MicroStar
2000 USB adapter now available!
Daughterboard installed and pendant board ready to mount.
Closeup of both boards
Why
convert your MicroStar 2000 Encoder to USB?
- Serial ports, aka RS232, or com ports,
are being slowly phased out by
motherboard manufacturers in favor of USB.
- Some serial ports on new motherboards have a tendency to lose
sync
during long transfers.
Designed specifically for MicroStar 2000
v4.0 and v4.1 based transmitters!
- Buddy box and FMS flight simulator
functionality are retained through the Encoder's seconday serial port.
- The same circuitry is an integral part
of Gordon Anderson's MicroStar 2000 v5.0 board.
- Electrically compatible with v3.0
encoders. Neither physical nor functional compatibility have been
tested at this time.
- Based on the proven FT232RL manufactured by FTDI.
- It may be possible to use one of these in other projects and
there is no
objection if you wish to try. A better choice for experimentation
would be the BOB-00718
breakout board from SparkFun since all signals are brought out to
the board edge.
Module mounts on your MS2K Encoder board
- Electronics are contained inside your
transmitter instead of an using
expensive adapter cable that could be lost or worse!
- A very small circuit board mounts to
the case, preserving critical real
estate for other case-mounted components.
- FT232RL and LEDs are powered by the USB port, saving additional
drain
on your battery.
Royalty-free
drivers are
available from
FTDI at: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm
- We do not provide drivers on a CD or
other media. It reduces our costs and allows you to use the most
recent version for your system.
- Driver
installation instructions are
also available on the FTDI website. Please be sure you are
comfortable with driver installation.
- You will want the VCP (Virtual Com
Port) drivers for your particular flavor of Windows.
- Please verify that the drivers and MicroStar.exe are both
compatible with the version of Windows you currently use.
- Drivers are not required for use in Fedora 10.
MicroStar.exe will
run using Wine.
Important: Things the adapter will not do!
- The adapter will not increase the speed of data
transfers. Speed is set by the PC application and the Encoder
firmware.
- It will not allow two USB-enabled transmitters to
communicate with
each
other.
- It will not allow the transmitter to interface to flight
simulators.
Download installation and setup
instructions (660KB, PDF format).
Available Options
Adapters are assembled using
leaded solder and are not RoHS!
Assembled Standard
module
$15.00US +
$3.00
shipping (to continental US)
$15.00US + actual shipping charges
(outside continental US)
- Pre-tested module ready to install on the Encoder.
Note: IC3 (the MAX232) must be removed from the encoder for
installation of the daughterboard..
- A shielded cable connects the two boards. Standard length
is approximately 12 inches.
- A piece of clear PVC heatshrink tubing is supplied to insulate
the pendant board after it is mounted.
- Daughterboard mounts on your Encoder and is 0.813" x
0.825". You will need approximately 0.325" clearance above the
encoder (or socket) for clearance.
- Pendant board mounts on your case and requires a cutout for the
USB connector. Board dimensions are 0.813" x 0.825".
Mounting holes are 0.650" center-to-center and 0.113" from board
edge. Holes are sized for 2-56 hardware and may be tapped to 4-40.
- Off-board LEDs could be wired to the pendant board and mounted on
your case. This is strictly a DIY process. I do not supply the wires or
offboard LEDs. Current must be limited to 20mA or
less. LED cathodes must be wired to the LED pads connected to
the IC. There are no through-hole pads for external LED wires, so
they must be soldered to the existing SMD LED pads.
Assembled Deluxe module
$17.00US +
$3.00 shipping (to continental US)
$17.00US + actual shipping charges
(outside continental US)
- Adds optional TX and RX LEDs to the
adapter board. These LEDs indicate USB activity, not RF activity.
- All other specs are the same as the standard module.
- The standard module is recommended if you want case-mounted LEDs.
Adapter Installation
- IC3
is removed from your encoder, socket(s) installed, and
module is tested in your MS2K transmitter. In some instances, it
will not be possible to use a socket and the daughterboard will be
mounted directly to the Encoder.
- Please contact Danny Miller first to schedule installation.
Once that has been arranged, contact Jon Crick to verify adapter
availabiliy. After Danny receives the module from Jon and the
transmitter from you, he will perform the installation. All
shipping costs are the responsibility of the owner.
Kits and bare boards
I have decided that kits and bare boards will not be
available at this time. That's a very difficult decision since
I'm a huge DIY person, myself.
Contact information
Adapters are shipped from
Independence, MO. Please
contact Jon Crick at j(dot)crick(at)earthlink(dot)net.
Installations are performed at Weatherford, TX. Please
contact Danny Miller at millerdg(at)charter(dot)net
Very
important! Please contact the appropriate
individual to inquire about availability or to schedule
installation. You will receive a reply
including a PayPal address for payment. Checks can be
accomodated, but we will wait until the check clears.
To be
honest, PayPal.greatly simplifies life for us.
Gordon Anderson has been very kind in hosting this page on his
MicroStar website, but he is not responsible for support or
availability of the adapter. If you contact him, he will probably
recommend one and then request you email
me.
A Few
words about Danny and Jon
We wish we could say this product was
"Made in the USA", however many
of the components are made outside the United States. You will
have to be satisfied that
these are assembled and installed in the USA. We're just two guys
who believe strongly
that the MicroStar Encoder system should not become obsolete as
technology advances. We've both had extensive experience in the
aerospace
and aerospace test equipment industries and are commited to a properly
assembled, functional, and quality product. We've checked each
other's work and found it outstanding. Our goal is to provide a
product at an acceptable price that will support continuation of this
project.
Family, home, health, and full-time jobs will always come first with
both of us. We will strive to be timely with our collaborative
efforts, but delays may occur. We will always be honest with you
in such cases.
Parts used in the adapter
The links
are for reference and not necessarily the most economical
source. Feel free to make suitable substitutes.
Component
|
Qty
|
Source
|
Notes
|
FTDI
FT232RL, 28 pin SSOP
|
1
|
SparkFun.com
|
Best price I've found for
singles and multiples
|
Samtec
BBL-132-T-F low profile male
header
|
1
|
Digikey.com |
Two 8-pin sections.
|
Female
Header
|
1
|
SparkFun.com |
Two 8-pin sections installed at
IC3 on Encoder
|
CD-ROM audio cable
|
1
|
Computer shop
|
|
| Capacitor,
0.1 uF, 0603 SMD |
2 |
Mouser.com |
|
| Capacitor,
Tant, 10uF, 20V, EIA6032-28 |
1
|
Mouser.com |
|
| Fuse,
PTC resettable, 1206 SMD |
1
|
Mouser.com |
|
| USB
connector, mini-B, with posts, SMD |
1
|
Mouser.com |
|
| MAX232 |
1
|
Mouser.com |
|
| LED,
Grn, 0603 SMD |
1
|
Mouser.com |
Optional
|
| LED,
Red, 0603 SMD |
1
|
Mouser.com |
Optional |
Resistor,
330R, 0603 SMD
|
2
|
Mouser.com |
Optional |