Many people already noticed, as they are registered users of the Cast. We have another update that just came out yesterday!

So first things first.. What does registered user mean?
It only means your radio’s serialnumber/servicecode is connected to your email-address. No other things are noted, and no spam will be sent.
Why register?
If you register your unit, we will provide all updates tailored for your personal device. You will receive the update files that will only work in YOUR unit only. We also send info in the same email about the new manual etc.

So now that has been cleared, what has been updated?

There were some dropouts in audio when connected to a ‘bad’ server. In the processing of the voice packets we improved the buffer, handling, and recovery of the audio stream (both DMR and DSTAR).
If you read the latest manual you will also note that there is now also a function that gives you the option to dim the LED in the speaker.
As Pi-star resets itself every 24 hours by design, we also implemented the powerstatus of the unit. It will no longer switch on automatically once pi-star resets itself.

Here you can find the latest manual for the DVMEGA-Cast.

Hi All,

Another nice product is on the market, the myDV-nano. Some people might already have it, and enjoy the global communicatons on D-star / Fusion or DMR.

What does this radio contain?
– DVMEGA-rpi-radio single or dualband
– Nanopi-neo, 512MB mainboard
– 0.96″ OLED display
– WIFI-dongle
– 8GB microSD, preinstalled with pi-star.
– Antenna UHF or Dualband.
– Optional RX/TX LED’s

What can I do with this unit?
You can communicate on D-star, DMR, or C4FM, and flexible enjoy the modes. It does autodetect the mode and switches when needed. Configuration is rather simple to do. Once you connect the unit to power and network, just open a browser and type: http://pi-star and all settings become available!

Pricing is also nice, it is available from 165Euro only.

http://www.combitronics.nl/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=97

Hi All,

Finaly we have the mainboards in, and they look awesome! So progress is fast now. We are currently only waiting for the casing/housing for the radio’s. Boards and cables are now all complete. So to give you all a glimpse of these beauties, here is a photo of one of the new Boards under test. Working great, and no noise or hum!

As you can see, the Nanopi is installed, Nextion works great,the front-panel board is connected, and the speaker-unit has been prepared for mounting.

Keep an eye on this site to  see when we are ready!!!

So here we are, finally getting all stuff together… Yes we made a promise to have the unit out in March/April.
Here is a quick heads-up on the progress of the manufacturing:
– Housing; ordered, comes in this week, and needs powdercoating
– Mainboard; has been delivered for assembly on SMD-level. Waiting for the units to come in.
– Firmware; We are working on the last item in C4FM, so all will be in: D-star, DMR, and C4FM.
– Front grille and button for the unit are being produced now, and some stock is there.
– Front PCB is assembled for the first units to be built.
– Nextions are in Stock
– Speakers are in stock, and will be built in the special bracket this week.
– Nanopi is in stock for the units, incl the cards.
– Front-panel-prints are ready for use.

Yes, you will see an update very soon, showing off the new radio..

For the ones that cannot wait, look at this video where the unit is being explained. And why not, some photo to look at 😉

What’s this? myDV-Cast/DVMEGA-Cast meaning in the title?
Well, we had quite some people that did not know that myDV-stuff was actually based on DVMEGA-boards in combination with boards of PE1MSZ. So lets go back to basics, and make the name better understandable. Now you know the quality you are going to get!

We nowadays see a lot of hardware using an STM chip. There is a very handy tool available which is on many pi images already, but what if you want to use it on windows 10? I created a small tool that creates the commands and executes them on stm32flash. Just select your file, your comport, and press upload. Please not in some cases you do need to activate the bootloader in the hardware. In that case just make the boot0 high, and reset the unit. The DVMEGA-cast (formerly known as myDV-cast) can be put in bootloader mode by pressing the volume-button in, and powercycled the unit.

Anyway, here it is, the GUI-tool (click it to download the installer, it includes all needed files)

It has been a while, but we figured things out. Finally we can say we do have an apple IOS solution for your iphone, ipad or ipod! Time has passed by and codes have been updated until it was good enough for releasing. We do thank David, PA7LIM for his perceverance and passion for the hobby!

