Re: W8TEE TFT /VFO BOARD Features?
The manual is not done yet and more will be added as Dennis and I finish the board(s). Attached is a? picture of the top of my case. The 3 NO pushbottom switches on the top of the case correspond (left to? right) to the SW? fields on the display. In picture number 2 you can see field SW 1 has a 1 display in it.? This means that switch 1(i.e., SW1) is tied to the 1st message in the message queque. The 1st message is displayed at the bottom of the display (i.e., "CQ CQ CQ DE W8TEE"). So if you pressed the left-most push button on the top of the case, the message "CQ CQ CQ DE W8TEE" would be sent in Morse code. Likewise SW2 is tied to message 2 and SW3 is tied to message 3. You can scroll through the fields to review/change the message number. There is enough room for 50 different messages.?
Right now, we have not added code for digital modes. However, right now, I am only using less than 38K of 256K of flash memory (15%) and 1912 bytes (23%) of the 8K SRAM memory, so there is plenty of room to add features. Allard's code should be modifiable for the USB/LSB needs.
We're using the AD9850 chip and are currently not doing anything with the other outputs.
The CW mode will have tune capability, but unlike some other approaches, we produce the CW mode on a secondary board along with AGC and speech compression.
Jack, W8TEE
From: Joe <joeman2116@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2017 10:57 PM
Subject: [BITX20] W8TEE TFT /VFO BOARD Features?
Jack,
Thanks for the latest releases....
?
I have been going over the new manual ?and have the board nearly all done..
Just waiting for some chokes and some 78L08..
?
I have a few questions:
?
1. In the manual, on the display there is sw1 sw2 sw3 ? what is that?
?
2.How do I select USB /LSB? I use the digital modes such as jt 65
?
3. Is there a vfo option - more ?than one vfo? vfoA / vfoB etc or freq storeage so one can jump to saved locations.?
?
4. When putting the bitx in tx is there tune option ?(a carrier for the tuner tuneup)?
?
Joe
VE1BWV
|
Re: add yourself to the new BITX operators map
I just added myself and added a photo of my shack.?
|
Hi Everyone,
Trying to get an idea of what the best mic is to use with the bitx40? I would like to buy one that has documentation on interfacing with the radio as well. So what is everyone using? Besides the element that's provided of course.
73 Matt
W5LL
Sent from my iPhone 7
|
Re: W8TEE Pricing for Foreign Orders
Do you have any pics of the boards and sizr by any chance
On 11 Jun. 2017 1:03 pm, "Jack Purdum via Groups.Io" <econjack= [email protected]> wrote: There's been some confusion about foreign orders. The weight of the boards is such that I can send up to 4 boards for the same mailing cost. Therefore, in an effort to try and save you some cash on multiple boards, use this schedule of (US$) prices:
? ?Number of Boards ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Cost
? ? ? ?1 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? $15.00
? ? ? ?2 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? $22.50
? ? ? ?3 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? $30.00
? ? ? ?4 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? $37.50
Clearly, if you have friends who want a board, bundle the order together to save a few dollars.
Jack, W8TEE
|
W8TEE Pricing for Foreign Orders
There's been some confusion about foreign orders. The weight of the boards is such that I can send up to 4 boards for the same mailing cost. Therefore, in an effort to try and save you some cash on multiple boards, use this schedule of (US$) prices:
? ?Number of Boards ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Cost
? ? ? ?1 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? $15.00
? ? ? ?2 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? $22.50
? ? ? ?3 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? $30.00
? ? ? ?4 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? $37.50
Clearly, if you have friends who want a board, bundle the order together to save a few dollars.
Jack, W8TEE
|
W8TEE TFT /VFO BOARD Features?
Jack,
Thanks for the latest releases....
?
I have been going over the new manual ?and have the board nearly all done..
Just waiting for some chokes and some 78L08..
?
I have a few questions:
?
