Help: uBitx V3 parallel 4 MHz narrow CW filter and firmware changes?
I'd like to improve the CW receive on my uBitx V3, by installing a narrow 4 MHz IF filter in parallel to the 12 MHz one. This gives the radio another receive mode, CWN (Lower and Upper), in addition to the normal ones.
I've found information of PA1FOX on this here: https://zendamateur.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=18185&p=209736&hilit=ubitx+filter#p209736
I've got a bag of crystals and the construction of the filter shouldn't give me any problems, but the associated firmware changes are another matter.
For the mounting I thought a couple of header pins in the location as done on the newer versions of the uBitx.
The plan is to drill through the pcb and glue the header pins in, with connections to the IF transformers under the pcb.
The above mentioned thread has the code from PA1FOX, but I'm at a loss as to where to place this in the rest of the code.
I'm using KD8CEC's V1.2 of the firmware, and there are probably some more things that need to be added to get this correct.
Is there anyone who's done this and is able to give some pointers?
Thanks,
Gerard, ZL2GVA
|
I¡¯m getting an error that logbook.c cannot find sqlite3.h.?
sqlite3 is installed. V2 works, except for the logbook. Any ideas?
--
Bob AA4FJ
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Bob,
I have that board installed in my v5 in an AmateurRadioKits.in case.? The AGC came with the case.
The Volume High and Ground on the mainboard connector work for the v6.? Volume High and ground is there.? For the 12 volts, you will need to tap into the supply from the fuse.? The trick is where to connect to the IF stages.? The circuits are very similar for all of the uBitx versions, so I you have the instructions for the v4, it should be the same for the v6.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: sBitx DE v2 lost audio loopback
I went with the path of least resistance. I used a spare router. It works fine. ?I don't need internet for the demo.
--
73,
Mark, N8ME
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Re: sBitx DE v2 lost audio loopback
Farhan,
The need for a cross-link cable is for older interface chipsets.? Depending on the PC, a cross cable may not be needed.? I have not tried this between two Raspberry Pi.? PC to Pi does work.
.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Re: sBitx DE v2 lost audio loopback
You will need a cross ethernet cable. As both (the pc and the sbitx) want to connect to a hub. Alternatively, use wifi and use the audio from the remote device (plug in an earphone jack to mute the wifi buzz on the sbitx de). - f
On Wed, Apr 19, 2023, 11:25 PM Evan Hand < elhandjr@...> wrote: Mark,
Rafael responded before I could on the static IP address.? That will work if you do not need internet access for time sync for FT8.? That depends on your demo.
You could also try a separate powered external speaker.? The earphone jack does not have a noise problem, at least not as bad as the internal speaker.
You could also set up a DHCP server on the PC over the wired card, connect via wifi to the location's internet and share the link.? That may also work for the static IP connection.
What OS are you running on the PC?
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Cd lib-ft8 make make install
Those are the commands if I remember correctly. - f
I get the following error when trying to build V2
/usr/bin/ld: ft8_lib/libft8.a: error adding symbols: file in wrong format
Ron
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I get the following error when trying to build V2
/usr/bin/ld: ft8_lib/libft8.a: error adding symbols: file in wrong format
Ron
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The original image was here:
I do not know where Farhan plans to store the v2 image.? It could be on GitHub if the file size is not an issue.
We should get a post when it is done and where to find it.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Not as far as I know but I keep checking here,
Joel
N6ALT
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Has the SD image for V2 been posted?
Ron
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Re: sBitx DE v2 lost audio loopback
Mark,
Rafael responded before I could on the static IP address.? That will work if you do not need internet access for time sync for FT8.? That depends on your demo.
You could also try a separate powered external speaker.? The earphone jack does not have a noise problem, at least not as bad as the internal speaker.
You could also set up a DHCP server on the PC over the wired card, connect via wifi to the location's internet and share the link.? That may also work for the static IP connection.
What OS are you running on the PC?
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Re: sBitx DE v2 lost audio loopback
Good to hear it worked!
Sure, use the Ethernet cable. You can either set a fixed IP, or run a local DHCP server. I'd go for a fixed IP, as it is simpler. Or, even simpler, just take a router with you.
Set something like this in /etc/network/interfaces (change the IP setttings, this is just an example) for fixed IP setup:
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
?address 192.168.2.236
?netmask 255.255.255.0
?gateway 192.168.2.254
Please refer to:
73's,
Rafael
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 4/19/23 20:36, Mark Erbaugh wrote: Further update.
I was not launching sBitx from a startup script. It was launched from the desktop shortcut or the command line (via SSH).
I had made a copy of the original SD card that came with my sBitx. I went back to the copy, applied the apt get updates, pulled the latest version of sBitx from github and added the updates from install.txt (ntp, ntpstat and sqlite3) and rebuilt sBitx.
I modified dtoverlay=vc4-kms-v3d to dtoverlay=vc4-kms-v3d,noaudio
I've rebooted a couple of times and things seem to be working.