Eventhough we are releasing, it is important you know what is possible or not.. So here we go:

1: IOS needs to be 10.0 or higher
2: You do need a good internet connection of course.
3: It only works on mobile devices, so not on a MAC-book etc.

using it via the IOS device:
1: Install BlueDV from the Appstore.
2: Power-up the iBlueStack with th DVMEGA on board (switch needs to be OUT).
3: Start the BlueDV-app, and the connection will be made automatically. Yup, no need to pair!
4: Open setup, and enter you callsign frequency and DMR-id. rest will be clear for you what to enter.
Note, please keep in mind that in IOS-Bluetooth-mode, you can only use DMR and FUSION(C4FM).

Using via USB:

1: make sure to install the windows or linux application (Linux is experimental as you know).
2: connect the iBlueStackMicro with DVMEGA on board to a free USB-port (switch needs to be IN).
3: Open setup in BlueDV, choose the right comport, and fill in the rest of the settings.
Note, in the USB-connected version, all modes are available! DMR, FUSION(C4FM), and DSTAR.

Upgrading the DVMEGA? same as with BlueStackMicro+, on ce connected, click upload in the tool within the first 60 seconds.

Need a board? Buy one HERE: CombiTronics Webshop

You need a full kit, or prebuild? Here you go..

73’s and have fun!!! PE1MSZ

Just wanted to show you all on how simple it can be to put a wire on the DVMEGA to make it upgradable via the BlueStackMicro+.

Below you will find 2 youtube-video’s showing the process. Also note that in the single-band you need to cut the pins so the are free from the switch on the BlueStackMicro+.
Enjoy the video’s, en remember, what you need is ‘Focus’ 😉

Dual-band radio-board:

Single-band radio-board:

Today things just got better, a lot of things seem to work out fine. Just like some amateurs amongst us, I have been dreaming to buy this nice red sportscar, it’s just the damn budget!
That is why we introduce the new high-end housing named ‘El Rojo’. Yes it is red like the famous cars!
So now you want to know what is so special about this? What is so ‘high-end’?
As we have been using a different type of filament provided by ColorFabb, we can now say that this box can handle higher temperatures, and is made of one of the most advanced technologies in materials.
The material NGEN, as it almost says, is the next generation of plastics, invented by a dutch company in cooperation with ColorFabb.

So here it is, shiny and new, technology, passion, combined with force: ‘El Rojo’.

Lately I got a few returns, and questions regarding issues seen by HAM’s. A good reason to make a nice checklist to help if you do encounter some weird behaviour.

OVERAL:
– if your unit has a black dot on the USB-port, you are fine. If you do not have the black dot, the uC on the board has older firmware. The only way to make it work will be disconnecting the wire on the radio-board for ‘dongle’-mode, and reconnecting it for FW-upgrade only.
– Use a good USB-cable, many cables do not work correctly. for example cables of a chrome-cast are not fully wired, and give errors. All units are tested here with a cable of high quality like Samsung cables.

Bluetooth:
1: Bluetooth needs to be connected first via your phone or tab, and needs password/pin 1234
2: The App disconnects Bluetooth after a few seconds: Update the firmware in the DVMega first!
For BlueStack micro setups use this firmware
For BlueStack 1 setup, use this firmware
3: No communication at all! : Check if the button is OUT.

USB:
1: The PC should recognize the board as a serial port.
2: The USB-port is ONE minute in programming mode; MMDVM does work, however USB changes make the the DVMega reset during this time.
3: MMDVM does not work : Update the firmware in the DVMega first!
For BlueStack micro setups use this firmware
For BlueStack 1 setup, use this firmware

Global issues:

1: use a good powersupply or battery, the unit can handle small voltage changes, but not too much.
2: for Bluetooth use, preferably do not connect to a PC-USB. The reason is that USB-changes on the PC can make the DVMega reset in the first minute it is powered.
3: Prevent BlueBox01 to be in direct heat, as the units is printed in PLA, extreme heat can cause the unit to change it’s shape.

Today I did some testing on the 4500 reflector, via the dutch  master  2042. That does not really sound to weird, as I am a Dutch HAM. However today I was able to use this configuration on an internetlink of 100k up, 256k down, in the city of Neiva, Colombia! I had some nice conversations with PD0VOS, and PD3EEF, also Tom, PA2TSL came in the group, and we exchanged some nice info on what we were using. Anyway, I can tell we had flawless communication, on a very weak internet connection, had low BER, and all of that on the same link where Skype could not achieve a reliable connection!!

Compliments to David, PA7LIM, and Guus, PE1PLM, for making such reliable and good software!!!More info on the app: http://www.pa7lim.nl

Hardware for use with this great software can be found on http://www.combitronics.nl