RSGC ACES: DES Day Counter (March 2025) |
Sparkfun's Large 7-Segment Display (COM-08530) is the ideal centerpiece for a wall-mounted RSGC's Schedule Day Number.
Back in 2018, D. Dadyburjor and E. Peterson had the idea to combine a large custom-designed 7-Segment display with a 7-band graphic equalizer in a 3D-printed that functioned well as a standalone, programmable device. The unit functioned well for a time before succumbing to the elements.
In preparation for an ICS3U-E lesson on Radio Frequency in the spring of 2025, Mr. D. returned to the Day Counter project idea over the 2025 March Break. The concept was to embed an nRF24L01-based receiver in the Day Counter wall unit that would be responsive to a manual transmitter on Mr. D.'s desk, updated through the turning of a rotary encoder. A successful prototype was achieved.
Rather than on custom PCBs, both the transmitter and receiver circuitry were mounted on generic RSGC ACES 1/2 Protoboards, as shown below.
Nano-compatible nRF24L01 breakout boards were also developed in the spring of 2025 as necessary upgrades to original UNO-compatible boards developed by O. Logush in 2018.
Code for both the transmitter and receiver can be found on the RSGC ACES' Github DES Day Counter repository.