P25RX Arduino/Teensy Display project

[goldmyne99]

goldmyne99,
this is fantastic work by you. Please continue your testing and hoping you can design a kit that can be offered to the P25RX community, or perhaps you and Todd can collaborate together to offer a built option, maybe a P25RX Wi-Fi

Thank you. The Wio Terminal IS the "kit". The Wio Terminal is less than $40 most places. It is far more than a display. It all really comes down to creating and sharing of the software to bring ideas to life.

 

[FreqNout]

For those interested in more Wio Terminal WiFi testing:

I wanted to see if I could connect to BTConfig over WiFi.
The answer is: Yes -- as a concept.

G99 this is super work! Great idea for a quick test with the current btconfig.

I see this as very positive testing showing what could be done in the future with the Wio Terminal and the P25RX models.

It really does show how a p25rx remote control app or the addition of a tcp/ip interface within a future version of btconfig software could work with the Wio hardware.

 

[dcr_inc]

Anything New / Updated Here ??

Any new display lay outs..

 

[goldmyne99]

Anything New / Updated Here ??

Any new display lay outs

If you are directing the question to me, I have focused my testing on the Wio Terminal WiFi hardware recently for remote control.

The work now being done on the new P25RX/RXII scanning firmware should allow for added Wio Terminal device integration when the new API work is completed.

As a side project, I am playing with mounting my P25RX inside an old Bearcat 210XL case. Replacing the 210's LED display with a 16x2 LCD display driven by the Wio Terminal. As well as getting the 210's keypad working with the Wio.

As to the question of new display layouts: I am curious what others would like to see displayed?

The Wio Display is a blank canvas that can have any number of custom display looks.

 

[FreqNout]

As a side project, I am playing with mounting my P25RX inside an old Bearcat 210XL case. Replacing the 210's LED display with a 16x2 LCD display driven by the Wio Terminal.

Hey G99, sounds cool. What 16x2 LCD display are you going to use in the Bearcat 210?

 

[goldmyne99]

What 16x2 LCD display are you going to use in the Bearcat 210?

I did not find any 16x2 LCD modules that looked good to me. So, I decided to simply use the Wio Terminal as the display.

Here is a picture of my old Bearcat 210XL case powered by the P25RX inside and the top half of the Wio Terminal as the display. It is mounted in the same location as the old LED display behind the 210XL display window. Now working on connecting the 210XL keypad to the Wio and adding a line out audio amp to use with the 210XL volume control. Fun stuff.

 

[pro106import]

All of a sudden the old Bearcat 210XL's on Fleabay/taxme are going for $200

 

[FreqNout]

Here is a picture of my old Bearcat 210XL case powered by the P25RX inside and the top half of the Wio Terminal as the display. It is mounted in the same location as the old LED display behind the 210XL display window. Now working on connecting the 210XL keypad to the Wio and adding a line out audio amp to use with the 210XL volume control.

@goldmyne99 This is a cool idea. Over the weekend I ran into a 210 for $5 at a thrift shop. It is not working. So now I'm hooked on your mod with the p25rx/wio inside. How are you doing the 210 keypad interface with the wio? My 210 keypad 12 pin ribbon cable does not ohm out as a matrix.

 

[6079smithw]

As a side project, I am playing with mounting my P25RX inside an old Bearcat 210XL case.

OK, now I'm hooked! Gotta root thru my boneyard for a BC250 with a fried MoBo tomorrow morning first thing!
I'm thinking if the internal audio sector's still good on the BC it could be adapted to do the RX audio maybe....

 

[6079smithw]

All of a sudden the old Bearcat 210XL's on Fleabay/taxme are going for $200

I just saw that one for $200 and $40 to ship. Maybe if it comes with drinks and a floor show;
otherwise the going price seems to be between 15-35 bucks.

 

[goldmyne99]

I'm hooked on your mod with the p25rx/wio inside. How are you doing the 210 keypad interface with the wio? My 210 keypad 12 pin ribbon cable does not ohm out as a matrix.

The keypad in my Bearcat 210XL is a "common bus" type keypad with a 12 pin ribbon cable.

The 20 buttons (switches) are split between two common buses. One side of each of the 10 numeral buttons is connected to a common line. One side of each of the 10 control/function buttons is connected to a second common line.

The remaining 10 ribbon cable lines are used for the other side of each button. One numeral is paired with one control/function button. These 10 button pairs make up the remaining 10 lines.

I have not decided if I am going to use all 20 keypad buttons or just a few to control my P25RX.

 

[FreqNout]

The keypad in my Bearcat 210XL is a "common bus" type keypad with a 12 pin ribbon cable.

Hey G99 Thanks for the info on the Bearcat keypad layout! My keypad is wired the same as yours.

I have not decided if I am going to use all 20 keypad buttons or just a few to control my P25RX.

I got mine wired up to use 8 buttons with the 8 Wio digital io pins. Any ideas on how to get all 20 of the 210 keypad buttons setup with the Wio?

 

[goldmyne99]

Any ideas on how to get all 20 of the 210 keypad buttons setup with the Wio?

This is still on my project TODO list as time allows.

Using the full 20 button BC 210 keypad with the Wio Terminal could be done a number of ways.

Here are two ideas for you:
1) An Arduino Nano setup as a keypad controller could send the keypad button press info to the Wio serial GPIO pins.
2) Exercise circuit design skills by setting up a resistor-network voltage divider to a Wio Analog GPIO pin. Each keypad button would present a known voltage range to the Wio to ID the button pressed.

I hope these ideas help. Good luck with your P25RX / Wio Terminal Bearcat 210 project!

 

[W0RS]

How are you supplying power? I have a P25RX-II. I bought a wio terminal and battery from Digi Key but I would rather supply power via USB......🤔

 

[goldmyne99]

How are you supplying power?

I power my Wio Terminal and P25RX with 5 Volts on the Wio GPIO pins.

The quick start guide here https://bluetailtechnologies.com/pages/p25rx-wio-terminal-p25-demo-application shows this method in step 4.

If you have the Seeed Battery Chassis, the battery will not power the P25RX-II model without usb-c powering the battery chassis.

 

[goldmyne99]

I created a custom Wio Terminal display screen for a new Wio user.

If anyone else would like the UF2 file to copy to their Wio, please send me a direct message.

 

[goldmyne99]

I had a request for a Wio Terminal screen that could display TG history.
Here is a sample screen with the current TG in yellow and a short list of the last 5 TGs in light blue.

 

[cheif]

Great job I have a question is there away to set it up to roam through 30 or more frequencies with out using the mouse. It would be nice for a road trip.
Thanks

 

[goldmyne99]

I have a question is there away to set it up to roam through 30 or more frequencies with out using the mouse. It would be nice for a road trip.

@btt would need to answer your question about increasing the size of the roaming table and Wio interfacing.

As of right now, using the Wio left/right joystick changes between 8 frequencies in the roaming table.

 

[pro106import]

Great job I have a question is there away to set it up to roam through 30 or more frequencies with out using the mouse. It would be nice for a road trip.
Thanks

You just set it up at home to scan those 30 channels (make sure you write the config to device before unplugging from the computer). Check the "include in scan" box on all 30 and then "apply changes" and "sync to device".
When powering up via your battery power, it will scan those 30 channels as it did connected to the computer. Make sure you check "Use on power up" on one of the frequencies in the scan lineup. Of course you won't "See" who is talking unless you have the display Wio terminal setup. Test it out at home before you leave on the trip to make sure you dfid everything right (I learned my lesson on this one lol)