Demo - Grundig G8 with USB interface


Roy <roy.dyball@...>
 

Hi

Here is a YouTube clip of the Grundig G8/PL-300WT working with USB interface. It was only recorded on a mobile phone so the quality is not brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmD_BGlCehs


Cheers Roy.


robert ross
 

Roy wrote:
 

Hi

Here is a YouTube clip of the Grundig G8/PL-300WT working with USB interface. It was only recorded on a mobile phone so the quality is not brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmD_BGlCehs

Cheers Roy.













Roy..........I'm not much of a Techie....I just like to DX with the ULR's....but I gotta tell you....What you did with that G8 and Computer Software is absolutely AMAZING!! You have taken ULR DXing to the Next Level, and the ULR Group is VERY LUCKY to have someone of your caliber in it's ranks!!

Keep up the Great investigative work Roy.....I'm sure all on this List will appreciate your efforts!!

Regards.........ROB VA3SW

Robert S. Ross
London, Ontario CANADA


Roy <roy.dyball@...>
 

Thank you Rob for your kind comment.

Now that we all probably have more than one DSP radio it's a good time to take on the USB interface. This can add another dimension to the hobby. It may be just as simple as a spouse being able to operate the computer while you position the radio in a loop. Or bringing an external antenna into your shed and operating your superfluous DSP radio by computer. It's just fun.

With the new selection of the FTDI chip based USB module you only have to connect three resistors and wire three wires (plus Ground) to the DSP chip. Also it is advisable to have a switching arrangement so you can transfer control to the computer. You can see this on the front of the G8 in the clip, it is an old fashioned DIP switch of which only three switches are used. This enables you to disconnect the radio and go on using it with the soft mute and filter selection you have just selected.

I just have to write it all up and get it out there so anyone interested can enjoy this.

Here are couple more pictures, you will see the new USB interface at the bottom left.


http://i35.tinypic.com/2nld15y.jpg


http://i35.tinypic.com/a1262v.jpg


Cheers for now
Roy.

--- In ultralightdx@..., "Robert S.Ross VA3SW" <va3sw@...> wrote:

Roy wrote:


Hi

Here is a YouTube clip of the Grundig G8/PL-300WT working with USB
interface. It was only recorded on a mobile phone so the quality is
not brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmD_BGlCehs
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmD_BGlCehs>

Cheers Roy.











Roy..........I'm not much of a Techie....I just like to DX with the
ULR's....but I gotta tell you....What you did with that G8 and Computer
Software is absolutely AMAZING!! You have taken ULR DXing to the Next
Level, and the ULR Group is VERY LUCKY to have someone of your caliber
in it's ranks!!

Keep up the Great investigative work Roy.....I'm sure all on this List
will appreciate your efforts!!

Regards.........ROB VA3SW

Robert S. Ross
London, Ontario CANADA


Chris Knight <chris@...>
 

Fantastic, Roy! 5 stars on your demo video and your idea to externally
control the G8's si4734 chip!

Was the HET on 738 (and 747) in your demo external to the radio/computer
interface? If you were to unplug the USB connector and restore control to
the G8/PL-300WT would the si4734 be reset to its default states?

Looking forward to your software release. Cheers!

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: ultralightdx@... [mailto:ultralightdx@...] On
Behalf Of Roy
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 10:12 PM
To: ultralightdx@...
Subject: [ultralightdx] Demo - Grundig G8 with USB interface

Hi

Here is a YouTube clip of the Grundig G8/PL-300WT working with USB
interface. It was only recorded on a mobile phone so the quality is not
brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmD_BGlCehs


Cheers Roy.


Rik
 

Congrads on computer controlling your G8. It sounds like you are able to reset the chip permanently. Is that correct? Maybe some one could do a cottage industry reseting G8's? - FARMERIK

--- In ultralightdx@..., "Chris Knight" <chris@...> wrote:

Fantastic, Roy! 5 stars on your demo video and your idea to externally
control the G8's si4734 chip!

Was the HET on 738 (and 747) in your demo external to the radio/computer
interface? If you were to unplug the USB connector and restore control to
the G8/PL-300WT would the si4734 be reset to its default states?

Looking forward to your software release. Cheers!

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: ultralightdx@... [mailto:ultralightdx@...] On
Behalf Of Roy
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 10:12 PM
To: ultralightdx@...
Subject: [ultralightdx] Demo - Grundig G8 with USB interface

Hi

Here is a YouTube clip of the Grundig G8/PL-300WT working with USB
interface. It was only recorded on a mobile phone so the quality is not
brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmD_BGlCehs


Cheers Roy.


Kirk <kirk74601@...>
 

Very cool, Roy. Thank you for sharing that with us!
73!

