97 lines
4.5 KiB
Markdown
97 lines
4.5 KiB
Markdown
# Vulpes
|
|
An ESP32-based radio orienteering controller. This repo is for
|
|
the code. See below for hardware comments and a link.
|
|
|
|
## What
|
|
Radio orienteering, or amateur radio direction finding (ARDF) is a
|
|
sport where people run around and look for hidden transmitters. One
|
|
necessary component is a controller on each transmitter that tells
|
|
it when and what to transmit.
|
|
|
|
This is my attempt at a simple, easy-to-use controller with a low
|
|
parts count. Rather than programming a microcontroller and/or
|
|
using DIP switches, delayed starts, and sync cables, the ESP32 development
|
|
board lets you set up each controller using a web browser (e.g., on your
|
|
smartphone or tablet).
|
|
|
|
The [ARRL ARDF page](https://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-direction-finding)
|
|
is an OK starting point for learning about radio orienteering, but
|
|
there are probably better ones. I've never done an RO event before, but have
|
|
experience racing and directing adventure races.
|
|
|
|
## Hardware
|
|
I designed a simple custom printed circuit board (PCB) to make
|
|
assumbling this controller easy to do. The repo for schematic and
|
|
board design is here: [vulpes_hardware](https://amiok.net/gitea/W1CDN/vulpes_hardware).
|
|
|
|
Because the ESP32 doesn't track time when it is powered off, and
|
|
I wanted to avoid delayed starts (e.g., push a button exactly two hours
|
|
before an event starts), an additional real-time clock (RTC) is
|
|
included. The RTC runs on a watch battery to track time when the
|
|
controller is not powered on.
|
|
|
|
Morse code is sent according to the parameters set up in the UI. The GPIO
|
|
pin triggers a transistor that acts as a switch to close the key connection
|
|
on the radio. Code is also shown on the onboard LED of the ESP32 dev board.
|
|
|
|
## Software/Firmware
|
|
Power on the controller by plugging in a micro-USB cable to a 5V
|
|
source (e.g., computer or battery pack). After the device is powered on,
|
|
it will start an internal webserver and set up a wireless network called
|
|
"vulpes."
|
|
|
|
Connect to the "vulpes" wireless network and use a web browser to navigate
|
|
to `http://192.168.0.1` (note "http" not "http**s**"). You will see the
|
|
settings below. Note that you will not be able to access the Internet while
|
|
connected to this network, and each controller sets up a separate network.
|
|
|
|
**Web UI**
|
|
|
|
|
|
### General Settings
|
|
- **Sending Program**
|
|
- Off - nothing is sent
|
|
- Continuous - the message in `Message` is sent to the key GPIO and the
|
|
onboard LED
|
|
- Cycle - the message in `Message` is sent according to the `Cycle Settings`
|
|
- **Message**
|
|
- Custom Message - a message defined in `Custom Message`
|
|
- MOE - transmitter 1 message (dit)
|
|
- MOI - transmitter 2 message (dit dit)
|
|
- MOS - transmitter 3 message (dit dit dit)
|
|
- MOH - transmitter 4 message (dit dit dit dit)
|
|
- MO5 - transmitter 5 message (dit dit dit dit dit)
|
|
- **Custom Message** - a custom message to be sent when "Custom Message" is selected in `Message`
|
|
- **Speed** - speed of Morse code transmission in words per minute (WPM)
|
|
|
|
### Cycle Settings
|
|
These settings only apply when "Cycle" is chosen under `Sending Program`
|
|
- **Cycle Start Time** - when to start the next cycle/event (only HH:MM:SS day-of-month matter)
|
|
- **Step Length** - how long this transmitter will transmit on each cycle
|
|
- **Cycle ID** - what order transmitter is this (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.)
|
|
- **Number of Transmitters** - how many transmitters there are
|
|
|
|
### Network Settings
|
|
The `Submit and Reboot` button only affects these fields.
|
|
|
|
#### Network access
|
|
- **Access Point** - when using as a wireless access point, the network SSID is "vulpes"
|
|
with no password. Connect to wireless network "vulpes" and point your browser to URL http://192.168.0.1 (http, not https)
|
|
- **Existing Wireless Network** - connect to the same existing network and use the proper IP address (useful if you have access to the router or a serial connection). If an existing network can't be connected to, an access point will be set up.
|
|
|
|
## License
|
|
GNU GPLv3. See `LICENSE` file for details, and
|
|
https://choosealicense.com/licenses/ if you're like me and don't
|
|
understand all of this stuff.
|
|
|
|
## Acknowledgments
|
|
Special thanks to [Mark Fickett](http://www.markfickett.com/) for his
|
|
[arduinomorse](https://github.com/markfickett/arduinomorse) library and
|
|
[N1OIQ](https://sourceforge.net/projects/kb1oiq-ham-radio-projects/files/80m_ardf/)
|
|
for similar design insparation.
|
|
|
|
## Questions and Contributing
|
|
Until I get Gitea set up completely, please email me at w1cdnQRTw1cdn.net,
|
|
but replace "QRT" with @.
|
|
|
|
I developed the C++ code in Visual Studio Code (VSCode). |