Thread: Valentine One to a PC

It looks like this thread is dead at this point, but i'm going to try anyway.

Did anyone (besides Jim) ever get the schematic to work wiring it themselves? I'm not adept at electronics, but i'm not incompetent either yet I still can't get it to work after checking it over and rewiring (rewiring because I couldn't find anything wrong, but have to assume something is) it a few times now.

If someone has gotten it to work, can you give me voltage levels at the different points with the V1 connected and on? I'm getting readings all the way back to the serial port (i'm connecting it to a FTDI USB->Serial module, but not seeing anything over the serial port regardless of the baud rate I select. Any info on what serial settings I should be using (using a Mac, so I can't use Jim's or zPilot's software)?

As a side note, I noticed that the data line appears to be peaking (during startup when everything is lit up) at ~5v. This is in the range of an Analog port so I hooked it up to a development board (Wiring.org.co) and was able to read plenty of data streaming across the port. Anyone know if the data line is indeed an Analog signal and if so what the message protocol is?

Thanks,
-dave

I tried quite a few schematics and could not get them too work. I will be trying again and making my own box etc. Basically from what I found, the signal is a simple TTL signal that display 5v or 0v for data.

Here is the protocol:
[media]http://www.guysoflidar.com/files/v1_protocol.pdf[/media]

Keep posting here and let me know your progress.

Originally Posted by CityFan86

Here is the protocol:
[media]http://www.guysoflidar.com/files/v1_protocol.pdf[/media]

Yeap, they sent me a copy today.

I tried wiring up my bread board with my (probably incorrect) understanding of the wiring diagram they use there, but I get nothing. When the NPN is connected, the data line reads ~0.6v and all the display is on the V1. If I pull the NPN, the display transfers to my CDU and the data line jumps around like i'm used to seeing (spiky during power up and stabilizes at ~3+v when it is idle).

-dave

Well since it looks like i'm following a different path to talk to the V1 and it won't (as far as I know) be directly compatible with the software for the interface defined in this thread, i'm going elsewhere to post my findings/work. Anyone that is interested can follow my progress can take a look at my thread in my Front End's forum where i'm working on building a V1 plugin. While the eventual plugin will only be useful for Mac's, the work to talk to the V1 should be applicable to any OS.

-dave

So do you just plug the box in and that's it? Is there software? I want one for sure, I'll have to get my carpc built first though.

is anyone producing the V1 usb interface? send me a PM

Would it be possible to modify IGuidance to mark a location and make the volume for the WAV mute when in your are near that area? this will add the gps function to the Valentine PC softare, of course it is understood that if there is a new radar source in that area you might miss it.

Are these interface cables still available?

Also, it looked like the communications protocol was posted as one time, is that still available?

Jay

Yeah I'm keen but I e-mailed them with no response........ not sure what's happening.