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NUE- USB Card Manual, ver 1.34 

Copyright 2009, Midnight Design Solutions, LLC 

 

 

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 1-
1/8" 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. 

 

Содержание NUE-USB Card

Страница 1: ...rd 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...

Страница 2: ...nical 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...

Страница 3: ...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...

Страница 4: ...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 Re...

Страница 5: ...s 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 som...

Страница 6: ...is is the signal to the U1 bootloader that a new file is coming to it When you run the VPROG program e g just double click the filename from your Windows Explorer window a small window will appear wit...

Страница 7: ...in 1 is closest to the outside edge of the USB pcb and this signal goes to pad a on the modem board via the black wire shown below P3 pin 2 goes to pad c on the modem board via the white wire shown be...

Страница 8: ...flash device Type Ctrl U again to stop the REC mode and you will see the USB port LED stop blinking and remain on continuously Remove the USB device and plug it into your computer You will notice a ne...

Страница 9: ...Turn the dial one notch to see Start Bootload displayed 4 Ensuring that your thumb drive is inserted TAP the Select pushbutton and in about 15 seconds your modem will reboot and start up the software...

Страница 10: ...for the driver at the location you have the temporary folder When the PC indicates that the device is successfully installed you can use the PC Bootload feature NOTE If you need help with this process...

Страница 11: ...NUE USB Card Manual ver 1 34 11 Copyright 2009 Midnight Design Solutions LLC APPENDIX A Schematic...

Страница 12: ...RC R9 1 Resistor SMD 1206 10K ohms Digi Key 311 10KACT ND R7 1 Resistor SMD 1206 180 ohms Digi Key 311 280ACT ND R25 R26 2 Resistor SMD 1206 330 ohms Digi Key 311 330ACT ND P2 1 USB connector Type A...

Страница 13: ...NUE USB Card Manual ver 1 34 13 Copyright 2009 Midnight Design Solutions LLC APPENDIX C Chassis Hole Templates...

Страница 14: ...occasionally experiencing some unusual behavior with the USB card you could benefit from making these changes They are easy to do and will ensure that you have the best hardware for successful use Usi...

Страница 15: ...NUE USB Card Manual ver 1 33c 15 Copyright 2008 Midnight Design Solutions LLC...

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