Audio (voice) - Stock 9X PCB

[kaos]

Hmm, I see the WTV020-SD-20s also support download files/write. Is there any chance to hook this audio board so we can write the Tx eepe files to the SD and read from it. then we will have a er9x with SD capability without getting the Gruiven board.
ER9x with telemetry, audio and SD. from a 60 dollar Tx. WOW!!!

[MikeB]

Download files is not documented for the version of the sound module I have, nor writing to the SD card. It isn't specified on the datasheet I have for the WTV020-SD-20S chip.

I'll knock up my stripboard circuit in the next day or so, get the er9x software sorted to drive it. I don't want to complicate things, or make the board much bigger but I'm thinking of using a BIG (TO220) 5V regulator, to handle 12 volt input, then a smaller 3.3V regulator from that for the logic and sound module. I'll also add a transistor on the backlight signal, then the backlight can be run from the 5V regulator, and switched on and off using the transistor. That way you get controlled brightness of the backlight, and just 2 wires to the backlight to connect it up. Is this getting too conmplicated? (3.3V almost certainly won't be enough to drive the backlight).

We'll get this audio going using these sound modules, but I have a feeling that if I can get code working to decode the AD4 files (needed for ersky9x anyway), and we have code to drive an SD card (Gruvin board/ersky9x) we might be able to do our own sound module.

Just had an order in for a BIG, real work (paid) job. Bother! I need more time!

Mike.

[jhsa]

Mike the 2 regulators are a good idea. did you have a look at the one that is already on the main switch board? the backlight can also run of battery voltage with an appropriate resistor for the battery voltage used.. I plan to use 6 eneloops. that makes about 8.4V when totally charged.. if the audio module amp is not loud enough I'm planning to make a simple amp running also from batt voltage..

[jhsa]

I think that before we spoke about making our own sound module.. If I remember correctly using a DAC, an Atmega and a SD Card.. we were also speaking about storing the sound files as well as models and other info in it..

[jhsa]

Mike, I have been looking at the module's manual. It seems to be possible to control the volume by software.. during playback and when it's stopped.. that would be a nice feature to have on the main preferences menu..

Also from the manual:
"The power input is DC3.3v, if DC5V input, two serial diodes (IN4001 or 4007)connect to the positive input to low the
voltage."

[MikeB]

Yes, we should be able to include volume control.

I don't feel two diodes are good enough, each one will probably only drop 0.6 to 0.7 volts, 1.2 to 1.4 for the pair. 5V - 1.4V is still 3.6V, rather high for a 3.3V module and SD card.

Mike.

[jhsa]

3 diodes?
0.6 x 3=1.8
5-1.8=3,2V

Just to avoid wife divorcing me because I order to much stuff??

[Kilrah]

The 2 diodes as level shifter are probably only a little worse than the good old 100k series resistor

[jhsa]

My ICs 74HC574 just arrived.. Now just waiting for the sound module

[kaos]

I'll order a couple of the microSD version modules.
Along with an Arduino nano 3.0: http://emartee.com/product/42006/Arduin ... 0ATMEGA328

These use a '328, operate on 5V, and have USB (OK, via an FT232, but still convenient)... they sound good for everything, including flashing of the main CPU, don't they?

sounds like that would be the 'Smartie board' for my 2nd T9X. Will be waiting for this to come out, smartie board with audio.

[man-bis]

sounds like that would be the 'Smartie board' for my 2nd T9X. Will be waiting for this to come out, smartie board with audio.

And then the voice modification will lose meaning. If the cost of modification would be to approach the cost of board ersky. I am sure that the cost of voice modification should not go beyond reasonable limits.

[MikeB]

I'm trying to make this low cost, otherwise you might as well just buy the ersky9x board and get "everything" in one go.
This is the circuit I'm going for now. I have it built on a piece of stripboard (veroboard). Moving on to the software now.

