2022-09-19

Burning Down Churches

12:38 PM | Posted by | Edit Post

 The church, particularly in the west, is in big trouble.

How?

It is being destroyed from within.

Is this a case of our sinful nature taking over, and we are eating the organized church alive, or is this a case of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" and wolves have crept in with the purpose of destroying from within?

Or is it both?

Watch this, and form your own opinion.

My latest non - technical video.


2022-06-25

Beitian BN-880 GPs and Compass Module Experiments - Part III - Tying It Up

2:36 PM | Posted by | Edit Post

 So here it is, the schematic & code for the final assembly (well, final for now ;) )

A warning: the code is a quickly hashed together dog's breakfast of source. It works, but it's very ugly.



 The GPS wiring is exactly the same as the first article, and the wiring for the GLCD
is exactly the same as the last article.




 

Here's the link to the video:


Here's the Source:

#include <TinyGPS++.h>
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

#include <Arduino.h>
#include <U8g2lib.h>
#include <SPI.h>
#include <Wire.h>

// Variables for the GPS module
static const int RXPin = 4, TXPin = 3;
static const uint32_t GPSBaud = 9600;
char zs[32] = "";
int x = 0;
int y = 0;

// The TinyGPS++ object
TinyGPSPlus gps;

// The serial connection to the GPS device
SoftwareSerial ss(RXPin, TXPin);

U8G2_ST7920_128X64_1_SW_SPI u8g2(U8G2_R0, 13, 11, 10, 8);

void setup(void) {
  ss.begin(GPSBaud);
  u8g2.begin();
  u8g2.clearBuffer();
}

void loop(void) {
  u8g2.firstPage();
  do {
    u8g2.setFont(u8g2_font_squeezed_r6_tr);
    printInt(5, 15, gps.satellites.value(), gps.satellites.isValid(), 5);
    printFloat(5, 25, gps.location.lat(), gps.location.isValid(), 10, 7);
    printFloat(5, 35, gps.location.lng(), gps.location.isValid(), 10, 7);
    printDateTime(5,55, gps.date, gps.time);

  } while ( u8g2.nextPage() );
  smartDelay(500);
}

/*----------------------------------------------------------------------*/
/* All functions/subroutines are below this comment section             */
/*----------------------------------------------------------------------*/


// This custom version of delay() ensures that the gps object
// is being "fed".
static void smartDelay(unsigned long ms)
{
  unsigned long start = millis();
  do
  {
    while (ss.available())
      gps.encode(ss.read());
  } while (millis() - start < ms);
}

static void printFloat(int x, int y, float val, bool valid, int len, int prec)
{

  if (!valid)
  {
    while (len-- > 1)
    u8g2.drawStr(x, y, '*');
    u8g2.drawStr(x, y, ' ');
  }
  else
  {
    dtostrf(val, len, prec, zs);
    u8g2.drawStr(x, y, zs);
    int vi = abs((int)val);
    int flen = prec + (val < 0.0 ? 2 : 1); // . and -
    flen += vi >= 1000 ? 4 : vi >= 100 ? 3 : vi >= 10 ? 2 : 1;
    for (int i=flen; i<len; ++i)
      u8g2.drawStr(x, y, ' ');
  }
  smartDelay(0);
}

  static void printInt(int x, int y, unsigned long val, bool valid, int len)
{
  char sz[32] = "*****************";
  if (valid)
    sprintf(sz, "%ld", val);
  sz[len] = 0;
  for (int i=strlen(sz); i<len; ++i)
    sz[i] = ' ';
  if (len > 0)
    sz[len-1] = ' ';
    u8g2.drawStr(x, y, "Sats: ");
    u8g2.drawStr(x+17, y, sz);

  smartDelay(0);
}

static void printDateTime(int x, int y, TinyGPSDate &d, TinyGPSTime &t)
{
  if (!d.isValid())
  {
    u8g2.drawStr(x, y, "Time: ********** ");
  }
  else
  {
    char sz[32];
    sprintf(sz, "GMT Time: %02d/%02d/%02d : %02d:%02d:%02d", d.month(), d.day(), d.year(), t.hour(), t.minute(), t.second());
    u8g2.drawStr(x, y, sz);
  }
  smartDelay(0);
}


Like I said: It's ugly.

