No, he's still running the stock software (v1.01) - the basic sketch doesn't support the Function Button yet.
For some reason his raduino enters the calibration mode at power on.
This normally only happens when the CAL wire (red wire on input A2) is grounded.
Gert, when you measure with a DVM directly on pin A2, what voltage do you see?
Input A2 should be HIGH (5V) when it is open (due to the internal pull-up resistor).
If it is LOW then check for any shorts.
If you are absolutely sure that there is really no short to ground, then input A2 may be blown.
(arduino inputs can easily blow when loose wires accidentally touch +12V on the BitX40 main board)
73 Allard PE1NWL
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Re: Is my BitX output stable?
The "MG" in the Pixie schematic is apparently a reference to "MG Electronics":
? ?
And it's magnetic not piezoelectric, either would work.
That click-on-DC buzzer from Adafruit might be the best bet for the Bitx40 sidetone,
as Allard's code puts the sidetone audio frequency at something reasonable.
Though if you can live with a 3khz buzzer, that frees up a Raduino pin?
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On Sun, Nov 26, 2017 at 10:02 am, Jerry Gaffke wrote:
You could feed Allard's sidetone square wave into the clicky type transducer from Adafruit.
Or you could feed Allard's 5v DC signal that goes over to the 10k resistor into the modulator
as a source to a steady-tone-with-DC type transducer from Amazon (but choose one that works at 5v).
. . .
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Re: Is my BitX output stable?
Thanks Willy, I got it!? de Karl, KO8S
On Sunday, November 26, 2017 1:43 PM, Willy <W1LY@...> wrote:
Hi Karl, "MG" is a? buzzer which can be disabled by by pulling a shorting tab. It produces a pretty disturbing tone. 73 Willy
On Sun, Nov 26, 2017 at 12:34 PM, Karl Schwab via Groups.Io <ktschwab@...> wrote: A question on the Pixie; what is the "MG" component that is being used for side tone?? Thanks, 73, Karl, KO8S
On Sunday, November 26, 2017 9:16 AM, Willy <W1LY@...> wrote:
Hi Jerry, The link you mention,?, is our club web site and documents our first club build. We built 30 or so Pixies and exposed many to their first soldering adventure. I? would consider the Pixie to be an interesting experiment rather than a viable transceiver, but yes they do work. With much time and patience and a good antenna I was able to work Brazil from New England, one of the few contacts I was able to make.
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Re: BITX QSO Night, Sunday, November 26, 7pm Local Time, 7277 kHz in North America, 7177 kHz elsewhere
I have been looking at? and the results are very much what I have been experiencing on QSO night. It is also a very good predictor of what other times might produce. I entered my grid square FN41hm, power 10 watts SSB, dipole at 15 meters,and the receiving station antenna as dipole at 15 m also and moved the receiving station around with my mouse to see the likely percentage of a successful contact at any time. At 00z? (my 7 PM) I have less than a 50% chance of working Tom VE3THR at FN04ej around 500 miles and the chances drop to 18% an hour later.My best? ? ? ? ? ? ?chance to work Tom is between 1 PM and 5 PM local when I have over a 90% chance. At 00z my chance of working W0OIC ED EN42qm at around 1000 miles is 74% and stays above 60% til my 3AM when I have my best chance 75% if Ed is still up.
Of course VOACAP is only a guide but a huge amount of time and money was spent building these models? ? Hope to work you tonight, Willy
On Sun, Nov 26, 2017 at 10:06 AM, John P <j.m.price@...> wrote: Just a reminder! See you all tonight, I hope!
--
John - WA2FZW
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Re: Allard's Modifications
Hi Jack, Allard's software with instructions is located at:??
Hope this helps.
Marco - KG5PRT
On Sun, Nov 26, 2017 at 2:06 PM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io <jjpurdum@...> wrote: All:
I've been out of the country for over a month without internet and have two questions:
1. What/where is the latest release of Allard's Raduino code?
2. I think I remember that someone was going to (did?) write up a doc file on how to do all of the mods that Allard's code supports. If that does exist, what/where is it?
Thanks!
