7ch Propo + S/C mix encoder update/rewrite
Posted: 05 Dec 2019, 23:03
*** There have been many updates since this thread was started, and itself its a rewrite of the original encoder thread lost when 'reunited' closed.
Its good for telling the story & setting the scene but please get the latest sketch and document from items P16a and P17a on the Archive page of www.singlechannel.co.uk ***
Heres the 'Version 2' thread as it began in 2019:
This is really for my own satisfaction, I've wanted to revisit this project for ages but its only recently that Shaun kicked me into gear with his 'Retro Ramblings'.
The lengthy 2014 "7ch+s/c encoder" thread was irretrievably lost when "Reunited" closed and whilst the thread itself was a really good craic, it was 8 years ago so here's an overdue update, let me say from the outset that this remains a really simple encoder - it doesnt compare with Mikes full-on and quite excellent computer-radio encoder or with say the Microstar, or with probably a dozen other very clever encoders out there in webland - but that's not where its aimed
Just like the old version its intended for plain, simple retro conversions such as Skyleaders, Fleets, Krafts etc, with the benefit of a few niceties over the originals. As such the encoder has no display and hence no menus, no pushbutton-trims, it has no model memories - just like the old sets! This makes for simple conversions with just a few servo leads connecting the switches and pots. Some of us (me, Ron, Frank...) prefer each model to have its own dedicated, 'period appropriate' transmitter so model memories arent a concern, and mechanical trims dont lend themselves to 'storage' anyway though I know Mike has gone to great lengths to overcome this. Having said what it doesnt do, here's what it does do:
Features:
Interrupt-driven PPM (same as the Reeduino) replaces the inline timed method
Single Channel (S/C) escapement emulation mix, sequential and compound
...with the option of a faster S/C escapement rotation speed
Minute-minder flight timer
Slow channel 7 with the option of 2 speeds (.8 or 3 seconds transit)
Switchable channel order Fut/Spek/Spek400uS/ETAR (ETAR is for modules with an unwanted map)
When TAER-gear-aux1-aux2 is selected the PPM changes to 400uS pulses to suit Spektrum DM8/DM9
Expo now mimics Futaba expo (thanks Mike & BEB)
Rate (travel volume) on primary channels as before
Channels changed to 1100 - 1900 plus trims, ie trims are now excluded from calibration (easier)
3-position calibration mapping to ensure neutrals with imperfect sticks
Reversing by holding appropriate stick over on power-up as before, retained in flash
V-tail 50:50 mixer as before
Elevon 75:25 mixer as before
Hardware throttle lock switch as before
Throttle soft-lock with alarm if invoked (throttle must be closed before it will open) as with all my stuff
Single-handed range-test sweep (set tx sweeping, leave tx & walk away with model)
Inactivity alarm to avoid batteries flattened overnight, etc etc
The channel-order selection makes it easier for me - now I dont have to set AETR or TAER on requested boards.
Connections:
Following Mikes suggestion, to accommodate an 8-way dipswitch I've swapped D6 (timer button) and D8 (75:25 mixer) from the previous version. Theres no code change as such, only these two port pins are swapped. Obviously your 'D6/D8' hardware connections have to match the sketch. Any ready-made encoder requests can be supplied with or without the dipswitch but will have the current 'swapped D6 and D8' firmware regardless of whether a dipswitch is actually fitted.
This means that the options in blue such as S/C emulation speed, Ch7 transit speed, channel mapping, and mixers can optionally be selected by flipping a dipswitch rather than by adding & removing links to the header pins:
D1 S/C emulation speed, linked = fast *** remember DIYMore Strong board has D0 and D1 reversed ***
D0 PPM out, position unused, use the RF module header
D2 spare
D3 channel 7 speed, slow or faster (.8 or 3 seconds transit)
D4 channel order with D5...
