Sbitx - FT8 Using Wjst x Configuration?
I have an Sbitx v2? ?latest software
I would like to run WJST X
What input audio device ( for receive ) do I choose?
What output audio device for TX audio do I choose?
What rig control do I choose?
Any assistance would be much appreciated?
Joe
VE1BWV?
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After installing sqlitebrowser, I copied log3a.py to sbitx/data folder.
Entering the data folder, running 'python3 log3a.py' will create an adif file from the sbitx.db database.
Thanks for sharing.
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Gyula HA3HZ
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I agree with Sunil, look for a used 100W transceiver as your first transceiver unless you are an experienced kit builder or have much experience regarding electronics. If so, it is a very nice transceiver.?
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Am 27.06.2023 um 19:43 schrieb Jack, W8TEE via groups.io <jjpurdum@...>:
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Jim:
It would be helpful if you could answer these questions: ??? 1. What mode(s) do you expect to use most (e.g., SSB, CW, digital)? ??? 2. What power level to you want to use (e.g., QRP, 100W, or more)? ??? 3. Will it be an "at home rig" only, or will you also want to do SOTA, POTA, and other off-site activations. ??? 4. What kind of antenna would you like to deploy. ??? 5. What's your budget? (Disregard if you're not married.)
Jack, W8TEE
On Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 12:43:01 PM EDT, Jim <winickyj@...> wrote:
I am a ham that so far has only used vhf/uhf.? I have my general and am interested in diving into HF and find the sBitx_V2 interesting.? I am interested whether forum members would think that the Radio is stable enough to be suitable for a first/only HF radio? #sBitx_V2
-- Jack, W8TEE
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Jim:
It would be helpful if you could answer these questions: ??? 1. What mode(s) do you expect to use most (e.g., SSB, CW, digital)? ??? 2. What power level to you want to use (e.g., QRP, 100W, or more)? ??? 3. Will it be an "at home rig" only, or will you also want to do SOTA, POTA, and other off-site activations. ??? 4. What kind of antenna would you like to deploy. ??? 5. What's your budget? (Disregard if you're not married.)
Jack, W8TEE
On Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 12:43:01 PM EDT, Jim <winickyj@...> wrote:
I am a ham that so far has only used vhf/uhf.? I have my general and am interested in diving into HF and find the sBitx_V2 interesting.? I am interested whether forum members would think that the Radio is stable enough to be suitable for a first/only HF radio? #sBitx_V2
-- Jack, W8TEE
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I think the hardware design is now sufficiently stable. The software is still a work in progress, so you have to have some tolerance for issues there if you're going to use it as your first HF radio. If you're the kind of computer user who happily runs beta software and updates often, it might be a good choice for you right now.
The most direct competition is the Xiegu G90, and the contrasts between them are interesting. The G90 software is in a more complete state now. But its software lacks polish, and based on Xiegu's?track record it will probably never get it; they release products that are barely usable, work on the software until it's good enough, then move on to the next thing. The sBitx software is open source, and I expect that it will eventually be very very good; we're just not there yet.
If your budget for an HF radio is in the US$400-500 range and you just want something that works right now without any fuss, I wouldn't recommend either of those. I'd say to check the used market for an Icom, Kenwood, or Yaesu that fits your budget. But watch out for eBay because prices there are often inflated; check with your local radio club to see if anybody has a suitable radio for sale, or visit a hamfest.
I am a ham that so far has only used vhf/uhf.? I have my general and am interested in diving into HF and find the sBitx_V2 interesting.? I am interested whether forum members would think that the Radio is stable enough to be suitable for a first/only HF radio? #sBitx_V2
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I'd say yes, the reports are good and the design is stable. I had a "developer's edition" of the SBITX and enjoyed it, but there were updates/upgrades that the radio might benefit from that I chose not to implement. I soon sold the radio to a fellow ham that was comfortable to perform the updates/upgrades and he's (presumably) been happy.
