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Re: Back in the Saddle
There was a post yesterday that presented a YouTube video URL which showed how to solder small IC (e.g., like the Si5351 and 1808) on a PCB. It was a very good video and also showed the easy way to fix "pin bridges". I must have erased it, cuz I can't find the video, but maybe someone else can report it. Jack, W8TEE
-- Jack, W8TEE |
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Re: Just a few
开云体育And Hamvention is OVER!We had a great time… in-doors this year. ?Sold 50 fill T41 board sets, ten 20W PAs, ten of the latest T41 books (signed/personalized editions), and many other kits. ?Suitcase is a lot lighter. ?? Jack and Al were at my booth (right across from ICOM!) Friday, and Al was there on Saturday. ?After talking to the many many people who stopped by (Thank you!) i received good information on what folks wanted/needed next in terms of kits and upgrades to the T41. ?Loud and clear. ? So partially pre-populated boards, 100W module, Antenna tuner, and multipurpose audio board with usb that passes commands and audio (sound card). ?Got it! ?All good stuff. ? Dr.?William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton - J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: www.VillaGrandPiton.com email:??bill@... ? On May 17, 2025, at 3:17?PM, K9HZ <bill@...> wrote:
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Re: Back in the Saddle
开云体育As the tariff stuff eases, i will look into stocking RF boards with the PE4302 and the si5351 pre-populated. ?After talking with Al… i agree, it will be a good way to get more people to build the radio and it takes the fear of placing these parts off the table.?Dr.?William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton - J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: www.VillaGrandPiton.com email:??bill@... ? On May 18, 2025, at 8:06?AM, John Owens K1JO via groups.io <johnowenschina@...> wrote:
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Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Just a few
开云体育Hey everyone! ?Tim, W4YN donated some very nice 3 wire pre-made cables, twisted, to be used to connect the teensy audio hat to the main board (the 90 degree pins). ?I will include these free of charge… one with each main board. ?Thanks Tim! Dr.?William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton - J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: www.VillaGrandPiton.com email:??bill@... ? On May 18, 2025, at 8:12?AM, Tim O'Rourke via groups.io <w4yn@...> wrote:
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Re: Back in the Saddle
Thanks Phil.? Wow, he applied way more than I would have thought possible. I'd be afraid that using that much would create solder bridges under the chip. I'll dilute the paste like he says but try to add it a bit more sparingly. Then I'll place it with all of the other components in the reflow oven. Fingers crossed. |
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Re: Back in the Saddle
This is a good video and should convince others that soldering SMD parts to a PCB isn't that tough. Keep in mind, this is a difficult part to solder to a board. By comparison, a 1206 SMD resistor or cap is child's play. This technique can also be used on the Si5351 which is probably one of the hardest parts to solder in the T41. If my fat fingers and poor eyes can do it, anyone can. Jack, W8TEE
On Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 07:05:43 PM EDT, Phil Taylor via groups.io <philbyt1@...> wrote:
John
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This may help. This guy uses an alternate method. Microscope is an absolute necessary item. One extra thing I do is add some flux paste to the chip edge before running the soldering iron along the pins to neaten and remove any bridges.
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Regards?
Phil
VK2KKZ
-- Jack, W8TEE |
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Re: Back in the Saddle
Thanks. My biggest problem is the two PE4312 chips (U3-U12). My first attempt using T5 Chipquik solder paste and a heat gun didn't go well. I couldn't get the solder to flow...though that is hard to see as all the 20 pins are under the chip.
For the main board I used a reflow oven, which worked perfectly. However, with the larger SMD components, like the TR1, I was afraid that before I got all the components placed and the board moved to the oven, some would shift position. So, I've hand soldered all of the U chips. I will now attempt the rest of the chips and components using the reflow oven. For the gigantic ;-) 1206 components, I used a toothpick to place solder paste on the pads, with the PE4312, I guess I will need to use a needle.?
I have tried to brace my shaky hand when placing these microscopic parts, but with pins only 0.23mm even the slightest movement will smear the paste across all the pins.
I was able to 3D print the solder paste stencil, but it became a mess with all the non-SMD component holes being filled with paste. If I try that again, I will edit the stencil to remove those holes. However for the PE4312 and other smaller chips, the paste placed was either bridging all the pins or non-existent.? |
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Just a few
开云体育I Just a few boards left at Hamvention. ?When they are gone its back to mail order sales. ?Drop by and get what you need.Ps i also have 7 signed (by Jack and Al) third editions of the book available at a discount from the Amazon price!!! Dr.?William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton - J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: www.VillaGrandPiton.com email:??bill@... ? |
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Hamvention
开云体育I am currently at Hamvention with a plethora of boards and kits. ?All set up in booth #2607 just across the floor from ICOM. ?Dr.?William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton - J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: www.VillaGrandPiton.com email:??bill@... ? |
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Re: Loosely connected !!
