progress report on re-hosting KD8CEC to Pico & Teensy with standard tft style screens
A quick progress report on my efforts to improve KD8CEC to support modern 32 bit MCU's and standard tft screens like found on uBITX V6 and sBITX.
In terms of board support, my current Raduino clones support both Raspberry Pi Pico and Teensy 4.0. Although I have not assembled a board,? I suspect that Teensy 4.1 board will work too. The Gerbers out on my Github are out of date and shouldn't be used. I have one pin change required (to fix a tft voltage issue) as well as I want to put in an optical-isolator on the TX/RX output signal.
The following screen shots show both sets of boards:
 
These boards are both for V6 and are compatible mechanically. I have designs for? v3-v5 Raduinos that need to incorporate the latest changes.
I am also happy to report that I have made great progress rehosting the user interface from the Nextion screens to standard, common tft screens with SPI interfaces (like found on V6, and other Ham experimental platforms. These screens are build with the lvgl toolkit (lvgl.io) with a lot of help from the Squareline Studio GUI Builder ().? The following screen shots so a UX similar to the KD8CEC original design. I am going to make some improvements before I am done (e.g. add a Copy VFOA->VFOB button, and some indicators of what the tx and rx frequencies are when in split.? Also want to add a field that tracks the offset of the RIT frequency from the VFO.
Having a lot of fun with this, so I am not in any hurry to get this wrapped up. Perhaps sometime this summer. :-)
?
73
Mark
   
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AJ6CU/7
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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Interacting with sBITX v3
Hello all,
I¡¯d like to know what your ideas are for the best way to learn to interact with the sBITX v3. Should I learn Linux, python, C+ etc¡. What i¡¯m?trying to do is learn how to download programs that can work with the sBITX v3, keep the programs up to date, general housekeeping. I¡¯m not looking to really build programs. I guess I¡¯m just looking to learn the commands I need to just to keep up with what everyone is discussing when it¡¯s pertaining to the sBITX v3 in general and how to implement some of the ideas. I hope I haven¡¯t been to vague or confusing. I¡¯m not sure how to explain my ideas any better.
Thank You,
Robert, AG6LK?
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On Mon, 12 Feb 2024 at 18:28, Ashhar Farhan <farhanbox@...> wrote: If you removed a turn from the vfo, it should work... I have a Bitx20 which was built from a Hendricks kit it is the 10 watt version. At the moment it tunes from 14150 to 14300. I would like to try and use it for POTA and SOTA, but most of that action tends to take place between 14300 to 14350. My question is there an easy way to move the coverage to 14200 to 14350. I asked on another forum and they seemed to think that I would have to change several components to move the coverage. I am not very good with the soldering iron.
thanks Nigel G7luo
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Re: Where is the wsjtx_log.adi file?
#sBitx
I guess I'm confused still.? I understand that the sbitx FT8 built-in software saves it's log to a SQL file.? I have been using an exporter to convert that file to an ADIF file.? I use that to upload contacts to qrz and LotW.?
But I tried using WSJTX rather than the sbitx FT8 software.? I made a few contacts.? Those contacts do not show up in the SQL log.? As far as I understand, WSJTX has it's own log saved as wsjtx_log.adi.? If you go to WSJTX under Settings, the option 'Open Log Directory' opens a directory with multiple files, but none of them are .adi files.?
Where can I find the contacts made in WSJTX?
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Can you command the audio board to generate a 4 kHz tone and measure it on the waterfall? That might allow you to check the crystal.??
Or do the reverse ?