1. In the manual, on the display there is sw1 sw2 sw3 ? what is that?
?
2.How do I select USB /LSB? I use the digital modes such as jt 65
?
3. Is there a vfo option - more ?than one vfo? vfoA / vfoB etc or freq storeage so one can jump to saved locations.?
?
4. When putting the bitx in tx is there tune option ?(a carrier for the tuner tuneup)?
?
Joe
VE1BWV
|
Re: TFT/VFO Code and PCB Update
Just sent the parts list out.
Jack, W8TEE
From: N8DAH <Dherron@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2017 7:20 PM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] TFT/VFO Code and PCB Update
Order sent I need to get a BOM can't find one or do I pull it from the Manual?
?
?73
? Now I need to get a bitx
David
?N8DAH
?
|
W8TEE Parts List for TFT/VFO
|
The good news is that D7 blowing makes a whole lot more sense.
The bad new is that it blows if the power supply leads to the Bitx40 are reversed.
I'm having a hard time imagining any other reason for it to blow, except maybe a faulty diode to begin with.
I suppose it could have been stuffed backwards, though a quick power-up at hfsigs should have caught that.
Jerry, KE7ER
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 04:33 pm, <mattcarus@...> wrote:
Based on the picture (I don't have the board with me now) it's actually D7 that has blown, not D6.
?
|
Ok, I feel like an idiot now...
Based on the picture (I don't have the board with me now) it's actually D7 that has blown, not D6.
Apologies for wasting your time!
Matt 2E1HNK
|
Re: TFT/VFO Code and PCB Update
Order sent I need to get a BOM can't find one or do I pull it from the Manual?
?
?73
? Now I need to get a bitx
David
?N8DAH
?
|
L3 is fully isolated for DC by the three caps around it, so shorting L3 to C130A1 should not have done much.
Make sure both wires of L3 are still soldered to the board or receive will be deaf and transmit dumb.
Are you sure it was D6 (into Q6 collector) that was fried? ?
If so, this is all very puzzling.?
Any other hints as to what was happening when D6 blew?
D6 is only powered when the rig is transmitting, when it blew the TX rail likely had power on it for some reason.
If the IRF510 is only powered by 12v or so, it's probably fine even if it was transmitting into no load.
If it did blow, they are very cheap and easy to replace. ?The damage would be confined to the IRF510.
At any rate, so far so good.
I have no reason to think you did serious damage.
Jerry, KE7ER
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 02:41 pm, <mattcarus@...> wrote:
Right, taken another look at the board and the good news is that I didn't reverse the polarity! There are no obvious solder bridges or damaged tracks etc either which is good, however I did notice that one of the inductors (L3) was bent over and resting against the relay side of C130A1 (photo hopefully attached). I assume that this isn't good but my expertise doesn't stretch to knowing exactly how bad it is. Probably also worth mentioning that there was no antenna/dummy load attached so maybe the L3/C130A1 short put the board into transmit but there was no load?
?
|
Re: TFT/VFO Code and PCB Update
Hi Bill, I¡¯d like to take a board if you get a couple,
73s? John VK2VOL
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 11 Jun 2017, at 8:24 am, William R Maxwell < wrmaxwell@...> wrote:
Hi Jack I think a little
more clarification on the international order cost would be
helpful.
"4 boards go for the
price of 1" That suggests that 2
or 3 boards? could also go for the price of 1. If that is so,
what would be the total price be for 2 boards ..... $15.00 for
first +$7.50 for the second, $22.50 in total? $30.00 total for
3, $37.50 for 4? By the way, my
earlier offer to act as a VK/ZL group distributor, at cost,
stands although I fully understand if you prefer to use the
direct mail approach you have outlined.. Bill, VK7MX
On 11/06/2017 3:32 AM, Jack Purdum via
Groups.Io wrote:
All:
Attached is an updated assembly manual for the TFT/VFO PCB I
talked about at FDIM. Read the manual completely before building
the board. I am also attaching the code for the TFT display and
the VFO. There are two code files and there are directions for
setting up those files for the Arduino IDE in the manual.
