Tag Archives: electronics

ISA Prototyping print

Got a delivery today …
Woot .. let the 8088/v20 hardware hacking commence!

https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/PC_XT_ISA_8_bit_retro_Protoboard.html

First to do: LEDs, everybody loves blinking leds.
Next: Probably a address decoder with a VIA/CIA and a LCD Display.

Now I have to wait for my mouser order to be delivered.

SDK-85 Cassettes

Started drawing a Cassette interface in Kicad.
This so i can read back my old cassettes with programs.
(And write some new stuff)

I’m planning to buy a small micro cassette player.
With schematic below, I’m going to use it as save/load device.
But also with the same player, I’m going to convert the tape to a wave file, and try to decode the program using python.

While I’m at it, reading the old manuals, a RS-232 interface would be nice also!

UPDATE 20231016

This is the final version

Information about the 7655A.
A eprom WITH IO ports! Amazing piece of history hardware.

Testing some sims on Linux and Android

Last weeks useful schematics

While working on my game, i had to come up with some solutions i could not find an answer for on the internet.

I’m not going to post every little detail of my game on this blog, my main reason is sharing my experiences and solutions.

16 SWITCHES

16 Switches on a Wemos Arduino. While push buttons are easier to connect, I needed ON/OFF switches.
Push buttons are easy, there is only one active, so 4 enable lines and 4 scan lines and you’re golden.
16 Switches can be enabled all at the same time.
So you need some extra components to get a good result (0-65535)

Above schematic works, you need 4x 1k Pull-up resistors and 16 diodes. I used 1N4007

CONTROLLING 24V using Arduino and a buck convertor

Next problem, i’m using some elevator buttons for a project. These have build-in leds but run at 24V.
I only have 5V from the Arduino.
Regular leds you can connect directly to the Arduino using a 220ohm resistor.
So i used a Buck-Step-Up-Convertor. This little module converts 5V to 24V. (You can control the output voltage using a variable resistor)
To control the lamp/leds i used a PN2222a transistor to switch the lights on/off using a pin of the Arduino.

MT3608 Convertor
  • Input voltage: 2V-24V DC
  • Output voltage: 5V-28V DC
  • Output current: 2A (max), 1A (recommended), <100mA (input <4.0V), <50mA (input <3.5V)

Mobile Raspberry Access Point with Mqtt and a display

UPDATE: 20230214 / 20230224

Install Bullseye on a SDCard

Enable wifi country code using raspi-conf
(While you at it, enable I2C for the display)

Install and configure an Access Point

# As root
apt update
apt upgrade
apt install hostapd
apt install dnsmasq
systemctl stop hostapd
systemctl stop dnsmasq

cat <<EOF > /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf
interface=wlan0
driver=nl80211
ssid=escape
hw_mode=g
channel=6
wmm_enabled=0
macaddr_acl=0
auth_algs=1
ignore_broadcast_ssid=0
wpa=2
wpa_passphrase=mysecretpass
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
EOF

cat <<EOF >> /etc/dnsmasq.conf
interface=wlan0
bind-dynamic
domain-needed
bogus-priv
dhcp-range=192.168.50.150,192.168.50.200,255.255.255.0,12h
EOF

cat <<EOF >> /etc/dhcpcd.conf
interface wlan0
nohook wpa_supplicant
static ip_address=192.168.50.10/24
static routers=192.168.50.1
static domain_name_servers=8.8.8.8
EOF

sed -i s/#net.ipv4.ip_forward=1/net.ipv4.ip_forward=1/g /etc/sysctl.conf


mkdir /etc/nftables
cat <<EOF > /etc/nftables/nft-stat-ap.nft
flush ruleset

table inet ap {
        chain routethrough {
                type nat hook postrouting priority filter; policy accept;
                oifname "eth0" masquerade
        }

        chain fward {
                type filter hook forward priority filter; policy accept;
                iifname "eth0" oifname "wlan0" ct state established,related accept
                iifname "wlan0" oifname "eth0" accept
        }
}
EOF

chmod +x /etc/nftables/nft-stat-ap.nft
cat /etc/nftables.conf | grep nft-stat-ap.nft || echo 'include "/etc/nftables/nft-stat-ap.nft"' >> /etc/nftables.conf

systemctl unmask hostapd
systemctl enable hostapd
systemctl enable nftables

reboot

UPDATE: 20230214

Now in its case, added two buttons and one led.