Jack, W8TEE
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All:
I've been out of the country for over a month without internet and have two questions:
1. What/where is the latest release of Allard's Raduino code?
2. I think I remember that someone was going to (did?) write up a doc file on how to do all of the mods that Allard's code supports. If that does exist, what/where is it?
Thanks!
Jack, W8TEE
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Re: Is my BitX output stable?
Hi Karl, "MG" is a? buzzer which can be disabled by by pulling a shorting tab. It produces a pretty disturbing tone. 73 Willy
On Sun, Nov 26, 2017 at 12:34 PM, Karl Schwab via Groups.Io <ktschwab@...> wrote: A question on the Pixie; what is the "MG" component that is being used for side tone?? Thanks, 73, Karl, KO8S
On Sunday, November 26, 2017 9:16 AM, Willy <W1LY@...> wrote:
Hi Jerry, The link you mention,?, is our club web site and documents our first club build. We built 30 or so Pixies and exposed many to their first soldering adventure. I? would consider the Pixie to be an interesting experiment rather than a viable transceiver, but yes they do work. With much time and patience and a good antenna I was able to work Brazil from New England, one of the few contacts I was able to make.
|
Re: Is my BitX output stable?
You could feed Allard's sidetone square wave into the clicky type transducer from Adafruit.
Or you could feed Allard's 5v DC signal that goes over to the 10k resistor into the modulator
as a source to a steady-tone-with-DC type transducer from Amazon (but choose one that works at 5v).
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Show quoted text
On Sun, Nov 26, 2017 at 09:54 am, Jerry Gaffke wrote:
A buzzer like this could be used for a sidetone on the Bitx40 as well,
if you don't like how Allard is injecting a square wave into the speaker.
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Re: Is my BitX output stable?
The Pixie sidetone is generated by some sort of piezoelectric buzzer/sounder, rated to sound off when given 9v to 12v.?
These generate a steady tone of maybe 2khz or worse when fed a DC voltage.
Here's one, there's cheaper out there: ?
There are other piezoelectric transducers that appear identical, but these only click once when fed DC.
You would have to feed those a square wave to get a tone out of them.
He's one of those: ?
A buzzer like this could be used for a sidetone on the Bitx40 as well,
if you don't like how Allard is injecting a square wave into the speaker.
Jerry, KE7ER
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On Sun, Nov 26, 2017 at 09:34 am, Karl Schwab wrote:
A question on the Pixie; what is the "MG" component that is being used for side tone?? Thanks, 73, Karl, KO8S
?
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Re: Is my BitX output stable?
Regarding the need for something to monitor transmissions from the Bitx40v3 during testing,
the SoftRock Lite II Combined Receiver Kit at $21 might be the best bang for the buck,
assuming you already have a computer with appropriate sound card: ?
Feed a 1khz tone at 50mv or so max into the mike input, zoom in on the computer monitor
to check the suppression of the carrier and opposite sideband. ?Should see a single peak.
A two tone audio signal into the mike should show two peaks, as you turn up the injected 2 tone audio signal
and/or R136, additional nearby peaks will start to appear indicating distortion.?
But most any SW receiver capable of hearing 40m would solve the immediate issue for the original post in this thread.
Even the $1.98 pixie.
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On Sun, Nov 26, 2017 at 06:16 am, Willy wrote:
I? would consider the Pixie to be an interesting experiment rather than a viable transceiver, but yes they do work.
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Re: Is my BitX output stable?
A question on the Pixie; what is the "MG" component that is being used for side tone?? Thanks, 73, Karl, KO8S
On Sunday, November 26, 2017 9:16 AM, Willy <W1LY@...> wrote:
Hi Jerry, The link you mention,?, is our club web site and documents our first club build. We built 30 or so Pixies and exposed many to their first soldering adventure. I? would consider the Pixie to be an interesting experiment rather than a viable transceiver, but yes they do work. With much time and patience and a good antenna I was able to work Brazil from New England, one of the few contacts I was able to make.
On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 11:51 PM, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io <jgaffke@...> wrote: If that's the $1.98 ebay Pixie transceiver, let us know if it actually works.
That would be amazing.
