VBI PLUS-Multidirectional
Micro Controller Interface for SteppIR Antenna Controller
and
VBI-360 Beam Indicator.
VBI- Serial
Micro Controller Interface for Serial Rotary Controller connection and VBI-360 Beam Indicator.
YO3DMU's PstRotator now supports VBI-Display
NEW NEW
VBIM- Serial - I2C
New state of the art HW which replaces the old VBI-360.
This is a Joint Venture Ham project by Tom, W3FRG and Robert, DK7NT
(Refer to the article "Beamrichtungsanzeige instand gesetzt und erweitert " in the German HAM Radio Periodical "Funkamateur" 12/2010 by W3FRG)
Layout ADT ADB
This small Controller PCB connects the SteppIR Antenna Controller with a VBI-360 Beam Indicator and manages the LED illumination depending on the SteppIR controller direction mode.
The EPROM of the VBI-360 board must be exchanged by a new version. Via a RS232 cable the VBI PLUS-Multidirectional controller is connected to the DATA Out port of the SteppIR Controller. The other end of the VBI PLUS-Multidirectional board must be connected to certain pins at the VBI-360 board by a RJ12 modular connector cable . An additional power supply is not necessary. The baud rate between the SteppIR controller and micro board will automatically be selected.
A Texas Instruments Microcontroller MSP430F1232 is doing the job.
The VBI PLUS-Multidirectional captures the status of the SteppIR Controller and sets up the LEDs on the VBI-360 display the following way:
Forward direction : Forward LEDs permanent illuminated
Reverse direction : Reverse position LEDs blinking
Bidirectional : Forward and reverse LEDs blinking alternatelly
Long Path LED is optional in all 3 modes.
(click to the picture)This new option (VBIMS) allows the connection of the VBI-360 Beam Indicator to almost any rotary unit. Independent on if the rotor feedback is analog or digital.
Read more at TOM's W3FRG web site.
(GH-RT21,IdiomPress,YEASU GS232, AlfaSpid*, M2Orion RC2800*,Prositel*, ...)* in preprationPSTROTATOR
VBIMS-360 can now be connected to YO3DMU's PstRotator (www.qsl.net/yo3dmu) via a third serial port . Supports all protocols PstRotator supports!!Works great!!NEW NEW
VBIM- Serial - I2CA new state of the art HW replaces the older TTL hardware.Due to the fact , that the old VBI-360 board is not manufactured anymore , a new design with the same funcionality was need. The new design is based on a micro controller and is an improved version of the VBIMS board decribed above. The LEDs are controlled via a serial I2C bus.
More pictures:
Prototype final LED board(click to the picture)VBI-Micro Top VBI-Micro Bottom New color MAP SteppIR controller
Tom, W3FRG, offers all around the VBI-360
- New units
- Repair service
- Exchange current map to a much better map
- + -90° updates (for a second antenna on a single tower)
- VBI PLUS-Multidirectional updates
- VBI-Serial connection even for non analog rotary units
via RS232
(GH-RT21,IdiomPress,YEASU GS232, AlfaSpid, M2Orion RC2800,
Prositel, ...)- Connectable to PstRotator
- ........
Visite Tom's web site and contact him if you are interested . W3FRGIt's worth to look at the Easy Rotor Controller site by DF9GR