D5 D4&D5 open = AETR, D4 linked = TAER127, D5 linked = TAER712 (400uS), D4&D5 linked = ETAR
D6 75:25 mixer dipswitch or link
D7 50:50 mixer dipswitch or link
D8 minute-minder button 1 minute per pip
D9 throttle lock switch
D10 S/C sequential button
D11 S/C compound button
D12 Channel 7 toggle switch
D13 buzzer (& haptic if reqd, connect in parallel in 2N3904 emmitter)
A0 Aileron pot
A1 Elevator pot
A2 Rudder pot
A3 Throttle pot
A4 Aux1 channel pot
A5 Aux2 channel pot
A6 Expo switched pot (switch is only tactile, not wired)
A7 Rates switched pot (switch is only tactile, not wired)
Note that the calibration process is slightly different - centre all trims, hold either S/C button, switch on, keeping the button held, waggle all the controls including the aux pots to their extremes, then centre all controls including the throttle and aux channels. Release the button. Leave the trims central throughout calibration. This accounts for sticks that electrically arent quite perfectly centred.
Additional features are all simple optional plug-in switches or buttons, so can be omitted if not required, or options can be selected using either an 8-way dipswitch if fitted, or if headers are fitted, bridging links like Spektrum bind plugs, linking the signal pin to ground - positive is unused but beware 5.08mm links that short all 3 pins!
The encoder has been extensively bench tested and has flown many times without problems by a small group of us.
I've done a much briefer doc concentrating only on the DIY-More 'Strong' board, of course anyone familiar with Arduino will have no trouble on pretty much any of the popular boards. The mods differ between different boards, so check whats required if you use other than a DIY-More Pro Mini Strong.
As before, if anyone would like an assembled, programmed & tested board, ready-to-go, drop me an email on philg@talk21.com please. Let me know if you prefer header plugs or a dipswitch for option selection. Time permitting, I dont mind doing the odd 'variation on a theme' either.
For headers, here are some suitable 'option select' plugs (Spekky bind-plugs), reasonably priced, in packs of 10:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401028336922
Dont use those little black 5.8mm links as they short all three pins together and could destroy your board!
I've a nice Skyleader Clubman, already Frskyfied and was originally fitted with a 5ch PIC encoder which was fine but basic - so I've re-refitted it with the new 7ch encoder:
As the document shows, a small mod is necessary to the DIY-More Strong" board to provide a convenient RF module header which carries neg, battery pos and PPM.
Bear in mind the dipswitch is optional, you can choose headers or a dipswitch, the code is the same.
Cheers
Phil
Previous download count for reference (dont click these, its just a picture! The actual links are the ones immediately above this):
Its good for telling the story & setting the scene but please get the latest sketch and document from items P16a and P17a on the Archive page of www.singlechannel.co.uk ***
Heres the 'Version 2' thread as it began in 2019:
This is really for my own satisfaction, I've wanted to revisit this project for ages but its only recently that Shaun kicked me into gear with his 'Retro Ramblings'.
The lengthy 2014 "7ch+s/c encoder" thread was irretrievably lost when "Reunited" closed and whilst the thread itself was a really good craic, it was 8 years ago so here's an overdue update, let me say from the outset that this remains a really simple encoder - it doesnt compare with Mikes full-on and quite excellent computer-radio encoder or with say the Microstar, or with probably a dozen other very clever encoders out there in webland - but that's not where its aimed
Just like the old version its intended for plain, simple retro conversions such as Skyleaders, Fleets, Krafts etc, with the benefit of a few niceties over the originals. As such the encoder has no display and hence no menus, no pushbutton-trims, it has no model memories - just like the old sets! This makes for simple conversions with just a few servo leads connecting the switches and pots. Some of us (me, Ron, Frank...) prefer each model to have its own dedicated, 'period appropriate' transmitter so model memories arent a concern, and mechanical trims dont lend themselves to 'storage' anyway though I know Mike has gone to great lengths to overcome this. Having said what it doesnt do, here's what it does do:
Features:
Interrupt-driven PPM (same as the Reeduino) replaces the inline timed method
Single Channel (S/C) escapement emulation mix, sequential and compound
...with the option of a faster S/C escapement rotation speed
Minute-minder flight timer
Slow channel 7 with the option of 2 speeds (.8 or 3 seconds transit)
Switchable channel order Fut/Spek/Spek400uS/ETAR (ETAR is for modules with an unwanted map)
When TAER-gear-aux1-aux2 is selected the PPM changes to 400uS pulses to suit Spektrum DM8/DM9
Expo now mimics Futaba expo (thanks Mike & BEB)
Rate (travel volume) on primary channels as before
Channels changed to 1100 - 1900 plus trims, ie trims are now excluded from calibration (easier)
3-position calibration mapping to ensure neutrals with imperfect sticks
Reversing by holding appropriate stick over on power-up as before, retained in flash
V-tail 50:50 mixer as before
Elevon 75:25 mixer as before
Hardware throttle lock switch as before
Throttle soft-lock with alarm if invoked (throttle must be closed before it will open) as with all my stuff
Single-handed range-test sweep (set tx sweeping, leave tx & walk away with model)
Inactivity alarm to avoid batteries flattened overnight, etc etc
The channel-order selection makes it easier for me - now I dont have to set AETR or TAER on requested boards.