UPDATE : 20230224 mqtt config

apt-get install mosquitto mosquitto-clients

vi /etc/mosquitto/conf.d/remotemqtt.conf
per_listener_settings true
# internal mqtt
listener 1883
allow_anonymous true
# connection over the internet
connection bridge-01
address remoteserver:8883
bridge_cafile /etc/mosquitto/certs/ca.crt
bridge_keyfile /etc/mosquitto/certs/remoteaccesspoint.key
bridge_certfile /etc/mosquitto/certs/remoteaccesspoint.crt
topic escape/# both 0
remote_username remoteuser
remote_password remotepass

########## remote server config

cd /etc/mosquitto
mosquitto_passwd passwords remoteuser

cd /etc/mosquitto/certs
./generate-CA.sh client remoteaccesspoint

copy ca.crt remoteaccesspoint.key and remoteaccesspoint.crt to accesspoint

mosquitto.conf
pid_file /var/run/mosquitto.pid
persistence true
persistence_location /var/lib/mosquitto/
#per_listener_settings true
# Plain MQTT protocol
listener 1883
allow_anonymous true
# End of plain MQTT configuration
# MQTT over TLS/SSL
listener 8883
cafile /etc/mosquitto/certs/ca.crt
certfile /etc/mosquitto/certs/webserver.fash.lab.crt
keyfile /etc/mosquitto/certs/webserver.fash.lab.key
allow_anonymous false
password_file /etc/mosquitto/passwords
# End of MQTT over TLS/SLL configuration
listener 9001
protocol websockets
# End of plain Websockets configuration
# WebSockets over TLS/SSL
listener 9883
protocol websockets
cafile /etc/mosquitto/certs/ca.crt
certfile /etc/mosquitto/certs/webserver.fash.lab.crt
keyfile /etc/mosquitto/certs/webserver.fash.lab.key
log_dest file /var/log/mosquitto/mosquitto.log
include_dir /etc/mosquitto/conf.d
connection bridge-01
address extramqttserver:1883
topic lscspm1/# both 0
topic owntracks/# both 0
topic escape/# both 0

log_type all


Controlling Display and MQTT messages examples

apt-get install python3-smbus

python3 printline.py -1 "line 1" -2 "line 2"

wget https://github.com/emcniece/rpi-lcd/blob/master/RPi_I2C_driver.py

cat printline.py
# requires RPi_I2C_driver.py
import RPi_I2C_driver
from time import *
import sys, getopt

#python3 fix
unichr = chr 

mylcd = RPi_I2C_driver.lcd()
# test 2                  1234567812345678


def main(argv):
   line1 = ''
   line2 = ''
   try:
      opts, args = getopt.getopt(argv,"h1:2:",["txt1=","txt2="])
   except getopt.GetoptError:
      print ('printline.py -1 <line1> -2 <line2>')
      sys.exit(2)
   for opt, arg in opts:
      if opt == '-h':
         print ('printline.py -1 <line1> -2 <line2>')
         sys.exit()
      elif opt in ("-1", "--txt1"):
         line1 = arg
      elif opt in ("-2", "--txt2"):
         line2 = arg

   mylcd.lcd_display_string(line1, 1)
   mylcd.lcd_display_string(line2, 2)
if __name__ == "__main__":
   main(sys.argv[1:])

Print internal and external ip

myip=$(/usr/sbin/ifconfig eth0 | grep "inet " | awk '{ print $2 }')
extip=$(curl -s http://whatismyip.akamai.com/)
python3 printline.py -1 "i $myip" -2 "e $extip"

mosquitto health tester

timeout 1 mosquitto_sub -t '$SYS/#' -C 1 | grep -v Error || exit 1

Button press shutdown

raspi-gpio get 27  | grep level=0 >/dev/null 
if [ $? == 0 ] ; then

python3 printline.py -1 "shutting" -2 "down"
/usr/sbin/halt -p
fi

Cleaned-up minimal mqtt poster

#include <WiFi.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>

const char* ssid = "ssidname";
const char* password = "ssidpass";
const char* mqttServer = "192.168.50.10";

WiFiClient espClient;
PubSubClient client(espClient);


void initWiFi() {
  WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
  Serial.print("Connecting to WiFi ..");
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    Serial.print('.');
    delay(1000);
  }
  Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());
}


void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200);
initWiFi();
  Serial.print("RRSI: ");
  Serial.println(WiFi.RSSI());
    client.setClient(espClient);
    client.setServer(mqttServer,1883);
 if (client.connect("testmodule")) {

      Serial.println("connected");
 client.publish("escape/testclient", "connected");
    } else {
            Serial.println("Mqtt not connected");
    }

}

void loop() {
        }

}

Arduino Concertina – POC

As mentioned in post below

Update: https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2023/01/17/arduino-concertina-poc-2/

So i’ve bought some needed parts and made a proof of concept.

