Tag Archives: hardware

ARDUINO CONCERTINA – POC 2

See also

Potmeter needs some tweaking

New code

#include <Keypad.h>
int buzzer=9;
int lastsensorread;
int prevkey;
int push=450;
int pull=550;

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 == NO_KEY){
      switch (keypad.getState()){
            case RELEASED:
             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); };

    if (key == 'H' && sensorValue < push ) { tone(buzzer,783); };
    if (key == 'H' && sensorValue > pull ) { tone(buzzer,698); };
    //tone(buzzer,freq);
    }
    Serial.println(sensorValue);
    Serial.println(key);
    Serial.println(freq);
 //   lastsensorread = sensorValue;
    prevkey = key;
      
 // }
}

Wanted to make a mini Sid Player, and failed

UPDATE: https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2024/05/30/c64-mobile-sid-player-using-raspberry/

I’ve got an old Speaker Phat, and a Raspberry Zero

An audio add-on board for Raspberry ( same size as the Zero )
Connections

My initial idea was to have the “High Voltage Sid Collection” (Downloaded the 55000 pack)
On a mini device, battery operated and with a little keypad.

On the keypad i can select the Sidtune to play, or pressing
A and a number the Sids from a certain artist.

The display gives you information about the tune being played.
( The display has an I2C hat to convert 8bits to I2C )

See pinout phat above.
I’ve got three choices for I2C connection (green/blue to the Phat)

  • Direct connect and use different addresses
  • Use a I2C hub and different addresses
  • Define a secondary I2C on the raspberry

So I made the first test setup …

Underrun occurred .. So back to the drawingboard.
I probably need a better Audio Hat.
First to try .. Zero fast enough for sidplay2?
Maybe audio over hdmi works??

Computer cards i’ve owned / used

Only cards worth mentioning.
I will add more information to this page

Graphics:

Hercules ???? – Did a lot of machinecode on this one. (Which?)
CGA/EGA Card ??? – Machinecode hacking
VGA .. first card also machine code hacking
Matrox
Some cards i knew a lot about, i did some manipulations using assembly that were very interesting, but only worked on that specific brand.

16 Bit ISA VGA card that is compatibe with 8bits slots for my XT.
see https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2022/11/16/hercules-to-vga/

Sound:

I’ve bought a lot of Crystal Soundcards, there were breeze to install and use under linux, way back when it was hard to get supported hardware.



Firewire card (for Studio equipment):

Our old trusty mixer

Videocapture:

Video blaster – Which i used to record video (Like ‘Sepp en fash vervelen zich nooit’) and my DIY controllable webcam.

Video Blaster


Pinnacle PCTV- Brooktree Bt848

I used the firewire connection to get the footage of my Canon Video Camera

Firewire cable
Not my card but comparable


Hauppauge WinTV PVR 350


Basetech BR116 (Current) – RCA

Not really a “card”


Camlink 4K (Current) – hdmi

Other:

Stallion RS-232 card for connecting multiple serial terminals.
(Icecrew chat server on Lan Parties)

insmod istallion board0=brumby,0x350,0xcc000
/usr/lib/stallion/stlload -i 2681.sys


Wyse Multiport Serial Card

Ramvantage 16bits ISA memory expansion

PC Hardware diagnostics card

Could not find any information on this card

Catweasel

The Catweasel is a family of enhanced floppy-disk controllers from German company Individual Computers. These controllers are designed to allow more recent computers, such as PCs, to access a wide variety of older or non-native disk formats using standard floppy drives.

You could connect joysticks and there is a socket for a SID chip on the card.

Servo’s Rotary encoders, Node-red and Mqtt

Multiple rotary encoders are controlling a servo based lock. 3 players have to work together to open the lock.

