finally finished my ubitx
Finally found time to finish up my ubitx. I am *impressed*. Tuning works fine. Audio sounds fine. Calibration is dead on. BFO is dead on. Using a 16ohm speaker the audio is plenty loud and the ws 2822 doesn't seem to get warm. The tuneup PTT current was a little low at 400ma but the bias voltage for the irf510's adjusted properly. Total of 600ma draw on ptt. The only holdup now is that my old CB mic with a dynamic element simply doesn't provide enough output. I have an old mic I'm going to put an electret element in. Notes for mods: 1. get rid of audio pops, 2. AGC. I am simply amazed at the functionality of this rig at this price point. Mr. Farhan has put out something amazing. This could literally be the first rig for thousands of new hams. tim ab0wr /g/BITX20/photo/37513/0?p=Name,,,20,1,0,0 /g/BITX20/photo/37513/1?p=Name,,,20,1,0,0 /g/BITX20/photo/37513/1?p=Name,,,20,1,0,0
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Re: Looking for Completely Functional Dual-Band 20/(17/15/10/6) Meter QRP Rig with SSB/PSK
#bitx20help
Go for Quansheng uv-r50.? Far far better than Baofeng
I ordered two of these.? I have Baofeng UV-82 side by side.? Day night difference between receivers.
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Re: Micro BitX No Audio TDA2822?
Thanks Jerry
I did see the other fix to add LM7805 regulator plus 1 .1uF cap.? I will order 2073D if someone has tried it as well.
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Re: Soldering gun or iron
The 862D+ is going for about $50-$55 right now. I have two of them and they both work great.
Vince.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 03/15/2018 03:51 PM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io wrote: Me, too. I got:
Inline image
It was about $70 and it's pretty nice for the money. It has an iron, but
also hot air. I've only used it a few times, as I use my old iron for
thru-hole stuff.
Jack, W8TEE
On Thursday, March 15, 2018, 3:27:31 PM EDT, Christopher Miller
<djmalak2k6@...> wrote:
I purchased a hot air rework / iron station for around 70$ I can do smd
work with it
--
Michigan VHF Corp.
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Re: Soldering gun or iron
I have a small butane torch (harbor freight) that comes just before the propane torch.
Vince.
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Show quoted text
On 03/15/2018 01:59 PM, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io wrote: Yes, a temperature controlled pencil iron with a fine tip would be a
good choice for working on these rigs.
That and some strong reading glasses and bright work light.
I still have the 140W gun that I built tube gear when in my teens.
Use it occasionally when soldering up large chunks of metal, perhaps
when using
12 gauge house wiring for an inductor. Beyond that, it's the propane torch.
Jerry
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 10:47 am, Doug W wrote:
Kind of like asking what car you should buy or shovel or rifle or
whatever. We can be much more helpful if you know your goals. Are
you on a limited budget and this is the only thing you plan to ever
build and need the cheapest way to just get this done or do you have
so much spare cash you light Cuban cigars with $100 bills and want
the best tools that will last for generations?
Personally my go to iron is a supposedly 60w adjustable pencil type
iron that I keep planning to upgrade but I like it and it gets the
job done. I have this one
that was around $15.
It isn't available anymore but there are tons of similar Chinese
ones on Amazon. While you're at it I would suggest picking up one
of the copper scrubby looking tip cleaners.
--
Michigan VHF Corp.
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Re: Encoder details from various suppliers
I wish they (Chinese ebay sellers) were a little easier to communicate with. The generally send this pre-packaged reply which says " We do not care about that detail" ! There is one, called Alice with some numbers, that may communicate a little easier.?
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 11:05 AM, K5ESS <k5ess.nothdurft@...> wrote: And don’t depend on the picture to represent whether the mounting shaft is threaded or not.? Best to ask first but probably still no guarantee.? Ebay guarantee seems to work if parts are not as shown. Mike K5ESS ? From: BITX20@groups.io [mailto:BITX20@groups.io] On Behalf Of Michael Shreeve
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 12:50 PM
To: BITX20@groups.io
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Encoder details from various suppliers ? Humm, cool, one detail I hadn't looked at. Narrows the choices a little more. And also is one more detail the Chinese don't offer. ? On Wed, Mar 14, 2018 at 5:24 PM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io <jjpurdum@...> wrote: Of all of those links, only the last one is any good. All of the others do not have a threaded shaft, which most people will want. I've probably purchased 50 KY-40 encoders and all have worked well. I haven't used them all, so there may be a bad one lurking in the pile, but so far, so good. These do have a detent, but another post here showed how to make it "detentless". Personally I like the detent as it stops on a dime and there is no coasting.
From: Michael Shreeve <shreevester@...>
To: BITX20@groups.io
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2018 8:14 PM
Subject: [BITX20] Encoder details from various suppliers ? I've looked at encoders which I believe are used in the uBITX .? Perhaps you need one, they can be blown up with incorrect hookups, or physically just bad. Or perhaps your doing a special project and need one.?
