Cutting the pin off rather than snipping the socket might be a better way of doing it so you don't run the risk of cutting too much off the connector. I almost did that myself but it didn't damage the socket - thankfully.
As far as ensuring that you don't install board off one pin, you could always stick a piece of toothpick in the hole so you couldn't get the board in the socket. You still run the risk of bending a pin if you try to force it in though.
If you score with a sharp knife between the pins, all around, the whole section will snap right off without an issue. Or if you've got real sharp, small dikes, just cut between them. Now, I did have a bit of trouble with these tired ol' eyes finding the #1 pin locations when I inserted the display...
Mike
I like the idea of scoring between the pins so the break is cleaner. Have added that suggestion to the step-by-step document.
I do have a pair of very small dikes that are very sharp. The socket just snapped right off exactly where I wanted it to. Perhaps I was lucky or was it just raw skill?
I, too, used the sharp flush cutters to snip off the end pin (through the middle of the pin) very slowly, then trimmed the remaining socket using the cutters too. The magnifiers helped
My RED controller with 4.4 firmware works the way Don described:
On power up, the green LED beside the GPS module begins blinking, and after a fix is obtained, shuts off. The green LED on the STM board flashes with the other LED while the fix is being obtained, then burns steady once the fix is found.
The blue LED on the STM board flashes at the 1PPS rate when the fix is obtained.
The big red LED at the top of the STM board flashes slowly, and the small red LED at the top of the STM board is on continuously.
Best regards,
Ken
YAHOO!!!!!!! It's running
am I excited, or what ????!!!!
However, I must admit something.
I decided to go back over everything and see if I could find anything that just didn't seem right. Looking at the LCD Display I decided to pull it out and start there. Well, guess what - STUPID ME had plugged it in backwards. I must have gotten the pin numbers backwards. So, I just reoriented the display and plugged it back in. When I applied power this time, it lit up beautifully and all looks good!!! Yippee!!!
I have now registered my station and it was assigned #808 and is already showing up on the status list on Blitzortung.org.
Now, Ken & Joe seem to have confirmed what I am seeing. I get EXACTLY the same indications they are. So, the GPS is working and the normal LED conditions ARE that the green LED on the Controller board does flash until the GPS gets a lock and then shuts-off and stays that way. I assume if the GPS signal is lost, it will begin flashing again until it once again gets a lock.
So, now I'm going to finish up my V2 Loop antenna and get it connected and see what happens.
Too all, thanks so much for the inputs and help along the way. I know I still have a lot to learn.