Midnight Design Solutions NUE-USB Card Operator's Manual

NUE-PSK Digital Modem

USB Card Operator’s Manual

(For use with modem software v1.34 and later)

The NUE-USB Card is an optional low-cost addition to the NUE-PSK Digital modem that

increases the enjoyment and capabilities of the digital mode operating experience. The USB

Card plugs into any NUE-PSK modem to provide the ability to record the receive and transmit

QSO text to a removable USB flash memory device (“thumb drive”) for archival and remote

printing. The USB Card also provides a serial connection to a PC, a means to upgrade modem

software from the thumb drive, and a port for a USB printer. Traces are present on the pc board

for custom addition of a real-time clock/calendar function ideally used for timestamping QSOs.

The modem software (v1.33c) associated with this USB Card hardware release contains

improved keyboard commands for controlling the USB card functions and a wonderfully-

revamped and consistent set of text editing commands.

CONTENTS

I. Overview ................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

II. Technical Description .......................................................................................... 4

III. Assembling the USB Card (from a kit) ................................................................ 5

IV. Programming the USB Card................................................................................. 6

V. Installing the USB Card ....................................................................................... 7

VI. Using the USB Card ............................................................................................. 8

REC Mode ..........................................................................................................................................8

Flash Bootload ..................................................................................................................................9

PC Bootload ..................................................................................................................................... 10

VII. Technical Support ............................................................................................... 10

Appendix A: Schematic ............................................................................................. 11

Appendix B: Parts List.............................................................................................. 12

Appendix C: Chassis Hole Template ....................................................................... 13

Appendix D: Engineering Changes ......................................................................... 14

I. OVERVIEW

Do you need a way to save the text from your digital mode QSO for archival or hard copy printing? Or perhaps need an official printed record of "Health & Welfare" radiograms handled at a disaster site? If so, this USB card option will allow you to do just that ... and more!

In a nutshell, the USB add-on card makes your NUE-PSK Digital Modem more flexible and useful with its ability to record QSO receive and transmit text to a USB flash memory stick for archival and remote printing. The USB card also provides a serial connection to a PC and (later) a real-time clock/calendar function for timestamping QSOs. The updated modem software contains the new keyboard commands for controlling the USB card functions, plus a wonderfully-revamped and consistent set of text editing commands.

The USB card fits into the existing modem enclosure with minimal modifications. The card occupies the battery compartment, since most users let us know that they would gladly sacrifice the use of internal batteries for this USB capability. (Battery operation of the modem is also a cool feature and it can indeed run up to 8 hours on a pair of 9V batteries, but we found that most people use the modem with an external source that also powers the transceiver.)

NUE-PSK Digital Modem with USB Card installed (on left side of modem board)

NUE-PSK modem with the USB ports accessible on the left side of the enclosure

II. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

The USB Add-On card provides some powerful new capabilities to the NUE-PSK Digital Modem.

1) REC MODE -- Records QSOs to a USB flash memory device. The Ctrl-U command toggles REC mode on to save all incoming and outgoing text from the QSO to the "thumb drive" plugged into the rectangular USB port on the side of the modem. Additional commands allow you to specify the name of the file being recorded on the flash device, as well as provide the ability to insert additional information to the file as explanatory text for the QSO (e.g., date/time, event, etc.).

2) FLASH BOOTLOAD -- Loads new modem software from a flash device. When activated from the menu under the Select pushbutton, this function allows you to "bootload" a new software hex file from the flash device to the modem processor. A suitable hex file is provided on this website and all you need to do is download it to your flash device, insert it to the modem USB port, and select the Flash Bootload operation from the Select menu. This operation eliminates the need to connect a serial adapter to P4 on the modem when upgrading the software.

3) PC BOOTLOAD -- Loads new modem software from a computer. This new capability allows you to connect the modem to a USB port on the PC using a suitable cable, and upgrade the modem software from the PC. In effect, this function serves as a built-in serial adapter, thus eliminating the need for using a separate serial adapter for upgrading the modem software. Just dial up this function in the Select menu, activate the same "prog" program on your PC as before, and watch your modem software get upgraded.

4) Built-in USB printer port -- Provides for realtime printing of the Tx & Rx data streams (the same, raw Rx and Tx QSO data, as seen on the LCD.) [Software support not yet available ... popular printer

protocols will come in later software releases after initial deployment of the USB card.]

