¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Date

Re: Anyone working With Nextion HMI LCD Touch Displays and UBITX?

 

Haven't tried that specific one but I have an Rpi with a 7" TFT with touch.? Power required i
s about that of the Rpi.? But it looks good and is really nice to use.

However using it with a Raduino is likely a bit tough as its compute intensive and IO too.
STMF4 or Cypress CY8CKit-049-42xx.

The Cypress family is handy as its PSoC peripherals allow some programable CLBs for
custom interfaces.? That and 32 bit ARM at 40Mhz 32k falsh and 4K ram (plus ADC,
serial, lots of IO) makes a nice step up.

Allison


Socketing a Nano to the other side of the Raduino

 

We would like to socket the Nano, but then the standard display doesn't fit,
If we extend the pins to make it fit, then we may have to redo our enclosure
to give the display some extra room.

Here's a possible solution:

Remove Nano from the Raduino, add socket strips to the other side of the Raduino,
Get a Nano with the pins not yet installed:
? ??
Solder them pins to the top side of the Nano.
Plug and play.

Bad news is that the Nano is now sitting right above the RF part of the uBitx,
no longer shielded by the Raduino's ground plane.
So the audio tone issue could be the next issue to solve.

Fortunately, the CH340 is now easy to remove/disable, use a USB-to-UART cable assembly instead.

Perhaps hang caps on the 16mhz resonator to bring it down in frequency,
or replace it with a non-16mhz crystal?? Drive it from the BFO?

Or tinfoil and duct tape?

Jerry, KE7ER


Re: RF power chain mods and improvements..

 

Here is where i'm at...

This is experiments 101, interim progress.

While waiting for parts, used whats on hand:
Made Q90 a 2n2369A smt part, Better gain bandwith product (ft) gain maintains at higher frequency (also lowered bias)
I installed 6 2n2222A in the predriver and driver.? (HFE hold up at high current(
Put 470 pf across R82 ( gain increases with frequency.
Placed 390pf cap from top of RV1 to the wiper? (only works if your not maxed out!)
? ?The trick here is couple more rf through RV1 with increasing frequency.? If it is all the
? ?way up its hard to get more vis this path.
Put 3.3uH inductor in series with R86 (allows decreasing feedback with frequency)

Turned up the bias on the IRF510s. I'm running at 210ma per device!??
Doing this really helped the output power at 20M and up.
Key down at 10W is 2A.

Power set to 10W at 12.0 V 3.6mhz
40m? ? 10.3w
30M? ? 6W? ???? output low pass filter??
20m? ? ?9.8w
17M? ? ?7.5w ???? low pass filter again??
15M? ? ? 8w
12M? ? ? 8.5W
10M? ? ? 8W? ? ? ? ?

This is still interim testing and I have many more things to try.
It does confirm that the performance can be more uniform.

I'm perplexed that 30M and 17M is so low, it may be the low pass filter in use.

The only problem I see with 210ma per device is the no-modulation standing current is .8A
which is not battery friendly but maybe what we need.? They do not seen to heat much.?
It suggests T11 is less?than optimum.

I need to try improved output transformer both 1:1 (2t:2t) and 1:2 (2t:3T) on
bn43-6802 (and bn61-6802).? I may also try a different configuration driver
transformer.

This IS NOT FINAL, net even close. I need to see what it looks like with spectrum analyzer.?
The final result will be put up with pictures and explanation of what, where, and how.
Patience please.


Allison


Re: Nextion Display

 

I was wondering if you would share your hmi file.? I am thinking of trying the Nextion display and would appreciate a starting place for the display.
What model are you using?
I was thinking? of either the 3.5 or 5 inch

Thanks
joe
VE1BWV


Re: Anyone working With Nextion HMI LCD Touch Displays and UBITX?

 

Thanks!



Joe
VE1BWV

On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 10:35 PM, Doug W <dougwilner@...> wrote:
There was a thread a few months back...
/g/BITX20/topic/9607885



Re: Anyone working With Nextion HMI LCD Touch Displays and UBITX?

 

There was a thread a few months back...
/g/BITX20/topic/9607885


Anyone working With Nextion HMI LCD Touch Displays and UBITX?

 

Hi,
I have been working with the regular LCD and TFT Touch displays and was wondering if anyone in our group had ventured into the Nextion Touch Displays?

They appear to be an excellent alternate to the regular TFT touch displays and are nearly the same price.
The big thing i see is it has a full micro-controller on board so virtually no load on the Arduino micro-controller and only 2 wires required to exchange data.

