It looks like you already got the info you needed. Typically the outer conductor is always ground, and the chassis of a device is ground as well. Personally, I prefer Anderson Power pole connectors, and I would encourage you to look into them!? You can assemble them yourself, and when assembled properly they make it impossible to plug something in backwards.? Each contact is also color coded for polarity so you can easily see which end is positive/negative The advantage they have over other power connectors though, is that there is no "male" or "female" connector - Every set of powerpoles can plug into every other set, which makes things a lot easier on the bench and eliminates the need for a lot of adapters. Be aware though, there are two different ways of assembling them - You might call them "right-handed" and "left-handed.". If you plug a right-handed power pole onto a left-handed one, the polarity will be backwards, but you can clearly see that a red connector is plugged into a black one, so it's easy to fix if you assemble one backwards
If I made this sound complicated, it's really not.? You should look into them!
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hello men? i have had enough unless i can find a way to reset and reload? this ubitx v5? will be on ebay as a project for someone? is there a way to completely reset this radio? and a step by step guide to getting it working again? at the minute i am havig more fun using my pixie than this thing i juat want to put it all back to stock or bin it?? will certainly never go down this road again
dave c?? gw0nvf
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Thanks Dave for your interest. The Board and additional parts are on their way to you.
Thanks for everyone else's replies.
Best wishes Derek G4VWI.?
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Re: Future Ubitx, SWR layout lines on PCB.
Some people do not realize to reach the price point, the ubitx must be bare bones. All these features look good and most ?likely attractive features and your cost goes up. These brings you into a different market place. You might have to compete with the used Icoms, Keywood, etc.
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On Dec 30, 2019, at 1:09 AM, Fred Finster via Groups.Io < wb7odyfred@...> wrote: I Meant to suggest on some future revision X of Ubitx, a PCB layout to place a 3-5 mil wide? about 1.5" or 35-40 mm long trace from FET finals to round through hole for wire from PCB to RF connector.? Parallel to the RF trace are two narrow traces tight to the center trace.? These form the forward and reverse voltage detectors with diode's, cap and resistors.? Then use extra ADC inputs to measure the voltage.? If extra ADC inputs not available, use Tiny AT85 8 pin micro to generate I2C or other interface back to raduino for SWR display.? I liked the twin needles display on the MFJ 949 antenna tuner.
Just one of a thousand ideas to make the Ubitx better for a couple more discrete parts.? I have looked at SWR schematics and see some use parallel lines for measurements and others use a torroid,? with final current going straight through a wire or 1 or 2 turns around the torroid.? Several turns around the torroid for the output winding's.
Group members, Welcome your discussions, changes, modifications, corrections, or an outright NO, for a PCB layout that adds SWR capacity. IE You already have SWR Meter on an external antenna tuner.
Farhan, is there much interest in India for a dual band 10 meter 28- 29.7 MHz? and 6 meter 50-54 Mhz SSB transceiver?? I would think that smaller antenna size 8'6" for 1/4 wave 10 meter and a circular antenna for 6 meter omni-directional use, might be easier to setup in limited space.? ?Yes I know 80 meter ground wave on milliwatts will get a longer distance? to a fellow ham friend, than 10? meter wavelength band.? Yes the 2N3904 or 2N2222 transistors don't support the 50 MHz frequency very well.
Maybe instead of SSB mode make a FM only 10M & 6M Transceiver,. Use 700 hertz audio sine wave into FM for CW like keying an FM audio (not true CW mode).? ?Include Support for using through 10 meter & 6 meter FM repeater's for distance in India and other locations around the world. . Fred Finster WB7ODY Broken Windows?
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Does that work by saturating the toroid?
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On Dec 30, 2019, at 01:22, jim via Groups.Io <ab7vf@...> wrote:
?So ..ran across this circuit the other day ..thot maybe those who might be looking at alternative agc circuits as well as transmitter alc? might be interested xmitter alc I would place the circuit at RV1 between Q90>>>Q911/912 and sample the rf at the output trans before the lpf/relay trees .. Jim <Antenna Attenuator.jpeg>
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Re: uBitx Digi-Interface Module (Add-on Board)
Jim, more power to you! ??
I hope you were able to benefit a lot of people. ? Overtime, we changed a few of the resistor values to make the system work a little better. ? You may see this in various iterations of the board and manual.?
The series resistor in the base lead of the input audio amp went from 47K to 4.7 K to make it more sensitive. ?The collector resistor of that same audio amplifier went from 4.7K Down to about 2000 ohms to give it more oomph ?driving the rectifier system. ?
This system works really good with systems that use frequency shift keying, where the signal power is almost always the same, push to talk stays ?in the whole time nicely.?
With systems that have a higher peak to average ratio, like phase shift keying it isn¡¯t quite as perfect , and therefore we had to build in higher game to keep it working. ? I think they call that crest factor.?
With packet it works perfectly because there is always a signal, same thing with RTTY. ??
