Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Seppo on August 11, 2012 at 3:51am

Hello!,

Glad the setup was painless and you had them running OK !

The GPIO have not been assigned any functionality at the moment, but that is configurable via firmware.

I plan to get some AT commands happening to set/get these IO at some stage.

The IO levels are 3.3v nominal in/out, 5.0v tolerant, so, connecting it up to a 3.3v device will have no issues.

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Permalink Reply by Cong Do on August 11, 2012 at 6:24pm

That GOOD I feel a lot safer now.

Hope this help some one, to Compiling SiK on Ubuntu 12.04

You must compile sdcc. Ubuntu 12.04 sdcc don't include sdas8051

Download link http://sourceforge.net/projects/sdcc/files/sdcc/3.2.0/

Dependency "apt-get install bison flex gputils"

Could you guys tell me if there is any way I could totally ruin my RFD900 with the firmware?

I'm guessing as long as I don't play around with the bootloader  I should be able to get into boot loader mode via connecting CTS and GROUND at boot up (http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/wiki/3DRadio#Forcing_bootlo...). Presuming from the bootloader I should have no issue restoring the firmware?

Thanks,

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Permalink Reply by Seppo on August 11, 2012 at 10:26pm

I used a binary precompiled package from sourceforge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/sdcc/files/sdcc-linux-x86/3.2.0/ on Centos - works OK.

It should not be possible to brick the RFD900 with user upgrades.  The bootloader is protected.

The 3DRradioconfigurator upgrader points to the most recent hex files on the RFDesign website, which are built from the latest trunk at RFDesign/Sik on Github.

On the RFD900, there are two pads (Pin 1 and 2) shown on the 9 way production header with "BOOT" written between them - they are the CTS/GND pads brought out for easy access.  It is visible in the physical pinout pic on the RFD900 product page.

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Permalink Reply by Cong Do on August 12, 2012 at 6:44am

Hi Seppo,

When the RFD900 is connected with the wires it would be 1.5CM too long for my toy. I want to remove the pin headers from the RFD900 so I could compactly integrate the RFD900 into my toy.

I notice there are no etching on the majority of the pin headers. 
Is there anything I need to worry about when removing the pin headers..
I'll properly attempt to remove the pin headers with a soldering iron at 250-300C.

Thanks,

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Permalink Reply by James Churchill on August 12, 2012 at 7:59am

You will want a hotter iron; I put those headers in using lead-free solder and a temperature-controlled iron at 360C. I don't think there's anything else to worry about other than the usual precautions.

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Permalink Reply by Cong Do on August 13, 2012 at 5:40am

For my first RFD900 I use 360C, one of the connector start pilling off, lucky it was a GPIO. The second RFD900 I use 240C, I dilute the solder with 40% lead and 60 tin solder, The result was a lot better at 240C.

I have power on the RFD900 and everything seem to work perfectly.

Thanks Seppo and James,

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Permalink Reply by Jake Stew on August 13, 2012 at 9:40am

Why the lead free?  It makes for crappy solder joints.

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Permalink Reply by Seppo on August 13, 2012 at 10:02am

Some customers require ROHS compliant hardware so we provide it ! :)

Agreed that it is not as nice to work with, but, it works just like it says on the tin. (pun intended ;) )

For desoldering connectors and other large legged parts which I do not want to recover - I cut the legs off the part such that it leaves individual pins to de-solder.  Makes it much easier taking one out a time, compared to 16 or so in one hit.

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Permalink Reply by Jake Stew on August 13, 2012 at 3:50pm

Do you have a leaded option?  I for one would prefer to have a higher quality product.

When I worked as a test operator I was amazed how much we had to lower the standards in order to let the lead-free boards pass.  I rarely found a lead-free board that would pass the leaded standards and I never saw a leaded board that wouldn't pass the lead-free standard.

I think it's a shame that we have to use sub-standard materials just because every piece of electronics is made with a throw-away disposable attitude.

RHOS is just for throw-away electronics and for people who want to feel better about their policy of dumping all their garbage into the environment.

Permalink Reply by Michal on August 13, 2012 at 2:28am

Whould it be possible to change frequency to 868MHz and use it in EU? I expect it wont have that great performance but it should work, since PA are using HP filters, is that correct? 

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Permalink Reply by Jay on August 13, 2012 at 4:31am

I also would appreciate a 868 Mhz version to use in the EU. And as far as I understand, if you implement listen before talk you don't have to have the duty cycle.

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Permalink Reply by Seppo on August 13, 2012 at 10:04am

Hello Michal, Jay,

The Si1000 will work with in the EU bands without issue, but the problem is the receive band SAW filters.  They have good out of band rejection and will severely attenuate the 868MHz band.  So for the current RFD900 modem, it's not recommended.

That said... Different versions of RFDxxx are always under consideration, depending on demand and requirements.

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