Uniden Remote Head Project
- Thread starter MA-radio-guy
- Start date
Let me first start by saying that I am not the developer. I'm the person that stepped up to the developer and provided a mechanism for him to sell his intellectual property and make the device available to those interested in purchasing the device. Mancow is the owner of the intellectual property, ie, the program that he wrote to make the device work with Uniden Scanners. Without getting into personal details, he is not now, and was never in a position to support/market/sell the device that he designed, built and created. I have stated more than a couple of times in previous posts that we are looking into a means to sell just his software, so that those who have the hardware, and the knowledge of it and the OS to comfortably build, configure and install the software may do so. Here is the BIG issue, while many may have the hardware, it has been my experience over the past 25 years of IT work, that quite a bit of those people will not be able to make the device work without a lot of support. As I've stated above, this project has been made available by 2 people, myself and Mancow. Between us both, we have full time jobs, a family, and other situations that make this difficult to achieve. In order to make the software available, we need a mechanism to do so, ie, a sales/registration mechanism. That piece of it is NOT free for us, Mancow doesn't have the time to write/code for that piece of the project, so we are forced to test/code or purchase it. Mancow's development time, I'm sure is many hours, this is NOT free. My support, up until now has varied from quite a bit of hand holding, and some that required minimal support and some who haven't needed any support at all. All of those hours, and it has been many hours, days nights and weekends is not FREE. The creation/hosting of the internet site for web access and email is NOT free. We have not discussed a price for just the software as we're not sure of what the mechanism for its sale/registration will cost us. TIME to accomplish this is also not in a large supply these days either, as we both have families yo support. Neither of us have become millionaires from the design/sales and support of this device, we certainly didn't make enough profit with this project to even support our families, not even close. Nor was it ever intended to do so. If anything this is a hobby, a side project for us both. It was my belief and still is, that this project should be made available for all to enjoy their hobby more, I managed to convince Mancow of this, and he agreed, otherwise there would be very few of these devices in use today. With that, we will continue to search for a mechanism to sell just the software. There is NO timetable for this to occur. I will say this, it will happen, I just can't say when. I'm sure Mancow will chime in here as well.
Robert, Mancow
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The site that was selling the device when they were available is https://touch-scanner.com. See my last post, Uniden Remote Head Project for the details about what were working on next, the selling of just the software by itself.
Robert
medic29
Member
Bill,
I'm curious if you are still running this setup with the Nextion and Teensy board?? I am trying to set one up, but I am having to use the Teensy 4.1 board. I'm running into some issues and am curious if you had similar issues and if so, how you fixed them?
@mancow did you by chance post the above mentioned updated code?? I am currently working on this project but was not able to come across the exact Teensy board you initially used, so I am having to use the Teensy 4.1 board. I'm having some issues and trying to troubleshoot the issue, so far with little success.
Below is a link to the video of what the remote does. It appears the Teensy boots up, detects the SDS200 and sends the "." response for the serial connection, then the screen changes to the "Uniden" screen and just sits there. It consistently does this. I'm not sure if this is because of some change between the two Teensy boards or what. The pins that are connected to the video display are different, but I stayed with the pins for RX3 and TX3, something like pin 14 and 15. I wouldn't think this to be the issue.
Video of Remote
Any insight anyone would have would be appreciated.
Rick
Video of Remote
Hi Rick,
If I recall correctly, this project was abandoned due to excessive RFI from the Nextion display. I switched over to the RPi version and it is much better!
Bill
If I recall correctly, this project was abandoned due to excessive RFI from the Nextion display. I switched over to the RPi version and it is much better!
Bill
medic29
Member
Thanks for the quick reply. You are correct that the project was abandoned due to the excessive RFI from the Nextion display as it was interferring with the GPS module that was trying to be included in the project. I don't have a need to include the GPS module in the remote head, and from what I had read, the remote head worked without issues until trying to include the GPS module.
I decided to go this route because the Teensy board and Nextion display was easily obtainable and I can construct case, whereas the developer is having difficulty obtaining the Raspberry Pis (not to mention the price for the Pis are insane), and as of yet they have not released the code for the Raspberry Pi project. I have several Raspberry Pis along with a few displays sitting in my workshop, so I could go that route as well, but until they figure out a way they will release the code for the Raspberry Pi, this is the only route I have.
I am curious though, since you have experienced both versions, why do you say the RPi version is much better? What about it makes it better??
If it is significantly better I wouldn't mind going that route, but then I will once again be waiting for the developer. I understand his issues with being busy, wanting to get paid for his intellectual work, etc. And he doesn't have to make the software available to anyone. It isn't his primary source of income, etc. I would like to figure out how to make this work rather than try to re-invent the wheel, since someone already has.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.Rick
I just sent you a message.Thanks for the quick reply. You are correct that the project was abandoned due to the excessive RFI from the Nextion display as it was interferring with the GPS module that was trying to be included in the project. I don't have a need to include the GPS module in the remote head, and from what I had read, the remote head worked without issues until trying to include the GPS module.
