External Touch Screen

[Bob Novas]

I am building a Raspberry Pi based external K3S touch screen thought
experiment.  At the retail level, the cost of the hardware is about $100.
The touchscreen would control every aspect of the K3S that can be controlled
via the computer commands. This would be in keeping with the Elecraft
philosophy of modular functionality.

 

One issue I can see is how to connect the gizmo to the K3S and not interrupt
the K3S's connectivity with a PC.  That might not be possible. Would that be
a show stopper?


Bob - W3DK

 

 

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[Larry (K8UT)]

Bob,

I'm using a Pi here as an alternative to installing a Virtual Serial Port on
Windows. The Pi routes and caches the CAT commands for a K3S, NaP3
panadapter, SteppIR antenna controller, and an Icom PW1 amplifier.
((actually, I just sold the PW1 amplifier and will likely modify that 4th
USB port to talk to my new CW Skimmer software)). Inserting a touch screen
GUI that participates in the CAT routing might be a cool extension of this
app.

I bought a "genuine" Pi Foundation 7 inch LCD display because I just "had to
have one", but have not done anything with it yet. Despite having written
many apps that run on the Pi I have not tried to tackle a GUI interface yet.
Am curious about your touch screen project and your development environment.
What language? Are you using an IDE?

Details, please! ;-)

-larry (K8UT)
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Novas
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2016 7:33 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] External Touch Screen

I am building a Raspberry Pi based external K3S touch screen thought
experiment.  At the retail level, the cost of the hardware is about $100.
The touchscreen would control every aspect of the K3S that can be controlled
via the computer commands. This would be in keeping with the Elecraft
philosophy of modular functionality.



One issue I can see is how to connect the gizmo to the K3S and not interrupt
the K3S's connectivity with a PC.  That might not be possible. Would that be
a show stopper?


Bob - W3DK





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[Bill-3]

The Pigknob uses a small circuit in line with the K3's serial port, thus
allowing control from the computer and the Pigknob at the same time.

The other alternative is similar to the Genovation keypad route. Each
key on the keypad is linked to a memory in the P3 - which is programmed
to a macro - and sent to the K3 upon key press.

I use a Genovation - it is good for my operation. In conjunction with
the coming K-pod, it will be unbeatable. A touch screen would merely be
a replacement for the positive tactile feedback keypad.

Technology is great - when you can customize it for your own use.

Bill W2BLC K-Line
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[Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT]

On 6/6/2016 4:33 AM, Bob Novas wrote:
> One issue I can see is how to connect the gizmo to the K3S and not interrupt
> the K3S's connectivity with a PC.  That might not be possible. Would that be
> a show stopper?

Use two serial ports on the Pi.  One talks to the radio, one talks to
the PC.

Everything coming from the radio is processed by your software *and*
sent to the PC.

Everything from the PC is sent to the radio.  Your software may need to
listen to computer commands as well.

Very possible, just lots of details.

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[Joe Stone (KF5WBO)]

> Use two serial ports on the Pi.  One talks to the radio, one talks to  the PC.

That's exactly what I do with my Arduino,

    http://wickedstone.com/KF5WBO/SX3%20Prototype%20Hardware%201.jpg

    http://wickedstone.com/KF5WBO/SX3%20Prototype%20Hardware%202.jpg

Here's the actual firmware,

    #define PX3_RX_PIN 7
    #define PX3_TX_PIN 5
    #define PC Serial

    SoftwareSerial PX3(PX3_RX_PIN, PX3_TX_PIN);

    void loop() {

      while (PC.available())
        PX3.write(PC.read());
 
       Usb.Task();  // process keyboard, mouse, thumb drive and knob

       while (PX3.available())
           PC.write(PX3.read());

    }

I remove my microcontroller from the PC - PX3 path in downloading new firmware to the PX3 and/or KX3 in order to ensure the most reliable connection.

Joe Stone
KF5WBO

[Joe Stone (KF5WBO)]

For those experimenting with a Raspberry Pi, I assume you've seen the Pi panadapter variants,

    http://twitter.com/giorgiofox/status/694969541521207296

Joe Stone
KF5WBO