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On Feb 12, 2024, at 14:13, Dean Souleles <dsouleles@...> wrote:
?Hi all - Seeking wisdom (to borrow a term from FFT lore) from the crowd about a frequency problem wiht my Homebrew SBITX.??if you happened to listen Soldersmoke #250 I talked about it there and I'll illulstrate it here.? First I should explain the diffferences between my build and the HF Signals build.? My digital board consists of a Raspberry Pi 3b+ and a WM8731 codec prototype board from .? My SI-5351 an Adafruit style module which does not have a precision tuned crystal referency oscilaltor and therfore it requires a crystal calibration offset. First issue - I zero beat 10MHz WWV and used the displayed value to calculate the crystal calibration offest I needed for the frequeny display to be exactly 10MHz.? After adjustging the offset the radio is perfectly alligned at 10MHz.? To linearity I set the frequency to 15MHZ and found the WWV center frequency was approximately 200Hz too high (15.000.200). I then tuned to 5MHz and the center frequeny was approximately 200 Hz too low (4.999.800).? ?Pictures below (signal in the picture is from a signal generator, not WWV, to make it easier to see.    \ Does anyone have any thoughts on why the display frequency should vary so much from the tuned frequency and why the delta would vary with the HF frequency? Second issue - in testing the codec prototype board stand-alone (that is disconnected from my analog receiver),? I injected a 24KHz sine wave into the line-in and expected to see a peak at exacty 0 on the waterfall display,? I did not. The waterfall shows the peak about 600Hz below the waterfall center point.? In discussing with Farhan the best guess is the audio prototype board crystal reference is off frequency.? ?I'm going to try a different card to see what happens, Would appreciatte any thoughts on either of the above. 73, Dean KK4DAS
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Hi all - Seeking wisdom (to borrow a term from FFT lore) from the crowd about a frequency problem wiht my Homebrew SBITX.??if you happened to listen Soldersmoke #250 I talked about it there and I'll illulstrate it here.? First I should explain the diffferences between my build and the HF Signals build.? My digital board consists of a Raspberry Pi 3b+ and a WM8731 codec prototype board from .? My SI-5351 an Adafruit style module which does not have a precision tuned crystal referency oscilaltor and therfore it requires a crystal calibration offset. First issue - I zero beat 10MHz WWV and used the displayed value to calculate the crystal calibration offest I needed for the frequeny display to be exactly 10MHz.? After adjustging the offset the radio is perfectly alligned at 10MHz.? To linearity I set the frequency to 15MHZ and found the WWV center frequency was approximately 200Hz too high (15.000.200). I then tuned to 5MHz and the center frequeny was approximately 200 Hz too low (4.999.800).? ?Pictures below (signal in the picture is from a signal generator, not WWV, to make it easier to see.    \ Does anyone have any thoughts on why the display frequency should vary so much from the tuned frequency and why the delta would vary with the HF frequency? Second issue - in testing the codec prototype board stand-alone (that is disconnected from my analog receiver),? I injected a 24KHz sine wave into the line-in and expected to see a peak at exacty 0 on the waterfall display,? I did not. The waterfall shows the peak about 600Hz below the waterfall center point.? In discussing with Farhan the best guess is the audio prototype board crystal reference is off frequency.? ?I'm going to try a different card to see what happens, Would appreciatte any thoughts on either of the above. 73, Dean KK4DAS
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Re: Sbitx SSB audio quality.
But I had just great fun taking an old classic desktop Mic that I got at a ham fest and putting a four dollar element in it that has enormous output, (-24dB) and the doggoned thing works great!!!
That did so good that I built another one for my ICOM station!?
I can¡¯t afford these $250 desktop mics these days, so making one for under 20 is a lot more satisfying. ?
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On Feb 12, 2024, at 13:45, JJ - W9JES <w9jes@...> wrote:
?I agree. The stock mic is trash....
-JJ
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Re: Sbitx SSB audio quality.
I agree. The stock mic is trash....
-JJ
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If you removed a turn from the vfo, it should work...
I have a Bitx20 which was built from a Hendricks kit it is the 10 watt version. At the moment it tunes from 14150 to 14300. I would like to try and use it for POTA and SOTA, but most of that action tends to take place between 14300 to 14350. My question is there an easy way to move the coverage to 14200 to 14350. I asked on another forum and they seemed to think that I would have to change several components to move the coverage. I am not very good with the soldering iron.
thanks Nigel G7luo
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Re: Writing the ICOM EMULATOR for the sBitx
Now I need some tutoring.
Do I open and close the telnet socket each time I need to pass parameter, ( which could be 20 or so times per minute at times)?
Or do I just open it when the program starts and keep it open forever?
I don¡¯t have a clue which way is better¡
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On Feb 12, 2024, at 13:11, Gordon Gibby via groups.io <docvacuumtubes@...> wrote:
?HOORAY -- just finally succeeded at opening a socket and passing a frequency to the V3.02 telnet server.
TIME FOR LUNCH!!!? ?So many hours on this, but I'm learning!!!
Gordon
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Re: Sbitx SSB audio quality.
I went through the mic thing with the SBITX DE edition.
First issue was mic cable was unshielded!? RF? feedback issues even on a dummy load.