Hopefully, the code is fairly easy to read. Some things I'm happy
about; others I'm not. First, even without calibrating the AD9850,
the frequency error is only 0.0000087% at 7MHz. After calibration
(as explained in the manual), I cannot measure the error...if
there is one. It looks dead-nuts on to me. Second, the keyer is
simple, but works. I haven't told how to add the CW message
switches yet, but most of you know how to do that. (I will be
adding it to the manual, but wanted to get this out there ASAP.)
Also, you can add paddles from your keyer and use the rig as a
code practice oscillator right now. Dennis is finishing up the CW
(and other) mods so I will have to change the code what that gets
finished. And that's what I'm not happy about: The AGC, S meter,
speech compressor, and CW mode is not implemented yet. You'll have
that as soon as we get it done.
Note, the code is NOT a replacement for the work done by Allard.
My PCB uses the Arduino MEGA 2560 Pro Mini and the Ad9850 (Type
II) board which is vastly different that the Raduino board shipped
with the standard BITX40.
I have more PCB's now and can begin shipping those. If you wanted
multiple boards, but only got one before, please reorder. On
foreign orders, I tried sending two orders as First Class mail in
an envelop to get the costs down. One came back; hopefully the
other one made it through. But, I'm not going to take the chance.
All boards will go Parcel Post from now on. If you are in a
foreign country, 4 boards go for the price of 1, so combine orders
if you have a friend who wants one. Sorry guys, but foreign orders
are $15, period. The additional postage averages about $11 and I
have to fill out the export forms, which is a pain in the butt.
Trust me, I'm not getting rich on you guys. US orders are still
$7.50. Please note:
1. My paypal account is: ? econjack@... ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ?(please don't use any other account)
2. When you pay, there is a place where you can add a note: please
write your shipping address in that note.
If you find bugs in the software, let me know as soon as possible
and I'll try to correct them as fast as I can.
Jack, W8TEE
|
Re: TFT/VFO Code and PCB Update
Hi Jack
I think a little
more clarification on the international order cost would be
helpful.
"4 boards go for the
price of 1"
That suggests that 2
or 3 boards? could also go for the price of 1. If that is so,
what would be the total price be for 2 boards ..... $15.00 for
first +$7.50 for the second, $22.50 in total? $30.00 total for
3, $37.50 for 4?
By the way, my
earlier offer to act as a VK/ZL group distributor, at cost,
stands although I fully understand if you prefer to use the
direct mail approach you have outlined..
Bill, VK7MX
On 11/06/2017 3:32 AM, Jack Purdum via
Groups.Io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
All:
Attached is an updated assembly manual for the TFT/VFO PCB I
talked about at FDIM. Read the manual completely before building
the board. I am also attaching the code for the TFT display and
the VFO. There are two code files and there are directions for
setting up those files for the Arduino IDE in the manual.
Hopefully, the code is fairly easy to read. Some things I'm happy
about; others I'm not. First, even without calibrating the AD9850,
the frequency error is only 0.0000087% at 7MHz. After calibration
(as explained in the manual), I cannot measure the error...if
there is one. It looks dead-nuts on to me. Second, the keyer is
simple, but works. I haven't told how to add the CW message
switches yet, but most of you know how to do that. (I will be
adding it to the manual, but wanted to get this out there ASAP.)
Also, you can add paddles from your keyer and use the rig as a
code practice oscillator right now. Dennis is finishing up the CW
(and other) mods so I will have to change the code what that gets
finished. And that's what I'm not happy about: The AGC, S meter,
speech compressor, and CW mode is not implemented yet. You'll have
that as soon as we get it done.
Note, the code is NOT a replacement for the work done by Allard.
My PCB uses the Arduino MEGA 2560 Pro Mini and the Ad9850 (Type
II) board which is vastly different that the Raduino board shipped
with the standard BITX40.
I have more PCB's now and can begin shipping those. If you wanted
multiple boards, but only got one before, please reorder. On
foreign orders, I tried sending two orders as First Class mail in
an envelop to get the costs down. One came back; hopefully the
other one made it through. But, I'm not going to take the chance.
All boards will go Parcel Post from now on. If you are in a
foreign country, 4 boards go for the price of 1, so combine orders
if you have a friend who wants one. Sorry guys, but foreign orders
are $15, period. The additional postage averages about $11 and I
have to fill out the export forms, which is a pain in the butt.
Trust me, I'm not getting rich on you guys. US orders are still
$7.50. Please note:
1. My paypal account is: ? econjack@... ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ?(please don't use any other account)
2. When you pay, there is a place where you can add a note: please
write your shipping address in that note.
If you find bugs in the software, let me know as soon as possible
and I'll try to correct them as fast as I can.
Jack, W8TEE
|
Re: Raduino V1.01 vs V1.14 Birdie at 7.200
As mentioned already please try v1.14.1
Please also make sure you're using the correct SI5351 library. It MUST be v2.01 (later versions are known for strong tuning clicks).
If it doesn't work for you you can always try earlier versions with less functionality.
All earlier releases are available at
For example v1.04 supports 10-turn tuning pot, but it doesn't have all the extra functions yet.
73 Allard PE1NWL
|
Trying photo again... 
|
Right, taken another look at the board and the good news is that I didn't reverse the polarity! There are no obvious solder bridges or damaged tracks etc either which is good, however I did notice that one of the inductors (L3) was bent over and resting against the relay side of C130A1 (photo hopefully attached). I assume that this isn't good but my expertise doesn't stretch to knowing exactly how bad it is. Probably also worth mentioning that there was no antenna/dummy load attached so maybe the L3/C130A1 short put the board into transmit but there was no load?
Would appreciate someone with more knowledge than me assessing how extensive the damage is likely to be?
Many thanks!
Matt 2E1HNK
|
Re: Keeps getting better Bitx40
Its the VK3YE AGC circuit, available videos in 3 parts from youtube.? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ5JEPRiPoM&t=263s
BC548 diagram?  Sometimes its the simple things that trip us up, Used to spend hours with OC71 & OC81 transistors, but that was years ago.... Cough cough..... 40+ years ago, mind forgets things.
Phil - G7BZD
On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 9:54 PM, Joe <joeman2116@...> wrote: Do you have a picture of the schematic with the corrected transistor pinout?
thanks
Joe VE1BWV
|
Re: Keeps getting better Bitx40
Do you have a picture of the schematic with the corrected transistor pinout?
thanks
Joe VE1BWV
On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 10:58 AM, philip yates <phil@...> wrote: Thought I would add the VK3YE AGC.
Anyway after several hours of pondering over the strip board built non working AGC, I had a call from Wife... can I take?
fresh towels down to the beach for the Grad kids.
Got back, fresh eyes, transistor pinout I had found on the web was wrong. Swapped the round, and all seems to be nicely
working now, I even attached the re-claimed S meter from an old Trio transceiver. Alls works well now, just have to make a
better PCB up for the final build, and add the external pot and bypass switch.
This bItx40 just keeps getting better, could take a while to get it into its case tho.....
Phil - G7BZD
|
Re: Raduino V1.01 vs V1.14 Birdie at 7.200
there is only VFO, Cal. Button and Mic. connected in my Bitx40, I am only going to use it on LSB !
I have a lot of 7MHz CW Rigs from about 200mW to 750mW and there is a Regen set on workbench for CW ( 7.000 to 7.100 MHz ) in two version..... one for about 2 W and one for 30 W
|
Chris Viningre
Matt Carus
N8DAH
Allard PE1NWL
