All:

On Monday I will be releasing version 1.07 of the software for the BITX40 transceiver. The only visual difference is that there are provisions in the code for a DS3234 RTC module, as seen in the following photo. (Smaller display sizes fold the UTC directly under the local time.) The plans for the additions (e.g., AGC, speech compression, S-meter, and CW mode with contest keyer) are still on hold. Dennis (W6DQ) is the EE talent behind the mods and he is currently wrapped up

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moving from LA and setting up his shack and lab. I honestly don't know when he will shake loose and I don't have the EE brains to finish it.

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So, my thought is to keep the PCB with the TFT display, VFO, and the Mega 2560 Pro Mini, but add some of Allard's code to implement many of the features that are unrealized at the present. I am more than willing to work on the software end of things to help my code "talk" to the hardware. The main advantage of such a port is that, compared to the Nano, the Mega has a boatload of resources available. Indeed, I am amazed at everything that Allard's packed into the Nano and the "library diet" that helped make it possible. You can compare their resource bases at: . An important difference not listed is that the Mega has 5 external interrupt vectors compared to only 2 for the Nano.

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? Arduino - Compare ?

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The PCB that we did forms an Arduino "sandwich" with the TFT display on the bottom, the PCB and its components in the middle, and the AD9850 DDS and Mega on the top. Here's an image of the bare board. As you can see, most of the 54 I/O pins are brought out for experimenting. The pins dedicated to the display are not brought out. The size of the display can be 2.4" up to 3.95". The recent increase in the USPS Parcel Post rate raises the domestic shipping cost to $3. I'm selling the board for $8, and that includes domestic shipping. Foreign buyers, I'm not sure what to do. The USPS charges about $14 minimum to send a parcel outside the US. If there's a group in the EU and it offers some advantage, perhaps one person could serve as a clearing house for the group; same for the Pacific Rim countries.

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Anyway, I apologize for not bringing out the mods in a timely fashion. I am still going to work on them as I think Dennis' design is first rate and is more than worth the effort it takes to complete his design. I have already uploaded the latest version of the manual to the group's site. It also includes a small trouble shooting section to reflect several of the questions that have come up over time. Take a look at the manual and see if you might want to help port Allard's code over to the Mega platform. I'll be happy to help those who would like to do so.

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Jack, W8TEE