Uses for K1 MCU?

[Scott Richardson-4]

Long ago I upgraded my K1 from firmware version 1.06 to 1.09. I kept the old
MCU, a PIC16C77-04/P, but I'm not sure why. If I'm not a programmer, would I
have any use for it beyond reverting to 1.06 in an emergency? What have
other K1 upgraders do with theirs?

Scott N1AIA


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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Scott,

I have suspicions that most folks who upgrade the firmware keep the old one
'just in case', but actually, should something happen, Elecraft can get a
new copy of the firmware to you in 3 days or less by Priority Mail should
that prove to be necessary, so I have come to the conclusion that the best
place to put the old firmware is in the waste container.  The 'C' versions
of the PICs are not re-programmable - OTOH, if it has an 'F' designation, it
could be re-programmed for other uses.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> Long ago I upgraded my K1 from firmware version 1.06 to 1.09. I
> kept the old
> MCU, a PIC16C77-04/P, but I'm not sure why. If I'm not a
> programmer, would I
> have any use for it beyond reverting to 1.06 in an emergency? What have
> other K1 upgraders do with theirs?
>
> Scott N1AIA
>

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[Jack Brindle]

I love it. I have quite a few PICs of various types since I do a lot  
of designing with them. Yet I, too, have a small collection of the  
programmed microcontrollers that were upgraded. Why? Dunno...

But, if you cut off the legs (and file the stubs down), and drill a  
small hole in one corner for a small hook, you can then use them as  
Christmas tree ornaments. My YF (KB4TGE) even has a pair of ear rings  
made from gold ceramic LM107s that I scrounged many years ago.

So those old chips _do_ have a use. You just need to repurpose them!

On Mar 30, 2006, at 8:54 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Scott,
>
> I have suspicions that most folks who upgrade the firmware keep the  
> old one
> 'just in case', but actually, should something happen, Elecraft can  
> get a
> new copy of the firmware to you in 3 days or less by Priority Mail  
> should
> that prove to be necessary, so I have come to the conclusion that  
> the best
> place to put the old firmware is in the waste container.  The 'C'  
> versions
> of the PICs are not re-programmable - OTOH, if it has an 'F'  
> designation, it
> could be re-programmed for other uses.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>
>> Long ago I upgraded my K1 from firmware version 1.06 to 1.09. I
>> kept the old
>> MCU, a PIC16C77-04/P, but I'm not sure why. If I'm not a
>> programmer, would I
>> have any use for it beyond reverting to 1.06 in an emergency? What  
>> have
>> other K1 upgraders do with theirs?
>>
>> Scott N1AIA
>>
>
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>
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> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

- Jack Brindle, W6FB
------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------


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[wayne burdick]

Scott,

As the author of the firmware, I can assure you the best use of that
old K1 code is to flatten its pins and put it in a scrapbook, or maybe
turn it into a mobile, along with other electronic thingamabobs. (Along
this same line, PCBs make nice jewelry.)

Seriously, as Don mentioned, the older PICs with a "C" in the middle
have UV-erasable EPROM code store, but no UV window, so they can't be
erased. Newer models with an "F" in the middle have FLASH code store
and can be electrically erased. We're gradually phasing out the "C"
parts.

There's only one interesting thing you could do with the old code:
connect the MCU to a K1 LCD and a couple of switches, and turn it into
a 3-digit frequency counter. See K1 front panel schematic. The rest is
left to the reader as an exercise  :)

73,
Wayne
N6KR


---

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[Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy-2]

"Jack Brindle" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> But, if you cut off the legs (and file the stubs down), and drill a  small
> hole in one corner for a small hook, you can then use them as  Christmas
> tree ornaments. My YF (KB4TGE) even has a pair of ear rings  made from
> gold ceramic LM107s that I scrounged many years ago.
>
> So those old chips _do_ have a use. You just need to repurpose them!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't forget old tubes! Mounted my retired 833s on polished wood and are
used as 'lamps'.  813s ex-modulator don't glow but look slinky. 807s live in
the fridge.

73,
Geoff
GM4ESD






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