Secure MQTT rotary encoder (Can be used over the internet)
Servo based lock
Lock Mockup
Node red test logic

Arduino Rotary button (mqtt)

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <WiFiClientSecure.h>
#include <time.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>

#define encoderCLK 5   //D1
#define encoderDT 4    //D2
int servoAngle = 0;
int crntCLK;
int prvsCLK;
String myString;
char ang[50];

#ifndef SECRET
const char ssid[] = "MYSSID";
const char pass[] = "MSSIDPASS";

#define HOSTNAME "rotary1"

const char MQTT_HOST[] = "securemqttserver";
const int MQTT_PORT = 8883;
const char MQTT_USER[] = "user"; // leave blank if no credentials used
const char MQTT_PASS[] = "pass"; // leave blank if no credentials used

const char MQTT_SUB_TOPIC[] = "escape/" HOSTNAME "/in";
const char MQTT_PUB_TOPIC[] = "escape/" HOSTNAME "/out";
const char MQTT_PUB_TOPIC_angle[] = "escape/" HOSTNAME "/angle";

#ifdef CHECK_CA_ROOT
static const char digicert[] PROGMEM = R"EOF(
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
MIIFtTCCA52gAwIBAgIUXEEQRLHhYox8a95YiAYX/wQ/XeMwDQYJKoZIhvcNAQEN
----8< snip snap
CyLjTT2rtllw==
-----END CERTIFICATE-----
)EOF";
    #endif

    #ifdef CHECK_PUB_KEY
    // Extracted by: openssl x509 -pubkey -noout -in ca.crt
    static const char pubkey[] PROGMEM = R"KEY(
    -----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    xxxxxxxx
    -----END PUBLIC KEY-----
    )KEY";
    #endif

    #ifdef CHECK_FINGERPRINT
	// Extracted by: openssl x509 -fingerprint -in ca.crt
    static const char fp[] PROGMEM = "AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF:00:11:22:33:44:55:66:77:88:99:AA:BB:CC:DD";
    #endif
#endif

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////

#if (defined(CHECK_PUB_KEY) and defined(CHECK_CA_ROOT)) or (defined(CHECK_PUB_KEY) and defined(CHECK_FINGERPRINT)) or (defined(CHECK_FINGERPRINT) and defined(CHECK_CA_ROOT)) or (defined(CHECK_PUB_KEY) and defined(CHECK_CA_ROOT) and defined(CHECK_FINGERPRINT))
  #error "cant have both CHECK_CA_ROOT and CHECK_PUB_KEY enabled"
#endif

BearSSL::WiFiClientSecure net;
PubSubClient client(net);

time_t now;
unsigned long lastMillis = 0;

void mqtt_connect()
{
  while (!client.connected()) {
    Serial.print("Time: ");
    Serial.print(ctime(&now));
    Serial.print("MQTT connecting ... ");
    if (client.connect(HOSTNAME, MQTT_USER, MQTT_PASS)) {
      Serial.println("connected.");
      client.subscribe(MQTT_SUB_TOPIC);
    } else {
      Serial.print("failed, status code =");
      Serial.print(client.state());
      Serial.println(". Try again in 5 seconds.");
      /* Wait 5 seconds before retrying */
      delay(5000);
    }
  }
}

void receivedCallback(char* topic, byte* payload, unsigned int length) {
  Serial.print("Received [");
  Serial.print(topic);
  Serial.print("]: ");
  for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
    Serial.print((char)payload[i]);
  }
}

void setup()
{
  pinMode (encoderCLK,INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode (encoderDT,INPUT_PULLUP);
  prvsCLK = digitalRead(encoderCLK);
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Serial.println();
  Serial.println();
  Serial.print("Attempting to connect to SSID: ");
  Serial.print(ssid);
  WiFi.hostname(HOSTNAME);
  WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
  WiFi.begin(ssid, pass);
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED)
  {
    Serial.print(".");
    delay(1000);
  }
  Serial.println("connected!");

  Serial.print("Setting time using SNTP");
  configTime(1 * 3600, 0, "pool.ntp.org", "time.nist.gov");
  now = time(nullptr);
  while (now < 1510592825) {
    delay(500);
    Serial.print(".");
    now = time(nullptr);
  }
  Serial.println("done!");
  struct tm timeinfo;
  gmtime_r(&now, &timeinfo);
  Serial.print("Current time: ");
  Serial.print(asctime(&timeinfo));