Of course, the encoder supplied with a uBITX is kind of a special animal.?
It has the following specs. or close to it. There are a couple of important details, one the Number of Detent, and the Important spec is "without" and? , a few do not have switches and a few details like that. The link for a table showing these specs is here.?
And here is the encoder I believe to be almost exactly what we use in the Raduino .?
Now, if you try to get encoders, its really tough on ebay. Most of the details are left out. And, my experience with some listings is that if they give the details, it will be a very expensive item.? Here for example.?
From England,? GPB 8.99 $12.67 US Dollars for ONE !?
Most of the ebay listings are like this one. Cheap, but no details.
And, you will be very disappointed because one of the most important details is the encoder is the "number of detents" which should say "without". Detents are the physical click you feel when you turn it, uBITX encoders are smooth, no detents, and Alps says "without" to describe this feature. Encoders with Detents are terrible for the uBITX.? And most likely the ones supplied by Ebay will have detents.?
?And Amazon doesn't give any details either.?
I am told these would be like the ones the uBITX uses.?
But, I'm not sure how the person who referred this to me knew that. Definitely not from the listing. Was he just? lucky ??
?
--
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Re: Soldering gun or iron
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Re: Soldering gun or iron
Me, too. I got:
It was about $70 and it's pretty nice for the money. It has an iron, but also hot air. I've only used it a few times, as I use my old iron for thru-hole stuff.
Jack, W8TEE
On Thursday, March 15, 2018, 3:27:31 PM EDT, Christopher Miller <djmalak2k6@...> wrote:
I purchased a hot air rework / iron station for around 70$ I can do smd work with it
|
Re: Soldering gun or iron
Thanks everyone for your suggestions and help. As soon as I get back the house I will do some more research as recommended on the iron and other parts.?
I am currently waiting by my mail box for DHL as the radio is on their truck. ?I live in the city per se, but a good quarter mile from the 2 lane paved road in some woods, so just trying to be here so driver doesn’t say he can’t find our house and takes it back with him.?
Anyways thanks again and 73 Fr Richard? WB8YXF?
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Show quoted text
On Mar 15, 2018, at 15:13, Christopher Miller < djmalak2k6@...> wrote: I purchased a hot air rework / iron station for around 70$ I can do smd work with it
|
Re: Soldering gun or iron
I purchased a hot air rework / iron station for around 70$ I can do smd work with it
|
Re: New for pi-day, the Rasberry Pi 3 B+
True, the Atmel family is getting a little long in the tooth, but it has two HUGE advantages: There are a hundred clones which, for the most part, work well and it has a bazillion shields/sensors that can be added on easily.This makes it easy to have a fun and enjoyable learning experience. Also, there's probably enough self-instruction books on them to denude most of Idaho. The STM32 family is sorely lacking in the above. I cannot even find a touch screen library that works with it.
The RP has tons of books available for learning about it, but it seems to be more geared to the Maker types rather than hackers. I don't see the hardware experimenting with it like I do with the Atmel family.That's not to say there aren't people hacking it, just a different type of hacking.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to what your goals are. I keep looking for better controllers for my projects (e.g., STM32's, Teensy's...even a new one from from NZ). Still, with the libraries available and so little time left, I gotta go with the easy solution for my needs.
Jack, W8TEE
On Thursday, March 15, 2018, 1:05:14 PM EDT, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io <jgaffke@...> wrote:
The 8 bit Atmel processors are 20 or 30 years out of date, but a big community of users to get help from.
The $2 Blue Pill ARM STM32F103's seems the current best bang/buck.
But something small and stupid is a very good place to start if you really want to know what a computer is.
As I mentioned in my previous post, the? AVR Core section of the ATMega640 datasheet is about 6 pages long.
Figuring out an ARM would be somewhat more difficult.?
The Asus Tinkerboard could be interesting to folks here as an alternative to the RPi's for standalone digital.
Though most of my projects don't need that much processing power.
And many are just fine with an 8 bit ATMega.
The RPi-zero might be a good choice for a standalone rig with digital modes.
A brief google search suggests it can be throttled back to well under 100ma,
making it less than the uBitx receiver and thus perhaps good enough.
? ??
That supply current will rise considerably when you give it a job doing FFT's.
Far less processing power than a Tinkerboard, but less battery power too.
Oh, and $5.
Good time to be a geek.
I remember back in the late 70's, trying to build a Z80 system from scratch.
Never got completed.
Minimalist kits were $1k+ in 1978 dollars, and considerably less powerful than these ATMega's.
Jerry, KE7ER
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 09:07 am, ajparent1 wrote:
For performance the Asus Tinkerboard has it seriously beat.? Not only faster 1800mhz but twice the ram 2gb.
All the sam IO and hardware still there and same form factor so it fits in the same places.
I know this as I have both RPI 3B and Tinkerboards.??
The problem is faster currently means more power needed.??
