Sometimes one of the most difficult aspects of developing a system is getting all the components and tools.  The vendors list of a compilation of suppliers for all the projects.


Hardware Vendors

Alinco supplier of the credit card sized radios.  Although the radios are inexpensive, they leave a little to be desired in the RF performance area as well as ease of integration into an embedded application.  However, their technical support is excellent and can provide schematics and replacement components.  Radios can purchased from a number of on-line vendors including AES Ham or Ham Radio Outlet.

Analog Devices supplier of the AD974 16-bit ADC (Analog to Digital Converter).  The AD974 is an instrument grade ADC that provide a high dynamic range analog input for temperature and pressure sensors.  Analog Devices has a very useful on-line web site, good quality components, and an excellent on-line sample request system.

Atmel supplier of the serial memory used in the Micro Beacon II flight data recorder.

CML Microcircuits (formerly MX-COM, Inc) supplier of the CMX614 and CMX909B MODEM chips.  The CMX614 is a commonly used 1200bps FSK MODEM.  The CMX909B is a complete GMSK MODEM that provides low level functions like FEC, CRC, and packet detection.  The local sales staff was very helpful in providing sample components.  Parts can be purchased by credit card at 800-638-5577 or internationally at 1-336-744-5050.

Coilcraft supplier of the switching power supply inductors.  Coilcraft makes a wide variety of surface mount RF and power inductors.  Sample components are available on their website.

Directive Systems supplier of the S-Band (2.4 GHz) antennas used for the video link transmitter and receiver.  Although Directive Systems provide descent quality hardware, customer service is very poor.  Expect long lead times and frequent toll calls to check delivery status.

Down East Microwave supplier of the S-Band (2.4 GHz) LNA kit.  They also offer antennas and LANs for a wide variety of UHF and Microwave bands.

Electritek-AVT, Inc.  is a factory distributor for non-primary Panasonic Lithium-Ion battery packs.  They offer reasonable prices, but very poor service.  Expect long leads times and unanswered e-mail and voice mail messages.  I was only able to get descent service after complaining to the Panasonic factory representative.  Other distributors were equally poor.  When we complain of "job out-sourcing", you can squarely place blame on US companies like these that fail to deliver.

Linear Tech supplier of analog components such as op-amp, regulators, and ADC/DACs.  A linear tech LTC2428 is used as the analog interface in the NSRV.  The devices provides excellent high dynamic range measurements with low power requirements.

MAXON supplier of the industrial VHF and UHF transceivers used in the Payload Computer cross band repeater and NSRV Communications link.  The radios are fully synthesized, offer selectable power output at 1 and 5 watts, CTCSS encoder/decoder, and can change frequencies from a simple digital channel selector.  The radios were designed in Australia, but support is available through Topaz 3 in the United States.  Radios in single unit quantity are available from Economy 2 Way at a very reasonable price.

Microchip supplier of the popular and easy to use PIC Microcontroller.  The PIC provides on board RAM, flash program memory, and EEPROM in addition to A/D converters, digital I/O, and serial interfaces.  Microchip also offers a free software development environment that can be downloaded from their website.

National Semiconductor supplier of the switching and linear regulators.  National offers a complete line of high efficiency switchers and low drop out linear regulators.  They have an excellent sampling program available on their web site.

On-Semi vendor of commodity, piece part components such as diodes and MOSFET switches.

Optrex supplier of the video and character based LCD displays.  They offer a wide variety of display technology that is used in a wide range of consumer hardware.

Synergy Systems supplier of the Motorola Oncore GPS receiver as well as antennas and other GPS related hardware and software.  They offer excellent technical support as well as a discount program for Amateur Radio and educational groups.

Teko supplier of the enclosure box used in the ATV video receiver.  They have a wide selection of plastic and metal enclosures, RF shield cans, and accessories.  The enclosures include remote control (key fob and handheld television remote types), ISO-7816 Smart Card readers, rack mounts, keyboard, and everything in between.

Z-World supplier of the processor module and mating connectors.  They offer a good return on the hardware for the cost, a user friendly on-line web site, and helpful accessories like the mating processor module connectors.  In addition, they offer a development kit that includes a decent C compiler, prototype development board, and processor module.

Software Vendors

CadSoft supplier of the Eagle schematic capture, PC board layout, and auto router used to created the project PCBs.  CadSoft offers a freeware version of the tool for Windows and Linux.  They also offer a very low cost version for non-profit groups as well as full professional versions.

CCS supplier of the C compiler for the PIC Microcontroller.  The requirement to program in assembly language has almost been eliminated with the advent of high quality C/C++ compilers.  Even a small Microcontroller, such as the PIC, can benefit from this technology.  Development time and software bugs are greatly reduced by using a high level language.  The CCS compiler installs as part of the free Microchip development environment.  Inspection of the assembly code generated by the compiler reveals that it is indeed efficient with the limited PIC resources. 

Referral Request If you are a new CCS customer and are going to purchase one of their compiler products, please mention my customer number - 10180.  For each new customer I refer I get a credit good for the purchase of new compilers and products.  It doesn't cost you anything extra and it reduces the cost of projects like these.


Distributors

If components are not available directly from the manufacturer or you need piece parts such as resistors and capacitors, I've used the following distributors for this project.

Allied Electronics supplies components for industrial and commercial users, but they have a large selection of parts that are actually in stock and available in reasonable quantities.  Although they might be priced a little higher than some vendors, you can save time and shipping costs by ordering everything from a single vendor.

Digi-Key is a mail order company and now an on-line vendor that has been around for a long time and serves the hobbyist community with reasonable prices.

Mouser is a good source of passive components such as chip resistors, inductors, and hard to find tantalum surface mount capacitors.  They also offer reasonable quantities of components, i.e. you don't have to purchase a reel of 5,000 resistors to get 20 parts.