P25RX Arduino/Teensy Display project

[btt]

Here's a picture from Seed. Two LED's and a power button. I don't have mine yet.

I assumed WRONG. That black dot is a very small button. I pressed it with a screwdriver. It came to life!

 

[freqseeker]

Precautions

• If the battery is unattached, the chassis will switch to failure mode, and the green light blinks at a frequency of 1Hz.
• Please press the button to let the chassis entering sleep mode for safety consideration, and the LED on the backside of the chassis will go off.

Wio battery
Not sure if this helps.

Edit: We posted at the same time.

 

[btt]

It is working now. There is probably a way to get it to start in software as well. I can respect that it might need a button press by default for safety. Right now, I have a USB-type C powering the battery which lights a green led on the bottom of the battery pack. There is also a USB-typeC to TypeC cable connecting the Wio Battery to the Wio Terminal. The battery did not power the pair until the button on the bottom of the Battery unit was pressed. It is working great now.

 

[btt]

Here is a direct link to the video for the demo application that we are currently running. The applications will grow to more complexity after the specification for the binary interface is completed. (this won't take too long)

 

[btt]

Quick update on the battery unit. I let it charge over night. It appears to work well with the P25RX. It is not able to power the P25RX-II model (more current) unless there is current being supplied to the battery via USB cable. I will look into this more latter.

 

[shirsch101]

So I bought the Wio and Battery yesterday, I am a sucker for new things. Not thrilled to hear what Todd had just posted about not being able to power a P25RXII but I do have the P25RX. Moving onto to a question is there going to be an easy way to change what is display on each line of the Wio? Is it possible to replicate what is being displayed on the display view tab on the P25RX2? Excited to get my display in another day or so..

Thanks

 

[goldmyne99]

Moving onto to a question is there going to be an easy way to change what is display on each line of the Wio? Is it possible to replicate what is being displayed on the display view tab on the P25RX2?

I will try to answer your question.

The info from the P25RX models can be displayed in different ways. Someone would have to write the Arduino Sketch for a specific "look". That coder could share that UF2 file with non programmers to update their Wio. Just drag/drop the UF2 file on to the Wio. There could also be multiple screens that could be swiched to with a button or joystick. For example, my screen looks different from Todd's demo.



Designing a new screen 'look' from the Wio itself could also be possible - someone would have to write the code for that to be done. It would require using the SD card slot already included in the Wio hardware to save those created looks.

It is early in the Wio learning curve for me. Many things are possible. I hope that helps answer your question.

 

[shirsch101]

Thanks for the reply Goldmyne99. Is the code hard to learn?

 

[goldmyne99]

Is the code hard to learn?

When Todd completes the standard API for the P25RX models, there will be example Arduino Sketches. With the example code, changing things like font type/font color/screen color, etc. will be easy by updating a few lines of Arduino code using the Arduino IDE program.

I am not a programmer. Arduino code examples on line have helped me find ways to create a number of projects. If the coding is not your thing, asking others to share their display design will be easy.

 

[consys]

I couldn't find a spec for how much current the WIO requires. Did any of you see it or measure it? I'm thinking of doing my own battery option.
The P25RX-ll draws 430mA w/o bluetooth, 530 mA w/ BT on my USB meter,so it makes sense what Todd said about lasting less than an hour on the 650mAh Seeed battery.
I ordered a WIO terminal from Digi-Key thats now delayed delivery from this Friday to next Monday according to Fedex

 

[freqseeker]

Using my cheap USB meter the Wio/P25RXll combo varies between 700mA and 800mA with BT on, mostly 750mA.
I just received the Wio battery and as Todd said earlier it will not turn on the Wio and P25RXll.

 

[goldmyne99]

I couldn't find a spec for how much current the WIO requires.

I have not seen any published Seeed Wio Terminal Specs on current.

I have a P25RX model.
Quick measurements of the Wio/P25RX combo with an in line USB meter:
550 mA with the P25RX Bluetooth Audio connected.
410 mA with the P25RX Line Out Audio.

The WIO Terminal schematic notes a 2 Amp max current limit on the 5 Volt line.

 

[freqseeker]

I just received the Wio battery and as Todd said earlier it will not turn on the Wio and P25RXll.

I should note the the battery pack will power the P25RXll when the pack is plugged into USB power. It makes for a cleaner (looking) power source without wires sticking out the back of the unit. Works fine either way.

 

[goldmyne99]

I should note the the battery pack will power the P25RXll when the pack is plugged into USB power.

Thanks @freqseeker. I will add info to the "Quick Start Guide", for those considering the Seeed Chassis Battery option for power.

The capacity of the Seeed Chassis Battery is only 650 mAh.

The battery will only provide about 45 minutes of run time to an original P25RX.

The battery will NOT power the P25RX-II.

A 5 Volt power cable connected to the Seeed Chassis Battery USB C input port will provide enough power for a P25RX or a P25RX-II.

 

[goldmyne99]

I should note the the battery pack will power the P25RXll when the pack is plugged into USB power. It makes for a cleaner (looking) power source without wires sticking out the back of the unit. Works fine either way.

After thinking about this, I wanted to express my personal concern regarding the Seeed Chassis Battery being plugged into USB power for long periods of operation.

I personally would not feel comfortable with an idle lithium polymer battery possibly being in a constant charging cycle with no discharge cycle. The charging circuit inside the Chassis Battery would need more detailed analysis for me to feel totally comfortable. Just my concern.

I agree the battery case makes for a clean 'looking' power source.

 

[freqseeker]

After thinking about this, I wanted to express my personal concern regarding the Seeed Chassis Battery being plugged into USB power for long periods of operation.

I personally would not feel comfortable with an idle lithium polymer battery possibly being in a constant charging cycle with no discharge cycle. The charging circuit inside the Chassis Battery would need more detailed analysis for me to feel totally comfortable. Just my concern.

I agree the battery case makes for a clean 'looking' power source.

I agree totally. I have both P25RX and P25RXll so I was planning on using the battery for the RX as I can discharge it as often as needed.
My plan for the RXll is to 3D print a angled holder for the Wio to protect the power wires into the rear of the unit. I'm terrible at CAD design software though.
The battery may have been a waste of money at this point, but it was worth a try.
I'm still doing the Arduino classes on Youtube so maybe I will use it for another project in the future. It's a nice setup.

 

[goldmyne99]

@freqseeker in looking at pictures online, the 650 mAh battery plugs into the circuit board of the Chassis Battery unit. I wonder if the design will still send the USB power to the GPIO pins with the battery removed.
Edit: added pic

 

[freqseeker]

I figured it would be soldered and was thinking the same thing, just remove it. I wonder if there is a higher capacity battery that will fit the case. That still doesn't rule out a load protection circuit.
I will give it a try soon. Thanks for the picture.

 

[goldmyne99]

@freqseeker I reviewed the schematic of the Chassis Battery. It looks like the 5 Volt power to the GPIO pins requires the battery to be connected.

My plan for the RXll is to 3D print a angled holder for the Wio to protect the power wires into the rear of the unit. I'm terrible at CAD design software though.

I found 3D CAD files of the Wio Terminal case. These may get you started on your P25RX-II holder design project.

Grabcad.com Wio Terminal 3D CAD files

 

[freqseeker]

@freqseeker I reviewed the schematic of the Chassis Battery. It looks like the 5 Volt power to the GPIO pins requires the battery to be connected.

That's too bad. It's all about experimenting.

I found a wall mount last night that I may be able to make a stand out of.
Thanks for the link.