The Konker Connection - Blog 8 - 1st LCD Test

5 Nov 2017

This project is still experiencing lots of software issues and some parts have not arrived yet, but time is running short and the project needs to move ahead. My custom PCB interface card is taking a very long time to arrive. It shipped by air 20 days ago and doesn't even look like it has made it into Canada yet - that is one very slow aircraft.

For this blog, I have been forced to use a breadboard, but at least I am programming the Nucleo, and since this part of the project is all my own code, I am having a much easier time getting it running the way I want.

Project Links:

IoT On Wheels Design Challenge page

Links to other blogs on this project are included in the first blog:

https://www.element14.com/community/community/design-challenges/iot-on-wheels/blog/2017/09/21/the-konker-connection-blog-1

Top Comments

dougw over 7 years ago in reply to DAB

I use itead. I've tried several others, but this one has been best so far. They take about a week to make a batch of cards. There are 3 shipping options - the courier takes a few days and their cheapest rate takes a few weeks. For this I chose the middle option - airmail. It must have got stuck somewhere...
- Cancel
- Vote Up +1 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
DAB over 7 years ago

Nice update Douglas,

20 Days for air is indeed strange. How many airlines does it take and how many stops do they take?

Where did you get the boards done so we can avoid these types of delays.

DAB
- Cancel
- Vote Up +1 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
dougw over 7 years ago in reply to dwinhold

I have come really close to setting up for PCB etching many times, but never took the plunge.
I did run a shop once that had its own full blown PCB fab operation, but never used it for personal projects.
Since the price of PCBs has come down to $1 or $2, my interest is reduced. I am interested in an automated system like Voltera One, but haven't been able to justify the price.
- Cancel
- Vote Up +2 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
dwinhold over 7 years ago

Looking good dougw
Have you ever made your own PCB's? Whenever I require any custom PCB I make my own. I usually create them on AutoCAD then print it on transfer paper then onto a blank board. I know there are easier ways but it works great.

Dale
- Cancel
- Vote Up +3 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
dougw over 7 years ago in reply to dixonselvan

The LCDs will display the time of day obtained from a GPS satellite and the amount of fuel left in the gas tank. The radio will transmit the GPS location of the bike and the posture of the bike.
- Cancel
- Vote Up +2 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel