Topic: Blitzortung RED build ... Help needed!

[i_fiorentino]

Hi guys,
i've just received blitzortung system red with all parts but i don't manage to make it workable  
Is there anyone that could do it for me?
For me it's impossible. 
Thanks in advance,


Alessandro

[Maumelle Weather]

Hi Alessandro,

What issues are you having?

John

[miraculon]

Alessandro,

I agree with John. For us to be able to help, we need to know what it is doing and what the problems are.

Do any of the lights or display come on?
Do the amplifier LEDs come on? When you adjust the gain control, do the LEDs change?

Give us a good description of what is working or not working and we will try to give you some advice. If nothing is working, that is a clue!
Do you have a voltmeter? Or could borrow one?

If you could take pictures of the top and bottom of both circuit boards, maybe one of us will spot the problem. Post them here.

Another suggestion would be to go back through the entire parts list and verify each part. Check the direction of the parts that matter like ICs, big capacitors, diodes, the voltage regulator, etc.

Greg H.

[i_fiorentino]

Hi guys,
thanks for the replies.
I don't know how to start!! because i've no experiens about microchip, soldering condenser ecc.ecc.
So, i'm looking for someone to do it for me  

Is there a guide step by step to assemble all parts?
I've cheked on Blitzortung's site but without lucky
Thanks in advance,

Alessandro

[Maumelle Weather]

Hi Alessandro,

Do you know anyone there who can assist with soldering/assembly? That would far more cost effective for you, in terms of assembly time, turn around time, etc. I could do it, but you would be looking at a month's turn around time minimum because of mailing, assembly, etc. Plus, getting the assembled boards back to you may be a problem because of security issues, both here and abroad.

John

[Weather Spares]

Hi Alessandro,

I was going to suggest you look at a post on wetter-board.de where someone is offering assembly, but I see that you posted there last night.

Good luck ,and I hope that it works out for you.

[i_fiorentino]

Maybe, I've found a friend ready to help
But is there any guide step by step?
Many thanks,


Alessandro

[miraculon]

Here is the direct link to the instruction manual. Read it very carefully before you start.
The best thing is to have the parts list and board diagrams in front of you. Also, it is a good idea to have a DMM (multimeter) to measure the resistances. Sometimes the colors are hard to read.

http://www.blitzortung.org/Documents/TOA_Blitzortung_RED.pdf

You can do it!

You might try buying a small Velleman kit to practice on before you start on the RED kit. That way you can learn soldering skills on a simpler board.

http://www.velleman.eu/products/view/?id=386996

http://www.amazon.com/VELLEMAN-EDU03U-START-SOLDER-EDUCATIONAL/dp/B00A5BHYY4

Good luck, I hope that you find a way to get your kit built.

Greg H.

[i_fiorentino]

Here is the direct link to the instruction manual. Read it very carefully before you start.
The best thing is to have the parts list and board diagrams in front of you. Also, it is a good idea to have a DMM (multimeter) to measure the resistances. Sometimes the colors are hard to read.

http://www.blitzortung.org/Documents/TOA_Blitzortung_RED.pdf

You can do it!

You might try buying a small Velleman kit to practice on before you start on the RED kit. That way you can learn soldering skills on a simpler board.

http://www.velleman.eu/products/view/?id=386996

http://www.amazon.com/VELLEMAN-EDU03U-START-SOLDER-EDUCATIONAL/dp/B00A5BHYY4

Good luck, I hope that you find a way to get your kit built.

Greg H.

Thank you so much Greg!
I home to start the project soon as possible.
Regards,

Alessandro

[Weather Spares]

Also make sure you sort the parts into those for the processing board and the amplified board and check if anything is missing - sometimes (but rarely) Egon does make a mistake.

[i_fiorentino]

Hi guys,
i've mounted all parts of Blitzortung system red  
Now i would install the firmware but i don't manage to find it!

Where is it?
I've downloaded the entire tool from here: http://www.st.com/web/en/catalog/tools/PF258168 but really, i dont' find it
Please, look the image below....i've some files but anything with .bin extension!
http://i.imgur.com/wDC2i1b.png
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
Regards,

Alessandro

P.S.
I've had some problem during the solder of gps module.
If i've a disfunction where cai i buy it?
And how about the pcb 10/12-3?

[Maumelle Weather]

Hi Alessandro,

The firmware is on the blitzortung.org website under the miscellaneous tab on the left side. You have to be a member to see it. As a non member the section is grayed out and you can't click on it.

John

[i_fiorentino]

Hi Alessandro,

The firmware is on the blitzortung.org website under the miscellaneous tab on the left side. You have to be a member to see it. As a non member the section is grayed out and you can't click on it.

John

Hi John,
i've just mounted all parts of system red, how to retrieve the firmware?
Cai i become a member if my system doesn't still working?
Regards,

Alessandro

[Maumelle Weather]

Hi Alessandro,

Yes, you can still become a member if your system is running yet. Just email Egon, so he can get you a username and password for the Blitzortung.org website. Once you have that, you will access to all parts of the website, and the members only forum there, too. It may be a few days on Egon. They are getting ready for the Weather Congress there in Germany, I believe.


John

[miraculon]

Hi guys,
i've mounted all parts of Blitzortung system red  
Now i would install the firmware but i don't manage to find it!

Where is it?
I've downloaded the entire tool from here: http://www.st.com/web/en/catalog/tools/PF258168 but really, i dont' find it
Please, look the image below....i've some files but anything with .bin extension!
http://i.imgur.com/wDC2i1b.png
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
Regards,

Alessandro

P.S.
I've had some problem during the solder of gps module.
If i've a disfunction where cai i buy it?
And how about the pcb 10/12-3?

Alessandro,

That directory that you showed the screen of are loader files that are part of the ST installation.

What you need to run is the STM32 Link Utility which should be in your Windows menu.
You can program the STM32 Discovery board by connecting the mini-USB on the ST board to the computer. The USB driver should load. Run the STM32 Link Utility and select "Target", then "Connect". Then "Program". This is where you can select the bin file that you get from Blitzortung to be loaded and programmed into flash memory.

The ST files do not have the Blitzortung firmware. As John said, this has to be downloaded from the "Miscellaneous" area on Blitzortung once you have your login ID.

Once you load the firmware, you will not need to do this again since the newer versions allow re-flash via Ethernet and the GUI.

Greg H.