Re: #ATU-10 not tuning on all bands
#ATU-10
I'm also having tune problems with my ATU-10. I found a few workmanship issues, the main ones being excess solder on several of the shunt capacitors and tiny balls of solder lodged between a few of the PIC pins.
I'm now at the point where I can use the test SW to manually tune a non-inductive 200 ohm resistor to nearly 1:1 on 40m, but no luck with using auto-tune. I have no problems auto-tuning this same resistor with my QRP-modified ATU-100. I also verified that the final network solutions were pretty much the same for each tuner.
I haven't had a chance to revisit the ATU-10, but I suspect that the PIC may be defective. Unfortunately, since this device doesn't appear to be available due to global supply chain issues, it's not a simple matter of replacing the part. It makes me wonder if the PIC in my tuner is either a factory reject or counterfeit.
Al, K2ZN
On Wed, Jun 15, 2022, 10:24 HA3HZ < gyula@...> wrote: I experienced something similar during the construction of an SDR tcvr. Soldering small relays can be critical.
In the case of the BPF circuit, I found that one of the relays in the 40M band was not switched on at times. I determined and replaced it with an ohm measurement, it's been fine ever since.
I removed the plastic cover of the relay with a fine saw and found that a little deformation could already be an obstacle to good contact. As Glenn writes, you need to find the wrong piece with an Ohm gauge. I had another one, but it might be tensioning in one direction, making the contact not close well. If you have the opportunity to heat all the feet together (hot air) then you can eliminate the soldering stress. But be careful not to overheat, because the legs in the plastic will make the relay easy to trash.
I wish you a successful fix.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Re: #ATU-10 not tuning on all bands
#ATU-10
I experienced something similar during the construction of an SDR tcvr. Soldering small relays can be critical.
In the case of the BPF circuit, I found that one of the relays in the 40M band was not switched on at times. I determined and replaced it with an ohm measurement, it's been fine ever since.
I removed the plastic cover of the relay with a fine saw and found that a little deformation could already be an obstacle to good contact. As Glenn writes, you need to find the wrong piece with an Ohm gauge. I had another one, but it might be tensioning in one direction, making the contact not close well. If you have the opportunity to heat all the feet together (hot air) then you can eliminate the soldering stress. But be careful not to overheat, because the legs in the plastic will make the relay easy to trash.
I wish you a successful fix.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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ATU-1000 SWR Bridge adjustment question
Hi all.
I Have purchased a ATU-1000 kit. Does anyone know or have a good source where i can find instructions how to adjust/calibrate the swr bridge with the 2 potentiometers?
73
Bj?rn de PD5DJ
Dear Glenn,
The longest keypress brings it into a power-down mode, the unit does not react on anything but the next longest keypress.
No RF-power will wake it up from there.
It is only the 30-minutes iddling time, when just the OLED is off, that the unit keeps monitoring the RF-power and may re-tune if necessary. Any keypress or RF-conditions change resets this 30-minutes timer anew.
Warm regards,
Tony
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Dear Glenn,
The longest keypress brings it into a power-down mode, the unit does not react on anything but the next longest keypress.
No RF-power will wake it up from there.
It is only the 30-minutes iddling time, when just the OLED is off, that the unit keeps monitoring the RF-power and may re-tune if necessary. Any keypress or RF-conditions change resets this 30-minutes timer anew.
Warm regards,
Tony
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Hi Tony, yes you are correct, a short press resets the relays to 'bypass' mode (reset mode more accurately) ......AND..... if, like me you fit a power on/off switch to the ATU-10 which is wired across the link to the batteries.? In my boards that's? 2 pin 0.1" header pins.
so, no RF input, short press to reset relays, switch off the power switch.
From memory a very long press just puts it to sleep? RF in will activate it again??? I don't have mine setup here to verify.
Glenn
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Dear Glenn, That is a mistake to say that the switched-off ATU-10 (with the f/w v1.4) resets its' relays. I'm looking at (which are no different from the original - regarding this particular part of the logic), the unit remains in the previous state when it switches off (either manually or after 30 minutes of idling). The documentation should be adequately updated, the button logic is as follows:
- a short keypress resets the relays (the bypass mode)
- a long keypress puts the ATU into the tuning mode
- a very long keypress switches the ATU on and off
So, there is no other way to manually put the ATU-10 into bypass but to:
- switch the input power off (or make it lower than 1 Watt, the ATU will not tune with not enough input power)
- do a short keypress (the RESET message appears)
- do a very long keypress (switching the device off, but before it goes off it will put out the TUNE message)
- now you may resume the transmitter power
Hope that helps. Warm regards, Tony
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Re: #ATU-10 not tuning on all bands
#ATU-10
On Thu, May 19, 2022 at 12:31 AM, Glenn wrote:
Marek
When you use the relay test program, you need to verify that the relay that is being tested is actually working. You need to use an ohm meter across the contacts to see if the changeover occurs on the relay being tested.?? What you are hearing is not the full test. You must measure it.