With the current nano as the processor it does not take much to bog it down so using Nextion? Touch displays would provide much improved visual enhancements

Free software is available? to build your graphic display, and emulate functions before uploading to the Display...

Just throwing this out to the group for feedback.

Joe
VE1BWV


Re: boosting the power on 28 MHz #ubitx

Daniel Conklin
 

Please let us know how well it works for you.
Dan, W2DLC


Re: JackAl Board Debut

 

Jack and Al,

This is really quite fantastic; well done!?

All my best,

Mike


Re: Encoder issue Raduino Replacements

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I can't answer what is you favorite BitX or uBit software.?? It is up to you to load what you want eventually.
I can load what ever you want.? I just need the link for what you want.
I can use Arduino IDE to load it.
You need to be able to load the Nano with Arduino IDE, it is Wonderful and fairly simple.? That is a basic leaning curve!

You can email me for more specific documents. motdog at verizon dot net, please don't reply on the list.

There are "better" features, but the software is in the Nano, just like original Raduino.
RaduinoX is for the BitX40.? Adds lots of connectors and features.
RaduinoUMax for the uBit, adds 16 I/O pins for expansion using a Microchip part and library available on line.
They both plug in for original compatibility.
I have lots of bare PCBs for DIY folks.

TNX
Mike

On 5/21/2018 4:30 PM, Mike aka KC2WVB wrote:
Michael Hagen,?

I'd love to buy one that I can just swap out and swap in.?
I don't have an IDE for the Raduino/Arduino nor do I have a linux based computer anymore so I prefer a replacement that is already stuffed full of the compiled software so that it runs at the get go. IDE's and the such I will pick up later, right now I just want to see the radio working.
Tell me how to proceed and I will buy one.

Thanks
Mike

On Mon, May 21, 2018, 6:57 PM Michael Hagen <motdog@...> wrote:

I have Raduino replacements for both Bitx and uBit.

Bare PCBs and some built and tested.

Much improved and more features.

email motdog at verizon dot net for info.

I have sold over 60 to the folks on this list.? Good Stuff.

Just ask those that have them.

TNX

Mike, WA6ISP


On 5/21/2018 3:26 PM, Mike aka KC2WVB wrote:
I was away for a few days and just tested the voltage off the 8 Pin outs of the Raduino board using a wall wart for power and yellow number 4 as ground.

From pin out 3 to 8 the voltage read 4.68 volts dc. Pin out 1 is not used but was giving random mil volt readings and so was pin out 2 which maps to the keyer.

With the encoder removed and the radio powered up I grounded red, pin out 6 to yellow which is what the encoder does when the shaft is depressed. This, I think, should have taken me into the standard menu but it did not seem to. It gave me two options one was do you want to change bands? The next momentary grounding of red to yellow said press to confirm and the last momentary grounding of red to yellow took the radio back to the frequency display. This does not seem right unless you have to unlock all the other menu features, so in spite of the voltage readings being seemingly OK I am thinking the Raduino is out to lunch.

Could you be so kind as to give me the contact information or web page from which you ordered your new Raduino from? I think I will have to do the same and can't seem to find the spare parts page.

Thanks and good luck on your radio.

Mike

On May 18, 2018 5:55 PM, "kj6etl" <pa1zz@...> wrote:
I have almost the exact same issue with my uBitx!!!!

I spend many hours trying to diagnose this problem at the end you can narrow it down to this:

  1. Disconnect the raduino board from the main board
  2. Disconnect the main connector
  3. Power it with a USB cable
  4. Measure voltage between pin 4 and 6 (Yellow to Red)
  5. It should read 5 Volt
It it doesn't read 5 Volt your Raduino board is bad and you have to replace it. So I ordered a new one ($35 shipping from India shigh..). Meantime bought a generic and will attempt to replace the failed one. Who knows I might have it working before the orignal board arrives.


-- 
Mike Hagen, WA6ISP
10917 Bryant Street
Yucaipa, Ca. 92399
(909) 918-0058
PayPal ID  "MotDog@..."
Mike@...

-- 
Mike Hagen, WA6ISP
10917 Bryant Street
Yucaipa, Ca. 92399
(909) 918-0058
PayPal ID  "MotDog@..."
Mike@...


Re: pin 2 of raduino board seems to have gone to CW TX full time after boot message.

 

I'm pretty sure our Nano clones have a ceramic resonator.
After all, ceramic resonators are cheaper than crystals.

They are also smaller.
I measure the resonator on my Nano to be 3.2 x 1.3mm, (within 0.1mm),
so we likely have a Chinese clone of this product from Murata
? ??
The 16mhz resonator is parked to one side of the board, between the IC and the switch.
The 12mhz resonator for the CH340 USB chip is on the other side of the Nano, inaccessible if soldered down.