Of course, you will need an Extra Class license to put that 7.023mhz crystal oscillator on the air,
a different crystal will probably cost you yet another $1.98.? Unfortunate.
Should be able to hear the Bitx40 transmitting into a dummy load if you tune the Raduino to around 7.023mhz
On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 05:35 pm, Gene Nitschke wrote:
Ordered one of the CW kits.? May be a couple of weeks.
?
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Make sure the Function switch is working. Fun switch should be open until pressed.? I had one cheap surplus switch failed ... goofy problem for awhile :) Installed a new PB switch fixed problem.? ?Hope this helps
On Sun, Nov 26, 2017 at 9:28 AM, Gert Krause <krause-gk@...> wrote: Hi Allard
no, the red one is not at the ground and the only thing happening is that the rig is not mouving from discriebed pos. 2 !
73 Gert
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Hi Allard
no, the red one is not at the ground and the only thing happening is that the rig is not mouving from discriebed pos. 2 !
73 Gert
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Hi Gert,
it seems your Raduino is going into calibration mode.
This normally only happens when pin A2 (red wire) is connected to ground.
Make sure that your pin A2 is not accidentally connected to ground.
Before upgrading to a newer software version, first make sure the radio
works OK with the stock software v1.01.
Newer software with additional features is available at
73 Allard PE1NWL
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Re: BITX QSO Night, Sunday, November 26, 7pm Local Time, 7277 kHz in North America, 7177 kHz elsewhere
Just a reminder! See you all tonight, I hope!
--
John - WA2FZW
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Hi, I"m pretty new around and about a beginner
My new BITX worked for a few days correcty but now does not like me any more
Turning on the display says
1. Raduino v1.01
??? Calibrating....
2. A:00:0000?? n...
?? -025 0000 up to 00261500 depending on the tuning
and it provides me with a hissing sound
3, no further action
My guess is, that Arduino lost his mind / program - power on the board is o.k.
I think, the sw-version is a bit old, but how can I replace it with my computer ?
Anybody got a siple idea dor me ?
DG3OQ
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Re: Is my BitX output stable?
Hi Jerry, The link you mention,?, is our club web site and documents our first club build. We built 30 or so Pixies and exposed many to their first soldering adventure. I? would consider the Pixie to be an interesting experiment rather than a viable transceiver, but yes they do work. With much time and patience and a good antenna I was able to work Brazil from New England, one of the few contacts I was able to make.
On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 11:51 PM, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io <jgaffke@...> wrote: If that's the $1.98 ebay Pixie transceiver, let us know if it actually works.
That would be amazing.
Of course, you will need an Extra Class license to put that 7.023mhz crystal oscillator on the air,
a different crystal will probably cost you yet another $1.98.? Unfortunate.
Should be able to hear the Bitx40 transmitting into a dummy load if you tune the Raduino to around 7.023mhz
On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 05:35 pm, Gene Nitschke wrote:
Ordered one of the CW kits.? May be a couple of weeks.
?
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Re: Low output on 14mhz solved!
Yup, you're right, probably not Vgs-max.
Lack of DC bias could easily cook it.
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On Sat, Nov 25, 2017 at 02:35 pm, Ryan Flowers wrote:
I think I messed up R150 when soldering to it, and so there was no bias, which caused the IRF510 to cook itself.
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Re: Low output on 14mhz solved!
I haven't posted it yet. I'd posted the problem with output dropping at 14mhz in another thread about the multi-band bitx in the last 2 weeks. -- Ryan Flowers W7RLF
?
?<-- Learn how to go digital on the BITX40
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Re: Low output on 14mhz solved!
?Did I miss something?
I don't think I saw the detailed explanation of increased output/data....????
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I think I messed up R150 when soldering to it, and so there was no bias, which caused the IRF510 to cook itself. After replacement it's worked fine, for which I am glad. I've also thought about cutting the Drain lead off and soldering a jumper straight
between T7 and the tab. Right now I have the drain pin bent forward toward T7 with a small jumper between the two, and it seems to work well. It drops off at much higher frequencies now. I'll post all the info when I have time to get it together.
--
Ryan Flowers W7RLF
?
?<--
Learn how to go digital on the BITX40
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Allard PE1NWL
Willy