For example, when testing the 'inductor switching' relay, you need to check that the normally open circuit contact goes short when activated. You can use my Sch link on David's N7DDC Github web site. EDIT? My Sch shows the relays in the rest condition.
For the capacitor switching relays, the normally open circuit contact switches in the capacitor. With the ohm meter check that contact.
Cycle thru each of the capacitors and inductors using the test program to verify as above.
If you find a contact does not switch when testing, it might simply be the pin on the relay is not soldered into the hole. As you will have noted, the relay pins are quite short and don't protrude right through the PCB so its easy for the solder not to solder it in correctly.? .
Glenn
vk3pe
This is helpful. I just received one today and I was disappointed in the matching. Only a few bands get below 2:1. I'll dig in and test the relays.?
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Please calm down. :)
Oh yes so sorry, no spank me Daddy :)
Not everyone building/buying ATU-10 have ICOMs.?
Exactly its true,?in this case why talk about icom then?
A cable would be mandatory if ATU-10 were compatible with ANY brand of transceivers out there.
Who said? is mandatory? Off topic
73
Patrick
F6GWE
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Dear Patrick,
Please calm down. :)
Not everyone building/buying ATU-10 have ICOMs.
A cable would be mandatory if ATU-10 were compatible with ANY brand of transceivers out there.
Regards,
Tony
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Re: ATU-10: an alternative PCB layout?
Dear Gyula,
Sure I'll report my experience with this ATU and my modification of it.
So far I'm still in the process of obtaining the proper capacitors' values, - have got only several of the capacitances necessary. High voltage specs are diffucult today.
By the way, I'm not content with the author's choise of the values - both for the capacitors and for the inductors. The are not in the line of "powers of 2". May be that is one of the reasons some people get unsatisfactorily results of antenna tuning.
When I finish the construction, - I plan to visit a friend with FT-817 to try my ATU-10 in operation on his antennas. (I'm yet to get my own licence)
Warm regards,
Tony
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On Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 06:17 AM, Al Scanandoah wrote:
As the ATU-10 isn't an Icom-exclusive accessory, it doesn't make sense to include the cable with every unit.
NO!? Its like you say you cant use Heil Headset because its not ICOM! The software reconize the 705! Its made for it! Read all the the documentation about ATU-10! 73 Patrick
?
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Does the communication failure occur on a specific band? You can't rule out RFI, even at QRP levels.
As the ATU-10 isn't an Icom-exclusive accessory, it doesn't make sense to include the cable with every unit.
Al, K2ZN
On Mon, Jun 13, 2022, 19:38 Glenn < glennp@...> wrote: [Edited Message Follows]
Barry
A long press on the function button RESETS all relays to the default state, which is essentially bypass. See my Schematic link on N7DDC's Github. It shows all relays in reset position.
The interface cable is a simple stereo cable, ie 3.5mm ring/tip/sleeve male connectors on each end.?? Easy to make or you may possibly have one, PC sound cards in the past sometimes had such a cable included.?
To make one, buy two 3.5mm 'stereo' type connectors.? Plus? a length of shielded twin core cable.?? Wire the shield to the sleeve and the inner wires to ring and tip. Make sure you wire the same colour wire to the ring and tip of each connector.
The ATU-10 software emulates the protocol that the IC-705 uses.? Plug the cable into the IC-705 Tune socket. Other end to the ATU-10 of course.
glenn
vk3pe
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Re: ATU-10: an alternative PCB layout?
Hello Tony,
would you be interested in how qrp ATU works in practice?
What is the power you can still tune in to?
If you have the opportunity, please do so and report it.
If you have more than one antenna type, do the same with them.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Barry
A long press on the function button RESETS all relays to the default state, which is essentially bypass. See my Schematic link on N7DDC's Github. It shows all relays in reset position.
The interface cable is a simple stereo cable, ie 3.5mm ring/tip/sleeve male connectors on each end.?? Easy to make or you may possibly have one, PC sound cards in the past sometimes had such a cable included.?
To make one, buy two 3.5mm 'stereo' type connectors.? Plus? a length of shielded twin core cable.?? Wire the shield to the sleeve and the inner wires to ring and tip. Make sure you wire the same colour wire to the ring and tip of each connector.
The ATU-10 software emulates the protocol that the IC-705 uses.? Plug the cable into the IC-705 Tune socket. Other end to the ATU-10 of course.
glenn
vk3pe
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Barry,
I'm no expert on these (only recently received mine) but I thought they could only be bought from Chinese companies, so the interface cable would be down to the suppliers, none of which are likely to be represented here.? Also I guess the interface cable may vary from radio to radio which could complicate things.
