Originally Posted by cutting42 (Post 14341172)

I have made a start on the project and started with the amp board. When testing it seems to be generating a lower voltage than Howard saw. Voltages on the board seem OK, should this work OK?


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps0a2tskqh.jpg

Originally Posted by howardcano (Post 14341276)

On what node are you seeing this signal?

Originally Posted by cutting42 (Post 14341647)

As per the testing rig you posted early in the thread on the coax core

Originally Posted by howardcano (Post 14341662)

It looks fine. It's a bit hard to see the reticule on your scope, but it appears that you have about 200mVPP, which is what is shown in post#42.

EDIT: Oops, make that 20mVPP! That's low. Do you have your probes and scope set properly? I often accidentally move the probe's 1X/10X switch to the wrong position when handling it.

Also make sure the jumpers for the tuning caps are set correctly to match the loop size, as given in the specification post.

Originally Posted by Barsk (Post 14363931)

Nice work there Gareth! I still haven't started my project (based on the same PCB's as cutting42's above). I believe you could have gotten away with some smaller boxes... :)

/Kristian

Originally Posted by cutting42 (Post 14364104)

I got my USB to RS2323 cable this morning but am playing a gig tonight so not much play time but I hope to be able to rig up the decoder to see the port for Howards copyright message.

Originally Posted by howardcano (Post 14364183)

Even without the connection to the serial port, you can still get an idea that things are working just from the LED. It will blink off momentarily after a recognized transponder has passed over the loop.

Did you say GIG?!!! Please provide details of your favorite instrument, music, musician, composer, etc.!!!

Originally Posted by howardcano (Post 14364390)

Those are some gorgeous instruments, and wonderful musicians and composers. I think I'd have a great time if I heard you guys play!

Here are a few of my musical creations, and some created by others using my designs, if you are interested:

http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/ho...?sort=3&page=1
http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/ho...?sort=4&page=1
http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/ho...?sort=4&page=1

Originally Posted by howardcano (Post 14364183)

Even without the connection to the serial port, you can still get an idea that things are working just from the LED. It will blink off momentarily after a recognized transponder has passed over the loop.

Originally Posted by cutting42 (Post 14364616)

I would love to have you come along to a gig, do you ever travel to the UK?

Originally Posted by cutting42 (Post 14365035)

Tried after getting in after playing tonight and can't get the RS232 adapter to work correctly. However the decoder does blink off after a PT crosses the loop so looks promising. Just need to figure out the port settings. Could not get ZRound to recognise it either.

Originally Posted by howardcano (Post 14365578)

I have never been there. How could it possibly compare with Kansas? ;)

Originally Posted by howardcano (Post 14365578)

I don't think the ZRound site has the version that accepts the Cano decoder. I will send you an email.

I just added the ZRound version "Suite 1.12 Build 16" to the decoder spec post #251.

Originally Posted by cutting42 (Post 14366311)

Tried two different PT's into PuTTY my regular AMBrc first then a Howard number. all looks great:

I then hooked up to the correct version of Flipside and created a driver and ran a simple race, the decoder is working perfectly. Just need to check with the correct version of Zround and should be ready to test at the track on Sunday.

Originally Posted by howardcano (Post 14366454)

Excellent work!

Originally Posted by cutting42 (Post 14366311)

Just need to check with the correct version of Zround and should be ready to test at the track on Sunday.

Originally Posted by cutting42 (Post 14370578)

Well, the systems first trip in the field (fairly damp field as well) was a resounding success. With one minor exception all the PT's run today which included MRT, Mylaps Harry, AMBrc and Cano club as well as Cano cloned numbers were detected with no issues.

One Cano clone decoder had a bit of a fit and missed around 4 laps but it was in my sons car and I saw it and could add his laps in manually whereupon it started counting again. My car ran a Cano clone with no issues all day. All the club decoders did not miss a beat which is very reassuring.

We ran the Zround software which is really good and a full featured product able to run a full championship. Not sure we need that but nice to have for future. We are thinking of running an invitational race in the summer with BBQ and trophies now we can run it a bit more as people expect. The club is really excited about having proper timing and it has gone down a storm with the members. Rough costs all in came to around £240 for everything including 10 PT's boxes, cable connectors as well as Howards pic chips.

Huge thanks again Howard and I will email you regarding some extra club numbers as most drivers want to buy their own club decoder which I did not expect but helps the club and speeds up race day not having to reallocate hand outs each meeting.

PS I might limit the clone decoders to running on a regular RC3 system as it seems to have no issues there and just use the dedicated club decoders on the Cano Decoder

Originally Posted by howardcano (Post 14370731)

I'm glad everything is working well for you. I think you might have typed "decoder" when you meant "transponder" several places in your post!

The gents in your club need to buy you a pint or two for undertaking such a huge task!

Originally Posted by Barsk (Post 14447292)

Hi Howard,

Starting up my project here to complete a Cano decoder. I could not find the 221 and 2.87K resistors on Mouser. Or more specific, I would need to order 200 or 1000 pieces.. :) How close to spec do these need to be? Can you recommend any specific replacements on Mouser?

Originally Posted by Barsk (Post 14447292)

Hi Howard,

Starting up my project here to complete a Cano decoder. I could not find the 221 and 2.87K resistors on Mouser. Or more specific, I would need to order 200 or 1000 pieces.. :) How close to spec do these need to be? Can you recommend any specific replacements on Mouser?

Originally Posted by cutting42 (Post 14449181)

I the used 1/4 versions on mine, needed to fit vertically but work fine.

Originally Posted by cutting42 (Post 14453439)

While the topic is close to the top again, my club is still using the Cano decoder successfully every other Sunday. ... We have also had great success with the loop hidden underneath the Astroturf even on wet and snowy days it does not miss a beat.

Originally Posted by Barsk (Post 14517642)

Problems!
I was just about to finally order the electronics from mouser when I realize that the MC74AC4040N DIP chip is discontinued. It seems to be so on all the webshops I could think of, even Ebay. Digikey, Farnell, RS-Online etc. There is only the SOIC variant available.
So, my plan is to buy an SOIC chip of this type and a 16 pin SOIC->DIP converter like this one.

Just a check if this is the best approach and the parts are approriate? I already have the PCBs so I have to stick with that design.

Originally Posted by howardcano (Post 14517674)

Try the Texas Instruments SN74LV4040AN. Digikey has stock.

Originally Posted by Barsk (Post 14521626)

Howard, another quick check before I (finally) order components. The ceramic capacitors in the amp, the C1,C6 and C7 seems to be of a non-critical type. They are out of stock though so I looked for replacements and came up with this:
http://www.mouser.se/Search/ProductD...5C1H820J0P1H3B.

Should be Ok?
I also have a set of cheap ceramic capcitors in my electronics box wich seems to be of similar type of the original sort. I guess they would work to or is the tolerance (5%) important here?

Regards Barsk

Originally Posted by Barsk (Post 14527744)

Our track is 4 meters wide, that is a tad longer than 14 feet. Will I need to change any components to cope with this for the loop, i.e the tuning caps? The spec has 12 feet as max...