My 1st transmitter was a homebrewed unit.? I tore a war surplus ARC-5 TVI generator apart - got the 1625 PA tube & its socket, plus a spare 1625 & a few other parts.? The power transformer was a repurposed unit from an old TV.?? The perforated metal for the PA tube compartment cover came from a old automotive air filter.
Gerry
Sent by the Thunderbird
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On 2021-05-20 08:32, Jack, W8TEE via groups.io wrote: my first full-time job then got a GT-550. That was a nice rig. *** They sure did make pretty radios back then, didn't they? Back in the 90's I once scored a Galaxy V at the ham swap for IIRC $50. It was brand new NOS. The seller claimed that he had pulled the shipping tape off the tubes. But no power supply. I built a supply - wound my own power transformer. Never quite got it working though - the BFO crystals had aged away from their proper frequency, and could not be trimmed up. - Jerry KF6VB Used it for phone patch traffic between Guam/Marshall Islands and SAC
headquarters (Offutt) in Omaha with a HB 15M 2 ele beam. Did that 3
times a week for 4 years. The XYL's were so appreciative. Christmas
was a flood of cookies, cakes, pies, candy, and booze! Fun stuff...
Jack, W8TEE
On Thursday, May 20, 2021, 10:33:47 AM EDT, jerry@...
<jerry@...> wrote:
All,
Got my Chinese linear working! A temporary setup - everything
strapped to an oak board with cable ties. A row of toggle switches to
choose the band.
That's not a viable long-term solution, because sooner or later I will
transmit on the wrong band and possibly fry the finals. The LPFs are
quite effective - if I choose, say 40M while the uBITX is on 20M - the
band noise goes away.
I found the TX signal on top of the uBITXv6 circuit board, right
near
the tuning knob. Was able to tack a wire to it without taking the
whole
radio apart.
It is satisfying to hit the key and see my wattmeter show 75W. The
last time I did 75W of CW was back in the 70's, and my call was
"WN6EPS". It was a Heathkit DX-40 transmitter.
- Jerry KF6VB
--
Jack, W8TEE
Links:
------
[1] /g/BITX20/message/88534
[2] /mt/82962817/243852
[3] /g/BITX20/post
[4] /g/BITX20/editsub/243852
[5] /g/BITX20/leave/10189903/243852/952924773/xyzzy
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Ah yes. I started in 1954 with a 2 tube 15W rig as a Novice (KN8MGT), then a DX-20, then a DX-40, and finally a DX-60. Kept that until I got my first full-time job then got a GT-550. That was a nice rig. Used it for phone patch traffic between Guam/Marshall Islands and SAC headquarters (Offutt) in Omaha with a HB 15M 2 ele beam. Did that 3 times a week for 4 years. The XYL's were so appreciative. Christmas was a flood of cookies, cakes, pies, candy, and booze! Fun stuff...
Jack, W8TEE
On Thursday, May 20, 2021, 10:33:47 AM EDT, jerry@... <jerry@...> wrote:
All,
? Got my Chinese linear working!? A temporary setup - everything
strapped to an oak board with cable ties.? A row of toggle switches to
choose the band.
That's not a viable long-term solution, because sooner or later I will
transmit on the wrong band and possibly fry the finals.? The LPFs are
quite effective - if I choose, say 40M while the uBITX is on 20M - the
band noise goes away.
? I found the TX signal on top of the uBITXv6 circuit board, right near
the tuning knob.? Was able to tack a wire to it without taking the whole
radio apart.
? It is satisfying to hit the key and see my wattmeter show 75W.? The
last time I did 75W of CW was back in the 70's, and my call was
"WN6EPS". It was a Heathkit DX-40 transmitter.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - Jerry KF6VB
-- Jack, W8TEE
|
All,
Got my Chinese linear working! A temporary setup - everything strapped to an oak board with cable ties. A row of toggle switches to choose the band.
That's not a viable long-term solution, because sooner or later I will transmit on the wrong band and possibly fry the finals. The LPFs are quite effective - if I choose, say 40M while the uBITX is on 20M - the band noise goes away.
I found the TX signal on top of the uBITXv6 circuit board, right near the tuning knob. Was able to tack a wire to it without taking the whole radio apart.
It is satisfying to hit the key and see my wattmeter show 75W. The last time I did 75W of CW was back in the 70's, and my call was "WN6EPS". It was a Heathkit DX-40 transmitter.
- Jerry KF6VB
|
Re: Rx Tx relay sticking
#rx
#cw
It is likely caused by RF getting into the radiuno.
Check your wiring and shorten long wires and use a shielded coax for your output to antenna.
If it is V6 then the antenna may not be OK.
Raj
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
At 20/05/2021, you wrote: Is there a fix for the Rx Tx relay sticking?
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Re: Rx Tx relay sticking
#rx
#cw
Hi Chuck,
If the relay is truly sticking, then replacement would be the only option.? If by "sticking" you mean that it will not go back or is delayed, going into receive mode after transmitting then it could be a number of problems or settings.
Would you please give us more details on what is happening that you believe the relay is sticking?? Include the mode of operation; SSB or CW.? Also please let us know if this is a new developemnt (it worked fine before) or if has never worked correctly.? Finally, please include the BITX that you have including the version (for example ?BITX v6 or Easy Bitx v1).
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Is there a fix for the Rx Tx relay sticking?
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Sunil,
As Loris is interested, so am I in looking at the Nano code for the Easy Bitx that I purchased.
I too am not able to find the code files in the files folder of this board.? All of the build pdf files are there.? Would you please repost, or provide another way to look at the files?
Thank you,
73
Evan
AC9TU
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A massage for Sunil ... not found the code folder
HI Sunil ...
