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Want to help?
Updated: 5/22/05
As the roadmap shows, there are a lot of things to be done in many different
fields. Right now its just me that's working on the SSRP and being a student
with a job I have finite time. As such, I really appreciate any little bits of
help that other people have to offer. I'll try to keep this page up to date-so
check back every now and then.
Things that need to be done:
- Develop a DAC board for the SSRP
It would be nice to have a DAC board to complement the LTC1746 board.
I'm perfectly willing to assist with hardware design and to handle the
code modifications. A really useful project!
- Improve the data transfer firmware
I'm an electrical engineer and coding isn't my strong point so I'm grateful for
any software help. The current code initializes the parallel data bus in FIFO mode
and then begins committing packets to the USB interface. It be neat if the FX2 responded to
status and control commands via the USB command endpoint. Also adding code for sending
data out the FX2 rather than just recieving data would be good.
The FX2 datasheet/technical reference manual and the USRP code will probably be helpful.
I can give you all the technical information and header files you need.
- Clean up/improve host computer interface code
The current code works but could use to be cleaned up considerably. A good idea would be to
figure out which functions we actually need and to kill the no-op ones. Making the necessary
changes to enable data transmission (instead of just reception) would also be a good thing.
Another idea is to make the configure system better, as I don't think that it checks everything
that it should. Look at the USRP project for some existing code to borrow.
- Whatever else you think might help
What I've set out here are my ideas but I certainly haven't thought of
everything. Want to design another daughterboard, rewrite the project overview
or anything else?
Go for it.
Things that might be needed:
- Evaluation boards for ADCs, DACs or even FPGAs
One of the primary goals for the SSRP is low cost, (hence developing our own
boards) but having an evaluation board or two around would enable software
development to procede while lower cost hardware is developed. A simple DAC
evaluation board would enable us to make major advances at this point.
- PCB production / SMT soldering capabilities
All of the SSRP boards are designed to be etched and assembled by hand but
commercial PCBs or professional assembly only expedite the development process.
- Parts
LTC1746s, hex encoders, SMT resistors and capacitors, copper clad board...
none of them are all that expensive, but after a while things start to add up.
- Test equipment use (Scopes, logic analyzers, etc)
I have only my vacuum tube powered Tek 545 oscilloscope and my DMM.
If someone with fancy equipment would do a critical analysis of the
LTC1746 board that would be nice too.
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