(Added module pin numbers (12/6/2012)

I am regulating the battery to 5V using a TO220 size regulator, then dropping this to 3.3V with a small TO92 regulator (LDO). The 5V is then available for the backlight, for which I have added a transistor switch and current limiting resistor. The board is 1.8" by 1.5" (45mm by 38mm).

Mike.

[cre8tiveleo]

I'll order a couple of the microSD version modules.
Along with an Arduino nano 3.0: http://emartee.com/product/42006/Arduin ... 0ATMEGA328

These use a '328, operate on 5V, and have USB (OK, via an FT232, but still convenient)... they sound good for everything, including flashing of the main CPU, don't they?

sounds like that would be the 'Smartie board' for my 2nd T9X. Will be waiting for this to come out, smartie board with audio.

Get the ersky board, more processing power, more memory... more better

[C.João]

I'm tired of reading "get the esky board"

it DOES NOT talk yet. it is not even on full production yet!
the sound mood is a few programming steps away and it could be available to anyone

so STOP telling "us" 'get the ersky board'.

with the new frsky controller "soon to be out" I could start saying "get the new frsky system!" I bet there are some individuals that will not like to read that...

[jhsa]

That is looking good Mike.. thanks.. Can you change the BL intensity via software this way?

[MikeB]

We might be able to do that. It was always possible, for the LED backlight, to add variable brightness, but was never done as it wasn't compatible with the EL backlight on the SP board. Since this backlight must be an LED, wemay be able to add it in, more software though so I'll think about it later.

Mike.

[jhsa]

Yeah, that would be a nice bonus.. I will check if I have some regulators somewhere in my workshop.. It's going to be difficult to find something in that mess..
too many beer bottles

[Rob Thomson]

I'm tired of reading "get the esky board"

it DOES NOT talk yet. it is not even on full production yet!
the sound mood is a few programming steps away and it could be available to anyone

so STOP telling "us" 'get the ersky board'.

with the new frsky controller "soon to be out" I could start saying "get the new frsky system!" I bet there are some individuals that will not like to read that...

Having a bad day?

Remember that the 'few' developers on the project will be pulled around in different directions - and also in their own personal interests directions. This may not always be the same as your interests, or others. Joy of open source and comunity driven development.

Mike is working on the new audio system; but allow him time. He is probably the only person on the team with both the hardware and software skills to pull it off! And he does still need to do his day job! For the rest of us.. using the sky9x board is a simple and very effective solution to the problem; whilst adding loads more power at the same time.

i of course am waiting patiently for the new frsky transmitter; and then even more patiently to see how long it takes for Brent to rework the pcb to use a sky9x board

[jhsa]

As I said here before, not all of us can afford to buy the sky9x board. I for example have 2 radios, And I'm sure I would be divorced even before thinking about buying one of those.. I nearly got divorced because of the audio module seriously..

Of course PAIED work and life is before anything else and I'm sure that nobody here expects Mike or other people working on these projects to forget their own work and family so we could have new boards and mods to play with..
And to all the people that are working many hours for making this radio a decent one, I only have 2 little big words
THANK YOU

[ShowMaster]

What's really great is all those requesting timely updates have all made donations to the forum or those working so hard for us to make our cheap radios work like very expensive ones! With all the constant updates I wonder how time is made to spend all the donations? Oh I forgot, maybe not enough donations from many to spend, sorry.
SM

[MikeB]

You know of Rob's new flying buddy? Well, I think my er9x has beaten him to saying its first words .
Ok, its still in test mode, but it looks like the hardware design I posted is working. I have the software set so if I toggle the trainer switch it says voice file zero. From earlier testing it is the word "height" (I programmed in words like height, limit, four, hundred, feet).
I still need to sort handling the busy signal coming back to make sure I can read it and action it correctly. As soon as I have that tested, I'll post more details of the circuit.
Oh yes, the backlight circuit works as well, unfortunately it looks like one of the LEDs in my backlight has failed (or become disconnected internally).
Give me a little more time and we should be GO for voice. Only possible problem is I'm not convinced the volume is that loud, but adding an amplifier will be more costly. We shall have to see how it sounds. It should be able to drive headphones/earpieces though.