First to try : 3×4 matrix .. later the full 30 keys version
First part Bella Ciao

Arduino Code
Needs https://playground.arduino.cc/Code/Keypad/ keypad library
Not all buttons are configured with frequencies … yet

#include <Keypad.h>
int buzzer=9;
int lastsensorread;
int prevkey;
int push=400;
int pull=600;

const byte ROWS = 8; //four rows
const byte COLS = 3; //three columns
char keys[ROWS][COLS] = {
  {'1','2','3'},
  {'4','5','6'},
  {'7','8','9'},
  {'#','0','*'},
  {'A','B','C'},
  {'D','E','F'},
  {'G','H','I'},
  {'J','K','L'}
};
byte rowPins[ROWS] = {5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13}; //connect to the row pinouts of the keypad
byte colPins[COLS] = {2, 3, 4 }; //connect to the column pinouts of the keypad

Keypad keypad = Keypad( makeKeymap(keys), rowPins, colPins, ROWS, COLS );

void setup(){
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(buzzer,OUTPUT);

}
  
void loop(){
  char key = keypad.getKey();
//  if (key == NO_KEY){
 //   key = prevkey;
   //   }
      
  
 // if (key != NO_KEY){
    int freq = 0;
    int sensorValue = analogRead(A0);
    //sensorValue = ((sensorValue+4)/5)*5;



    
    if (sensorValue > push && sensorValue < pull   ) {
    // Serial.println("No pull or push");
    noTone(buzzer);
    }
    else 
    {
    if (key == '1' && sensorValue < push ) { tone(buzzer,415); }; // G push
    if (key == '1' && sensorValue > pull ) { tone(buzzer,466); }; // A pull
    if (key == '2' && sensorValue < push ) { tone(buzzer,392); }; // G push
    if (key == '2' && sensorValue > pull ) { tone(buzzer,440); }; // A pull
    if (key == '3' && sensorValue < push ) { tone(buzzer,587); }; // G push
    if (key == '3' && sensorValue > pull ) { tone(buzzer,659); }; // A pull
    
    if (key == '4' && sensorValue < push ) { tone(buzzer,440); };
    if (key == '4' && sensorValue > pull ) { tone(buzzer,392); };
    if (key == '5' && sensorValue < push ) { tone(buzzer,329); };
    if (key == '5' && sensorValue > pull ) { tone(buzzer,349); };
    if (key == '6' && sensorValue < push ) { tone(buzzer,493); };
    if (key == '6' && sensorValue > pull ) { tone(buzzer,523); };
      //8l f/e
    if (key == '8' && sensorValue < push ) { tone(buzzer,261); };
    if (key == '8' && sensorValue > pull ) { tone(buzzer,587); };

    if (key == 'A' && sensorValue < push ) { tone(buzzer,783); };
    if (key == 'A' && sensorValue > pull ) { tone(buzzer,739); };
    if (key == 'B' && sensorValue < push ) { tone(buzzer,523); };
    if (key == 'B' && sensorValue > pull ) { tone(buzzer,493); };

    if (key == 'D' && sensorValue < push ) { tone(buzzer,987); };
    if (key == 'D' && sensorValue > pull ) { tone(buzzer,880); };
    if (key == 'E' && sensorValue < push ) { tone(buzzer,659); };
    if (key == 'E' && sensorValue > pull ) { tone(buzzer,587); };
    
    //tone(buzzer,freq);
    }
    Serial.println(sensorValue);
    Serial.println(key);
    Serial.println(freq);
 //   lastsensorread = sensorValue;
    prevkey = key;
      
 // }
}

Lets make a test holder from pieces of wood, when i’ve got the sizes correct, i’ll 3D print something

TM1637 7 Segment Module (with mqtt )

These tiny modules use a Clock and Data signal.
The rest of the pins are for 3.3V and Gnd.

