Re: Should I start with uBITX, sBITX or zBITX?
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Gerry,
Thanks a lot for the detailed suggestions, especially as you own all three versions.
I did not know that there is a 12V version of 807! I thought that all vacuum tubes need high voltage. I had wondered how the early car radios worked from batteries.
Regarding the filters and all, getting them here would be tough, though not impossible.
Maybe i will wait till sBITX v4 reviews are out and then decide.
Hope to meet you on air some?time soon.
73
Jon, VU2JO
Jon
I would say the uBit is probably the easiest of the lot for a new
user to use, although it lacks some of the features of the SDRs.?
It's a much less expensive radio than the sBit.? Since you say you
won't be operating portable, and you do have a resonant antenna
system, you can get away with just an AC power supply and a key to
start with.? You might be able to build a suitable power supply,
or buy something ready made.? I'm in Canada, so I don't know what
it's like to get things locally in India.? It's easy to add a few
features later to the radio, after you get familiar with it.? The
ones I would suggest are a memory keyer, an audio filter, and an
AGC system.? The uBit isn't really designed to handle some of the
more modern things like FT8, etc., just plain old CW and SSB.? It
may be possible to use these with a sound card and a computer.? I
haven't tried this.
With either of the SDRs, you are looking at updates, especially
with the zBit, as it is quite new.? You won't have this issue with
the uBit.
I have all 3 of these radios, so I do have some experience.
Sotabeams has a good audio filter at a cost of about ?25.00, plus shipping.?
Hamcrafters (K1EL) has the K16-EXT keyer, although at the moment
his situation is unsettled, as things are uncertain in the USA
with some of the president's ideas on international trade.? A
lot of his raw materials are imported.? Both of these can be
built into the uBit, although the keyer has some practice
features that make it very useful on its own.
Your comments about 807 tubes
bring back over half a century of memories with 1625s (the 12
volt version of the 807) and WWII surplus equipment.? I used a
1625 in my first transmitter, back in 1970.
Gerry Sherman
On 2025-04-13 23:45, Jon via
wrote:
I do not have a BITX yet, but have been closely following
the discussions on the group.
My experience in homebrewing was a few decades back, of a
VU2VWN QRP with BD 139 final and a 3 x 807 vacuum tube TX
running about 120W DC input.
That means I have not meddled with any radio circuit for
the past few decades.
Which one should I start with: uBITX, sBITX or zBITX?
As of now, I have no option for portable operations. Only a
fan dipole for 40-10m and a dipole for 80m.
Hoping to receive your valuable suggestions.
73
Jon, VU2JO
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