Kurt DJ0ABR
The Amsat downconverter version 3 has a serial interface on the connector of the GPS module. The GPS module is programmed via this interface. In addition, diagnostic messages are also output here:
Level: 3.3 volts (for connection to an RS232 interface a 3.3V - RS232 converter is ABSOLUTELY required!) Baud rate: 9600 Bd Data bits: 8 Stop bits: 1 Parity: none
The diagnostic messages are of no interest to normal users.
But what is particularly interesting is the transmission of the entire content of the OLED display. By evaluating these messages, the OLED display can be simulated on a PC or e.g. Raspberry. A wonderful job for amateur programmers!
OLD_XX_YY_text completed with newline.
It means:
OLD … 3 character header to indicate that display content follows. Lines that do not begin with OLD can be ignored.
_ … spaces
XX … x position of the text on the display (column)
_ … spaces
YY … y position of the text on the display (line number)
_ … spaces
text … text to be printed
With a little skill you can extract all the information and use it for other purposes. Just as an example: the GPS coordinates could be used to calculate the azimuth and elevation of the QO-100 dish and much more. A huge playground for Raspberry PI hobbyists.
XX | YY | Description |
00 | 00 | Amsat-DL greeting after switching on, title, heading |
80 | 01 | Firmware version |
48 | 03 | active special function |
88 | 04 | Status of the LNB power supply after switching on. OK or error description |
88 | 05 | Lock status of the central PLL Si5328 after switching on LOCK or wait |
88 | 06 | Lock status of the ADF4351 LO synthesizer after switching on LOCK or wait |
56 | 05 | Number of currently received GPS satellites |
48 | 05 | Number of currently received GPS satellites (alternative to the above message) |
80 | 50 | GPS lock status |
80 | 00 | Clock source: TCXO, OCXO, GPS or ext. 10 MHz reference clock |
00 | 01 | GPS time |
48 | 04 | LNB LO frequency in MHz |
64 | 04 | possibly the decimal places for the above 48 04 |
72 | 01 | QTH Locator |
48 | 06 | GPS latitude |
40 | 07 | GPS longitude |
there is more information, it is also possible that the XX YY values are changed.
It is best to print out the output in a terminal and look for the information you need.
The simulation of the OLED display is easy. You define a display with 128 columns and 8 lines (each line has 8 pixels because the font is 8×8).
In this simulated display you simply write all OLD messages at the XX YY positions and you have an original image like on the real display.