Here’s a big “Thank You!” to all of you that have sent me private messages. To reiterate my previous posts, I won’t be offering assembled decoders in the foreseeable future (due to FCC regulations). I can provide programmed microprocessors for both the decoder and transponders, and unpopulated printed-circuit boards for the decoder, for those individuals and clubs wishing to build their own system. Proceeds from these items will help offset some of my development costs. Send me a personal message for prices.

At this moment I have a few bare decoder PC boards available. The loop amplifier PC boards will hopefully arrive shortly. Neither is necessary to build a working system, but they do make it much simpler!

As I mentioned in previous posts, I will forward the following files to anyone that desires them, for free: the decoder, loop amplifier, and transponder schematics, in TinyCAD freeware format; the PC board layouts for these, in FreePCB freeware format; and the Bill Of Materials (BOM) for these, in Excel 2003 format. Just send me a private message containing your email address.

This is a complicated project, so the constructor must have a thorough knowledge of electronics to succeed. While it would be great if every club had at least one such member, I don’t expect it. Unfortunately, I can’t help assemble boards. If your club does not have a suitable person to construct a decoder, you might try checking with local electronics companies for volunteers to help you. Electronics engineers and technicians usually love fiddling with projects outside of work. You might even convert them into RC racers!

Perhaps there are readers of this thread who could volunteer their time to help build a system? If so, let us know, and you can communicate directly with others who desire help.

I have some problem with the RC4 decoder.
The valid signal is present only 5 times for 50 tranponders messages.
When I use a old personal transponder I have always the valid signal with an transponder message.

I replaced the preamble detector data D7 to Vcc to skip the D7 value.
I have no more valid signal with this modification when I use the RC4 tranponder.

Have you the same problem with RC4 transponder ?
thanks

No problems with rc4 hybrid transponders.

Some loop amplifier for Howards decoder. Best work with 10m loop

OK thanks you Payalneg, it's perfect your loop amplifier it's an alternative for the transistors schema......

For the old amb personnal transponder, Howard looks 24 bits after the valid signal; and he valid the transponder when the 24 bits is repeat 3 times, but how you detect an RC4 tranponder ?

I am recording 11bytes after preambule in 30 parcel of transmiting in RAM. If there are 3 indentical, this code recording in eeprom and in ram as verified.

For example my rc4 hybrid transponder:
5495805:

EC84418105A6B5BD70CF0000
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4001
E12AD9E7EED94E07C30F4002
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4002
38A8F9C1ECA67A7E4FCC4002
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4002
E12AD9E1EED9CE07830F4000
E12BDBE1EED94E07830F4000
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4000
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4001
E27B5E0BC356B9B98CC24001
E12BD9E1EED94E07830F4001
F12AD9E1EED94E07830F4000
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4002
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4002
E242145FC145858D4CCF0023
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4000
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4004
D417A27CD8B9BA4E40CC4002
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4002
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4023
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4000
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4000
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4000
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4000
E12BD9E1EED94E07830F4001
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4002
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4002
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4000
3B14155CCA79B54D73000002
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4002
E243145FC145858D4CCF0000
E12AD9E1EED94E07830F4000
E12A58E1EED94E07830F4002
E12AD9E1EED94E07830FC000

This code "E12AD9E1EED94E07830F40" recording in memory and new number of transponder is 0xE12AD9 and 0x7FFFFF=0x612AD9 . In dec is 6367961

Hum...I do not understand the end of your sentence : and 0x7FFFFF=0x612AD9 ?

thanks for your reply.

its logical and

ok, this is an addition !

but another question, why you are doing an addition with 0x7FFFFF ?

ok, this is an addition !

but another question, why you are doing an addition with 0x7FFFFF ?

Becouse 0x7FFFFF 8388607 is 7digit number. So 0xFFFFFF 16777215 will be 8digit number. My system is based on ambrc protocol, where can not be 8digit transponder number.

