I have read these definition of bandstack in sbitx.c but is it necessary to modify these values if they have already been modified in hw_settings_v3.ini, which is read and applied everytime sBitx starts? And between default_hw_settings.ini and hw_settings_v3.ini, which one prevails?
73 - Pierre - FK8IH
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Re: v3 software, alpha is here
Harald,
this is still an alpha version, so if you test it, it's not the final version yet! It can be read in the first message of the topic.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Re: v3 software, manually entering LOG does not work
HI Gyula
I have serial number 0234 and it has never logged and still does not since I upgraded yesterday.
I tried it manually and it said logged but still an empty logbook.?
I am now playing with wsjt-x it rx and tx but no audio output, once I get that working I know that will log ok.
Richard G7OED
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Re: v3 software, alpha is here
I have had some time to play with v3.
There is to enjoy such as UI on the Sbitx and the Web UI, The Ft8, the logging, the interoperability with Wsjtx, Js8 and Gridtracker!
But som challenges remain:
The SSB audio is bad. My first SSB contact said : your audio is distorted, I can not read you. Has anybody found a solution? Is there a solution iin the settings? Or is this a more basic problem?
The CW decoder is not helpful. Has anybody found a way to make it work?
The 123 code access to settings does not work. Could it be that Farhan has forgotten to reset it to 123?
Harald, La8wj
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Re: sBITX V2 TX no output
Yes, I have the V2 version.
I bought the device from HFSignal about 2 months ago.
The SD card supplied does not work (TX problems)
An update to V3 shows the same problems.
Installed the image for my radio from Ashhar website. Same problem (no TX)
I then found a software version from July 2022 on the internet that works straight away.
Hardware is OK!
Output with this version approx. 20 watts
Problem:
There is still no modulation on the display for SSB, CW, FT8 etc.
Reception works in all modes
Maybe someone can give me another download source for my Radio V2?
Sorry for my bad English. Partly translated with Deepl
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Re: v3 software, alpha is here
I missed an important piece of info: I do everything on the native gtk ui screen. Chromium is turned on just for logging.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Re: Quick question about the RTC
Hi David
I've used some completely different software for a different radio - I was only saying that you don't need an accurate clock if you have a sync button - I'm sure one could be added so that you don't need to have an internet connection at all.
Tony
I'm lost here. I dont?have a "sync" button on my radio. Is this is another program? I am using the native system built in by Ashhar and not the others.
On Mon, Nov 20, 2023 at 8:06?AM Tony Abbey < tabbey01@...> wrote: As long as there are other signals present, you don't need an accurate clock. Just use a sync button in the gap between transmissions.?
So FT8 has to be really accurate to work like it should and the sBitx V2 have the RTC in it and I am guessing for this reason. I have gotten a couple of emails from people saying the time is off by 1 second or maybe a little more and I was wondering how does the sBitx set the time and how long can I expect it to hold that time without internet connected? I am under the impression that the RTC is super precise and I want to know how long can I trust it to use FT8? That's all.?
Thanks for the help Ashhar, I am really loving the radio and look forward to learning how to install v3 at some point.
WK4DS
David
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Hi
Please can this group start a discord channel.?
All the tech leaders are starting their own server. It's totally free.
This offers a lot more options for comminucation. Easy to use. As many channels as the owner wants.
Available on the phone easily.
eg?
Please consider this for ease of communication for all of us.
Best regards
? Dean
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Re: Quick question about the RTC
If you are running the current Raspbian OS on your Pi, it now uses a system daemon to keep the system RTC accurate,?rather than NTP. ?You can of course still run NTP but that is hitting the network time servers 2x and you don’t need to do that.
On Mon, Nov 20, 2023 at 21:43, ajparent1/kb1gmx via groups.io < kb1gmx@...> wrote: The Rpi can run a network time protocol software...? that means a network connection.
That's sufficiently accurate for Ft8, and is the standard way to keep the clock
accurate.
normally NTP is the package that does that.
--
Allison
------------------
Please use the forum, offline and private will go to bit bucket.
