kamilsss655 (Nunu)

Tech #1

Hi there!

Recently I've been looking to modernize my old flashlight Convoy S2+ that I've had for many years. It appears a lot progress has been made in the flashlight technology last time I checked. There are now highly efficient buck drivers as well as some new LED options.

If you're looking for a flashlight here are some of my recommendations:

• Convoy C8+

  • cslnm1.tg (W1) led - really good throw

  • 5A 12 groups buck driver - efficient and doe...

    2025-11-08 17:23:29 +0000 UTC View Post

News #2

Hi there!

Here is something really cool I came across:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZvX95aXSdM

@atomic14 has managed to put speech synthesis on this small chip. I am considering a user programmable speech synthesis beacon as a possible feature for the firmware, where user could program:

• custom message to be speech synthesized and transmitted

• time interval betw...

  2025-10-29 19:27:10 +0000 UTC View Post

New models

Here are pictures of the new Quansheng models (from left to right):

• UV-K5 V3

• UV-K1 V3 with extended battery

• UV-K1 V3 with small battery

All of the radios have same internal circuitry, only body looks and batteries are different.

The K5 has same orange screen while the K1 has blue screen.

The small UV-K1 looks cool in my opinion and feels good in the hand.

Additionally here is my comment on the current state of Quans...

Pictures of new radio model

Here is device report with pictures of the new Quansheng models.

I will be getting my developer samples of them soon, so I will keep you posted.

New Quansheng models

Hi! Here is a quick update:

Quansheng has sent me pre-release samples of their V2 versions of UV-K5 and UV-K1.

Here are some technical details I know of so far:

1. MCU modified to PY32F071

2. RF IC modified to BK4829

3. Memory IC changed from 24C64 to flash25q16

4. The voice prompt chip was removed and replaced by MCU DAC output for voice prompt

5. Added the USB programming function

I will keep you posted ...

Inactive accounts with payment declined

Dear Patrons,

I hope this message finds you well.

Recently, some of you may have received an email notifying you that your account has been blocked. I would like to clarify that all premium accounts which have been in a "payment declined" status for over six months have been terminated.

Please know that this action is not personal, and you have not done anything wrong. I sincerely wish that Patreon had a more streamlined approach for such situations, such as automatically do...

Upcoming new Quansheng versions

Quansheng did follow up with me and provided information that they are now working on a new version of UV-K5 and UV-K1 that will use new, upgraded MCU PY32F071C1BT6.

By the brief inspection it seems that it would provide double the flash size, which could possibly address the main complaint among the development community.

They plan to release these new versions to market in a couple of months.

I will keep you updated as I learn more.

TK 11 update

Quansheng reached out to me with an update regarding the TK11 and other upcoming developments. Unfortunately, they’ve decided not to move forward with the TK11 "Open" firmware project. Despite previously sending both encrypted and open MCU versions of the TK11 for potential firmware development, they’ve concluded — after discussions with their engineers and the MCU manufacturer — that the chip is too closed and difficult to work with. As a result, they’ve officially cancelled the TK...

#1 - DIY

I recently got the ZB2L3 battery capacity tester from Aliexpress. Overall it is an awesome device, but the resistors it comes with got really hot (not touch safe) during operation. I decided to quickly construct this MOSFET load with an NTC resistor bias at the gate. Basically as it get hot, the gate voltage bias decreases (due to NTC resistance dropping) and thus the current decreases. Now I got increased discharge current of 0.5-2.0 A and it is no longer extremely hot, just warm.

NOTE...

Linux installation script

Here is my BTRFS RAID 1 on LUKS LMDE 6 installation script I've shared on one of the Timeshift issues I submitted: https://github.com/linuxmint/timeshift/issues/443

PocketPD - cool project!

I just wanted to mention a really cool project I found. It is called PocketPD and it basically lets you turn your USB PD power brick into CV/CC bench power supply!

More info:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ISPtVhyciE

• https://github.com/CentyLab/PocketPD

• 2025-08-27 19:37:51 +0000 UTC View Post

Quansheng DIY USB charger mod

I recently modded my Quansheng radio charger to work from the USB power source.

If you are considering doing that mod I recommend following IP2326 board from Aliexpress.

• it fits in the front with a bit of dremel usage to make opening for the USB-C port

• the spring contacts can be ripped from the original board and then straightened

  • this way once assembled the bottom cover plate will press them and due to tension they will stay perfectly in place...

    2025-08-27 18:29:35 +0000 UTC View Post

TK11 open firmware - binaries

I got the TK11 firmware binaries from Quansheng if anyone is interested.

I also got some random libraries, but I don't think it is the firmware source code. Also these random pieces of code are licensed by a 3rd party company so I couldn't legally redistribute it.

And I got the MCU development board schematics, but no TK11 schematics so far.

Custom Linux installation scripts

Lately I have been doing some hardened desktop Linux setups for friends and family based on LMDE 6.

My setup included features like:

• full disk encryption with LUKS with paranoid encryption complexity levels

• BTRFS filesystem

  • Timeshift snapshots support

Additionally for Thinkpads that support 2 SSD drives:

• root filesystem on BTRFS RAID 1 consisting of each disk fully encrypted with LUKS

I am...

TK11 - "OPEN" variant

I've received the 'OPEN' variant of the TK11. The Quansheng sales representative is very friendly and professional. Even though they didn't have to, they paid the customs fee that was added during shipment.

