[hpsdr] HIDMaker

Thu Apr 20 15:26:53 PDT 2006

Steve and Others

I am talking with someone about getting a commercial reflow oven donated
(perhaps not only for this project) to produce Alpha's and a limited number
of beta's. It may or may not happen. What I'm looking for now is a
reasonably priced stencil printer used. Got my Ebay Watch going.

Thanks
Eric

-----Original Message-----
From: hpsdr-bounces at hpsdr.org [mailto:hpsdr-bounces at hpsdr.org] On Behalf Of
Steven Bible
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 11:05 AM
To: hpsdr at hpsdr.org
Subject: [hpsdr] HIDMaker

***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****

Gang,

I did some research on HIDMaker.  My concern was it worth $600 for this
group.  Asking a knowledgable friend, here is his reply:

> HIDmaker is a great tool for those who don't
> know USB/MCU/ and/or Win32 API programming.
> So if the customer is technically savvy, and
> has access to PICkit2 code examples... he
> shouldn't have to spend $600.

Do keep in mind that HIDMaker is only creating the HID code, the HID driver
already exists in all OS's (including Mac and Linux).  As I've mentioned, I
already have general HID code I can share.

But if it is Bulk Transfer you want, then that's a completely different
subject.  Then the App Note AN1003 on the MCHP website is the place to
start.  I also enquired about the fastest transfere rate, my friend replied:

> The max bulk trf rate I have seen on the
> 4550 is 1088KB /s (yes that's 1MB/s.)

I hope this helps.

On a different topic,

I hope everyone knows that TAPR can help pay for the materials and tools you
need for this project.  That's why TAPR exists: "TAPR is a community that
provides leadership and resources to
radio amateurs for the purpose of advancing the radio art."

We're starting the planning of the ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications
Conference Sep. 15-17, 2006 in Tucson.  It will be the 25th Anniversary of
TAPR and the DCC.  The DCC has been presenting Software Define Radio since
2000 when I presented the W7PUA DSP-10, Gerald Youngblood K5SDR presented in
2002 in Denver, Matt Ettus N2JMI and Eric Bloosom K7GNU presented several
SDR seminars 2002 and 2003.