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Re: Quick question about the RTC
The Rpi can run a network time protocol software...? that means a network connection.
That's sufficiently accurate for Ft8, and is the standard way to keep the clock
accurate.
normally NTP is the package that does that.
--
Allison
------------------
Please use the forum, offline and private will go to bit bucket.
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Re: Quick question about the RTC
Thank you for the information, so if I log into the internet a day or two before I should be well within the limits of the FT8 requirements, that helps a lot. Thank you!
On Sun, Nov 19, 2023 at 9:55?PM Ashhar Farhan < farhanbox@...> wrote: We use the DS3231, which is as accurate as possible with quartz crystal. There are 2.6 million seconds in a month. If the clock drift is even 1 pulse per million, we are still going to be off by 2.6 seconds in a month. The only alternative would be to add gps to keep the clock synced at all times when not connected for extended periods of time. - f
So FT8 has to be really accurate to work like it should and the sBitx V2 have the RTC in it and I am guessing for this reason. I have gotten a couple of emails from people saying the time is off by 1 second or maybe a little more and I was wondering how does the sBitx set the time and how long can I expect it to hold that time without internet connected? I am under the impression that the RTC is super precise and I want to know how long can I trust it to use FT8? That's all.?
Thanks for the help Ashhar, I am really loving the radio and look forward to learning how to install v3 at some point.
WK4DS
David
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Re: Quick question about the RTC
I'm lost here. I dont?have a "sync" button on my radio. Is this is another program? I am using the native system built in by Ashhar and not the others.
On Mon, Nov 20, 2023 at 8:06?AM Tony Abbey < tabbey01@...> wrote: As long as there are other signals present, you don't need an accurate clock. Just use a sync button in the gap between transmissions.?
So FT8 has to be really accurate to work like it should and the sBitx V2 have the RTC in it and I am guessing for this reason. I have gotten a couple of emails from people saying the time is off by 1 second or maybe a little more and I was wondering how does the sBitx set the time and how long can I expect it to hold that time without internet connected? I am under the impression that the RTC is super precise and I want to know how long can I trust it to use FT8? That's all.?
Thanks for the help Ashhar, I am really loving the radio and look forward to learning how to install v3 at some point.
WK4DS
David
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Re: sbitx v3 circuit and performance details
Gordon,
That is true...? save for there is a transformer between the transmission line and the Drains.
If its 1:4 (impedance) step up going out it will work the opposite ways for the return
signal for a total return loss.? So the voltage is 1/2. (sqrt(4)).? Its greater for a
1:9 (1:3 turns) case.
Still I've used 3x to 4x as a safety margin.? The 100V irf510 is fairly resistant at 24V
and less so at 32.? For nominal 12V (13.8V DC) that means 55-60V device has
enough voltage margin.
However blowing devices is often a symptom of other things going on such
as RF instability or DC instability.
--
Allison
------------------
Please use the forum, offline and private will go to bit bucket.
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Re: sbitx v3 circuit and performance details
I found an article that discusses vswr testing. ?While I think the fundamental can only ?induce twice it’s voltage (by 100% reflection) I forgot there are harmonics to think about also!?
The author suggests that 2.5 times the drain voltage DC is a reasonable maximum to expect
If that’s true, then our 55 or 60 V devices should be fine.?
Gordon Kx4z?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Nov 20, 2023, at 19:38, ajparent1/kb1gmx <kb1gmx@...> wrote:
?maybe depending on the specific load.
And 28V is way below the tolerance for the mosfet.
IRF510 a is a 100V part and the IRFZ24 is a 55 volt part.
Generally its reasonable to keep the drain voltage below that.
That has little to do with gate voltage as that is only from the divers.
Id expect that to be well under 10V P-P at the gates.
--
Allison
------------------
Please use the forum, offline and private will go to bit bucket.
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Re: sbitx v3 circuit and performance details
maybe depending on the specific load.
And 28V is way below the tolerance for the mosfet.
IRF510 a is a 100V part and the IRFZ24 is a 55 volt part.
Generally its reasonable to keep the drain voltage below that.
That has little to do with gate voltage as that is only from the divers.