CANO DECODER SUMMARY and SPECIFICATIONS

With the number of questions I've received in private messages, it seems like a good idea to list in a single post all pertinent information regarding the decoder. I'll try to keep this updated as necessary.


LEGALESE: All information presented on this thread is free for use for personal, non-commercial purposes. The software is copyrighted, and cannot be reproduced. Contact me for licensing arrangements if you wish to produce and market the decoder.


AVAILABILITY: The Cano decoder is not available assembled. It must be constructed. I offer programmed microprocessors for this. Send me a private message for pricing. Proceeds from these parts will help offset my development costs.


TRANSPONDER COMPATIBILITY:

AMBrc personal transponder: tested okay.

MRT PTX: tested okay.

MRT PTX-20 (NS): tested okay.

Cano PT: tested okay. (Cano PT with cloned number will also function on AMB RC2 and RC3 decoders. Cano PT with "club" number will function only on Cano decoder.) Cano transponder specs are here: http://www.rctech.net/forum/12228988-post134.html

MyLaps Hybrid: tested okay.

MyLaps RC4: not compatible.

Note: Number indicated by decoder and software will not match the number indicated on the AMB or MRT transponder or in the instructions for the transponder. There is a small probability that there will be duplicate numbers for different transponders, though I have not yet encountered any for a sample size of about 30.


POWER REQUIREMENTS:

12VDC @ 100mA minimum if using decoder's internal 5V regulator. Decoder is polarity protected.
Or,
5VDC @ 100mA if running directly from USB port (bypassing decoder's internal 5V regulator)-- NOT polarity protected!


LOOP CONSTRUCTION:

Use 18 AWG stranded, insulated wire. Wire must terminate as closely as possible to loop amplifier input, with minimal lead-in length. Place loop 12" above track.

9'x1' to 12'x1' : No jumpers on loop amplifier.

6'x1' to 8'x1' : Use jumper at J3 on loop amplifier.

3'x1' to 4'x1' : Use jumper at J5 on loop amplifier.

Use 75 ohm coaxial cable with F connectors between the loop amplifier and the phase detector input amplifier.


PC INTERFACE:

Logic-level RS232, 115200 baud, 8 bits, 1 stop bit, no parity, no handshaking, no flow control.


SCORING SOFTWARE COMPATIBILITY:

ZRound Suite 1.12 Build 16 (tested on Windows Vista)
FlipSide Racing version 12.52 (tested on MacOSX 10.6.8. Compatibility issues with Windows Vista)


DOCUMENTATION:

The following files are available: the schematic in TinyCAD freeware format; the PC layout in FreePCB freeware format; and the Bill Of Materials (BOM) in Excel format. Send me a PM containing your email address if you would like me to forward these files to you.


ERRATA:

See post #222.


CURRENT REVISIONS:
Schematics: Loop Amplifier Rev B 6_11_13.dsn, Decoder_D 9_4_13.dsn
PC Boards: LOOPAMP 6_2_13.fpc, DECODER_B 5_29_13.fpc
BOMs: Loop Amplifier Rev B 6_11_13.xls, Decoder Rev C 9_4_13.xls
Software: Rev. B, sent in power-up copyright message.

Howard, Is it possible to replace U24 (74AC4040) on digital phase detector to 1/2 74HC393 ?
40Mhz frequency is the limitation ?

The 74HC393 specs are not quite sufficient for the operating frequency used. It might work, but is not guaranteed to do so.

ok, thanks.
Is it possible to know the AMBrc protocol ?

If you are referring to the AMB transponder messages, then I have no idea what they mean. Fortunately, it's not necessary to know this to clone transponders, or have the decoder use them.

That knowledge is necessary to create programs for new transponder ID numbers that would be recognized by AMB decoders.

I would not be surprised if MRT had this knowledge, but I don't believe they have ever "created" new ID numbers for their transponders.