There are many libraries you can choose from, i’ve tried several.
For now, i ended up with this one.

Another promising one is https://github.com/AKJ7/TM1637
Another one i’ve tested https://github.com/bxparks/AceSegment

Now i have to add Wifi and Mqtt so it can remotely controlled.

Connected like this

Code with Wifi/Mqtt

#include <Arduino.h>
#include <TM1637Display.h>
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>

const char* ssid = "MYSSID";
const char* password = "MYSSIDPASS";
const char* mqtt_server = "MQTT-SERVER-IP";
 
const int CLK = D6; //Set the CLK pin connection to the display
const int DIO = D5; //Set the DIO pin connection to the display
 
int numCounter = 0;
int mydata = 0;
 
// The amount of time (in milliseconds) between tests
#define TEST_DELAY   2000

const uint8_t SEG_DONE[] = {
  SEG_B | SEG_C | SEG_D | SEG_E | SEG_G,           // d
  SEG_A | SEG_B | SEG_C | SEG_D | SEG_E | SEG_F,   // O
  SEG_C | SEG_E | SEG_G,                           // n
  SEG_A | SEG_D | SEG_E | SEG_F | SEG_G            // E
  };

TM1637Display display(CLK, DIO);

WiFiClient espClient;
PubSubClient client(espClient);
unsigned long lastMsg = 0;
#define MSG_BUFFER_SIZE  (50)
char msg[MSG_BUFFER_SIZE];
int value = 0;


void setup()
{
 display.setBrightness(0x0a); //set the diplay to maximum brightness
  Serial.begin(115200);
  setup_wifi();
  client.setServer(mqtt_server, 1883);
  client.setCallback(callback);
}


void setup_wifi() {

  delay(10);
  // We start by connecting to a WiFi network
  Serial.println();
  Serial.print("Connecting to ");
  Serial.println(ssid);

  WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);

  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(500);
    Serial.print(".");
  }

  client.setServer(mqtt_server, 1883);
  client.setCallback(callback);


  randomSeed(micros());

  Serial.println("");
  Serial.println("WiFi connected");
  Serial.println("IP address: ");
  Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());
}



void callback(char* topic, byte* payload, unsigned int length) {
  char buffer[4];
  Serial.print("Message arrived [");
  Serial.print(topic);
  Serial.print("] ");
  for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
    Serial.print((char)payload[i]);
    buffer[i] = int(payload[i]);
  }
  Serial.println();
//  mydata=int(payload[0])+int(payload[1]*10);
int  n;
n = atoi(buffer);

  display.showNumberDec(n); //Display the numCounter value;


}




void reconnect() {
  // Loop until we're reconnected
  while (!client.connected()) {
    Serial.print("Attempting MQTT connection...");
    // Create a random client ID
    String clientId = "ESP8266Client-";
    clientId += String(random(0xffff), HEX);
    // Attempt to connect
    if (client.connect(clientId.c_str())) {
      Serial.println("connected");
      // Once connected, publish an announcement...
      client.publish("escape/seg1ping", "seg1alive");
      // ... and resubscribe
      client.subscribe("escape/seg1data");
    } else {
      Serial.print("failed, rc=");
      Serial.print(client.state());
      Serial.println(" try again in 5 seconds");
      // Wait 5 seconds before retrying
      delay(5000);
    }
  }
}

void loop() {

  if (!client.connected()) {
    reconnect();
  }
  client.loop();

  unsigned long now = millis();
  if (now - lastMsg > 2000) {
    lastMsg = now;
    ++value;
    snprintf (msg, MSG_BUFFER_SIZE, "seg1alive #%ld", value);
    Serial.print("Publish message: ");
    Serial.println(msg);
    client.publish("escape/seg1ping", msg);
  }
}

Arduino Concertina

Lets try to make a Electronic Concertina

UPDATE:
https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2023/01/10/arduino-concertina-poc/
https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2023/01/17/arduino-concertina-poc-2/

First design

So we need some pushbuttons … at least 14 .. for the most simple tunes.
A sensor for push and pull.
A buzzer or better yet .. a jack for earphones.
Arduino with enough pins to connect a keyboard matrix.
When using a keyboard matrix only single keypresses are detected.
So we cant do chords!

