[TenTec] CorsairII obsolescence - MCU copying

[Steve Hunt]

I decided I needed another challenge, so last week I taught myself some 
PIC assembler programming and bought a Arizona Microchip USB programmer. 
The result - a hand-wired matrix board with just a few components which 
replaces all the CorsairII MCU frequency readout functionality. Here's a 
couple of photos:

http://www.karinya.net/g3txq/temp/corsair_pic1.jpg
http://www.karinya.net/g3txq/temp/corsair_pic2.jpg

I've arranged the board to be a drop-in replacement for the existing 
logic board - it's the same size, it will have the same mounting holes, 
the header pins are in the same positions, and it drives the existing 
LED display. I was surprised how easy it was - all the HFO frequency 
counting, adding/subtracting the appropriate IF offsets and the 
"normal/reverse" offsets, are performed in one 16F84 18 pin PIC. It took 
just 180 out of the 1024 words of programme memory available.

Next step is to add a second PIC to the board to perform the keyer 
function :)

When it's all complete I'll write it up as a web page for anyone who may 
be interested in the details.

73,
Steve G3TXQ



On 02/08/2011 22:18, Jerry Haigwood wrote:
> Steve,
>        You are correct.  The AADE display does not include the keyer
> function.  However, there are probably at least 10 different keyer boards
> that can be fitted into the Corsair II and all of them will have a lot more
> features than the original keyer.  Some of the lower cost ones are made by
> K1EL (K10, K12 board) and Jackson Harbor Press WB9KZY.  So far, the display
> on my Corsair II is still working well.  However, I have one of the AADE
> displays on hand just in case it decides to take a dump. ;-)  What is nice
> about the AADE display is that it should also work with the original
> Corsair.  The Corsair used a totally different set of devices to do the
> display function but the inputs are similar to the Corsair II.
> Jerry W5JH
>
>