Connections:
Following Mikes suggestion, to accommodate an 8-way dipswitch I've swapped D6 (timer button) and D8 (75:25 mixer) from the previous version. Theres no code change as such, only these two port pins are swapped. Obviously your 'D6/D8' hardware connections have to match the sketch. Any ready-made encoder requests can be supplied with or without the dipswitch but will have the current 'swapped D6 and D8' firmware regardless of whether a dipswitch is actually fitted.
This means that the options in blue such as S/C emulation speed, Ch7 transit speed, channel mapping, and mixers can optionally be selected by flipping a dipswitch rather than by adding & removing links to the header pins:
D1 S/C emulation speed, linked = fast *** remember DIYMore Strong board has D0 and D1 reversed ***
D0 PPM out, position unused, use the RF module header
D2 spare
D3 channel 7 speed, slow or faster (.8 or 3 seconds transit)
D4 channel order with D5...
D5 D4&D5 open = AETR, D4 linked = TAER127, D5 linked = TAER712 (400uS), D4&D5 linked = ETAR
D6 75:25 mixer dipswitch or link
D7 50:50 mixer dipswitch or link
D8 minute-minder button 1 minute per pip
D9 throttle lock switch
D10 S/C sequential button
D11 S/C compound button
D12 Channel 7 toggle switch
D13 buzzer (& haptic if reqd, connect in parallel in 2N3904 emmitter)
A0 Aileron pot
A1 Elevator pot
A2 Rudder pot
A3 Throttle pot
A4 Aux1 channel pot
A5 Aux2 channel pot
A6 Expo switched pot (switch is only tactile, not wired)
A7 Rates switched pot (switch is only tactile, not wired)
Note that the calibration process is slightly different - centre all trims, hold either S/C button, switch on, keeping the button held, waggle all the controls including the aux pots to their extremes, then centre all controls including the throttle and aux channels. Release the button. Leave the trims central throughout calibration. This accounts for sticks that electrically arent quite perfectly centred.
Additional features are all simple optional plug-in switches or buttons, so can be omitted if not required, or options can be selected using either an 8-way dipswitch if fitted, or if headers are fitted, bridging links like Spektrum bind plugs, linking the signal pin to ground - positive is unused but beware 5.08mm links that short all 3 pins!
The encoder has been extensively bench tested and has flown many times without problems by a small group of us.
I've done a much briefer doc concentrating only on the DIY-More 'Strong' board, of course anyone familiar with Arduino will have no trouble on pretty much any of the popular boards. The mods differ between different boards, so check whats required if you use other than a DIY-More Pro Mini Strong.
As before, if anyone would like an assembled, programmed & tested board, ready-to-go, drop me an email on philg@talk21.com please. Let me know if you prefer header plugs or a dipswitch for option selection. Time permitting, I dont mind doing the odd 'variation on a theme' either.
For headers, here are some suitable 'option select' plugs (Spekky bind-plugs), reasonably priced, in packs of 10:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401028336922
Dont use those little black 5.8mm links as they short all three pins together and could destroy your board!
I've a nice Skyleader Clubman, already Frskyfied and was originally fitted with a 5ch PIC encoder which was fine but basic - so I've re-refitted it with the new 7ch encoder:
As the document shows, a small mod is necessary to the DIY-More Strong" board to provide a convenient RF module header which carries neg, battery pos and PPM.
Bear in mind the dipswitch is optional, you can choose headers or a dipswitch, the code is the same.
Cheers
Phil
Previous download count for reference (dont click these, its just a picture! The actual links are the ones immediately above this):