We have them all over town, and they have certainly saved me a pretty penny.?
For HF applications, I tended to (use 3 wires to ) take the transmitter gain ?and wire it to a panel mounted 500 ohm potentiometer, because getting that gain as high as possible within the linear range was a lot more important with HF single side band than it was with VHF FM
Gordon
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On Dec 30, 2019, at 01:56, kh6sky <kh6sky@...> wrote:
?Gordon,
Just like you said - I sent the zipped gerber files you referenced to jlcpcb.com.? With my first order discount they are sending me 5 boards for only $10.? Delivery time 4 business days.? I have a dozen or so of those 600 ohm transformers, so now I can build the interface into any of my homebrew radios.??
Aloha,
Jim
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Re: uBitx Digi-Interface Module (Add-on Board)
Gordon,
Just like you said - I sent the zipped gerber files you referenced to jlcpcb.com.? With my first order discount they are sending me 5 boards for only $10.? Delivery time 4 business days.? I have a dozen or so of those 600 ohm transformers, so now I can build the interface into any of my homebrew radios.??
Aloha,
Jim
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So ..ran across this circuit the other day ..thot maybe those who might be looking at alternative agc circuits as well as transmitter alc? might be interested xmitter alc I would place the circuit at RV1 between Q90>>>Q911/912 and sample the rf at the output trans before the lpf/relay trees .. Jim 
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Future Ubitx, SWR layout lines on PCB.
I Meant to suggest on some future revision X of Ubitx, a PCB layout to place a 3-5 mil wide? about 1.5" or 35-40 mm long trace from FET finals to round through hole for wire from PCB to RF connector.? Parallel to the RF trace are two narrow traces tight to the center trace.? These form the forward and reverse voltage detectors with diode's, cap and resistors.? Then use extra ADC inputs to measure the voltage.? If extra ADC inputs not available, use Tiny AT85 8 pin micro to generate I2C or other interface back to raduino for SWR display.? I liked the twin needles display on the MFJ 949 antenna tuner.
Just one of a thousand ideas to make the Ubitx better for a couple more discrete parts.? I have looked at SWR schematics and see some use parallel lines for measurements and others use a torroid,? with final current going straight through a wire or 1 or 2 turns around the torroid.? Several turns around the torroid for the output winding's.
Group members, Welcome your discussions, changes, modifications, corrections, or an outright NO, for a PCB layout that adds SWR capacity. IE You already have SWR Meter on an external antenna tuner.
Farhan, is there much interest in India for a dual band 10 meter 28- 29.7 MHz? and 6 meter 50-54 Mhz SSB transceiver?? I would think that smaller antenna size 8'6" for 1/4 wave 10 meter and a circular antenna for 6 meter omni-directional use, might be easier to setup in limited space.? ?Yes I know 80 meter ground wave on milliwatts will get a longer distance? to a fellow ham friend, than 10? meter wavelength band.? Yes the 2N3904 or 2N2222 transistors don't support the 50 MHz frequency very well.
Maybe instead of SSB mode make a FM only 10M & 6M Transceiver,. Use 700 hertz audio sine wave into FM for CW like keying an FM audio (not true CW mode).? ?Include Support for using through 10 meter & 6 meter FM repeater's for distance in India and other locations around the world. . Fred Finster WB7ODY WB7ODYFred@... Broken Windows?
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Greggory -- I'm using 24v for the finals, and doing WSPR 24/7 untill something glitches. I had to add bigger heatsinks and a fan.? This was the result of melting the 510 internals due to carelessness on my part...hahah.?
Anyway...my bias is at 110ma per side.? Does that seem appropriate for 24v?? What got you to 36v? What happens to your output power as you increased from 12v to 36v? Thanks for any insight!! Don
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Re: Software Change Recommendation
Yes, I used the mic button, but my antenna tuners will not tune when the mic button sends dots.? I must switch to Hand Key for a steady tone and then use the mic button (or key).
Bert N8NN
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Thanks to all of you! I soldered the proper connections and powered up the transceiver with a dummy load. Everything seems to be working correctly, but not prepared with proper antenna yet to make contacts. I'm excited to put this to the test!
Glad to hear this protection against reverse voltage is now built in! Now that I have everything put together, hopefully this will no longer be an issue.
I have ordered a new voltmeter and ohmmeter as my son seems to have made the final use of my last one.
Thanks again! I hope to make your acquaintances through the airwaves soon!
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Re: uBITX V6 heat sink temperature
Joel,
I do not have a v6 uBitx, so do not have direct experience with that specific kit.? I do have both v4 and v5 boards, and all do run the regulator hot, especially if I use a 13.8 volt "big rig" power supply.? What I did to tame the temperature was to add a dropping resistor on the 12vdc (actually 13.8) in series with the regulator.? two 2 ohm 2 watt resistors in series.? This drops the voltage across the resistor so that the regulator does not have to disipate the heat.? This value can be up to about 47 Ohms depending on how much current you are planing to use for add on things.