Note that Murata claims an accuracy of +/- 0.5%.
So the 16mhz oscillator could be off by up to 80khz (or worse on a clone?).
Much of that variance is due to temperature so those having trouble
with audio tones on their uBitx might try adjusting the room thermostat.
If that doesn't work, maybe a propane torch.? ?;-)

Jerry, KE7ER


On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 03:27 pm, Arv Evans wrote:
You are correct about there being two different types of USB-to-TTL chips used in Arduino
Nano boards.? The original FTDI FT232RL device is expensive and has been replaced by
a less expensive CH-340G device.? For Linux users this is not a problem, both versions "just
work".? I do not do windows but have heard that there may be a driver needed for the less
expensive USB chip.? OS-X also may have problems interfacing either chip without a driver
change but I cannot verify that.?

I use several of the Pro-mini boards because that eliminates a 12 MHz USB oscillator and
minimizes possibility of mixing products from that source.? This works, but the plug-in adapter
that you need for PC interface to a Mini-pro has an on-board 12 MHz oscillator for the USB-to
-TTL conversion and thus re-introduces the 12 MHz issue if you leave it connected.

On a Nano there are two oscillators, 12 MHz for the FTDI chip and the 16 MHz one for
the AVR-328 micro-controller.? Either or both may be a ceramic resonator or real crystal.
I did find an Ebay vendor who provided 5 of the Mini-pro models with a real 16 MHz
crystal.? I use these as frequency counters with a 74HC4060 as a pre-scaler because the
real crystal version of Pro-mini seems more stable.?


Re: Encoder issue Raduino Replacements

Mike aka KC2WVB
 

Michael Hagen,?

I'd love to buy one that I can just swap out and swap in.?
I don't have an IDE for the Raduino/Arduino nor do I have a linux based computer anymore so I prefer a replacement that is already stuffed full of the compiled software so that it runs at the get go. IDE's and the such I will pick up later, right now I just want to see the radio working.
Tell me how to proceed and I will buy one.

Thanks
Mike

On Mon, May 21, 2018, 6:57 PM Michael Hagen <motdog@...> wrote:

I have Raduino replacements for both Bitx and uBit.

Bare PCBs and some built and tested.

Much improved and more features.

email motdog at verizon dot net for info.

I have sold over 60 to the folks on this list.? Good Stuff.

Just ask those that have them.

TNX

Mike, WA6ISP


On 5/21/2018 3:26 PM, Mike aka KC2WVB wrote:
I was away for a few days and just tested the voltage off the 8 Pin outs of the Raduino board using a wall wart for power and yellow number 4 as ground.

From pin out 3 to 8 the voltage read 4.68 volts dc. Pin out 1 is not used but was giving random mil volt readings and so was pin out 2 which maps to the keyer.

With the encoder removed and the radio powered up I grounded red, pin out 6 to yellow which is what the encoder does when the shaft is depressed. This, I think, should have taken me into the standard menu but it did not seem to. It gave me two options one was do you want to change bands? The next momentary grounding of red to yellow said press to confirm and the last momentary grounding of red to yellow took the radio back to the frequency display. This does not seem right unless you have to unlock all the other menu features, so in spite of the voltage readings being seemingly OK I am thinking the Raduino is out to lunch.

Could you be so kind as to give me the contact information or web page from which you ordered your new Raduino from? I think I will have to do the same and can't seem to find the spare parts page.

Thanks and good luck on your radio.

Mike

On May 18, 2018 5:55 PM, "kj6etl" <pa1zz@...> wrote:
I have almost the exact same issue with my uBitx!!!!

I spend many hours trying to diagnose this problem at the end you can narrow it down to this:

  1. Disconnect the raduino board from the main board
  2. Disconnect the main connector
  3. Power it with a USB cable
  4. Measure voltage between pin 4 and 6 (Yellow to Red)
  5. It should read 5 Volt
It it doesn't read 5 Volt your Raduino board is bad and you have to replace it. So I ordered a new one ($35 shipping from India shigh..). Meantime bought a generic and will attempt to replace the failed one. Who knows I might have it working before the orignal board arrives.


-- 
Mike Hagen, WA6ISP
10917 Bryant Street
Yucaipa, Ca. 92399
(909) 918-0058
PayPal ID  "MotDog@..."
Mike@...


Re: Encoder issue Raduino Replacements

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I have Raduino replacements for both Bitx and uBit.