  #ifdef CHECK_CA_ROOT
    BearSSL::X509List cert(digicert);
    net.setTrustAnchors(&cert);
  #endif
  #ifdef CHECK_PUB_KEY
    BearSSL::PublicKey key(pubkey);
    net.setKnownKey(&key);
  #endif
  #ifdef CHECK_FINGERPRINT
    net.setFingerprint(fp);
  #endif
  #if (!defined(CHECK_PUB_KEY) and !defined(CHECK_CA_ROOT) and !defined(CHECK_FINGERPRINT))
    net.setInsecure();
  #endif

  client.setServer(MQTT_HOST, MQTT_PORT);
  client.setCallback(receivedCallback);
  mqtt_connect();
}

void loop()
{
   crntCLK = digitalRead(encoderCLK);

 if (crntCLK != prvsCLK){
      // If the encoderDT state is different than the encoderCLK state then the rotary encoder is rotating counterclockwise
        if (digitalRead(encoderDT) != crntCLK) {
          servoAngle ++;

        }
        else {
          servoAngle --;
         }
         Serial.println(servoAngle);
          String myString = String(servoAngle);
          myString.toCharArray(ang, myString.length() + 1);
          client.publish(MQTT_PUB_TOPIC_angle, ang, false);
 }
  prvsCLK = crntCLK; 
  
  now = time(nullptr);
  if (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED)
  {
    Serial.print("Checking wifi");
    while (WiFi.waitForConnectResult() != WL_CONNECTED)
    {
      WiFi.begin(ssid, pass);
      Serial.print(".");
      delay(10);
    }
    Serial.println("connected");
  }
  else
  {
    if (!client.connected())
    {
      mqtt_connect();
    }
    else
    {
      client.loop();
    }
  }

  if (millis() - lastMillis > 5000) {
    lastMillis = millis();
    client.publish(MQTT_PUB_TOPIC, ctime(&now), false);
  }
}

Arduino 3 servos using mqtt

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>
#include <Servo.h> 
Servo lock1; 
Servo lock2;
Servo lock3;

const char* ssid = "MYSSID";                // WiFi SSID
const char* password = "MYSSIDPASS";        // WiFi Password
const char* mqtt_server = "MQTTSERVER";  // IP Broker MQTT
const char* topic_lock1 = "escape/servo/lock1";
const char* topic_lock2 = "escape/servo/lock2";
const char* topic_lock3 = "escape/servo/lock3";
 
WiFiClient espClient;
PubSubClient client(espClient);
long lastMsg = 0;
char msg[50];
int value = 0;

void setup() {

  Serial.begin(115200);
  lock1.attach(D1);
  lock2.attach(D2);
  lock3.attach(D3);
  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.begin(ssid, password);

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

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

void callback(char* topic, byte* payload, unsigned int length) {
 String string;
 Serial.print("Message arrived [");
 Serial.print(topic);
 Serial.print("] ");
 for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
 string+=((char)payload[i]); 
 }
 Serial.print(string);
 Serial.print(" toInt ");
 int pos = string.toInt(); 
 Serial.println(pos);

 
 if ( strcmp(topic, topic_lock1) == 0 ) {
 Serial.print("lock1 ");
 Serial.println(pos);
 lock1.write(pos); 
 }
 if ( strcmp(topic, topic_lock2) == 0 ) {
 Serial.print("lock2 ");
 Serial.println(pos);
 lock2.write(pos); 
 }
 if ( strcmp(topic, topic_lock3) == 0 ) {
 Serial.print("lock3 ");
 Serial.println(pos);
 lock3.write(pos); 
 }
 
 delay(15); 
}

void reconnect() {
  // Loop until we're reconnected
  while (!client.connected()) {
    Serial.print("Attempting MQTT connection...");
    // Attempt to connect
    if (client.connect("ESP8266servolocks")) {
      Serial.println("connected");
      client.subscribe(topic_lock1); 
      client.subscribe(topic_lock2); 
      client.subscribe(topic_lock3); 
    } 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();
  delay(100);
}

Connect the wires puzzle

As part of my internet based escape room.