So far, I've noticed that the device has an 'OPEN' imprint on the back of the enclosure. After a brief inspection, it looks like the firmware bugs I encountered in earlier versions (e.g., issues with step size, etc.) are gone, which is certainly a step in the right direction.

A...

Budget buys #1

From time to time, I’ll post some items from AliExpress that have proven to be a good value.

To start off, here is the Boruit D10 headlamp.

Pros:

• Low cost (~9 USD)

• Highly moddable - LED can be replaced with any 3V LED, TIR lens can be added although might need to be sanded down to fit

• Watertight - has o-rings

• USB-C charging (inc...

  2025-08-04 09:09:14 +0000 UTC View Post

TK11 - new version samples

Hello!

Quick update: Quansheng has contacted me and offered a sample of the latest version of the TK11, which is expected to feature an open CPU and support third-party firmware development. I’ll keep you informed as I learn more!

Affordable USB storage solutions - market review

Recently I helped out someone with a data recovery and as a followup I offered to help them out with some sort of external storage backup solution that would prevent data loss in the future.

The usual approach would be to use a USB flash drive. However most of the currently available flash drives from Aliexpress and even local stores provides slow (20-200 MB/s) drives that might be unreliable, and in the case of Aliexpress some of the drives are even advertised with fake capacity.

DIGI modes and ESPRI

A while ago I was really close to get the standalone AFSK modem out of ESPRI project.

Here is the WIP PR: https://github.com/kamilsss655/ESPRI/pull/65

However I was getting unreliable results, so I paused the work on this feature.

Completing it would be huge as it would allow to turn ESPRI into digital radio modem with WEB interface.

This in result would allow ESPRI to have features li...

Mesh network demo

Here is the mesh network messenger functionality which is included in my firmware starting from version 21.0.

Thanks to Eric for recording and sharing the video materials.

Quansheng TK11 samples

I received the samples from Quansheng, and I have to say, they went above and beyond. Not only did they provide these samples for free, but they also covered the duty fees imposed by local customs, even though the extra charges weren’t their fault. That’s really commendable on their part.

As for the radios, they have a more premium look and feel. The plastic enclosure is solid and durable, with no noticeable flex.

However, the firmware could use some improvement. The function ...

Vectatus open-sourced!

I decided to open-source the Vectatus project including:

• firmware source code,

• schematics,

• gerbers, bom, cpl files required to order assembled boards.

You can find out more here: https://github.com/kamilsss655/vectatus

With this I am hoping to bring some new ideas, interest and testing to the project. Enjoy!

PS: Thanks to all the Patreons for ...

News and updates

Hi there! Here are a couple of updates from me:

• Quansheng factory has reached out directly to confirm the shipping information for the new TK11 samples. Hopefully, they will send it out soon. Once I receive the samples, I will provide you with more details.

• Recently, my focus has been on the Vectatus project, but I am also considering working on the UV-K5 firmware. The modem mode for UV-K5 has been discussed in various groups, and I may explore this further. If yo...

  2025-03-18 19:26:53 +0000 UTC View Post

Vectatus - charger mode

Vectatus now supports charging mode with user programmable voltage and current settings.

It also supports detection and indication of deeply discharged batteries.

Of course user can switch to manual CC/CV mode and charge such discharged battery under own discretion.

I have tested it with alkaline 1.5V cells, as well as with 3.7V lithium polymer battery.

Ohh also it now has step by step user calibration mode that user can do just with a multimeter and no computer is req...

Vectatus efficiency tests

https://github.com/kamilsss655/vectatus/wiki/Tests

Vectatus - solar charger test

With my tiny solar panel mentioned in previous post I tried charging the alkaline battery. At first I was getting 0.5mA of charging current, and the solar panel voltage was dropping to 2V from 5V during operation.

With the simplest possible MPPT algorithm (based only on solar cell voltage) I was able to get 37mA of charging current and charge the alkaline cell while keeping the solar cell voltage at 4V.

This is so cool! :)

Vectatus - solar

I tested Vectatus with small, 5V garden solar cell (8x4cm) and it works. The device starts, LED show output voltage correctly, and the output voltage gets regulated as advertised.

Of course given such a small solar panel, driving loads from it directly would not be feasible, however once MPPT algorithm gets implemented it could be used to charge batteries, and then drive loads from the batteries.

In essence:

• Vectatus will be able to be powered by solar cells

...
2025-02-16 09:44:28 +0000 UTC View Post

Vectatus updates

I've done some fine calibration of Vectatus to the point where I felt comfortable trying to connect the 5V output to my phone via USB C cable.

To my suprise it works!

The phone was able to enter fast charge mode (although it might need some adjustment as sometimes it jumps between fast/slow charge - likely the CV algorithm needs to be adjusted for USB output.

I was able to charge the phone from 3V source as well as from 12V source without the magic smoke.

The calibrati...

Vectatus is working!

First ever Vectatus board got assembled. It works!

Vectatus update

Vectatus now has programmable voltage snubber that can be adjusted from 100% to 0% to suit very voltage sensitive applications or inductive loads like motors that generate high voltage transients.

Also the output voltage ripple can be programmed. Once the max output voltage ripple is detected the snubber algorithm gets engaged.

In fact the soft boot ramp up and speed can also be programmed. :)

This is really cool, to have ability to control the DC/DC conversion with such a g...