γ˜γ‚ƒγΎγŸ

2022-06-20

Beitian BN-880 GPs and Compass Module Experiments - Part II

1:45 PM | Posted by | Edit Post
 In Part two of the Beitian BN-880 GPS/Compass module, I set up a GLCD module for use with the Arduino, this time, however, we won't see the GPS (at least, not this time) this is all about getting the GLCD working.

Here is the wiring diagram:



 

 

I haven't added the BN-880

to this conglomeration yet,

but will do that in the next post.





Here is the code:

#include <Arduino.h>
#include <U8g2lib.h>

#ifdef U8X8_HAVE_HW_SPI
#include <SPI.h>
#endif
#ifdef U8X8_HAVE_HW_I2C
#include <Wire.h>
#endif

// 'TheOffice', 128x64px
static const unsigned char myBitmap [] PROGMEM = {

   0xf8, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
   0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0x3f, 0x3e, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x78, 0x06, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc0, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xc7,
   0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xf0, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
   0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0x9f, 0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x38, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb8, 0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x18, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb0,
   0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb0, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x08, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb0, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0x00, 0x3e, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb0,
   0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0x00, 0x3f, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb0, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x08, 0x80, 0x7f, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb0, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0x80, 0x7f, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb0,
   0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0x80, 0x7f, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb0, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x08, 0x00, 0x7f, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb0, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0x00, 0x3f, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb0,
   0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0xc0, 0x7f, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb0, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x08, 0xf0, 0xff, 0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb0, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0xf8, 0xff, 0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0x7c, 0xb0,
   0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0xf8, 0xff, 0x07,
   0x00, 0x00, 0xfe, 0xb0, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x08, 0xf8, 0xff, 0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0xfe, 0xb0, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0xf8, 0xff, 0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0xfe, 0xb0,
   0x81, 0xff, 0x1d, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0xf8, 0xff, 0x0f,
   0x00, 0x00, 0xfe, 0xb0, 0x81, 0xff, 0x1d, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x08, 0xf8, 0xff, 0x0f, 0x00, 0x00, 0xfe, 0xb0, 0x81, 0xff, 0x1d, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0xfc, 0xff, 0x0f, 0x00, 0x00, 0xfe, 0xb0,
   0x01, 0x38, 0xdc, 0xc0, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0xfc, 0xff, 0x0f,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x7c, 0xb0, 0x01, 0x38, 0xfc, 0xf3, 0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x08, 0xfc, 0xff, 0x0f, 0x00, 0x00, 0x38, 0xb0, 0x01, 0x38, 0xfc, 0xfb,
   0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0xfc, 0xff, 0x0f, 0x00, 0x00, 0xfc, 0xb0,
   0x01, 0x38, 0x9c, 0x3b, 0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0xfc, 0xff, 0x07,
