Arduino for amateur radio: experiments with the Freetronics KitTen compatible microcontroller

An attempt at using microcontrollers for amateur radio applications. The Freetronics KitTen kit I built came from their stall at the 2012 Melbourne Mini Maker Faire. Microcontroller projects involve software, hardware and the minor miracles that must happen before computers will talk to one another. Hence they have traditionally been for advanced electronic hobbyists and professionals only, because of the many things that can go wrong. Arduino promises to make microcontrollers simple, cheap and accessible. Has it succeeded? Watch this video as I, who has a record of nothing but failure in these things, attempts to get a project going, and then design some of his own. At one point the quest almost got derailed. An account of similar symptoms and the builder giving up was read. However a solution was found and the development could continue. Radio projects featured include a beacon, an automatic CQ caller (configured as a QRPp transmitter) and a foxhunt transmitter, all with their own customised code. I recommend the kit featured ( www.freetronics.com ). It came direct from Freetronics though Jaycar also stock a good range. The January 2012 issue of Silicon Chip magazine has a good beginners’ introduction to Arduino and I suggest also getting this. NOTE: A question that those used to building from scratch will ask is whether you can buy the chip used ( Atmel ATmega328P 28 pin ) seperately, program in this unit and then insert into your own circuit board. You can, but need a …
Video Rating: 5 / 5