Friday 27 September 2013

Occam's Microcontroller

I just arrived home from work to find that our beloved SPRAT has landed on my doormat, in its 156th issue. Perhaps your copy has arrived too.

I am delighted that it contains what the editor, George, g3rjv, generously describes as my "Major Article", which I've given the intentionally oxymoronic (some might just say moronic) title:
"Occam's Microcontroller"...


The article explores the use of microcontrollers within simple QRP projects. One such simple project is the little rig, pictured above (and gracing the front cover of SPRAT 156), which was built to demonstrate the article's ideas.

Neither the article nor the initiatives connected with it deny or detract from the work which experimenters with special digital interests and expertise are conducting in the area of  
"QRP Computing" - 
"If I have seen (any distance at all) it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." 
The present Occam's Microcontroller article deals in simple, accessible ideas of interest to all QRP experimenters, especially those contemplating taking their first steps with digital methods.

The link with our dear Franciscan, William (of Occam /Ockham), is through his famous parsimonious principle, which G-QRP members may have seen paraphrased on various club artefacts such as carrier bags (and indeed on George's email 'signature').

I've taken liberties with the club logo and an image of William from painted glass to produce the icon above, which also serves as a new fixed link at the top right of these ramblings to a dedicated support page of resources for the article, containing full details of the rig - code, hardware and more.

If you're not a G-QRP member, the support page provides links for you to join (and you can download a copy of the article too).

George mentions in his editorial that I have been given the honour of speaking at this year's Rishworth QRP Convention, where you have chance to come and meet the rig pictured above!

...-.- de m0xpd


5 comments:

  1. Nice article in Sprat! I wonder, how did you make or where did you buy the plexiglass enclosure shown in the picture above?

    Sverre / LA3ZA

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Sverre. I made the enclosure from a scrap sheet of plastic I found in a skip. I cut the pieces by scoring with a knife and straight edge and then "snapping" along the score. The joints are made with a plastic modelling adhesive. It looks good enough in the photo - but there are plenty of imperfections visible on closer inspection!

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  2. Thanks, I've been struggling to find something to house the Ultimate2 QRSS kit from G0UPL, and your plexiglass enclosure gave me the idea that something like it can be used.

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