73,

- Steve, N7HPR
 (n7hpr at tapr.org)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eric Ellison [mailto:ecellison at comcast.net]
> Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 1:30 PM
> To: 'Steven Bible'
> Subject: RE: [hpsdr] FW: hpsdr] [FPGA_USB] Review/CommentsFPGA_USBBoard
> -April 5, 2006
>
>
> Steve!
>
> We also were checking out Hidmaker as a 'group buy' to do some of the
> lifting.
>
> http://www.tracesystemsinc.com/usb_tools.ivnu
>
>
> Kinda expensive, but they have opened up the pipe a bit for the 4550, so
> guess with the folks around here we could also.
>
> Thanks!
> Eric
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: hpsdr-bounces at hpsdr.org [mailto:hpsdr-bounces at hpsdr.org] On
> Behalf Of
> Steven Bible
> Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 2:52 PM
> To: hpsdr at hpsdr.org
> Subject: Re: [hpsdr] FW: hpsdr] [FPGA_USB] Review/CommentsFPGA_USBBoard
> -April 5, 2006
>
> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>
> Hi Eric and Group,
>
> Thanks for the summary.  I took a look at the Lionheart
> schematic.  It would
> be cool to have a lite version of Lionheart with the PIC18F4550.
>
> >From reading the threads, I hope everyone realizes there are
> many different
> types of data transfer types and USB classes.  As has been
> mentioned on this
> list, the USRP uses Bulk Transfer.  The other transfer to consider is
> Isochronous Data Transfer like that used in sound cards.
> Everyone may also
> know that Matt Ettus N2MJI (USRP and GNU Radio) has done a lot of
> testing on
> the Cypress USB chip and various PC motherboards to learn their true data
> transfer capabilites.
>
> Depending on the firmware in the PIC18F4550 and the PC driver, you can
> program them for whatever data transfer type.  On the Microchip website
> there is the HID, CDC, and Mass Storage classes firmware.  I wonder if the
> mass storage class firmware, which uses the bulk only transfer mode, could
> be modified to the bulk transfer mode?  I trust you've seen
> application note
> AN1003?
>
> Also, I might mention that the CDC class is the set of drivers that makes
> the serial port look alike.  Those PC side drivers are only in
> Windows 2000
> and XP.
>
> There has been a lot of work with the PIC18F2550 and libusb on the
> pickit-devel list.  See (http://groups.google.com/group/pickit-devel)
>
> I've spent most of my time programming the PIC18F2550 in general
> purpose HID
> mode, using the drivers from Jan Axelson's web site (http://www.lvr.com/)
> and modifying the Microchip HID driver.  Of course HID won't be
> appropriate
> for the type of data transfer needed for Lionheart.
>
> I've been using the Microchip C18 compiler.  Sorry, I have not
> heard of the
> FED C Compiler mentioned in the threads.  Is there any reason not
> to use the
> C18 compiler?
>
> 73,
>
> - Steve, N7HPR
>  (n7hpr at tapr.org)
>
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Eric Ellison [mailto:ecellison at comcast.net]
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 4:54 PM
> > To: 'Steven Bible'; hpsdr at hpsdr.org
> > Subject: RE: [hpsdr] FW: hpsdr] [FPGA_USB] Review/Comments FPGA_USBBoard
> > -April 5, 2006
> >
> >
> > Steve
> >
> > Thanks for jumping in.
> >
> > Basically what Phil - VK6APH and our '2 other person team' were
> > trying to do
> > was to use the 4550's built in USB to do what we are trying to
> do with the
> > the Lionheart or Phil's 'heart' AND the Janus boards are
> projected to do.
> > That is 'feed' audio and control signals from USB directly into PowerSDR
> > software.
> >
> > We were going to use the Wolfson A/D and the 4550 as a stand
> > alone 'station
> > accessory' for the SDR-1000 via USB.
> >
> >
> > Frustrations with the buggy FED C compiler was a MAJOR
> > impediment, however,
> > Phil also had some issues with speed of feeding audio over the
> USB through
> > the PIC.
> >
> > I need to have Phil_H comment further.
> >
> > Since the Atlas buss gives us the capability of experimenting
> > with 'building
> > blocks' I felt that it would be valid to go back and investigate
> > a PIC as a
> > 'heart' to this or other projects scheduled as part of HPSDR.
> >
> > Additionally if the Atlas buss proves out it's capability, as I think it
> > will, there is certainly a universal platform to develop and 'build on'
> > other projects planned for this project. Even other totally different
> > projects.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Eric
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I've been lurking for several months now, only because I have
> > more projects
> > than time.  I've been trying to catch up.
> >
> > What is it you want to do with the PIC18F2550/4550?
> >
> > - Steve N7HPR
> >  (n7hpr at tapr.org)
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Eric Ellison
> > Sent: Apr 12, 2006 3:59 PM
> > To: "'Christopher T. Day'" , 'High Performance Software Defined Radio
> > Discussion List'
> > Subject: Re: [hpsdr] FW: hpsdr] [FPGA_USB] Review/Comments
> FPGA_USB Board
> > -April 5, 2006
> >
> >
> > Chris
> >
> >
> >
> > Sorry for the late reply. I have all the software for the
> Picdem board and
> > will have to get it for you, I forgot to ship the disk. I don't
> > think it is
> > available on the website.
> >
> >
> >
> > Hmmm..
> >
> >
> >
> > Anything can "Ride the Atlas Rails!"
> >
> >
> >
> > Methinks there are MANY more PIC programmers than FPGA
> > programmers, although
> > hardware is in a different category entirely. The PIC 4550 has USB
> > 'built-in'. If one considers what Beppe and Wood Box Radio, as
> > well as Peter
> > - G3XJP designing the Pic-A-Star did with a PIC what about the
> > HPSDR project
> > add-in's!
> >
> >
> >
> > Just 'food for thought' with someone much more capable than me
> driving the
> > program. The project boards, and compiler were a no-strings
> > offer. You have
> > no obligation to do anything with it!
> >
> >
> >
> > One of Phil_H's (and me and Steve - K5FR's) complaints was that
> > we couldn't
> > compile for the 4550 with the FED complier, without errors, generated by
> > bugs in the compiler. Enough to make a grown man cry!
> Especially when the
> > weight Phil was carrying kept falling on his toes!
> >
> >
> >
> > I still learned a lot over Phil's frustration, and at my age 'learning
> > something new' translates to FUN! I have a stack of 'spec sheets' in the
> > 'reading room' (As well as QST's and now RadCom!)
> >
> >
> >
> > Have fun!
> >
> >
> >
> > Eric
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: hpsdr-bounces at hpsdr.org [mailto:hpsdr-bounces at hpsdr.org] On
> > Behalf Of
> > Steven Bible
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 7:30 PM
> > To: hpsdr at hpsdr.org
> > Subject: Re: [hpsdr] FW: hpsdr] [FPGA_USB] Review/Comments FPGA_USBBoard
> > -April 5, 2006
> >
> > ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
> >
> >
>
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