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HAM Radio Applications of Programmable Intelligent Controllers
by Eric Pierce VA3EP

 

The Thursday Jan 8th Meeting presentation on Ham (Amateur) Radio Applications of PIC Single Chip Microcontrollers was well received. An introduction to PIC Single Chip Microcontrollers was presented, including their key features and benefits, an overview of their architecture, software and hardware as well as a demonstration of software development and chip programming. A number of applications to ham radio were discussed, and a PIC based LED flasher and a single chip iambic keyer with memory and other features was demonstrated. You can download  the powerpoint presentation in PDF format here. (It is large, so you might want to right click and save to your computer).

 

Above, club members inspect the various PIC based products demonstrated, including a LED flasher, IAMBIC Keyer with memory and practice mode and a TinyTrak APRS tracker.

Iambic Morse Code (CW) Keyer (with memory and practice mode) Club Project: If you would like to build the PIC Iambic keyer demonstrated at the presentation, read about the club project and chip buy here.

Also, Eric has also offered to program a PIC for LARC members or (others with interest in the London area) if you want to write your own code and do your own project. If you want a chip programmed, contact Eric at this email.

Here are the links mentioned in the presentation:

• The Microchip website, for downloading the PIC specs and the free IDE development software: http://www.microchip.com. Note that Microchip will also ship you up to 5 free sample chips if you fill out a bunch of information for them.

• Good article "Starting with PIC Microcontrollers" http://www.voti.nl/swp/n_index.html

• Good source of all kinds of info: http://www.piclist.com

• Some HAM pic projects :

  • K8/9/10 Keyer http://k1el.tripod.com/index.html

  • The Tiny Trak III PIC controlled APRS tracker http://www.byonics.com/tinytrak/

  • The Rock-Mite QRP transceiver (uses a PIC for TX/RX control and keyer) http://smallwonderlabs.com/Rockmite.htm

  • http://www2.arrl.org/files/qst-binaries/

  • http://www.qsl.net/yo5ofh/pic/pic_ham_projects.htm

  • http://jacksonharbor.home.att.net/projects.htm

• An inexpensive source for PICS and other parts that Eric has had good luck with: http://www.glitchbuster.com/

• Do your own search for Microchip PIC amateur radio etc. http://www.google.com 

 

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