I didn't mention it, but I was previously running Raspbian Bullseye, but when I restored my original copy, I'm now running Raspbian Buster.
While I made a lot of changes, I betting that if I had made just the "noaudio" change, that might have fixed things.
For my demo, I'm planning on using a remote web browser. At home, I connect to the sBitx using an ethernet cable, but for the demo, I may have to connect via WiFi as no hard wired connections to the network are available at the venue. I tried that and the WiFi radio is creating a lot of noise that can be heard in the speaker.
Is there a way to connect to the sBitx from my laptop directly via ethernet cable with no router?
--
73,
Mark, N8ME
|
Re: sBitx DE v2 lost audio loopback
Further update.
I was not launching sBitx from a startup script. It was launched from the desktop shortcut or the command line (via SSH).
I had made a copy of the original SD card that came with my sBitx. I went back to the copy, applied the apt get updates, pulled the latest version of sBitx from github and added the updates from install.txt (ntp, ntpstat and sqlite3) and rebuilt sBitx.
I modified?dtoverlay=vc4-kms-v3d to dtoverlay=vc4-kms-v3d,noaudio
I've rebooted a couple of times and things seem to be working.
I didn't mention it, but I was previously running Raspbian Bullseye, but when I restored my original copy, I'm now running Raspbian Buster.
While I made a lot of changes, I betting that if I had made just the "noaudio" change, that might have fixed things.
For my demo, I'm planning on using a remote web browser. At home, I connect to the sBitx using an ethernet cable, but for the demo, I may have to connect via WiFi as no hard wired connections to the network are available at the venue. I tried that and the WiFi radio is creating a lot of noise that can be heard in the speaker.
Is there a way to connect to the sBitx from my laptop directly via ethernet cable with no router?
--
73,
Mark, N8ME
|
Re: sBitx DE v2 lost audio loopback
Yes. I'm now trying to reproduce as much as possible the 32 bit setup you did (including, for example, compiling libfftw3 by hand). I'm installing from scratch again. I'll come back to this tomorrow, with the conclusions after I finish a new setup.
Rafael
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 4/19/23 19:38, Ashhar Farhan wrote: Very interesting, Rafael,
Do you mean you can hear the radio properly and only the spectrum doesn't work on 64 bit os?
- f
On Wed, Apr 19, 2023, 8:54 PM Rafael Diniz <rafael@...> wrote:
Also, I would also not recommend loading snd-aloop from
/etc/rc.local,
but in the through the proper /etc/modules (module to load) and
/etc/modprobe.d/... (for the module options file).
I had no problems with the 32 bits RaspOS / Debian yet. Ashhar, I can
confirm there is some bug in the code running on 64 bits, so that
I get
no spectrum in the sbitx software, I'll try to fix that. Apart of
this
graphical issue (or fft?), everything runs well on 64 bits indeed
(but
nobody needs to be worried about this, as it seems just me am in
64 bit
at this time).
Cheers,
Rafael
On 4/19/23 17:32, Raj vu2zap wrote:
> Evan,
>
> Mine also, sbitx doesnt work at all on some boot ups. power off
using
> rear switch and reboot
>
> generally solves problems.
>
> Sometime I launch 2 instances of sbitx and get a non functional
screen
> then I realize and close
>
> ?one instance and all is well!
>
> On 19-Apr-23 7:45 PM, Evan Hand wrote:
>> To add to Rafael's recommendation to add the noaudio in the
>> config.txt, I have also found that at times I need to shut down
the
>> Sbitx, wait for the current to drop to the normal .3 amps,
disconnect
>> the supply and short the power input pins to the Sbitx for at
least
>> 30 seconds.? I believe there is a capacitor somewhere in the
power to
>> the codec that is not allowing it to reset fully.
>>
>> You should note that I have installed a 2200uF capacitor on the
power
>> input to the Sbitx to overcome some of the 500kH noise that the
mod 2
>> regulator causes.? It may be part of the issue for me. It is still
>> worth a try.
>>
>> 73
>> Evan
>> AC9TU
>
>
>
>
>
|
Re: sBitx DE v2 lost audio loopback
Very interesting, Rafael, Do you mean you can hear the radio properly and only the spectrum doesn't work on 64 bit os? - f
On Wed, Apr 19, 2023, 8:54 PM Rafael Diniz < rafael@...> wrote: Also, I would also not recommend loading snd-aloop from /etc/rc.local,
but in the through the proper /etc/modules (module to load) and
/etc/modprobe.d/... (for the module options file).
I had no problems with the 32 bits RaspOS / Debian yet. Ashhar, I can
confirm there is some bug in the code running on 64 bits, so that I get
no spectrum in the sbitx software, I'll try to fix that. Apart of this
graphical issue (or fft?), everything runs well on 64 bits indeed (but
nobody needs to be worried about this, as it seems just me am in 64 bit
at this time).
