Archive for February, 2012

Linked List Trauma & Virtually No Progress

Friday, February 24th, 2012

So this past week nothing much has happened academically… After getting the Linked List working last week (see previous posts) I discovered that Contiki already had a linked list algorithm and I had missed it (due to poor documentation). Following an example for the native linked list methods, I managed to get myself completely lost. I built the linked list into my existing program only to find that the program always returned nonsense data. At this point, I broke away, and started writing a very simple test environment for the linked list and to my relief it worked. Now all I have to do is figure how this differs from my original implementation within the convergence program, and we’re in business. Fingers crossed it won’t take to long!

In other news, I have a WSPR implementation with GPS syncing that transmits pre-encoded frames. I now need to get the device to calculate data from input strings, and encode that so that we can use the GPS to provide the QRA locator. The Tetra GPS I have is a little flakey, too. The location data bounces around a lot and it doesn’t seem to settle. I have a spare antenna so I will try that later.

Tonight I’m off out with Lorenzo, Gul, and others to see 1984 in the Bloomsbury Theatre. Fingers crossed it’ll be good!

Over and out!

Posted in Contiki, PhD, Radio, Social, WSPR | No Comments »

Linked Lists Finished & QRSS

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Yesterday afternoon I managed to finish the Linked Lists program. It’s surprising how much more obvious hard parts of a program become after some sleep. I pretty much figured out what I was doing wrong on the way home; the next day it was just an issue of fixing that, and then the few little bugs that it threw at me. Now it’s good to go. Today I will try to implement that on Contiki. In between getting lunch with Nicola.

I’ve had a few nice QRSS spots recently, too. This weekend I will be preparing the transmitter in a waterproof box to be put at the bunker for a week or two – see how many spots we get there… Watch this space…

Last night saw a discussion around the Barking Radio & Electronics society, where it was voiced that the current members wished to bring forward the closing date to Easter 2012. Next week will see equipment valued and an EGM the week after, where equipment will be sorted out and distributed amongst all members. I’m sure it will be an interesting evening.

Posted in BRES, Blood, Contiki, Lunch, PhD, Radio | No Comments »

Linked Lists

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

So this week I have been trying to perfect a linked list. In an object orientated programming language, a Linked list allows you to create an object that resides at a known place in RAM. Then each sequential object allows you to link to the next element in the list. Each object contains a pointer to the next object along with the parameters associated with each object. In my case this will be the node parameters. It is therefore possible to break links, insert and remove objects, etc. It allows for a dynamically changing list. But it doesn’t work. And I don’t have an object orientated language; I have standard C.

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Progress Update

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

This is the first post in a long while, but progress has been slow. Today I spent most of the day working towards getting the battery status read out of the node in order to start forming beacons. I demonstrated a simple spinning network to Yiannis last week. Since then, I have been reading other MAC specifications to see how other protocols implement beaconing; how the data is contained, and so on.

Just now I am working out how to pack the battery status into the packet payload in the most efficient, yet expandable way. Progress is slow, and most attempts result in the processor crashing & restarting. Not fun.

Today saw a meeting for the UCL Engineering Postgraduate Research Application System; a faculty initiative to upgrade the PhD application process, and as a PhD Student who has just gone through this process, and with strong views about it, I was asked to become involved. We essentially talked to software company employees to create postit note based stories to help them ascertain what it is the “system” needs to do. Key emphasis was placed on the PhD Students and the Academics, with most of the problems and complaints input by admin staff. A follow up session is arranged for Monday, 13th Feb 2012.

Things have worked out well with the generator for use with portable radio work; Dave and I have managed to work a few people from the bunker recently, but missed the 144 MHz UKAC contest due to illness. Still, we should be on form for the 432 MHz contest next week.

Posted in Contiki, Course, Meeting, PhD | No Comments »