Bottom line, the design is mature, it has been tested by hundreds of hams, and I think it would make a great starter radio.
Because of everything 'built-in (for example FT-8)' there may be a different learning curve compared to a traditional "Entry Level" HF radio like an IC-718, but the SBITX is certainly no harder to learn/operate. Ken, N2VIP?
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On Jun 27, 2023, at 11:43, Jim <winickyj@...> wrote:
?I am a ham that so far has only used vhf/uhf.? I have my general and am interested in diving into HF and find the sBitx_V2 interesting.? I am interested whether forum members would think that the Radio is stable enough to be suitable for a first/only HF radio? #sBitx_V2
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Jim, You will like sbitx if you are comfortable with software updates et al. If you are relatively new to electronics and software, it would be best to buy a used 100 watt japanese or elecraft radio.? - f
I am a ham that so far has only used vhf/uhf.? I have my general and am interested in diving into HF and find the sBitx_V2 interesting.? I am interested whether forum members would think that the Radio is stable enough to be suitable for a first/only HF radio? #sBitx_V2
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Jack - Nice Job !!
Glad to hear you got everything working.
73; Steve, N3SB
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Ford,
Glad that work.
As a note here, this issue also appears when you use Xloader to load a pre-compiled HEX. The old bootloader requires a baud rate set to 57600 while the new bootloader requires you to set the baud rate to 115200...
73
Mark
--
AJ6CU
KD8CEC 2.0, Nextion Screens,? and open source uBITX Raduino boards for Arduino IOT, BLE, RP2040, Teensy 4.0, and Raspberry Pi Pico
https://github.com/aj6cu
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I am a ham that so far has only used vhf/uhf.? I have my general and am interested in diving into HF and find the sBitx_V2 interesting.? I am interested whether forum members would think that the Radio is stable enough to be suitable for a first/only HF radio? #sBitx_V2
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And with the replacement RTC module everything works. here's the startup output:
sbitx v2.0
sqlite3 opening returned 0
synchronised to NTP server (198.60.22.240) at stratum 2
?? time correct to within 21 ms
?? polling server every 64 s
Checking for valid NTP time ...Syncing RTC to 2023-06-27 13:31:09
Initialized the waterfall
rx_pitch set to 600
bridge compesation = 100
*Error: field[#kbd_] not found. Check for typo?
#Remote is listening
Reading rtc...RTC time is : year:2023 month:6 day:27 hour:13 min:31 sec:9
time_delta = 1687872665
rtc julian: 1687897869l -25200
done!
Thanks Steve and Evan, and especially Scott KE8KYP. Your posts have been invaluable.
Jack, N6LN
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Mark nailed it.? You guys are the best.? Thanks for the help.
Sure enough, the processor was set to ATMega328P.? Setting to the (old bootloader) version was just the ticket.? Loaded immediately with no fanfare or drama.
Thanks to all...
Ford-N0FP
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Re: UBitX v6 worked then died
Due to a minor bug in the stock software, touching LSB or USB to change the sideband does not actually change the sideband, that's why you don't hear any change.? But after you touch LSB or USB, if you tune slightly off frequency then back with the encoder knob, the sideband will change.
?Rolan N8LOV
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Re: UBitX v6 worked then died
The relays switch in only on transmit. Can you tell us what is the current draw on receive and transmit? - f
On Tue, Jun 27, 2023, 7:16 PM Dale Bramer K2ISP < dwbram@...> wrote: Finally replaced the Si5351 and the radio came back to life.? Thanks for the support.? Part $2.69, Postage $7.++.? Are the relays audible?? I have not heard anything.? When I switch USB to LSB, I hear nothing different in the signal.? Need to look at schematic again to see what triggers the relays. I hear nothing (from any relays) when switching bands, but I am receiving fine, at least 20, 40, and 80. ?