开云体育Yeah its kinda of cool how you can throw together a bunch of stuff scattered on top of a table and it turns out it’s a pretty good little radio! ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J62K(J68HZ) 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Jerry via groups.io
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 9:04 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [AmateurRadioBuilders] Loosely connected !! ? Main board,? RF board, buttons, 4 encoders,? display, a few connections,? and it works! At first try there was no audio to the computer speakers.? Also no rf on the spectrum display.? I tracked it down to the pcm1808. No digital out. So I? jumped on Amazon,? ordered one of the pcm1808 little boards so I could get a chip fast. Next day, took the chip off, replaced the original and.... Jerry KD4TNX? |
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Loosely connected !!
Main board,? RF board, buttons, 4 encoders,? display, a few connections,? and it works!
At first try there was no audio to the computer speakers.? Also no rf on the spectrum display.?
I tracked it down to the pcm1808. No digital out. So I? jumped on Amazon,? ordered one of the pcm1808 little boards so I could get a chip fast. Next day, took the chip off, replaced the original and....
Jerry
KD4TNX? |
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Re: Kits and parts.
开云体育Yep, that the place. We are under the big tent this time.? See you Saturday! ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J62K(J68HZ) 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Jerry via groups.io
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 4:54 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [AmateurRadioBuilders] Kits and parts. ? Bill, Are you still in Building 2,? #2607? I hope to see you Saturday morning.? ? |
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Re: Tariffs
开云体育The rags with people in the know said we would likely see initial “shock” tariffs intended to get trading partners to the table for discussion.? Once the discussions started, the absolute best outcome is for both sides to agree to no tariffs… or to a system where if one side installs a tariff, the other side automatically installs an equal and opposite tariff for the same marketplace items.? What I am concerned about is that there seems to be a group that wants to make up the trade deficit(s) of the past by keeping tariffs in place even after the negotiations have concluded (which is a suboptimal solution).? While that essentially amounted to a mass exodus of equity from the USA to the trade partner at the expense of their workforce (yes, some countries could care less about their workforce), It could have the same impact here. ? We shall see how it all falls out. ???? ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J62K(J68HZ) 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Gordon Gibby KX4Z via groups.io
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 5:59 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [AmateurRadioBuilders] Tariffs ? Exactly as K9HZ predicted, this is starting to blow over.? ? ? Blustering and bellowing seems to be the modus operandi of various world leaders (it is not something that I applaud).? ? It was Teddy Roosevelt who coined the phrase to "speak softly and carry a Big Stick" -- but nevertheless some of our leaders are speaking loudly and still exercising a Big Stick -- and CBS news is reporting major rollbacks between USA/China -- ? ? We'll see what actually happens.... ? It was noted Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi in 1996 () who railed on the floor of our government that China had a 35% tariff against us -- and we only a 2% against them.? ? ?Did anything happen as a result?? ? I'm not enough of a historian to know.....until recently.? ?She claimed it was a JOB LOSER for the USA.? ? Hmmm....? ? Politics is strange stuff.? ? I have family members who have been harmed by policies that were not in favor of the average American Worker (according to Nancy Pelosi).? ? So I am willing to see something tried to even the score a bit.? ? It is funny who is championing this, this decade!? ? I happen to be in the demographic that has benefited fabulously from the financialization and globalization in the past couple decades -- which is why I could retire and now teach AP subjects for fun -- but I'm acutely aware of how the blue-collar portion of our nation has taken it on the CHIN from competition that seems unfair to me, and I think it was time to address those issues.? ? Even if I experience some inconveniences.? ? ? Such is life.? ? My homebrew satellite rotator system and K3NG-based controller PCB and systems are getting better and better and I'm luxuriously able to dabble and learn as much as I want, eat out whenever I wish, and so man other luxuries.? ?Many others don't have those niceties.? ? I feel for them, I teach STEM to try to give some a chance, and I volunteer (occasionally) at a free medical clinic to help those on the very bottom.? ?Working directly with the poor in my estimation is much better than demanding money from others to do the same. ? Sincerely, ? Gordon L. Gibby MD KX4Z ? ? ? ? |
Jack, W8TEE
K9HZ
John Owens K1JO
Jerry