Started on a mobile over the internet Escape room experiment

I’ve been working on some modular gadgets which can be combined to make a complete puzzle.

I like games like Keep-talking-and-nobody-dies. (Which is a computer game, but you have to play it with multiple persons and a physical “manual” Great fun!)
https://keeptalkinggame.com/

And i like real escape rooms.
There are some puzzle “rooms” you can buy in the game store, it is okay but many are for single use only.

I’ve been following some people on youtube, i saw some great ideas but not a remote over the internet using physical knobs and switches.

This is a RFID reader with an old Amico Esp8266 Arduino. It sends RFID information to the MQTT broker

Some other tools ‘n knobs .. and stuff

I want to use Adhoc Wifi and a Mqtt/Nodered setup which uses a mqtt over the internet to get people (and their knobs) connected

I already got a lot of test schematics

Left part of the “connect the wires puzzle” right a solenoid electrical lock)

Schematic for the MQTT enabled RFID module

ESP8266 <-> RC522
D8            SDA
D5            SCK
D7           MOSI
D6           MISO
GND           GND
D1            RST
3V3           3V3
 

Code

Below will write the RFID id to “rfid/id” and resets this when you remove the tag to “rfid/id = 0”

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <WiFiClient.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>
#include <MFRC522.h>

#define SS_PIN D8
#define RST_PIN D1

MFRC522 mfrc522(SS_PIN, RST_PIN);
unsigned long cardId = 0;

WiFiClient net;
PubSubClient client(net);

const char* mqtt_server = "MQTTBROKER";
const char* ssid = "MYSSID";
const char* password = "MYWIFIPASSWD";

void setup() {
  SPI.begin();
  mfrc522.PCD_Init();

  WiFi.mode(WIFI_AP_STA);
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);

  client.setServer(mqtt_server, 1883);
}

void reconnect() {
  while (WiFi.waitForConnectResult() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
  }

  while (!client.connected()) {
    String clientId = "NodeMCUClient-";
    clientId += String(random(0xffff), HEX);

    if (!client.connect(clientId.c_str(), "rfidclient", "...")) {
      delay(5000);
    }
  }
}

void loop() {
  reconnect();

  if (!mfrc522.PICC_IsNewCardPresent()) {
    return;
  }

  if (!mfrc522.PICC_ReadCardSerial()) {
    return;
  }

  cardId = getCardId();

  char buffer[10];
  sprintf(buffer, "%lu", cardId);
  client.publish("rfid/id", buffer);

  uint8_t control = 0x00;

  do {
    control = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
      if (!mfrc522.PICC_IsNewCardPresent()) {
        if (mfrc522.PICC_ReadCardSerial()) {
          control |= 0x16;
        }

        if (mfrc522.PICC_ReadCardSerial()) {
          control |= 0x16;
        }
        control += 0x1;
      }
      control += 0x4;
    }

    delay(0);
  } while (control == 13 || control == 14);

  reconnect();
  client.publish("rfid/id", "0");
  delay(500);

  mfrc522.PICC_HaltA();
  mfrc522.PCD_StopCrypto1();
}

unsigned long getCardId() {
  byte readCard[4];
  for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
    readCard[i] = mfrc522.uid.uidByte[i];
  }

  return (unsigned long)readCard[0] << 24
    | (unsigned long)readCard[1] << 16
    | (unsigned long)readCard[2] << 8
    | (unsigned long)readCard[3];
}

Schematics used for the Solenoid lock

Software is a mqtt example from the internet which toggles a PIN on the arduino.

WIP – Designing a 7seg memory address “spy”

UNTESTED, haven’t got all components yet!

Sometimes when i’m writing code i want to know what’s happening. For example when i’m working on the display, there is maybe no output.
With the above example i can write to address $01F0 (example address), and it will display on the 7 Segment displays.

Upperleft PLD is my address decoder, which has been running for a while now.

Secondary PLD adds the rest of the Addressbus lines, and gives me the opportunity to select in a range of 16 addresses, using jumpers/

The two smaller PLD’s latch the databus data when addressed.
AND decodes a nibble to 7-Segment output for 0-9A-F.
(There are apparently no chips available which do A-F)

I’m going to add the PLD code when everything works. Let me know if you like the idea.

Should be only a few Euro’s