I decided to go this route because the Teensy board and Nextion display was easily obtainable and I can construct case, whereas the developer is having difficulty obtaining the Raspberry Pis (not to mention the price for the Pis are insane), and as of yet they have not released the code for the Raspberry Pi project. I have several Raspberry Pis along with a few displays sitting in my workshop, so I could go that route as well, but until they figure out a way they will release the code for the Raspberry Pi, this is the only route I have.
I am curious though, since you have experienced both versions, why do you say the RPi version is much better? What about it makes it better??
If it is significantly better I wouldn't mind going that route, but then I will once again be waiting for the developer. I understand his issues with being busy, wanting to get paid for his intellectual work, etc. And he doesn't have to make the software available to anyone. It isn't his primary source of income, etc. I would like to figure out how to make this work rather than try to re-invent the wheel, since someone already has.
Rick
Before I take off for the next couple of days, I found a possible display for you DIY'ers wanting to build a remote head yourselves.
<< CLICK HERE >> It's under $20.00.
<< CLICK HERE >> It's under $20.00.
Was there any progress made on the ability to bring your own Raspberry Pi? I have a 4 and a 3B+ sitting around that I'd love to convert to a Touch Scanner if the parts and instructions were available for purchase. Thanks!
PM Me here, we haven formalized everything but maybe we could make something work for you.
Wondering if the SDS200 project has seen the light of day yet? I have a “Connect Systems BFD” display designed to work with the Connect System DMR radio that have remote heads. It’s open source so I thought someone might try it with the SDS200?
Has there been any movement on bringing this remote head to a sellable product? I see one being sold in the RR classified section, but unsure if this is the actual unit that was being developed?
My wife was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2021. She died this last July 16. I've not been able to do anything with it since then. I tried but couldn't find the time or motivation anymore.
I'm still interested but trying to get life back to a semi-normal state while raising a 6 year old so... you can imagine how that goes.
I'm still interested but trying to get life back to a semi-normal state while raising a 6 year old so... you can imagine how that goes.
NCAmateurRadioGuy
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2016
- Messages
- 55
So sorry for your loss
I didn't want to mention this and I do appreciate and give thanks for the good words and thoughts but didn't want to seem like I'm simping for sympathy. Thing is, people deserve to know why things basically disappeared. We (myself and a friend) had some grand plans but they vaporized (my fault, not his) when all that happened. When I say not being able to do anything with it since then, I meant since 2021. It was non stop Dr appointments, and a complete rearrangement of life since 2021. We kind of got back to a steady normal during the regular chemo appointments for a couple years but it was still difficult. Eventually, things went into a flat spin and then it was over starting around mid June 2024. I really didn't have any time to sit and study things and dedicate real brain power to the project at all. I kept distracted and busy with other side projects that were more mechanical and intuitive but was in a state of kind of constant panic.
I'm just not the same person still. I'm getting back there but it's going to take time.
I'm just not the same person still. I'm getting back there but it's going to take time.
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NCAmateurRadioGuy
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2016
- Messages
- 55
I can only imagine everyone here knows you aren’t mentioning your situation just for sympathy.
I can appreciate the desire for others to know why a project has stopped, but I think it’s more important that you are focusing on what’s more important and only sharing what you feel comfortable with.
I wish you all the best.
Mancow,
So sorry to hear of your loss. I'll keep you and your child in my prayers. I can't even imagine how your life has changed.
On a more positive note - I am one of the early adopters of your latest iteration of the SDS display, and it works AWESOME. I use it every day and it made all the difference in making this scanner useful in a small vehicle (without a large console area).
Thank you again for your good work! I hope that you find your peace.
Take Care,
Bill
So sorry to hear of your loss. I'll keep you and your child in my prayers. I can't even imagine how your life has changed.
On a more positive note - I am one of the early adopters of your latest iteration of the SDS display, and it works AWESOME. I use it every day and it made all the difference in making this scanner useful in a small vehicle (without a large console area).
Thank you again for your good work! I hope that you find your peace.
Take Care,
Bill
cpfinlay
Feed Provider
The unit I have listed is indeed from this effort. I have emails to prove that. Let me know if you require evidence.
It appears my post was the last inquiry post (Jan 15, 2024) you received after your loss. I am so sorry for your loss and pray for your family during this time of grief.
Thank you for letting us know why you did not respond back in Jan 2024. I will look forward to when you decide to revisit the project. Please, take the time to be with your family and friends… we will still be here when you feel up to it.
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