RFM12_Scanner

What's new in the Manuals V1.0.2 ? (04. Dec 2009)

• General revision.

What's new in Win32 software V1.2.1 and Manuals V1.0.1 ? (17. May 2009)

• Bugfix : The "Single frequency monitor" was set to invalid frequencies.
• The "Single frequency monitor" now provides two bargraphs for the two frequencies defined by the markers' positions.
• The boot-firmware's version is displayed additionally in the "System"/"Status"-window.
• Adapted the software's manuals available as a free download on the project's page.

What's new ? (05. Apr. 2009)

• Yes, an english and german manual are now available for free download.

What's new in Win32 software V1.2.0 ? (05. Apr. 2009)

• The main window is resizable.
• The data-display is zoomable.
• New "engine" and controls to support the new functionality.
• The pc-software V1.2.0 has a switch for firmware V1.1.3, V1.1.4, V1.1.5 and V1.1.6.

What's new in firmware V1.1.6 ? (05. Apr. 2009)

• The integrated firmware update is safer to use than in V1.1.5.
  Note : You cannot use the integrated firmware update to update from V1.1.5 to V1.1.6!

What's new in the distribution package ? (06. Nov. 2008)

• The darned language mix in the setup dialog should be fixed now.
  All dialogs are now in english.

What's new in pc-software V1.1.9 ? (24. Oct. 2008)

• Fixed the simultaneous display of scan-data, reference-data, and marker-positions during an active (range-)scan.
• The distance between the two graphical markers can be locked. Both markers will be moved automatically, if one of them is moved.
• A new type of data-file is introduced to fit the new needs. Older files are fully supported.
• The RFM12-configuration stored in the microcontroller's internal data EEPROM can be edited directly in the pc-software. This makes reprogramming the data EEPROM "the hard way" using a terminal software obsolete !
  All data entered in the EEPROM-editor fields is checked automatically and the color of the value entered will be green for an unchanged value, blue for a valid, changed value and red for an invalid, changed value. The "Write"-buttons will be enabled, if modified data is present for the corresponding RFM12 configuration-command.
• The standard-messageboxes have been replaced.
• Changed the status-bar.
• Lots of internal changes.
• The pc-software V1.1.9 still has a switch for microcontroller firmware V1.1.3, V1.1.4, and V1.1.5.

What's new in pc-software V1.1.8 ? (17. Oct. 2008)

• A second graphical marker has been added. Use left (M1) and right (M2) mouse-buttons with enabled markers to set and move them.
• A new "Scan/Range" function allows to limit a scan action to the range between the two graphical markers.
• If the new "Scan/Monitor" button is activated, a scan action is repeated continuously. The display is not cleared entirely between these scans to preserve the information displayed. To stop a "Monitor"-scan action after the current scan has been completed, deactivate the "Scan/Monitor"-button (the "Scan/Stop"-button stops the action immediatly at the current scan position - what may result in incomplete or incorrect data).
• Colors used in the data display can be edited in the "Config"-dialog.
• The color settings may be saved to and loaded from one of eight color sets.
• Bandwidths for the next scan action and bandwidths to display can be selected independently.
• The rectangles next to the bandwidth-checkboxes show grey color to indicate that the corresponding buffer is empty, red color for a buffer that is written to, and green color for a buffer holding data.
• The current display can be copied to a reference-data buffer. The reference data is displayed in addition to the current scan-data, if the "Display Ref Data"-checkbox is activated. The rectangle right to "Display Ref Data"-checkbox is green, if reference data is present. The reference buffer is filled after each scan action automatically, if the corresponding option is selected in the "Config"-dialog.
• Progress of a scan action is indicated by a growing line in the data display.
• New options in the "Config"-dialog allow to mask certain information from a data-file when loading.
• A new type of data-file is used for saving - older files are fully supported.
• Scans are performed faster (about 1.9s for a full-range single bandwidth scan).
• Lots of internal changes.

What's new in pc-software V1.1.7 and hardware V1.1 ? (07. Oct. 2008)