   0x00, 0x00, 0xfe, 0xb0, 0x01, 0x38, 0x9c, 0xfb, 0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x08, 0xfc, 0xff, 0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0xfe, 0xb7, 0x01, 0x38, 0x9c, 0xfb,
   0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0xfc, 0xff, 0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0xfe, 0xb7,
   0x01, 0x38, 0x9c, 0x3b, 0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0xfc, 0xff, 0x07,
   0x00, 0x00, 0xfe, 0xb7, 0x01, 0x38, 0x9c, 0xfb, 0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x08, 0xfe, 0xff, 0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0xff, 0xb7, 0x01, 0x38, 0x9c, 0xf3,
   0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0xfe, 0xff, 0x07, 0x00, 0x80, 0xff, 0xb7,
   0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc0, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc8, 0xff, 0xff, 0x00,
   0x00, 0xc0, 0xff, 0xb6, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0xc8, 0xff, 0xff, 0x00, 0x00, 0xe0, 0xff, 0xb6, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc8, 0xff, 0xff, 0x00, 0x00, 0xfe, 0xff, 0xb6,
   0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc8, 0xff, 0xff, 0x00,
   0xc0, 0xff, 0xff, 0xb6, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0xc8, 0xff, 0xff, 0x00, 0xe0, 0xff, 0xff, 0xb6, 0x01, 0xf8, 0x07, 0xbe,
   0xff, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc8, 0xff, 0xff, 0x00, 0xe0, 0x7f, 0xff, 0xb7,
   0x01, 0xfc, 0x1f, 0xbf, 0xff, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc8, 0xff, 0xff, 0xfc,
   0xff, 0x0f, 0xff, 0xb7, 0x01, 0xfe, 0x1f, 0xbf, 0xff, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0xc8, 0xff, 0xff, 0xfc, 0xff, 0xef, 0xff, 0xb7, 0x01, 0x1f, 0x3e, 0x8f,
   0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc8, 0xff, 0xff, 0xc0, 0x01, 0xfe, 0xff, 0xb7,
   0x01, 0x0f, 0xbc, 0xff, 0xef, 0xf0, 0x87, 0x1f, 0xc8, 0xff, 0xff, 0xc0,
   0x01, 0xff, 0xff, 0xb7, 0x01, 0x0f, 0xbc, 0xff, 0xef, 0xf8, 0xcf, 0x3f,
   0xc8, 0xff, 0xff, 0xc0, 0x01, 0xff, 0xff, 0xb7, 0x01, 0x0f, 0xb8, 0xff,
   0xef, 0xfc, 0xef, 0x3f, 0xc8, 0xff, 0xff, 0xc0, 0x01, 0xff, 0x7f, 0xb7,
   0x01, 0x0f, 0x38, 0x8f, 0xe3, 0x3c, 0xef, 0x79, 0x08, 0xc0, 0x7f, 0xc0,
   0x81, 0xff, 0x1f, 0xb7, 0x01, 0x0f, 0x3c, 0x8f, 0xe3, 0x3c, 0xe0, 0x7f,
   0x08, 0xc0, 0x7f, 0xc0, 0x81, 0xef, 0xff, 0xb7, 0x01, 0x0f, 0x3c, 0x8f,
   0xe3, 0x1c, 0xe0, 0x7f, 0x08, 0xc0, 0x7f, 0xc0, 0x81, 0xef, 0xff, 0xb7,
   0x01, 0x1f, 0x3c, 0x8f, 0xe3, 0x3c, 0xe6, 0x7f, 0x08, 0xc0, 0x7f, 0xc0,
   0x81, 0xe7, 0xff, 0xb7, 0x01, 0x3e, 0x3e, 0x8f, 0xe3, 0x3c, 0xef, 0x79,
   0x08, 0x80, 0x7b, 0xc0, 0xc1, 0x67, 0x00, 0xb7, 0x01, 0xfe, 0x1f, 0x8f,
   0xe3, 0xfc, 0xef, 0x7f, 0x08, 0x80, 0x33, 0xc0, 0xc1, 0x67, 0x00, 0xb7,
   0x01, 0xfc, 0x0f, 0x8f, 0xe3, 0xf8, 0xcf, 0x3f, 0x08, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc0,
   0xc1, 0x67, 0x00, 0xb7, 0x01, 0xf8, 0x07, 0x8f, 0xe3, 0xf0, 0xc7, 0x1f,
   0x08, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc0, 0xe1, 0x63, 0x00, 0xb7, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc0, 0xe1, 0x63, 0x00, 0xb7,
   0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc0,
   0xe1, 0x61, 0x00, 0xb7, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x08, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc0, 0xe1, 0x61, 0x00, 0xb7, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc0, 0xe1, 0x61, 0x00, 0xb7,
   0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x08, 0x00, 0x00, 0xc0,
   0xe1, 0x60, 0x00, 0xb2, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x18, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb0, 0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x18, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xb0,
   0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x78, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xbc, 0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0xe0, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xcf, 0x06, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
   0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xe0,
   0xfc, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
   0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0x7f
};


U8G2_ST7920_128X64_F_SW_SPI u8g2(U8G2_R0, /* clock=*/ 13, /* data=*/ 11, /* CS=*/ 10, /* reset=*/ 8);


void draw(void)
{
  u8g2.drawXBMP( 0, 0, 128, 64, myBitmap);
}


void setup() 
{
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
  u8g2.begin();
  u8g2.clearBuffer();
}

void loop()
{
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
  u8g2.firstPage();
  do
  {
    draw();
  }while(u8g2.nextPage());

  delay(1000);

}

I scavenged this code from here:

Interface as 128c64 GLCD with an arduino

Here is a link to my Vlog:




Enjoy!


γ˜γ‚ƒγΎγŸ

2022-06-06

Perelandra - C.S. Lewis - A New Eden, A New Adam, A New Eve, Same Old Serpent.

6:00 PM | Posted by | Edit Post
A quick book review of "Perelandra" By C. S. Lewis.
2022-05-07

Out Of The Silent Planet - C. S. Lewis - A Brief Review

2:04 PM | Posted by | Edit Post
2022-04-07

A Little Heathkit Nostalgia Trip!

7:33 AM | Posted by | Edit Post

2022-03-10

What is (and isn't) Science?

11:43 AM | Posted by | Edit Post

 Let's see if I can stir up some mud.

What is Science?

Video:


2022-01-23

The Apartment Antenna (continued Saga)

8:10 PM | Posted by | Edit Post

 Remember this antenna I was working on?












Well, I had no idea of how well it would perform or its
characteristics, well, now I do, here is a graph of
the SWR on it across the entire HF spectrum:










The SWR is high (sometimes EXCEEDINGLY high)
where I need it low, and low where I don't care.

It does this same form of pattern right up to
about 54 Mhz, then there is one last dip at around 60 Mhz,
from there up, it is high.

I have been using it with an antenna tuner, but, due to
the location on our deck, and the, sub-optimal
performance shown above, I'm not making a horrendous
number of contacts.

Add having to use low power and I am not overly impressed,
guess I need to change the design...

Oh well, onward and upward.

Update:

The connection between the VNA and the antenna
was jury-rigged in the image above, but, with a
proper SMA to PL259 adapter, the differences
aren't that great.







γ˜γ‚ƒγΎγŸ

2022-01-21

Score!

2:25 PM | Posted by | Edit Post

Well, I won a scope!

I just don't win stuff, so, I am chuffed.
This was actually a couple of years ago, but hey,
better posted later than never, right? 😁


Wa Happened?

1:35 PM | Posted by | Edit Post

 Well that was R*E*A*L fun...

NOT!

 99% of my images disappeared from the blog...
16 YEARS WORTH! I just spent two days putting them back
(fortunately, I had an archive) but it was a ton of work.

Google, what the heck did you do to my blog?

Not happy.

γ˜γ‚ƒγΎγŸ。
2022-01-19

Beitian BN-880 GPs and Compass Module Experiments - 1

10:14 PM | Posted by | Edit Post

 So this will be a quick post, links mostly.

I decided to get a Beitian BN-880 GPS/Compass module
for experiments I have in mind.

So, I hooked it up to an Arduino Uno.
Here is the wiring diagram:









Note, the wiring colors are meaningless, as each
manufacturer supplies cables with different colored
leads. As you can see here, red is not power, and
black is not ground.

 The sketch I used to test the set-up came from the GPS library:

TinyGPS++

Click for Github page.

The sketch I demo in the video is the basic example.

 The video:


γ˜γ‚ƒγΎγŸ


2022-01-16

Vlog

10:15 AM | Posted by | Edit Post

 If you want to see my projects in video format, visit my VLOG:

https://rumble.com/user/number6of1

 γ˜γ‚ƒγΎγŸ

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