[wxsig] compatibility with ultrasonic sensor

[William Beals]

Jay:

I looked at the website and it appears to be having some problems with
internal links not working.  I'm in a place that has a tortured path to the
internet, so it may be an issue with me rather than the website.

>From what I can see, it doesn't look good for the T-238 as-is.  The T238 is
designed very much around the 1-wire interface and this product looks to use
a serial interface.  The chip has only one UART which is targeted at output
data.  As a hardware platform and with some code work, the T238 hardware
could actually fit your application quite well.  Most of the code could
still be used--at least in terms of the 1-wire interface for other sensors
as well as all the APRS formatting and transmitting.  By repurposing the
UART code from APRS support to the distance sensor, you could support it an
exclusively use the MX614 for APRS opps. I also have code set up to handle
the power modes you are talking about as well as monitor battery power
levels.  A couple folk have successfully done so too.

So, short answer not as-is, but it would "only" require about a third of the
code to be swizzled with no hardware changes needed to get what you need.
My code is open for any non-commercial use, but you'd need to volunteer or
find a volunteer.

will


-----Original Message-----
From: wxsig-bounces at lists.tapr.org [mailto:wxsig-bounces at lists.tapr.org] On
Behalf Of Jay moyer
Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2008 8:28 AM
To: wxsig at lists.tapr.org
Subject: [wxsig] compatibility with ultrasonic sensor

Would the T238 be adaptable to an ultrasonic sensor such as the ones sold on
this page ?http://www.maxbotix.com/

A local kayak/canoe club is interested in placing an APRS station on a local
creek to measure water levels and temp.  The station 
will be mounted on a bridge and the ultrasonic sensor suspended underneath
to measure the distance to the water.  I suppose that a 
program will have to be created to mathmatically figure the water level from
the distance from the bridge to the suface.  Also can 
the 238+ be programmed for sleep modes?  Such as wake up, power up the
sensor and transmitter for 30 seconds each hour during 
daylight and every other hour at night and then power down?  It would help
conserve power thus enabling smaller battery packs as the 
proposed location is in deep valleys that makes solar power unrealiable.
Thanks 


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