• A PCB-layout for THM-components (except the SMT-type RFM12) is now available for download.
  Thanks go to T. Peschel, who contributed the initial draft to this layout !
• The schematic has been adapted properly and a BOM has been added as a seperate page.
• A minor bugfix handling the activation of the "Monitor Single"-button.
• COM1: to COM16: are supported by the pc-software, this includes "Virtual Com Ports" (e.g. USB to serial converters).
• The RFM12 is automatically reconfigured to the band required or desired by or for the next action, whenever necessary (starting a new scan, for example). Thus, modification of the initial 433MHz band-selection to the 315MHz-, 868MHz- or 915MHz-band is reduced to selecting the correct configuration in the pc-software.
  The automatic reconfiguration process preserves all information contained in the RFM12-"Configuration"-command read from the microcontroller's data EEPROM, except for the band-selection bits.
  See sections "Reading and writing the RFM12 initialization values" and "Communicating using a terminal software" to learn more about how the µC's data EEPROM is used.
• Use the "System/Config" button to select the correct serial port and RFM12 frequency band.
• It is possible to display any RFM12_Scanner data-file, even if it was scanned on another band than the current display or configuration setting, correctly, and to use the "Monitor Single" bargraph-style display on the frequency resulting from the graphical marker's position and the frequency-band, that was selected during the last rf-scan- or buffer-initialization-action (though it is doubtful, whether it makes sense to monitor a frequency beyond the module's capabilities).
• The pc-software's band configuration is activated automatically, when a new scan is started or when the display is initialized by clicking the "Init"-button.
• If the pc-software's buffer contains scanned data and the the "System/Init"-button is clicked, you will be asked, whether you really want to proceed with the buffer initialization or not.
• Enhanced (more secure) firmware-update and error-handling to fit the new features.
• Added "All"- and "None"-buttons to the bandwidth-selection for selecting or deselecting all receiver-bandwidths at a time.
• If data resulting from the last scan-action has been stored in a data-file or the currently displayed data has been loaded from a data-file, the data-file's name is displayed to the right of the application's name and version in the main window's title.
• If a scan is started with no selection in any of the "Scan Configuration/Bandwidth(s)" boxes, the 400kHz bandwidth is selected automatically.
• The pc-software V1.1.7 has a switch for microcontroller firmware V1.1.3, V1.1.4, and V1.1.5.
• Firmware V1.1.5 should be used with pc-software V1.1.6 or V1.1.7 only !
• Yes, I consider writing a manual !

What's new in pc-software V1.1.6 and firmware V1.1.5 ? (23. Sep. 2008)

• Future firmware updates will be performed directly in the pc-software.
• No extra hardware is needed for these updates.
• The firmware offers the infrastructure needed for the next extensions.
• Enhanced TX and RX routines.
• Fixed the installation on Vista systems with entry in the startmenu.
• The pc-software V1.1.6 has a switch for microcontroller firmware V1.1.3, V1.1.4, and V1.1.5.
• Firmware V1.1.5 should be used with pc-software V1.1.6 only !

What's new in pc-software V1.1.5 and firmware V1.1.4 ? (25. Jul. 2008)

• Implemented a more intelligent scan algorithm.
• Scans are now performed with improved speed.
• Single frequency (= marker position) monitor added.
• Some internal changes.
• Added a multilingual setup software.
• The pc-software V1.1.5 has a switch for microcontroller firmware V1.1.3 and V1.1.4, which automatically disables and enables features according to the firmware's version.

What's new in V1.1.4 ? (30. Jun. 2008)

• The marker can be used during an active scan.
• The display of the different graphs for the receiver's bandwidths can be enabled and disabled individually through the "Receiver Bandwidth"-checkboxes.
• The rectangles next to the "Receiver Bandwidth"-checkboxes will show the corresponding graph's color only, if data is present for this graph (scanned or loaded).
• Scanned data can now be saved and loaded as RFM12_Scanner binary files.
• In addition to the scanned data, the position of the graphical marker and the settings of the software are saved and loaded in these files.
• A minor bugfix affecting the behaviour of the graphical marker if a scan cannot be completed due to a hardware-timeout.
• The pc-software V1.1.4 is designed to work with the microcontroller firmware V1.1.3.

What's new in V1.1.3 ? (17. Jun. 2008)

• Added an optional scan-step delay for more precise scanning.
• A graphic marker may be added to the display directly in the pc-software.
• Internal changes to allow smoother scans.
• The microcontroller checks for the presence of a RFM12 after each POR.
• The function of the status LEDs is changed (B1=Ready, B2=Scan in progress).
• The test-transmitter's value is no longer fixed at 0xAA and is now accessible at EEPROM address 0x20.
• The pc-software is NOT compatible to previous firmware-versions and vice versa !

What's new in V1.1.0 ?

• Only the selected receiver bandwidths are scanned  : This makes a scan with less than all 6 bandwidths much faster.
• The LNA gain is no longer fixed at 0dB : All gain-values are accessible through a listbox.
• The module's RF-band can be selected directly in the pc-software : No need to alter values in the configuration-file manually.
• The "Save Display" button opens a "Save As" dialog : The filename and path can be chosen freely now.
• All settings of the pc-software are now saved in the configuration file and are loaded automatically on the next start.