Id expect that to be well under 10V P-P at the gates.
--
Allison
------------------
Please use the forum, offline and private will go to bit bucket.
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Re: sbitx v3 circuit and performance details
Allison, even with infinite swr, can more than 28 volts reach one of the mosfet finals??
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Nov 20, 2023, at 14:42, ajparent1/kb1gmx <kb1gmx@...> wrote:
?The big problem case is that the IRFz24 is a 55V (DS) device and the IRF510 is a 100V part.
At the 100V level the IRF520 is a 10A device with 100V DS max making it a more robust
at the cost of higher input and output capacitance making driving it and matching it
somewhat more difficult but generally better than the IRFZ24.
--
Allison
------------------
Please use the forum, offline and private will go to bit bucket.
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Re: sbitx v3 circuit and performance details
The big problem case is that the IRFz24 is a 55V (DS) device and the IRF510 is a 100V part.
At the 100V level the IRF520 is a 10A device with 100V DS max making it a more robust
at the cost of higher input and output capacitance making driving it and matching it
somewhat more difficult but generally better than the IRFZ24.
--
Allison
------------------
Please use the forum, offline and private will go to bit bucket.
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Re: sbitx v3 circuit and performance details
On Sun, Nov 19, 2023 at 05:20 PM, Ashhar Farhan wrote:
would highly recommend it. The maximum gate voltage of the IRFZ24N is half that of the IRF510s and it is more prone to breakdown.
None of the datasheets for the IRFZ24 confirms that.? Its the same for all of the class of mosfets being typical at 20V,? most will be fully saturated at 10V. Allowing for the device Gfs more than a few volts gate to source (plus DC bias ) will be well under 5V. The IRF510 is not any different.? The difference? are the max current and higher Rds-ON . The latter is not a factor for linear operation, only saturated switching.? That and total power.? ?But the IRF510 has a far lower Gate to source capacitance making for higher driving impedance.? Additionally a far lower Crss at 20pf wher the IRFz24 is 65pf.? That Miller capacitance makes the latter harder to drive and? resulting in lower input impedance. -- Allison ------------------ Please use the forum, offline and private will go to bit bucket.
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Re: sBITX V2 TX no output
Gordon,
Based on Hajo's serial number, it would have to be a V2.? There were only 150 DE versions made.
I am hesitant to advise Hajo as I do not have a V2.? I will make some assumptions that might help Hajo better describe what is happening with his radio.
My interpretation of the brief description is that no output exists in any mode.? He does describe that no audio shows up on the SSB display.? It is unclear if that is the same with CW or any digital modes.
Hajo,
What, if any, updates have you done to the software that came with the radio???
Does the radio receive FT8 signals?? Do not worry about proper decoding now.? Just verify that the FT8 tones are heard in the audio and that the waterfall displays the tones.
I have found that a bad software update or a corrupted ?SD card can cause these issues.? It seems to be related to the audio codec initialization.? The only way I could get my DE to work was to start with a fresh image downloaded from HFSignal/Ashhar Farhan's web page.? I am not sure what the correct image is for your radio.
I also have read that a calibration process needs to be done with the V2 sbitx radios.? I can not do this with my DE as it requires the SWR/Power sensor, which I do not have.
The first step that I would do is to verify that the audio codec is working.? That is the receiving test described above.
If the receiver is working, you could have blown the finals.? That happened frequently with the early V2s as there were issues with the final MOSFETs mounting.? Gordon might be a better source for this, as there are some differences between my DE and your V2.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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v3 software, manually entering LOG does not work
v3 software, manually entering LOG does not work
Unfortunately, yesterday's success was once again disturbed by uncertainty today.
After I repeated the git cloning and after turning it on, it seemed that I could save data to the log file by clicking the LOG>> button.
Today it didn't work even with a few reboots.
What you wrote in the LOG file was done with automatic saving.
There were 3 connections you didn't save.
All the data was there, but it was not saved in the log file.
Only the LOG>>> button became dark gray...nothing else happened.
Wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience?
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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HA3HZ
WK4DS