Others have added a 7809 9vdc regulator in place of the resistor.? This spreads the load across the two devices and works well if the input voltage is always above 12vdc.? You would need to go to a buck/boost regulator if you are going to power from battery power if you want to rung the batteries to almost fully drained.
Most v3, v4 and v5 boards have been running with the stock circuit and no heatsink.? Adding the graphics display increased the current need, which is why I believe that HF Signals added the heatsink.
Bottom line of the above is that the heat dissipation at 12 votls is within the spec of the device, and I would not be worried.? ?If you are running over 12vdc in, then putting dropping diodes in series with the supply to the main board, NOT the power amp, would be my suggestion.? The finals can take the higher voltage and produce more power out, at the risk of overheating the finals.
Above should be verified before implementation
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: Software Change Recommendation
Bert, Thanks for the suggestions. Btw, you can key with the ptt as well. This is in case you need to tune up. One evening, I found Nicaragua on 40m cw and I didn't have the key with me! I quickly patched the code to accept keying from the ptt and snagged the contact!? - f
I know program space on the Nano is limited.? I recommend some changes to CW operation.
1.? Eliminate CW Keyer portion of the Setup menu and replace it with the function described below.? Eliminate Iambic A, leaving only Hand Key and Iambic B.
2.? Change CW WPM function by adding a value of 0 (zero).? When WPM is 0, make CW Keyer equal to Hand Key.? When WPM is not 0, make CW Keyer equal to Iambic B.
Switching to Hand Key is needed for adjusting antenna tuners and checking SWR.? Putting the choice of Hand Key or Iambic B on the main menu makes the switch much easier by avoiding the need to go to the Setup menu.? Hopefully, some program space will be saved.
Bert N8NN
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Software Change Recommendation
I know program space on the Nano is limited.? I recommend some changes to CW operation.
1.? Eliminate CW Keyer portion of the Setup menu and replace it with the function described below.? Eliminate Iambic A, leaving only Hand Key and Iambic B.
2.? Change CW WPM function by adding a value of 0 (zero).? When WPM is 0, make CW Keyer equal to Hand Key.? When WPM is not 0, make CW Keyer equal to Iambic B.
Switching to Hand Key is needed for adjusting antenna tuners and checking SWR.? Putting the choice of Hand Key or Iambic B on the main menu makes the switch much easier by avoiding the need to go to the Setup menu.? Hopefully, some program space will be saved.
Bert N8NN
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On Sun, Dec 29, 2019 at 10:13 PM Ashhar Farhan < farhanbox@...> wrote: There is finally a reverse voltage protection on v6.
- f
You are wise to ask questions about this!? Voltmeter or ohmmeter is your friend.?
The outcome implications are so severe that it is wise to check this on any power supply that you aren¡¯t really familiar with to be sure it is wired the way you think it is. ? ? ? ? In some of the older radio items it can be reversed or even a mono plug. Most times its + center, GND - on the outside. Having it the other way around can cause a brief short on the device or a power supply and is not normally suggested.
73
--
David
?N8DAH
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There is finally a reverse voltage protection on v6.
- f
You are wise to ask questions about this!? Voltmeter or ohmmeter is your friend.?
The outcome implications are so severe that it is wise to check this on any power supply that you aren¡¯t really familiar with to be sure it is wired the way you think it is. ? ? ? ? In some of the older radio items it can be reversed or even a mono plug. Most times its + center, GND - on the outside. Having it the other way around can cause a brief short on the device or a power supply and is not normally suggested.
73
--
David
?N8DAH
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Re: V6 alternative software
Porting to Nextion is not very difficult. You have to write three main routines : one to draw a rectangle of a colour, another to draw a character and another to report where a touch has happened. The rest just use these.
Now, about, what looks good. The main reason for the v6 display to be slow is that the SPI interface has to plot one pixel at a time. We can' bitblt (transfer blocks of bits as a picture) from RAM to the display as we don't have enough RAM to draw a picture. Each letter is about 20 x 15 pixels, approximately. If we build it in RAM, it would take 600 bytes. We could then transfer it quickly using SPI.
- f
I agree that the nextion UI looks better, but there's no fundamental reason the v6 screen can't look better than it currently does (if not identical to the nextion), especially if the drawing routines can be sped up.
The nextion displays look good because:
1) people have invested time in making them look good
2) the screens have a dedicated microprocessor to render the UI
3) The current v6 drawing routines are MVP (minimum viable product) - they are literally just bordered rectangles at this point
I suspect there will be improvements to the stock v6 UI in the upcoming months, but it will likely never perform or look as good as the nextion, due to the computational cost.
Reed
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Re: TFT Raduino upgrade for V3 uBiTx ?
Thanks Matt. Very helpful.
Now to find a replacement for the raduino.
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Mike VK3XL
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Re: TFT Raduino upgrade for V3 uBiTx ?
Thanks Gordon, I will do some searching.
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Mike VK3XL
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Fred Finster
N8NN Bert