I'm not able to found the folder:
... /easy bitx vfo bfo code/ ,,,
and are not possible to download all sketch .ino !
Please i'm very interested in these files for my EASY-BITX.
Best regards IW4AJR Loris
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HI Sunil ...
I'm not able to found the folder:
... /easy bitx vfo bfo code/ ,,,
and are not possible to download all sketch .ino !
Please i'm very interested in these files for my EASY-BITX.
Best regards IW4AJR Loris
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The one that was supplied since day 0 did not have this name.
The sketch sent on email had this.
Let me check the 11 files loaded post and see what it has to offer.
PS to everybody. The si5351 is getting EOL? is easily procurable in your countrie(s)
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The name Earnest was done by me for a customer unfortunately when compiling again it was not deleted and the compiled software sent to you had this name.
The DDS works fine for me and many of my friends,
However if you find something better use that which should solve your problem.
Thanks?
Sunil
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I am also suggestive of the fact kit is not bad! the firmware is poor!
Quality of PCB is outstanding for that matter!
Also, the firmware copy supplied on email when flashed writes Earnest on the radio display? Any clue who must have coded it?
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I can provide you with the 'STOCK' Firmware for dissection that has been mailed to me by Sunil.
I am unsure, why he is not posting it online. I wont be posting it here any way or uploading it anywhere as it would be against ethics (not the law)
This is my GIT.
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Sunil,
Your file VFO_BFO_DDS.ino? uses the Si5351 library from etherkit.
Here are the many different releases of the etherkit Si5351 library:
Since your file si5351calibration.ino says "Copyright 2015", and in the current V2.1.4 release
it says "Copyright 2015 - 2018" in that same file,?it seems a rather old version was used.
Can you tell us which version of the Si5351 library was used to build your firmware?
Alternately, could you make the?si5351.cpp and si5351.h files from your build computer available?
Jerry, KE7ER
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The following files have been uploaded to
the Files area of the [email protected] group.
By: Sunil Lakhani <vu3sua@...>
|
The following files have been uploaded to
the Files area of the [email protected] group.
By: Sunil Lakhani <vu3sua@...>
Description:
Building Easy Bitx Manual
The following files have been uploaded to
the Files area of the [email protected] group.
By: Sunil Lakhani <vu3sua@...>
Description:
Boxing Easy Bitx
The following files have been uploaded to
the Files area of the [email protected] group.
By: Sunil Lakhani <vu3sua@...>
Description:
Easy Bitx Coils
The following files have been uploaded to
the Files area of the [email protected] group.
By: Sunil Lakhani <vu3sua@...>
Description:
Easy Bitx Voltage Readings
The following files have been uploaded to
the Files area of the [email protected] group.
By: Sunil Lakhani <vu3sua@...>
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Re: Linear LPF auto select
I've done it a different way using a PIC, but no reason it couldn't be adapted to any other micro controller like an Arduino
--
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Sunil,
I'm convinced you have a solid product that works well.
It fills a need, as HFSignals no longer sells a single band rig.
Experimentation is encouraged, and I rather enjoy trying to figure out
these puzzles when problems arise.? Long distance troubleshooting
works best when all pertinent information is provided.
When mods to a kit cause it to not work correctly, that in no way
suggests that the kit was bad.
Jerry, KE7ER
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Wed, May 19, 2021 at 06:58 PM, Sunil Lakhani wrote:
Jerry we provide a working DDS unit using si5351 which is tested with Freq counter .?
Now If any one has doubt on the DDS he is supposed to check the Freq output of vfo and bfo . Out here the builder preferred to port code from other sketch?
We provide help In a framework as per our manual .we do not know if someone is experimenting and what he is doing and it becomes difficult to provide support.
The problem comes when you have a conflict where you decide what is right and overlook what has been used for years as a standard design and components.
When a person has achieved some breakthrough with his effort he should illustrate it with proof,but not try to alter and find faults in a tested design .
We started our kits a decade back with bitx version 3. Then bitx version 3b. Later bitx version 3c using ade 1 and bitx3c using sbl mixers which were build by many hams worldwide all had the basic bitx design.
The present easy bitx is the latest kit with much better performance and PCB layout . Better audio amp .audio mute.agc etc .
If one goes to our cqbitx blog he could see pictures of so many bitx version 3 build by amateurs world wide .
Thanks and regards.
I am thankful to all members of this wonderful vgriuo who provide a constant support .
De
Sunil vu3sua
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In case anyone is curious about this business of the BFO moving
when the VFO is changed:
If it is a library issue causing the Si5351 to tune a common vco that is used
for both for VFO and BFO, then they would both move the same amount
relative to their frequency.
Example:?
Receiving at 14.2mhz, BFO at 10mhz, VFO at 10+14.2=24.2mhz.
Tuning the rig down to 14.0mhz, the VFO is now at 10+14.0=24mhz,
and the BFO moves proportionally down to 10mhz * 24/24.2 = 9.917mhz
That is why I was asking for measurements on what the VFO and BFO were doing.
For now at least, this seems the most likely source of the problem reported.
The si5351bx routines used on the uBitx (and in Allard's Bitx40 code)?
operate from a single vco operating at a fixed frequency of 875mhz.
All the various outputs are generated by dividing that vco down using?
fractional output dividers.? Tuning is accomplished by adjusting one of the
fractional output dividers, not by adjusting the frequency of the vco.?
The etherkit library may well have changed its default configuration
from from one method to the other between the various versions.
Jerry, KE7ER?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Wed, May 19, 2021 at 04:24 PM, Jerry Gaffke wrote:
my best guess is that you compiled Sunil's source code
using the wrong version of some Si5351 library, and that the version you used
was tuning an Si5351 vco common to both the VFO and BFO.
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Raj vu2zap
Loris Bollina
Sunil Lakhani