Cheers,
Rafael
On 4/19/23 17:32, Raj vu2zap wrote:
> Evan,
>
> Mine also, sbitx doesnt work at all on some boot ups. power off using
> rear switch and reboot
>
> generally solves problems.
>
> Sometime I launch 2 instances of sbitx and get a non functional screen
> then I realize and close
>
> ?one instance and all is well!
>
> On 19-Apr-23 7:45 PM, Evan Hand wrote:
>> To add to Rafael's recommendation to add the noaudio in the
>> config.txt, I have also found that at times I need to shut down the
>> Sbitx, wait for the current to drop to the normal .3 amps, disconnect
>> the supply and short the power input pins to the Sbitx for at least
>> 30 seconds.? I believe there is a capacitor somewhere in the power to
>> the codec that is not allowing it to reset fully.
>>
>> You should note that I have installed a 2200uF capacitor on the power
>> input to the Sbitx to overcome some of the 500kH noise that the mod 2
>> regulator causes.? It may be part of the issue for me. It is still
>> worth a try.
>>
>> 73
>> Evan
>> AC9TU
>
>
>
>
>
|
Re: sBitx DE v2 lost audio loopback
Also, I would also not recommend loading snd-aloop from /etc/rc.local, but in the through the proper /etc/modules (module to load) and /etc/modprobe.d/... (for the module options file).
I had no problems with the 32 bits RaspOS / Debian yet. Ashhar, I can confirm there is some bug in the code running on 64 bits, so that I get no spectrum in the sbitx software, I'll try to fix that. Apart of this graphical issue (or fft?), everything runs well on 64 bits indeed (but nobody needs to be worried about this, as it seems just me am in 64 bit at this time).
Cheers,
Rafael
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 4/19/23 17:32, Raj vu2zap wrote: Evan,
Mine also, sbitx doesnt work at all on some boot ups. power off using rear switch and reboot
generally solves problems.
Sometime I launch 2 instances of sbitx and get a non functional screen then I realize and close
?one instance and all is well!
On 19-Apr-23 7:45 PM, Evan Hand wrote:
To add to Rafael's recommendation to add the noaudio in the config.txt, I have also found that at times I need to shut down the Sbitx, wait for the current to drop to the normal .3 amps, disconnect the supply and short the power input pins to the Sbitx for at least 30 seconds.? I believe there is a capacitor somewhere in the power to the codec that is not allowing it to reset fully.
You should note that I have installed a 2200uF capacitor on the power input to the Sbitx to overcome some of the 500kH noise that the mod 2 regulator causes.? It may be part of the issue for me. It is still worth a try.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Re: sBitx DE v2 lost audio loopback
Evan,
Mine also, sbitx doesnt work at all on some boot ups. power off using rear switch and reboot
generally solves problems.
Sometime I launch 2 instances of sbitx and get a non functional screen then I realize and close
?one instance and all is well!
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 19-Apr-23 7:45 PM, Evan Hand wrote: To add to Rafael's recommendation to add the noaudio in the config.txt, I have also found that at times I need to shut down the Sbitx, wait for the current to drop to the normal .3 amps, disconnect the supply and short the power input pins to the Sbitx for at least 30 seconds.? I believe there is a capacitor somewhere in the power to the codec that is not allowing it to reset fully.
You should note that I have installed a 2200uF capacitor on the power input to the Sbitx to overcome some of the 500kH noise that the mod 2 regulator causes.? It may be part of the issue for me. It is still worth a try.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Re: sBitx DE v2 lost audio loopback
To add to Rafael's recommendation to add the noaudio in the config.txt, I have also found that at times I need to shut down the Sbitx, wait for the current to drop to the normal .3 amps, disconnect the supply and short the power input pins to the Sbitx for at least 30 seconds.? I believe there is a capacitor somewhere in the power to the codec that is not allowing it to reset fully.
You should note that I have installed a 2200uF capacitor on the power input to the Sbitx to overcome some of the 500kH noise that the mod 2 regulator causes.? It may be part of the issue for me.? It is still worth a try.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Re: sBitx DE v2 lost audio loopback
Are you using any startup script to launch the radio on startup? This happens when I auto launch it on bootup. - f
On Wed, Apr 19, 2023, 7:29 PM Rafael Diniz < rafael@...> wrote: Try this in the config.txt - substitute "dtoverlay=vc4-kms-v3d" by:
dtoverlay=vc4-kms-v3d,noaudio
On 4/19/23 16:49, Mark Erbaugh wrote:
> I have rebooted and restarted the radio several times and now I can't
> get it working (same problem as the original post).
>
> I don't have the HDMI connected, but I was using VNC.? I disabled the
> VNC interface in the Raspberry Pi configuration, but aplay is still
> showing the vc4-hdmi-0 and vc4-hdmi-1 interfaces.? How can I turn
> those off?
> --
> 73,
> Mark, N8ME
>
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Mark Erbaugh
Joel Caulkins/N6ALT
Raj vu2zap