QubeCast Max

The package containing the PCB's are going to be collected tomorrow from the Post Office! (and a mystery package) I hope it's the radio modules so I can start assembling them!

I've added the first rev design files to the Dropbox folder. The only difference between these files and the first prototype boards are the silkscreen and some minor edits to the border in the schematic. Couldn't have blank variables could I ? :-) 

I'm still working on 2 other things that I'll need in order to test the QubeCast Max. 

1. Adapter board to suit Arduino Pro Mini 3.3V

2. Power Supply

The power supply is important, as the Arduino voltage regulator doesn't have enough capacity for this radio module ( I may have said this before...) The spec sheet says I need 5V and 540mA, but it also says that it will work at 3.3V. I'll need to make sure the power supply can support both voltages, and then test the actual current at 3.3V.

For my actual satellite, if I don't need a 5V bus, then I can leave it out, as all the other components are 3.3v.

Even though the first rev boards have been sent off to SeedStudio, I thought I'd re-read through the PQ60 documentation that one of the fellow enthusiasts had created. Turns out I've missed a few connections between the bottom connector and the top one. It won't affect basic testing, but if the design gets used in a flight version, I definitely need to make some changes! 

Other things in progress are the creation of an adapter board for a 3.3v Arduino Pro Mini. This will map the arduino pins to the backplane, and provide limited power to the 3.3V bus. Not enough to power the radio by itself, but I might include a higher capacity regulator and a DC Jack input. Or USB input. Space will dictate some of these things!

Having never really gone through the process to get a PCB made, I thought I'd just give it a go based on my first version design. I'm sure it will end up going through several revisions, but I just wanted to get a feel for the process. Plus with small PCB's like these ( at 44mmx44mm), the price is under $10 for 5 boards! ( OK, so mine cost $20 because I wanted blue....)

The boards are on order from Seedstudio. Today's status is Shipped, so I should hopefully see them in a week or so.