https://github.com/n1kdo/rotator-controller-controller
N1KDO Pico-W Rotator Controller Controller
https://github.com/n1kdo/rotator-controller-controller
amateur-radio amateur-radio-remote-control hamradio pico-w rotator rotator-controller
Last synced: 7 months ago
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N1KDO Pico-W Rotator Controller Controller
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/n1kdo/rotator-controller-controller
- Owner: n1kdo
- License: bsd-2-clause
- Created: 2022-09-17T13:56:34.000Z (about 3 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2024-01-20T18:59:16.000Z (over 1 year ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-01-15T11:15:01.878Z (9 months ago)
- Topics: amateur-radio, amateur-radio-remote-control, hamradio, pico-w, rotator, rotator-controller
- Language: Python
- Homepage:
- Size: 1.84 MB
- Stars: 2
- Watchers: 4
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: readme.md
- License: license.md
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README
# Raspberry Pi Pico W IOT Antenna Rotator Controller Controller
This project uses a Raspberry Pi Pico W to internet-enable an antenna
rotator controller that has an RS-232 interface. The software presents a web interface
to the rotator, and also allows direct network control by N1MM+ and other software.
I used it for my Hy-Gain Ham IV rotator. My Hy-Gain rotator control box has been modified to allow computer
control with the addition of a Ham Supply/Idiom Press *Rotor-EZ* module. I further modified the rotator
control box to provide +5 Volts on Pin 1 (carrier detect) of the DE-9S RS-232 interface. This allows the
Raspberry Pi Pico W to rob power from the rotator control box.
See the [Documentation](documentation.md) for details
There is very little external hardware required. The most important other piece is a MAX3232 3.3 volt
RS-232 level converter. The MAX3232 is used to interface the 3.3 volt logic of the Raspberry Pi Pico W to
the RS-232 levels required by the antenna rotator control box.
## Installing MicroPython on your Pico-W
1. Download the latest stable build of [Pico W MicroPython](https://micropython.org/download/RPI_PICO_W/).
[This is the direct link](https://micropython.org/resources/firmware/RPI_PICO_W-20230426-v1.20.0.uf2).
2. Connect a micro-USB cable to your PC. Hold down the white "BOOTSEL" button on the Pico-W, and insert the
micro-USB cable into your Pico-W.
3. The Pico-W should appear as a USB storage device on your computer. On mine, it shows up as "RPI-RP2 (F:)".
4. Copy/Paste the MicroPython .uf2 file to this drive.
5. Disconnect the Pico-W and prepare for the next step.
## Installing this software onto the Pico-W
The easiest way to get this software installed onto your Pico-W is to use the `loader.py` tool, also
provided in this repository.
1. Download Python 3 from https://www.python.org/downloads/ and install it. Make sure to select "Add
Python 3 to Path."
2. Download the contents of this GitHub repository as a zip. Use this URL:
`https://github.com/n1kdo/rotator-controller-controller/archive/refs/heads/master.zip`
3. Unpack that zip file somewhere.
4. Open a command prompt. (your choice. Could be PowerShell, could be good ole CMD.)
5. From the command line, execute the following command: `pip install pyserial` -- this will install the Python
serial port support/
6. Change directory to where you unpacked the GitHub zip file, and then
change directory to the `src/loader` directory.
7. From the command line, execute the following command: `python loader.py` -- this will install all the rotator
controller-controller software onto the Pico-W.
If you want to experiment, you can use the open-source "Thonny" IDE to load the python source code and HTML files
onto the Pico W. Unfortunately, Thonny cannot load the binary file `compass-background.png` image file into the
proper location, but this can be worked around by using the "upload" feature in the controller-controller software.
## What is all this stuff?
Important files:
* src/rotator/main.py -- the main Python application
* src/rotator/dcu1_rotator.py -- a Python module that queries and commands the rotator controller
* src/rotator/http_server.py -- a Python module that implements the web server
* src/rotator/morse_code.py -- a Python module that implements the morse code sender
* src/rotator/n1mm_udp.py -- a Python module that implements UDP send/receive to/from N1MM+
* src/rotator/content/rotator.html -- the rotator control web page
* src/rotator/content/setup.html -- the setup web page
* src/rotator/content/files.html -- the file upload/download web page
* src/rotator/data/config.json -- the configuration file. automatically generated on first use if not present.
Other Stuff:
* src/loader/loader.py -- small Python application installs the six files above onto the Pico-W
* src/loader/pyboard.py -- patched pyboard library from Micropython. Patched to work on Pico-W.
Electronic Design Files:
* kicad/* -- Kicad 6 design files for schematic and PCB.
## Other projects using this technology
I used this same electronic design, and a lot of the same source code to make
the [KPA-500 IOT Thing](https://github.com/n1kdo/KPA500-remote), a web interface and
KPA500-remote *host* for the Elecraft KPA-500 amplifier.
n1kdo 2023-08-11