Regarding the bypass (again no expert) but having looked at the schematic this looks like a software change (if it is not already implemented) - basically a bit of logic along the lines of 'when shutting down switch all relays to bypass' might be sufficient.
Matthew
On Jun 12, 2022, at 4:39 PM, bgkx@... wrote:
A new poll has been created:
Just received my ATU-10 and I really like it..
But,? I have one issue and one complaint.
Issue:
I have firmware version 1.4.?
From time to time the ATU-10 looses communications between the radio and the tuner.....why? I have an LDG ATU and I've never lost communication. Simple fix is to reboot the radio but I find this to be a nuisance. Also, my unit did not come with the needed communication cable. Why not?
Complaint:
No bypass option. I think by turning the ATU-10 off the tuner should go into bypass mode. There are times the ATU is not needed. Either a bypass switch should be added or at least have the ATU-10 go into bypass once the ATU-10 is turned off.?
Other than the two above comments, I think the ATU-10 is a great buy for the price and I'm glad I purchased it.
Barry G. Kery, KU3X
1. Supply interface cable
2. Provide a bypass position
Click Here To Vote
Do not reply to this message to vote in the poll. You can vote in polls only through the group's website.
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Just received my ATU-10 and I really like it.. But,? I have one issue and one complaint. Issue: I have firmware version 1.4.? From time to time the ATU-10 looses communications between the radio and the tuner.....why? I have an LDG ATU and I've never lost communication. Simple fix is to reboot the radio but I find this to be a nuisance. Also, my unit did not come with the needed communication cable. Why not? Complaint:No bypass option. I think by turning the ATU-10 off the tuner should go into bypass mode. There are times the ATU is not needed. Either a bypass switch should be added or at least have the ATU-10 go into bypass once the ATU-10 is turned off.? Other than the two above comments, I think the ATU-10 is a great buy for the price and I'm glad I purchased it. Barry G. Kery, KU3X
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Re: Programming the PIC16F1938 with a MiniPro TL866-II Plus
I suspect you might be able to copy the set-up file for the? 1829
and then modify it to cope with the double memory size.
Most programmers, and I'm hoping the TL866 also, use a set-up
file for each processor it knows about. They are usually somewhere
in the directory tree of the application.
On 11/06/2022 06:13, HB9FZL wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Hello,
As I don't have a PicKit3, I tried my MiniPro TL866-II Plus
universal programmer on the ATU-100, using ICSP access.
Reading the Flash and Eeprom seems to work perfectly, but as the
current XgPro version (the software that drives the TL866) does
not mention the PIC16F1938 in the list of supported MCUs, I chose
the PIC16F1829 in the software, as it seemed the most similar I
found. So that seems good, and it helped me to check the values
stored in the eeprom of the Pic.
Anyway, I messed the firmware by accidentally reflashing it.
According to its datasheet, the PIC16F1938 has a flash size of
0x4000, but the PIC16F1829 that has only 0x2000 for Flash. I
suspect my universal programmer reflashed only half of the
firmware because of this.
So, has anyone succeeded in using the TL866-II Plus for reflashing
the ATU-100? I would like to avoid buying a PicKit3 just for
this...
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Re: Checking an ATU-100 FW Ver. 3.2
#atu-100
Thank you for your answer.
However, the hardware of the ATU-100 is normal. Because it works fine with the original firmware (N7DDC version).
Hi. There are 2 test firmwares , you can use both of them to find burned transistors or bad soldering. "Fast test" just turn all the relays on and you can check everything with multimeter.
"Manual test" allows you to operate all the relays manually.?
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Programming the PIC16F1938 with a MiniPro TL866-II Plus
Hello,
As I don't have a PicKit3, I tried my MiniPro TL866-II Plus universal programmer on the ATU-100, using ICSP access.
Reading the Flash and Eeprom seems to work perfectly, but as the current XgPro version (the software that drives the TL866) does not mention the PIC16F1938 in the list of supported MCUs, I chose the PIC16F1829 in the software, as it seemed the most similar I found. So that seems good, and it helped me to check the values stored in the eeprom of the Pic.
Anyway, I messed the firmware by accidentally reflashing it. According to its datasheet, the PIC16F1938 has a flash size of 0x4000, but the PIC16F1829 that has only 0x2000 for Flash. I suspect my universal programmer reflashed only half of the firmware because of this.
So, has anyone succeeded in using the TL866-II Plus for reflashing the ATU-100? I would like to avoid buying a PicKit3 just for this...
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Re: Checking an ATU-100 FW Ver. 3.2
#atu-100
Hi, folks
I forgot, test firmware now is a part of working firmware. Power on your tuner with pushed down Bypass and Auto buttons for fast test or all 3 buttons for manual mode test. This should be in the manual for tuner.?
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Al Scanandoah
K9NUD-Steve
mike