Mike.

[SkyNorth]

Looks like a nice solution Mike.
This allows the hackers to have some fun.

The ERSKY boards ARE in production, and half of the run is already "spoken" for

Rob - I have the 9XR radio (from HK) in the ERSKY9x sight ....a nice new $50 DSM2 radio , with a spot for a FLSKY RF module...looks like a good hack.
By the looks of the specs of the FLSKY Radio , they have already copied the ERSKY work....
-Brent

[jhsa]

Mike, those are great news.. If you look at the modules manual there's a schematic of a simple amplifier using an LM386 which is connected to the DAC output, I'm not sure but I think pin ?? 2 ?? on the module..
Also Most people will use earphones I guess. Others like me that want more sound, (at least 500W ) could build the little amp to drive the little speaker.. It's very simple. The LM386, 2 capacitors and 1 resistor.. Can be powered from battery voltage so no load on the regulators..

João

[jhsa]

Also in your schematic, Is the pin 4 of the 74HC574 connected to ground together with pins, 2,3,and 5?

Thanks

[MikeB]

Yes, pin 4 is connected to ground, missed off a 'blob', I was lazy, didn't run the electrical rules check on the shcematic.

This is how I made my stripboard.

Stripboard, cuts in the strips (copper strip view):

Cuts.png (7.18 KiB) Viewed 13922 times

Stripboard, wire links (component side view):

Wires.png (5.78 KiB) Viewed 13882 times

Component layout:

Components.png (10.82 KiB) Viewed 13925 times

Parts List:

9xAudio.txt

(879 Bytes) Downloaded 398 times

I'll go for some pictures tomorrow, too late tonight.

The last testing I did shows handling the busy signal correctly, and chaining 2 voice files as close together as possible working. There is a bit of a gap caused by the sound module, so that's the way it is. I'll also try shouting at the microphone to see if I can get more volume.

I think the biggest problem now is fitting it in the case. It may be necessary to bend the two spring contacts to allow the sound module to fit between them. Maybe we will have to add a couple of bonding wires if, after bending, they no longer touch the board in the front half of the case.

Mike.

[jhsa]

Mike you can send the audio files to me (in .WAV) and I can treat them on my music progs and normalize them as loud as I can..
Also, I just bought some 78L33 regulators 100mA. dropout voltage is 1,7V. Do you think they'll be ok? or 5V as input will be quite low for them to supply the 3,3V? I have some 7806 tha I could use instead of the 7805 and adjust the LEDs resistor accordingly..

[MikeB]

Not sure, I chose the LE33CZ because it is LDO, and supplies 150mA, 100mA may be a bit low to drive the speaker.
7806 and 78L33 should be OK as far as dropout voltage is concerned, as you say, just tweak the backlight resistor value.
I've downloaded a program called Audacity that allows me to fiddle with the audio files, so I already tried to make the amplitude bigger. It may even be caused by the program I'm using to convert to .AD4 type files, they are MUCH smaller than .WAV files and sound OK.

Mike.

[jhsa]

according to the manual, the module can handle wav files as well.. I think space on the SD card shouldn't be a problem even if wav is a bit bigger.

I think I'll use the LM386 as the amplifier.. It will not put any load on the regs

[MikeB]

just added a .wav file in place of one of the .ad4 files, just played a loud buzzing noise. It may be all the files have to be of one type or the other, so having played a .AD4 file, it won't play a .WAV file, or the WAV file was the wrong sampling rate.

Or it may be it only does WAV files in MP3 mode, the manual only refers to AD4 files when in two line serial mode.

Mike.

[jhsa]

The .ad4 can play at a higher sample rate..

6Khz to 36Khz for the .ad4 and 6Khz to 16Khz for the wav files.. that's what I understand from the manual

And it applies also to the serial mode..