Sunday, December 11, 2016

Free program that simulates an Enigma Z30 Machine released

The following contest inspired me to create an enigma simulator that runs on the KIM Uno / KIM 1 programmable calculator.

https://hackaday.io/project/18644-mystery-6502-program-for-the-kim-uno-1kbchallenge

Follow the instructions bellow to get the code into your KIM Uno


To see more pictures about this build, visit:

https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/mystery6502program/


Sunday, November 27, 2016

Version 1.7 Released

Just a quick post to let readers know that version 1.7 of the Arduino Enigma Machine Simulator is up. If you have received a previous download link, simply change the version number. If you need one, contact us for details.

This version has a significantly faster display driver. The color configuration tool allows the additional (greek) rotor to have a different color than the others. The display can now be flipped so the cables enter the unit at the back instead of the front. The color contrast of the LCD display is not very good in this configuration though.


You can see more pictures at:

https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/m0104/

If you like what you see, head over to our store:

tinyurl.com/enigmashop

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Version 1.5 released

The code base for the Arduino Enigma Machine Simulator has been quite stable lately, it has been tested extensively so there are no glaring issues. There was however, a small intermittent visual corruption bug in the plugboard view that was difficult to track down. Not having a specific sequence of steps to reproduce and not being able to make it happen on demand, it could not be fixed.

Lately, I have been active in the Engima World Code Group Forum http://enigmaworldcodegroup.freeforums.net/ and using the simulator a lot through the serial port with the Arduino Serial Monitor tool since it is the easier way to encode long texts.

I noted the plugboard view was getting the visual corruption quite regularly and was not sure if it was related to the age of the Touchscreen LCD display, since the simulator that I am using was built in October 2014 (Hint: the bug is not related to the age of the screen, it works fine).

This is the main screen, touching the area at the bottom of the screen below the PYXCV key row enters the plugboard view.


This is the corrupted plugboard view, notice the faint E between the K and the L. It turns out it is in exactly the same position as the E in the lamp field in the main view. Touching the T shaped keys at the top of the screen returns to the main view.



If the plugboard view is entered again the visual corruption disappears.


During one of the enigma message sessions I noticed the last key encoded with the machine was the one showing up as a visual corruption in the lamp field. And here is where the bug was hiding. If a letter is encoded, the resulting letter would normally be illuminated in the lamp field. If a letter is encoded through the serial port, the resulting letter is only shown in the serial monitor window, but if the plug board is opened to make changes to the plugboard, the resulting letter will be shown as a visual corruption in its normal lamp field position.


Having a reliable sequence of steps that would reproduce the bug, fixing it was easy, clear out the encoded key variable if the letter is received and encoded through the serial port routine. Version 1.5 has been released to fix this. 

This bug was hard to track down because the plugboard had to be opened right after encoding a character through the serial port. If the Enigma logo was touched to open the machine instead and then the plugboard view was opened, it would display correctly.

New customers will get this updated version on their units. Existing customers can download the latest version at the usual download location provided in their welcome e-mail.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Assembled enigma machine simulator now available for sale on ebay

Last year, the Arduino Enigma Machine Simulator was entered in the hackaday.com best product prize competition.


Three units had to be assembled and submitted. Units HaD 0001, HaD 0002 and HaD 0003 were sent.  

When the competition ended, Units HaD 0001 and HaD 0002 were returned, as per the contest terms.


They were carefully photographed and listed for sale on eBay: HaD 0001 and HaD 0002. They both sold. Since there is interest in assembled enigma simulators, the eBay store has now two listings, one for the simulator in kit form and the other one for a fully assembled simulator.

eBay Store:

The simulator in kit form ships the next business day. When an assembled unit is purchased, it will be assembled, typically over the weekend. The processing time is listed as 20 days, but it might be ready sooner. 

Below are pictures of assembled unit HaD 0001 to give you an idea of what a completed unit looks like.