Then I tried again with a shielded cable replacement ... electret cartridge was crap!
That was replaced and the case i was in had poor acoustics.
Just about every mic I tried of any known quality, Turner +3, TT M215 dynamic,
EV619? dynamic desk mic, and even a lowly HT speaker mic (baofang) all
worked better.? The best was the Turner though the rather ancient EV was
pretty good but level was low.
As to the software compressor. It worked but was over aggressive (over driven??)?
just about every SDR radio has a much better one.
--
Allison
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Please use the forum, offline and private will go to bit bucket.
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Re: Writing the ICOM EMULATOR for the sBitx
HOORAY -- just finally succeeded at opening a socket and passing a frequency to the V3.02 telnet server.
TIME FOR LUNCH!!!? ?So many hours on this, but I'm learning!!!
Gordon
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Re: Sbitx SSB audio quality.
On 2/12/2024 11:34 AM, Harald Holt
wrote:
There are several resorts about the bad SSB audio quality. In
V3 of the software, the compressor was removed. The compressor
was ¡°horrible¡± according to Farhan.
But even without any compression the quality was not acceptable.
Recently, I managed to get hold of an old Turner mic with
preamp. See picture.
With my fellow radio amateur a few km apart, we have tested the
original mic against the Turner.
The testing was done on 80 and 20 m. The mic gain of the sBitx
was 26. The Turner preamp was tested from 0 - 100%.
The conclusion is that the quality of the original handheld mic
is unacceptable. It just sounds bad.
While the 50 year old Turner mic is quite good. It is absolutely
representative audio of a good rig.
The preamp setting was increased to 50% before it started
clipping.
Based on this test I am inclined to conclude that the audio
quality of the sBitx is good given a good mic.?
I still think the sBitx needs a compressor in order to get
enough power out.
I have been using my Thrustmaster T.FLIGHT GAMING HEADSET.? With
a mic setting at about 50 I am not getting any clipping on the
scope and Have gotten good audio reports.
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There are several resorts about the bad SSB audio quality. In V3 of the software, the compressor was removed. The compressor was ¡°horrible¡± according to Farhan.
But even without any compression the quality was not acceptable.
Recently, I managed to get hold of an old Turner mic with preamp. See picture.
With my fellow radio amateur a few km apart, we have tested the original mic against the Turner.
The testing was done on 80 and 20 m. The mic gain of the sBitx was 26. The Turner preamp was tested from 0 - 100%.
The conclusion is that the quality of the original handheld mic is unacceptable. It just sounds bad.
While the 50 year old Turner mic is quite good. It is absolutely representative audio of a good rig.
The preamp setting was increased to 50% before it started clipping.
Based on this test I am inclined to conclude that the audio quality of the sBitx is good given a good mic.?
I still think the sBitx needs a compressor in order to get enough power out.
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I have a Bitx20 which was built from a Hendricks kit it is the 10 watt version. At the moment it tunes from 14150 to 14300. I would like to try and use it for POTA and SOTA, but most of that action tends to take place between 14300 to 14350. My question is there an easy way to move the coverage to 14200 to 14350. I asked on another forum and they seemed to think that I would have to change several components to move the coverage. I am not very good with the soldering iron.
thanks Nigel G7luo
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Re: Writing the ICOM EMULATOR for the sBitx
Great job, guys!? ?Upgraded to 3.02, then added the remote.c from W9JES and now I can telnet (from Putty) without the junk characters, and it reconnects when I stop and restart Putty!
The telnet API of the sbitx3.02 appears to work for what I need....so now I work to create the code on my end to talk to it...probably examining something in W9JES' code.....
This might work as a standalone!? ?And Soules has much more coded, so eventually it will migrate to his great work.? ?So far I have 5 or 6 of the most crucial commands coded, awaiting debugging....gotta get this DONE because many other projects and the garden await.
Gordon
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Re: #sBitx help bad transmit
#sBitx
Scotty,
Have you done any tests on a dummy load?? This would eliminate RF feedback as an issue.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: #sBitx help bad transmit
#sBitx
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Re: #sBitx help bad transmit
#sBitx
Hi Scott -- best thing is to directly contact HFSignals -- check for email on their website.? ?This forum is informal and althrough they may observe your plight, you would be better served by directly contacting them!? ?I bet they will take great care of? you.? SORRY that something blew up.....things will get better!!!!
Gordon KX4Z
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Scotty R