks.

[DL2MAN]

No you also need to download the NEW bootloader from 3a before updating new firmware from 3b....

73 Manuel DL2MAN

[Kefeur]

That's exactly what I did.

[DL2MAN]

Please make sure you follow step by step the instructions.
It is important to burn bootloader file via ISP and set fuses along with it.

It is further important to program the firmware via USB....

Manuel DL2MAN

[DL2MAN]

Kefeur: Did you get it working ?
According to the Logs, your fuses were initially not right.
Then you entered all kinds of weird serial numbers.
Later you seemed to have downloaded the right file.
Does it work now ? Please let us know so others can learn from your experiences as well....

73 Manuel; DL2MAN

[Kefeur]

I'm sorry I didn't have time to deal with it today.
I'll start again tomorrow.

[Kefeur]

I had time to program today.
There is a mistake too.
For some reason the fuse bits weren't overwritten, I don't understand that. He made many attempts. After that, 20MHz quartz refused to start with the new fuse bits, quartz replacement solved the problem.
Now what was needed was on display.
I'm continuing to build.

[SP9TKW]

Can I use this latest firmware for my converted QCX-Mini?

Thx,
Marek

[DL2MAN]

Hi,

the (tr)uSDX Firmware is for (tr)uSDX Hardware only. It doesn´t work on a qcx mini, because of different Display and a few other minor hardware differences.

For QCX Mini -> uSDX Conversion, you have to compile your own firmware from:
https://github.com/threeme3/usdx

73 Manuel; DL2MAN

[dc8lz]

Hello Manuel,

and so I guess the uSDX (https://github.com/threeme3) firmware will not match on this truSDX, right? Just because of this older post on the (meanwihle closed) group buy thread:

viewtopic.php?p=421#p421

I did not expect that it works vice versa. And I do not want the "older" uSDX firmware here on the truSDX.

Just to clarify this post/question.

73, Stephan

[DL2MAN]

There are about 100 hours of coding (by the Master himself -the one and only Guido, PE1NNZ) between uSDX and (tr)uSDX....
You could get it to work, but you´d really need to know what you´re doing

73 Manuel; DL2MAN