Bare PCBs and some built and tested.

Much improved and more features.

email motdog at verizon dot net for info.

I have sold over 60 to the folks on this list.? Good Stuff.

Just ask those that have them.

TNX

Mike, WA6ISP


On 5/21/2018 3:26 PM, Mike aka KC2WVB wrote:
I was away for a few days and just tested the voltage off the 8 Pin outs of the Raduino board using a wall wart for power and yellow number 4 as ground.

From pin out 3 to 8 the voltage read 4.68 volts dc. Pin out 1 is not used but was giving random mil volt readings and so was pin out 2 which maps to the keyer.

With the encoder removed and the radio powered up I grounded red, pin out 6 to yellow which is what the encoder does when the shaft is depressed. This, I think, should have taken me into the standard menu but it did not seem to. It gave me two options one was do you want to change bands? The next momentary grounding of red to yellow said press to confirm and the last momentary grounding of red to yellow took the radio back to the frequency display. This does not seem right unless you have to unlock all the other menu features, so in spite of the voltage readings being seemingly OK I am thinking the Raduino is out to lunch.

Could you be so kind as to give me the contact information or web page from which you ordered your new Raduino from? I think I will have to do the same and can't seem to find the spare parts page.

Thanks and good luck on your radio.

Mike

On May 18, 2018 5:55 PM, "kj6etl" <pa1zz@...> wrote:
I have almost the exact same issue with my uBitx!!!!

I spend many hours trying to diagnose this problem at the end you can narrow it down to this:

  1. Disconnect the raduino board from the main board
  2. Disconnect the main connector
  3. Power it with a USB cable
  4. Measure voltage between pin 4 and 6 (Yellow to Red)
  5. It should read 5 Volt
It it doesn't read 5 Volt your Raduino board is bad and you have to replace it. So I ordered a new one ($35 shipping from India shigh..). Meantime bought a generic and will attempt to replace the failed one. Who knows I might have it working before the orignal board arrives.


-- 
Mike Hagen, WA6ISP
10917 Bryant Street
Yucaipa, Ca. 92399
(909) 918-0058
PayPal ID  "MotDog@..."
Mike@...


Re: pin 2 of raduino board seems to have gone to CW TX full time after boot message.

 

The CH340 otr the presvious part is one of the reasons I use the pro-mini.? The
ftdi-232ttl-3v3 is well supported and?an official item not the clone.? Its the
programming interface and? runs very fast as serial. I do serial at 57600 usually
for diag work.? As as you said it avoids the second oscillator and the power.

Most of what I do is often with the raw Atmega328p (28pin) critter as then I don't have
the board level baggage to deal with.? It also allows me to slow it down for lower power.?
Thought the Pro-mini saves me a lot of effort and has a bit more IO.

The real crystal version is much more stable.? ?However I don't bother using it for
frequency counter as various boards to do that are available and saves me time.
That and I must have at least 6 of them around especially the nice 8 digit good
to 2500mhz ones.

Allison


Re: UBITX_CEC firmware upload and uBITX_Manager from a Mac #ubitx #radiuno #firmware

 

Thanks Jack,

That is good information on the?Arduino IDE file/directory naming convention.?

Tom, wb6b


On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 06:30 am, Jack Purdum wrote:
Arduino IDE


Re: pin 2 of raduino board seems to have gone to CW TX full time after boot message.

 

Ralph

You are correct about there being two different types of USB-to-TTL chips used in Arduino
Nano boards.? The original FTDI FT232RL device is expensive and has been replaced by
a less expensive CH-340G device.? For Linux users this is not a problem, both versions "just
work".? I do not do windows but have heard that there may be a driver needed for the less
expensive USB chip.? OS-X also may have problems interfacing either chip without a driver
change but I cannot verify that.?

I use several of the Pro-mini boards because that eliminates a 12 MHz USB oscillator and
minimizes possibility of mixing products from that source.? This works, but the plug-in adapter
that you need for PC interface to a Mini-pro has an on-board 12 MHz oscillator for the USB-to
-TTL conversion and thus re-introduces the 12 MHz issue if you leave it connected.

On a Nano there are two oscillators, 12 MHz for the FTDI chip and the 16 MHz one for
the AVR-328 micro-controller.? Either or both may be a ceramic resonator or real crystal.
I did find an Ebay vendor who provided 5 of the Mini-pro models with a real 16 MHz
crystal.? I use these as frequency counters with a 74HC4060 as a pre-scaler because the
real crystal version of Pro-mini seems more stable.?