Kirk Allen
Pasadena, TX

--- In ultralightdx@..., "Roy" <roy.dyball@...> wrote:

Hi

Here is a YouTube clip of the Grundig G8/PL-300WT working with USB interface. It was only recorded on a mobile phone so the quality is not brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmD_BGlCehs


Cheers Roy.


Marc Coevoet
 

farmerik schreef:

Congrads on computer controlling your G8. It sounds like you are able to reset the chip permanently. Is that correct? Maybe some one could do a cottage industry reseting G8's? - FARMERIK







I have a Degen 1123 radio/mp3 recorder, with USB port. Would that work with the software too??


Marc


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richpalm88 <richpalm@...>
 

Sweet! Are you gonna get details out about building the USB interface and where to get the parts?

So when you do your thing on the computer, you can permanently disable soft mute and use the radio stand-alone?

****

I'm liking these little radios! If I want hi-fi shortwave, I just run 'em into a Sony boombox.

Rich

--- In ultralightdx@..., "Roy" <roy.dyball@...> wrote:

Hi

Here is a YouTube clip of the Grundig G8/PL-300WT working with USB interface. It was only recorded on a mobile phone so the quality is not brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmD_BGlCehs


Cheers Roy.


Nick Hall-Patch
 

--- In ultralightdx@..., "Roy" <roy.dyball@...> wrote:

Hi

Here is a YouTube clip of the Grundig G8/PL-300WT working with USB interface. It was only recorded on a mobile phone so the quality is not brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmD_BGlCehs

Absolute genius, Roy. I'm very much looking forward to the write-up.

all the best,

Nick


Roy <roy.dyball@...>
 

Hi

Thank you all for your comments.

I will try and answer the questions.

The hets were caused because the radio is being used butted up on the computer LCD screen it is also a distant and weak station.

Yes you can unplug and use the radio with the filter and soft mute settings that you have just chosen. The settings will reset at the next power up. However with high capacity rechargeable you can leave the radio on for days.

The changes cannot be made permanent, but the software manual gives instruction on how to apply a factory issued patch, maybe we can work out how to apply our own patch with the default behaviour of the chip changed (soft mute off).

I also have a DE-1123, you cannot use the standard USB port to talk to the DSP chip so you would have to use the USB interface externally as there is not enough room to mount it inside. I would also have to check out the 1123 to see what type of control interface is being used (I2C 3wire SPI).

Here is a link to the USB interface and documentation. It comes direct from the FTDI factory.

http://apple.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/ftdichip?op=catalogue-products-null&prodCategoryID=58&title=UB232R

http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/DataSheets/Modules/DS_UB232R.pdf


And couple of pictures

http://i35.tinypic.com/a1262v.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/2nld15y.jpg


Cheers for now
Roy.

--- In ultralightdx@..., "nhpdxr" <nhp@...> wrote:



--- In ultralightdx@..., "Roy" <roy.dyball@> wrote:

Hi

Here is a YouTube clip of the Grundig G8/PL-300WT working with USB interface. It was only recorded on a mobile phone so the quality is not brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmD_BGlCehs

Absolute genius, Roy. I'm very much looking forward to the write-up.

all the best,

Nick


Roy <roy.dyball@...>
 

Hi All

I would like to thank all the people that have shown interest in the Grundig G8 USB project it is spurring me on to finalize it.

Almost 250 hits have been registered at YouTube. I hope this project can add one more facett to the exciting hobby of ULR DXing.

Due to the poor quality of the video I have posted links below to some higher quality screen shots of both the AM and FM screens.

Cheers for now
Roy.

Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmD_BGlCehs

Pics

http://i35.tinypic.com/a1262v.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/2nld15y.jpg


Usb Interface

http://apple.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/ftdichip?op=catalogue-products-null&prodCategoryID=58&title=UB232R

Data sheet

http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/DataSheets/Modules/DS_UB232R.pdf


FM Screen

http://i35.tinypic.com/xfq22r.jpg

AM Screen

http://i33.tinypic.com/2r6mems.jpg

--- In ultralightdx@..., "nhpdxr" <nhp@...> wrote:



--- In ultralightdx@..., "Roy" <roy.dyball@> wrote:

Hi

Here is a YouTube clip of the Grundig G8/PL-300WT working with USB interface. It was only recorded on a mobile phone so the quality is not brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmD_BGlCehs

Absolute genius, Roy. I'm very much looking forward to the write-up.

all the best,

Nick


Chuck Catanese
 

I would like to apply this mod to other radios using the SI radio chip.  Do you have a schematic of the G8 showing your connections?  It will help to clarify.  This is pretty cool, thanks for taking the time to do this.  I am really fascinated with the abilities of this chip.  Anyone try this mod on other Tecsun radios?