I took the idea from the Keep-talking-and-nobody-explodes game.

When starting up, is gets the configuration from a Mqtt Topic.
So i can create a different setup over the internet.

The result is also send back via MQTT.

(example play, all players are on different locations)

  • Player 1 figures out the wires.
  • Player 2 connects the wires.
  • Player 3 sees the result (correct or not) and next puzzle opens up for Player 3

I used a wire with a line. Multiple colors for jacks and sockets.
It’s also possible to connect a jack to a jack.
Loads of possibilities.

Todo:

Wifi and Mqtt part
Debounce software or hardware

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!

Raspberry Zero with display

I’ve installed a headless Raspbian on a Pi Zero with a 2×16 Chars lcd display. As part of the Escape Room over the internet

Using the raspberry imager:
I’ve set the username/password and ssh access in this tool.
For wifi access i’ve placed below file on the SDcard in /boot
(You can do this in the tool, but i want to make this dynamic when connected at a remote site.)
file: wpa_supplicant.conf

country=NL
update_config=1
ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant

network={
 scan_ssid=1
 ssid="MYSSID"
 psk="MYSSIDPASS"
}

ssh into the RPi

sudo raspi-config
Interface options and enable I2C

sudo apt-get install python3-smbus

wget https://gist.githubusercontent.com/DenisFromHR/cc863375a6e19dce359d/raw/36b82e787450d127f5019a40e0a55b08bd43435a/RPi_I2C_driver.py
and 
wget https://gist.githubusercontent.com/DenisFromHR/cc863375a6e19dce359d/raw/36b82e787450d127f5019a40e0a55b08bd43435a/examples.py

For python3 edit the example and put at the top

# requires RPi_I2C_driver.py
import RPi_I2C_driver
from time import *
unichr = chr

Run with 
python3 examples.py
lcd display with i2c backpack
I2C backpack

Below is a mockup session.

Next todo:

  • Add more hardware (like buttons) to the RPI
  • Configure an Accesspoint on this Rpi for other devices to connect to
  • Install a local Mqtt broker, which connects secure to my internet facing broker
Setup example

Serial link between MSDos and Linux troubles

In post https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2022/11/25/disk-troubles-or-missing-old-skool-hardware/ i mentioned the serial connectors i’ve bought to connect the Laser XT to my Workstation to transfer files.

The null modem i’ve made is like mentioned on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Null_modem

I’ve used the loopback handshaking using 3 wires. ( Only using a DB25 and a DB9 on the other end )

So i configured the Linux side as follows.

I’ve tried two usb to serial converters.

Both when trying on windows 10 are not supported any more

Dec 14 17:34:40 zspot kernel: [ 1082.299607] usb 1-4: pl2303 converter now attached to ttyUSB0

sudo stty -F /dev/ttyUSB0 9600

Then i start dosbox.
To enable a com port i have to enter:

serial1=directserial realport:ttyUSB0

Starting Norton Commander and selecting COM1

After a few seconds i got this ..

What else is there to check?
At least i’ve still got the Flux Engine!

Fluxengine disk reader

I’ve build a drawbridge disk reader in the past:
https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2022/04/26/started-to-build-a-drawbridge/
I found an even more interesting project.

I was looking for a solution to my XT laser problem.
https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2022/11/25/disk-troubles-or-missing-old-skool-hardware/

And found this! The fluxengine
https://github.com/davidgiven/fluxengine

An open source project using a small controller board.
“Flashing” some software on the board and soldering a pinheader was easy.
When connecting a flat cable and a floppy drive, you end up with a device which can read many formats. Including dos 1.44/720 and amiga.

Nice package it came in

Using the power from a sata/ide harddisk adaptor

Reading and writing a MSDOS disk, no problem.
Imaging an amiga disk .. easy!

You need to compile some software, but it was well documented