Introducing The Maestrino

N5NHJ

This project is a little funny one I've been working on for a few days and I wanted to share it with the community.

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I’m very happy with using FlexControl, FRStack, and the Stream Deck XL to control SmartSDR, but I wanted to add some knobs for the most used functions.

This project is not by any means a competitor of the great Tensy Maestro by KD0RC, and it only works in combination with the API frontend provided by FRStack. I understand there are other options to control SmartSDR or the Flex radio directly, but my goal was to add extra functionality to my existing set-up in a very easy and quick way.

The project runs only on the Arduino Mega platform because of the large use of strings and because of the number of interrupt lines need to control the encoders.

The hardware side of the project is very simple. It requires an I2C display and, in my configuration, 4 encoders with button. The communication between the Mega and FRStack happens over ethernet, therefore a standard Arduino Ethernet board is required.

The logic is very simple: the encoders are linked to FRStack’s API calls. For each rotation or push, the relevant API call is sent over the network, and voila, you can control the volume, NR, or NB levels with knobs.

Please be aware that FRStack must be configured to accept connections over the network. How to do it is explained in the FRStack API help.

Each rotator has associated 3 functions. Functions are selected by a single push of the encoder switch.

For each function, a long press of the switch set the function value to its default.

A double press enables/disables that function (Example: mutes the volume or turns NR on and off)

The following table describes the encoders and switches functions the way I programmed them.

I hope you will enjoy The Maestrino, the Arduino sketch can be downloaded from here.:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hrz4csa8liqok77/TheMaestrino.zip?dl=0

73, Max

KD0RC

Very cool, Max! I will be interested to see how your project evolves. I started mine on the Arduino Due, and moved to the Teensy. It is a much smaller board and will run your Mega code without much change. If you ever want to make that move, I would be happy to help.

It is funny that a radio that is mostly software is helping to bring back home-brewing!

K6HN

Very nice project, I look forward to watching its progress.