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Re: UBitX v6 worked then died
Finally replaced the Si5351 and the radio came back to life. ?Thanks for the support. ?Part $2.69, Postage $7.++. ?Are the relays audible? ?I have not heard anything. ?When I switch USB to LSB, I hear nothing different in the signal. ?Need to look at schematic again to see what triggers the relays. I hear nothing (from any relays) when switching bands, but I am receiving fine, at least 20, 40, and 80. ?
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Re: UBITX V6 Q90 Pinouts on board
Hi Yvon,
The link to the instructions got deleted in one of the web updates.? I saved the link:
Only the first section of PA Bias should be done using this page's instructions.? Ashhar Farhan's video is a better approach for calibrations:
Note that this is for an older version.? However, the v6 uses the same PA design as the original v3.? You must make the PA bias adjustment whenever you replace the IRF510 finals.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: UBITX V6 Q90 Pinouts on board
Evan,
while we are at adjusting the PA Bias, I didn't find any information on how to adjust it and the current values to adjust for.
73, Yvon AE7YD
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Your first back-up file set is seemingly 2X the size given the rounding error as you posted.? I haven't used the AVRDUDESS GUI.? Perhaps you did 2 back-ups to the same file and the dudess appended the files?? intel HEX as ascii, you should be able to look at the file(s) and see if it was appended.? See if there are 2 EOF records.
Rgds,
Gary
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Re: UBITX V6 Q90 Pinouts on board
Success. Thanks Evan slight miss type on my part. I had previously set the correct bios using Rv2 and Rv3 100 plus 100 and will check them again now I have successfully replaced Q90. After replacing it and adjusting? RV1 to get the correct?drive into the pre-driver stages? I was able to generate around 10 Watts on 80 metres into a dummy load using CW. That was my original problem .5 watt output so thats?fixed THANKS all.? Swapped to voice same test scenario as above using the mike and watts output dropped right down. Enlarged the mike hole still too low but better. Going through the recommended?process to resolve that now. Re Spectrum Analyser will try my poor mans Usb Scope see how I go.
Regards Owen
On Mon, Jun 26, 2023 at 8:24?PM Evan Hand < elhandjr@...> wrote: Owen,
RV1 does not adjust the bias for the finals.? RV2 and RV3 do that.? RV1 adjusts the drive into the pre-driver stages.? That limits the voltage output to minimize compression in the following stages.? Without a spectrum analyzer, it is a guess as to the optimum setting.? The safe way is to find the band with the highest output and adjust the drive for 10 watts on that band.? Most likely, that is 80 meters.? This should be done into a dummy load, not an antenna.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Andrea,
At this point, you have two choices:
1 - Reload the CEC firmware and recalibrate the uBitx to see if that helps
2 - Reload the stock software from the Github repository and recalibrate.? I would not trust your backup unless you have done that process successfully in the past.? Also, I can not help you with that process.
In both cases, you will need to recalibrate the uBitx.? The process is outlined in this video from Ashhar Farhan:
Both firmware can use this process.? The difference is how you get to the calibration settings.? The video shows the actual controls.? Using the process with CEC requires you to pull up a yellow 2-line display on the Nextion by holding in the tuning knob (encoder).? After the yellow box comes up, you need to rotate the encoder until a "Setup On?" comes up and press the encoder.? This adds more choices at the end of the scrolling for frequency calibration with "Set Calibration?" and "Set the BFO?" for adjusting the BFO.? Values are saved by pressing the PTT button on the mic.? You must also shut down the radio and restart it after each setting is saved.
You must do the three steps:
1 - First, adjust the BFO so that you can hear low tones for zero beating
2 - Do the frequency calibration with the BFO set for low tones.
3 - Adjust the BFO for the best voice response.
Are you sure you have the correct CEC software?? It should be for version 5 uBitx (the RF parts of the v6 are siToe v5).
In order to load the stock firmware, you will need to install the Arduino IDE, compile the sketch from the GitHub, and then load the software.? Arduino.cc has instructions on how to do that.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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HA3HZ
Rolf Schroeder
Shirley Dulcey KE1L
John Terrell, N6LN