5) Built-in Real-Time Clock/Calendar (pcb traces only) -- Provisions have been made on the board to support a PIC controller in order to maintain current date and time, ultimately for use by the modem and in the recorded data going to the USB memory stick. Other than the schematic and board layout supporting the PIC circuitry, this feature has not yet been designed - it is hoped that others will help out by adding to the Open Software modem project. The task involves designing the PIC software and hooks in the modem's dsPIC software ... a separate Modem RTCC requirements document is available for those wishing to help with the project.

Important Note ... The modem software containing these features is version 1.33c (or beyond) and you must have this loaded in order to realize these new capabilities. Also, it is necessary for the USB card to be programmed with the "C01" version of firmware instead of the "A01" version we specified with earlier modem releases (like v1.30c2). See the next section "Programming the USB Card" next for more details on this.

Please refer to the Schematic in Appendix A for the following discussion.

The USB board plugs into the main board by means of a mating female connector to the modem's P4 "Field Programming" pinheader. Minor and easy mods are required on the modem PCB to supply 5 volts to the P4 connector (instead of 3.3V), and to bring two extra control lines out to a new connector that plugs into the USB card. The USB card is the same y-dimension as the modem board, and it extends 11/8" in the x-direction over to the left edge of the enclosure. The board sits even with the main board, supported by two standoffs on the left side and a 4-position SIP female header on the bottom that extends out the right side of the board to plug into the existing P4 connector.

The heart of the design is the Vinculum VNC1L FTDI controller chip. Although more expensive than "USB bit banging" alternatives, the VNC1L chip provides support for the full USB protocol control, and a DOS-like command line interpreter that allows easy writing and reading of a flash disk, making it a relatively easy design-in for UART ports such as we have available on the NUE-PSK modem. (For a great overview of the product, see the July 2007 issue 2004 of Circuit Cellar magazine

www.circuitcellar.com). Additionally, the VNC1L chip offers Host mode support, which allows the USB

card to serve as the "serial interface" to a PC, providing a way to load modem software into the dsPIC as before, as well as providing communications to other devices downstream.

A real-time clock/calendar (RTCC) function is optionally possible on the USB card in order to keep track of date and time, even with the power removed from the modem. The concept is that the PIC monitors the modem's UART port for an "RTCC data request", whereupon the PIC switches data path to send the date and time information to the dsPIC. The new/replacement bottom half of the enclosure will continue to have the battery cover plate present to allow accessing the coin-sized battery that powers the RTCC circuit. (NOTE: Although the RTCC circuit traces indicated in the schematic are indeed provided on pc

board, the RTCC functions and components are not provided in the initial NUE-USB cards being sold. We did not have time to complete this lesser-important product capability, so we put the framework in place with hopes that someone can step up to help with this Open Source design.)

III. ASSEMBLING the USB Card (from a kit)

This section is only applicable to those who have purchased the USB Card Kit. If you purchased the "assembled & tested" option for the USB Card, or if you had us do the "full factory upgrade" for your modem, you of course do not have to assemble the kit or program the USB card, so you may skip ahead to the section “Installing the USB Card” below.

1) Attach U1. Use care to ensure that it is carefully aligned. Use desolder braid to remove excess solder between pins.

2) Attach all parts from the SMT card. C4, R12 and R13 are mounted on bottom of board (outlines shown on top.)

3) Attach crystal X1 slightly elevated so it touches no other parts.

4) Attach all remaining parts. J1 mounts on bottom side, and P3 mounts on top. Check photos for proper

placement. Ensure that P1, P2, LED1 and LED2 are mounted flat and straight.

5) Mount programming header P2 on bottom side by soldering short 90-deg end of connector to the 8 surface mount pads. Add solder to first pad then solder first pin while holding connector parallel to board, pointing to same side as J1. Solder remaining pins to surface pads.

6) Add the two ‘A’ jumpers. Using sharp blade, scrape the solder mask off the bottom side holes of each set of jumper pads to expose the copper of the pad, then insert a bare wire across the pads from the top and solder on bottom pads.

7) Attach the two nylon standoffs using the screws supplied.

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Midnight Design Solutions NUE-USB Card Operator's Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual