Note that without a RF gain control you have to jockey the volume control to keep the signal out of the red when a strong signal blasts.
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Whoops. I just posted info on the ubitx Raspberry pi setup. Working great after a long day of troubleshooting and cussing at Linux. ?Nice setup.
Going to figure out the no computer required WSPR mode outlined in the CEC firmware. Bo W4GHV?
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Jack
the JacKAl board looks great.? The CW filtering options are first rate.? The second encoder is excellent!
Audio filtering is nice as are all the options..
Good Work!!
Bill K6SIK
On Monday, May 21, 2018 8:48 AM, Steve Black via Groups.Io <kb1chu@...> wrote:
Why over think this one. Duct tape. Now in matching colors! Steve kb1chu
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message -------- From: Terry Morris <terry.kb8amz@...> Date: 5/21/18 10:45 AM (GMT-05:00) Subject: Re: [BITX20] JackAl Board Debut
Some options to fix the "scoot" problem: a large 'C' clamp strapping from a chimney antenna mount
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On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 02:02 am, Tom, wb6b wrote:
Hi,
I've managed to get the CEC uBITX Memory Manager running and the uBITX_CEC firmware uploaded to my uBITX from my Mac.
uBITX Manager:
I have Microsoft Visual Studio Community (a free version) already install on my Mac, so Mono was already installed. When I first tried to run?uBITX_Manager it crashed with the warning "The Carbon driver has not been ported to 64bits, and very few parts of Windows.Forms will work properly, or at all".
After a little Googling I found the solution was to run mono in the 32 bit mode with the following command:
mono --arch=32 uBITX_Manager.exe
The uBITX Manager UI runs painfully slow on the Mac. Scrolling is next to impossible. But, with patients it is useful. The buttons will be covered over often, but just hover the mouse over them to bring them back.
The manager crashed when connecting to the USB serial chip unless the "Linux" mode check box was checked.
Also, I already had the USB serial driver installed because I'd purchased a temperature logger from this company "Elitech" and the driver was included with their software. However, the Mac "Homebrew" installer now has an updated signed driver for the CH340 chip. I found this on Github:??
uBITX CEC Firmware Upload:
I decided the best way to upload the firmware was through the Arduino sketch IDE. I downloaded the firmware source code and compiled it. The only issue I had with comping the code was I named the base directory with the version number of the code as part of the name. The source code wants to be in a directory named ubitx_20. I installed this directory under the "~/Documents/Arduino/" directory where all my other sketches are located. I have a fair number of libraries already installed, so it is possible you may need to add a library here or there if the CEC uBITX firmware needs any other libraries.
Running the Firmware:
The firmware seems to be running just fine. I used the uBITX Manager to copy the memory values from my Radiuno and save them to a file. I'm particularly interested in using the CAT interface to control my uBITX from a Raspberry Pi.
This software and the fact that it exposes all the memory settings, may have already started to point to some of the mysteries involving my radio. I have noticed my receiver is about 100hz low on sideband signals. That is no big deal. However, it looks like my transmitter frequency is about 1khz low on CW. I can't quite wrap my head around the standard factory setup calibration method and if it could result in an unwanted difference in the transmit and receive frequency calibrations (or fix it).?
I wanted to try the IF shift to get a handle of where my radio may be operating in the 12Mhz crystal filter bandpass. Interestingly, tuning the IF shift up a kHz makes the received SSB signals much clearer. So, maybe my uBITX is out of calibration.?
There truly are a lot of numbers and such to digest in the uBITX Manager, but I'll read the posts (and the synthesizer chip's app notes) on how the calculations are done and then I'll know for sure when my radio is calibrated. At least now, rather than not quite knowing what the assumptions are in the factory calibration, I can directly experiment with the values to understand them and see what works.?
Tom, wb6b
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Google Steve Ellington ?or DX60 on YouTube. He made a nice one for that rig. W4GHV?
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In addition to that your finals are not protected either.?
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On May 21, 2018, at 10:11, Ralph Mowery < rmowery42@...> wrote: I used a fuse holder like that.? However I put it external to the ubitx in line with the positive lead of the power cord.? That way if you install the reverse polarity diode across the power connector and hook the wires up in reverse, the diode will often short our and blow the fuse before any damage to the ubitx boards.? It looks like you installed the fuse after that diode.
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Re: RF power chain mods and improvements..
Once I get into the firmware then I make what I want.? I'm seriously considering
an interface without the rotary encoder.? Hows this... Up and down button
tht increments/decrements at the current setting for step size.? the operation is
shot push one step, push and hold increment at fixed rate like keyboards do.
I also want a non-menu system (save maybe for cal) so more buttons for things like
band, Rit, VFO select, Upper/lower and so on.
I may drop in Ian's version to try.? Right now I want to test the power chain.
Allison
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Re: pin 2 of raduino board seems to have gone to CW TX full time after boot message.
Based on volume prices I cannot see why they would use scrapings.
The 328 in the 32pin smt is a dirt cheap part, even digikey get only 1.245$ at 100pcs and
it gets under a buck at higher volumes (5000 piece reel).? Digikey is not the cheapest around.
The actual part is assembled elsewhere so boards are likely assembled elsewhere.
Its not like there is engineering involved as its already defines and the bootloader
is out there too.
I picked up a while back via amazon 10 pro-minis for about 2.35 each!?
If I have to I can substitute the pro-mini with a bunch of wires to put the right mini pins
at the Raduinos nano's locations for them.? I don't need or want USB cat and both
boards use the exact same chip.? I have a proto Raduino using a pro-mini,
Adafruit Si5351 board and a cheap backlit 2x16 LCD.? Words exactly the same
save for I use a FTDI RS232TTL-3V3 to program it instead of a usb cord and set?
IDE for the demilove rather than nano.
Allison
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Re: RF power chain mods and improvements..
Good tests Allison in the band changing that is where Ian¡¯s firmware shines, two presses of the encoder and your able to jump from band to band.? I didn¡¯t get time to play but I pulled out two binocular cores for winding new transformers. I¡¯ve got 2N2222A¡¯s in SM package to try in at Q90, I¡¯ll let you know the results.?
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On May 21, 2018, at 11:39, ajparent1/KB1GMX < kb1gmx@...> wrote: Since I had the 2n2369 and 2n2222A I put them in.
Q90 is 2n2369A
The rest (6 in all) are 2n2222A...
The test was done this way set the pot for 80M and 10W.? test all bands with no voltage or pot changes.
FYI this unit on 80m and 13V does about 13W and nearly that much 11.7W on 40M with the pot at max.
However my goal is to get 20m and up to better than 5W with the pot set to 10 at 80.
Results:
80m (pot set for 10W)? (this made not significant change)
40M 9.8w? ? Significant improvement over the prior parts (6.5W)
20M 5.7W? ?disappointing, no improvement
10m 1.9W? ?Better than the previous 1.4, but not much!
The 2n2222A is very much similar to the 2219A (same die) and I've used a pair pushpull
as an instrumentation power amp with a fairly flat 300mW output to 30mhz so it indicates
there are other factors at work.? I am eyeing the Driver and output transformers.?
I'll make up some different transformers and try them as I'm sure to not see the ordered
parts for a week.
One thing I wish the software had is an easy band change.too much cranking the encoder to get
from 80 to 10.
Allison
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Why over think this one. Duct tape. Now in matching colors! Steve kb1chu
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-------- Original message -------- From: Terry Morris <terry.kb8amz@...> Date: 5/21/18 10:45 AM (GMT-05:00) Subject: Re: [BITX20] JackAl Board Debut
Some options to fix the "scoot" problem: a large 'C' clamp strapping from a chimney antenna mount
|
Re: RF power chain mods and improvements..
Since I had the 2n2369 and 2n2222A I put them in.
Q90 is 2n2369A
The rest (6 in all) are 2n2222A...
The test was done this way set the pot for 80M and 10W.? test all bands with no voltage or pot changes.
FYI this unit on 80m and 13V does about 13W and nearly that much 11.7W on 40M with the pot at max.
However my goal is to get 20m and up to better than 5W with the pot set to 10 at 80.
Results:
80m (pot set for 10W)? (this made not significant change)
40M 9.8w? ? Significant improvement over the prior parts (6.5W)
20M 5.7W? ?disappointing, no improvement
10m 1.9W? ?Better than the previous 1.4, but not much!
The 2n2222A is very much similar to the 2219A (same die) and I've used a pair pushpull
as an instrumentation power amp with a fairly flat 300mW output to 30mhz so it indicates
there are other factors at work.? I am eyeing the Driver and output transformers.?
I'll make up some different transformers and try them as I'm sure to not see the ordered
parts for a week.
One thing I wish the software had is an easy band change.too much cranking the encoder to get
from 80 to 10.
Allison
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Re: pin 2 of raduino board seems to have gone to CW TX full time after boot message.
I have two Nano's here in my hand, one from a US dealer via Amazon and the
other from a Chinese seller via Ebay.? Looking at both with 10X magnification
I see no difference.? Even the lettering is identical.? This makes me believe that
either the Chinese are buying US made Nano or US dealers are buying and
reselling Chinese made Nano.? Another possibility is that all of them may be
made in some 3rd country, maybe Mexico.? In today's global manufacturing
environment it is possible that all the Arduino Nano devices are made in one
place and sold by a myriad of dealers all over the world.
Arv
_._
On Sun, May 20, 2018 at 9:32 PM, Mike <msmith@...> wrote: Best solution:
They're?inexpensive enough to keep a half dozen Nano's or Mini's on hand.?
I've destroyed many by tinkering.
Also, my experience is it doesn't matter much who the vendor is - they're all made with same quality from the same gerbers and components. It's just of matter of waiting?on a Chinese vendor or paying an extra dollar to get them more quickly from a US vendor.
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Re: Headphone jack retaining nut
tirIf you still need one let me know. I bought a bag of replacements since soldering them twice usually melts them. I have leftovers from the original.? I rewired A little confusing since the replacements had a different wiring pattern. Bo W4GHV since '54
On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 11:17 AM Tom Frobase < tfrobase@...> wrote: I have some if you have not found one already ... tom, N3LLL
On Sun, May 20, 2018 at 12:33 PM, brad martin <emclinux@...> wrote:
> Anyone know where I can get the retaining nut for the headphone jack?? Mine
> was missing in the bag of parts. I know I can Get get them by getting some more
> of the jacks but I only need one and really have no need for a bag of 10
> just for the little nut.
>
> Brad
>
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Re: boosting the power on 28 MHz
#ubitx
Looks correct?
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
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-------- Original message -------- From: atouk <atouk@...> Date: 21/05/2018 16:13 (GMT+00:00) Subject: Re: [BITX20] boosting the power on 28 MHz #ubitx
Since it's always nice to have someone doublecheck your work, would this be the proper place to add the cap if you mount it on top of the board? Henry N2VFL
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Very nice Jack and Al. It was good to see a wooden breadboard/plaque as the base to give it the "down to earth" perspective.
In anticipation, I had, but didn't need, my brown paper bag (to prevent hyperventilation).?
Great use of a color TFTs?
EasyEDA does not only boards but also will do assembly work.....but that may be "handing the design to them". Advanced Circuits also does assembly work as do some local business here in Austin. You might ask where Midnight Solutions (George Herron) has his NUE-PSK boards assembled today.
73 Kees K5BCQ??
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Re: RF power chain mods and improvements..
That might work in the Q90 spot, maybe a pair in the predriver.? Try them and let me know.
I hadn't considered that one as I'ts been maybe 35-40 years since I've put them in circuits.
I'm surprised its not long extinct.? I'd have to check to see if there is a reliable supply anymore.
I checked the big three and its likely unobtainium ( I have 9 of them in my stock, that proves it!).
If I had to put up a list of maybe this would work of all the possible devices it would number
in the hundreds if not more.? There are over 8000 2nxxx parts alone to pick from then
2SC, 2SD, MRF, SRF, BLF...? Not enough hours or days.
Allison
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Re: Headphone jack retaining nut
I have some if you have not found one already ... tom, N3LLL
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Show quoted text
On Sun, May 20, 2018 at 12:33 PM, brad martin <emclinux@...> wrote: Anyone know where I can get the retaining nut for the headphone jack? Mine
was missing in the bag of parts. I know I can get them by getting some more
of the jacks but I only need one and really have no need for a bag of 10
just for the little nut.
Brad
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Re: boosting the power on 28 MHz
#ubitx
Since it's always nice to have someone doublecheck your work, would this be the proper place to add the cap if you mount it on top of the board?
Henry
N2VFL
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We don't do polling on the frequency encoder, we use an interrupt. When you're cruising along at 180MHz, it's pretty responsive to what you're doing. If you have set the increment to 1Hz, that's what you get.
Jack, W8TEE
On Monday, May 21, 2018, 11:01:21 AM EDT, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io <jgaffke@...> wrote:
Here's an option to fix undesired tuning changes when pushing the encoder switch.
Within function read_enc()? which returns the number of encoder ticks that have occurred,
use the Arduino millis() call to determine how long it has been since the non-zero return value.
If there has been a pause in activity of more than 1000ms, then return a result of 0 encoder shaft ticks
but retain an internal copy of the total number of accumulated ticks since the last non-zero return.
When that total number of accumulated ticks exceeds some threshold, then go ahead and
give a non-zero return value, but only return the final encoder read, not the total accumulated ticks.
Giving only the final encoder read value and discarding the accumulated ticks allows me to
advance the knob by just a few hz without overshoot.?
And it doesn't involve any 10 penny nails:
Jerry, KE7ER
?
On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 07:14 am, Jack Purdum wrote:
Some options to fix the "scoot" problem:
?
?? some non-skid rubber feet
?? a 10-penny nail through the case
?? a SPDT CO switch wired to the TUNINGENCODERSWITCH pin
?
Jack, W8TEE
?
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Here's an option to fix undesired tuning changes when pushing the encoder switch.
Within function read_enc()? which returns the number of encoder ticks that have occurred,
use the Arduino millis() call to determine how long it has been since the non-zero return value.
If there has been a pause in activity of more than 1000ms, then return a result of 0 encoder shaft ticks
but retain an internal copy of the total number of accumulated ticks since the last non-zero return.
When that total number of accumulated ticks exceeds some threshold, then go ahead and
give a non-zero return value, but only return the final encoder read, not the total accumulated ticks.
Giving only the final encoder read value and discarding the accumulated ticks allows me to
advance the knob by just a few hz without overshoot.?
And it doesn't involve any 10 penny nails:
Jerry, KE7ER
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 07:14 am, Jack Purdum wrote:
Some options to fix the "scoot" problem:
?
?? some non-skid rubber feet
?? a 10-penny nail through the case
?? a SPDT CO switch wired to the TUNINGENCODERSWITCH pin
?
Jack, W8TEE
?
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Skip Davis
atouk