Arv
_._






On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 2:47 PM, Ralph Mowery <rmowery42@...> wrote:


I have seen lots of venders at hamfest that seem to have the same thing I orfered from China at about 2 to 5 times the price.

I have bought a few things in the states that are the same as China at double the price (when shipping is included)? to get them fast.? Just ordered? 5 of an item in the US that is the same as 10 of the same thing from China.? I don't ever see needing more than 2 or 3 of them and wanted to go ahead and get the item to finish a project.

I have bought several of the nanos from China and they seem to work fine.? Just got in 5 of them for about $ 12.? I did blow out one in the uBITX but it was my fault.? Was playing with it and got a 12 volt wire on the cw or ptt pin.? Not too much trouble to change using one of the China hot air rework stations that cost about $ 60 now.

I may be mistaken,but I was thinking there are 2 different kinds of interface chips on the usb port and you may have to have a different driver for them.


de ku4pt


On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 11:33 AM, Arv Evans <arvid.evans@...> wrote:
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




Re: Raduino not working 0 Volts on Pin 6 (red wire) #ubitx-help #ubitx

 

Those readings all seem correct, suggesting your Nano is in good shape.
Pins 5,6,7,8 all have an internal pullup turned on when the stock uBitx firmware is loaded,
so they get pulled high toward VCC which is a bit under 5v in this case.
Pins 1 and 2 are analog only inputs, no pullups, and float to wherever they please.

Jerry


On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 02:48 pm, Mike aka KC2WVB wrote:
OK, sorry it took so long to get back to you. I was away for a few days.
?
I am going to map numeral 1 to the violet or unused wire followed by blue maps to 2 and so forth. I believe this coincides with the published wiring diagram.
?
With a mini USB plugged into the USB connector on the Raduino board such that it supplied 5 volts dc from a wall wart I checked from yellow number 4 aka Rudino ground to all other pin outs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 all had 4.68 volts dc read at the time of the test. Pin out 3 also had 4.68 volts dc being read during the test. Pin out 1 which is unused by the radio had a random display changing rapidly in the mil-volt range. Pin out 2 which is connected by blue wire to the tip terminal of the keyer also had a random and fast changing display in the mil-volt range during the test.
?
Love to hear what you surmise.
?


Re: Encoder issue

Mike aka KC2WVB
 

I was away for a few days and just tested the voltage off the 8 Pin outs of the Raduino board using a wall wart for power and yellow number 4 as ground.

From pin out 3 to 8 the voltage read 4.68 volts dc. Pin out 1 is not used but was giving random mil volt readings and so was pin out 2 which maps to the keyer.

With the encoder removed and the radio powered up I grounded red, pin out 6 to yellow which is what the encoder does when the shaft is depressed. This, I think, should have taken me into the standard menu but it did not seem to. It gave me two options one was do you want to change bands? The next momentary grounding of red to yellow said press to confirm and the last momentary grounding of red to yellow took the radio back to the frequency display. This does not seem right unless you have to unlock all the other menu features, so in spite of the voltage readings being seemingly OK I am thinking the Raduino is out to lunch.

Could you be so kind as to give me the contact information or web page from which you ordered your new Raduino from? I think I will have to do the same and can't seem to find the spare parts page.

Thanks and good luck on your radio.

Mike

On May 18, 2018 5:55 PM, "kj6etl" <pa1zz@...> wrote:
I have almost the exact same issue with my uBitx!!!!

I spend many hours trying to diagnose this problem at the end you can narrow it down to this:

  1. Disconnect the raduino board from the main board
  2. Disconnect the main connector
  3. Power it with a USB cable
  4. Measure voltage between pin 4 and 6 (Yellow to Red)
  5. It should read 5 Volt
It it doesn't read 5 Volt your Raduino board is bad and you have to replace it. So I ordered a new one ($35 shipping from India shigh..). Meantime bought a generic and will attempt to replace the failed one. Who knows I might have it working before the orignal board arrives.



Re: Raduino CAD Files

 

I think I'm going to make a very short USB breakout cable that exposes the 5V from the PC before it gets to the Pill so I can have my way with it. Jerry, if the Pill is oriented properly, there will be less than 2" of USB cable inside the housing (at least in my rig) before it exits in a straight shot on the side, so I'm not too worried about it at this point. Maybe I'll make a PCB that has all the right connectors and magic stuff on it right at the point of entry.

It's always something

Joe


Re: Transmitter Mods

Mark M
 

Howard, if you still have parts available, I'd like a set. Is your address on QRZ OK? I'll get the SASE on the way tomorrow.

Thanks & 73...? ? ?Mark? ? AA7TA