Allison
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Re: Soldering gun or iron
The LM7809 puts out 9vdc.
We don't really know what all might blow a WX, but there are reports
that some of the TDA2822 clones blow at over 7v.
So an LM7805 or LM7806 might be a better choice.
And/or a new TDA2822.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 10:56 am, Fr Richard R wrote:
I am also getting a cable, some new STTDA2822M's and a couple of LM7809CT to prepare for a possible bad TDA2822!
?
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Re: The start of CW code is broken
#ubitx
hello, ?try to install kd8cec firmware. carlos ik2yra
I've built the ubitx and now experimenting about CW mode with dummy load.
I set the iambic key and it worked well but I found that the start of dot or dah was broken, not a full code when TX. I set the "CW start Delay" to 100 but not fixed this problem. Is there any information about this?
ja9mat Hidehiko.
-- Carlos Wenzel ik2yra@...+39-3284684518
Skype: IK2YRA
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Re: Soldering gun or iron
Probably going against the grain here but I think a cheap ~$20 iron will probably be an endless source of frustration for a beginner.
If you can swing it,? the Hakko FX888D is a stellar product for about $100. There might be some decent ones for half the price from Weller or some no-name chinese manufactures. Get one of the metal scrubbies for tip cleaning and a good quality lead-free or lead solder Kester and MG Chemicals are good brands. Also, go with solder diameter less than 1mm, I'm fond of 0.3 to 0.5 mm diameter range. Specifically Kester 44 products are my go to for general purpose use.
Ralph N9WTX
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 12:56 PM, Fr Richard R via Groups.Io <rickocr2005@...> wrote: Thank you, sorry about such an incomplete question and being so nooby......
limited budget, not sure about future kits, we'll see how this one goes.? I used to use a Soldering Gun a long long time ago...... I have a very low wattage iron someplace that I thought I was going to use for a small kit, though never did.......
so an iron is better that a gun...... and I will just probably get an inexpensive one on Amazon as I am also getting a cable, some new STTDA2822M's and a couple of LM7809CT to prepare for a possible bad TDA2822!
On Thursday, March 15, 2018, 1:47:51 PM EDT, Doug W < dougwilner@...> wrote:
Kind of like asking what car you should buy or shovel or rifle or whatever.? We can be much more helpful if you know your goals.? Are you on a limited budget and this is the only thing you plan to ever build and need the cheapest way to just get this done or do you have so much spare cash you light Cuban cigars with $100 bills and want the best tools that will last for generations?
Personally my go to iron is a supposedly 60w adjustable pencil type iron that I keep planning to upgrade but I like it and it gets the job done.? I have this one ? that was around $15.? It isn't available anymore but there are tons of similar Chinese ones on Amazon.? While you're at it I would suggest picking up one of the copper scrubby looking tip cleaners.
|
Re: Soldering gun or iron
Here is a nice one? $20
Mike
On 3/15/2018 10:56 AM, Fr Richard R via
Groups.Io wrote:
Thank you, sorry about such an incomplete question and
being so nooby......
limited budget, not sure about future kits, we'll see how
this one goes.? I used to use a Soldering Gun a long long time
ago...... I have a very low wattage iron someplace that I
thought I was going to use for a small kit, though never
did.......
so an iron is better that a gun...... and I will just
probably get an inexpensive one on Amazon as I am also getting
a cable, some new STTDA2822M's and a couple of LM7809CT to
prepare for a possible bad TDA2822!
Kind of like asking what car you should buy or
shovel or rifle or whatever.? We can be much more
helpful if you know your goals.? Are you on a limited
budget and this is the only thing you plan to ever
build and need the cheapest way to just get this done
or do you have so much spare cash you light Cuban
cigars with $100 bills and want the best tools that
will last for generations?
Personally my go to iron is a supposedly 60w
adjustable pencil type iron that I keep planning to
upgrade but I like it and it gets the job done.? I
have this one ?
that was around $15.? It isn't available anymore but
there are tons of similar Chinese ones on Amazon.?
While you're at it I would suggest picking up one of
the copper scrubby looking tip cleaners.
--
Mike Hagen, WA6ISP
10917 Bryant Street
Yucaipa, Ca. 92399
(909) 918-0058
PayPal ID "MotDog@..."
Mike@...
|
Re: Soldering gun or iron
Circuit Specialties
has a bunch that look good.? Should not have to pay more than
$30 for a nice one, and make sure to get tiny tip.
I am still using an
old Weller I got 30 years ago, the tip regulates, no knob.? It
works great and they still? make tips for it.
I use a wet sponge to
tip clean.? You also need SolderWick and liquid (Kester type)
Flux.
Or even $8 for a nice
one that just plugs into 110VAC?
I went thru several
Weller Guns when I was a kid.?? They are really not for this
kind of work.? Also, you have to wait each time you pull the
trigger.
Mike, WA6ISP
On 3/15/2018 10:47 AM, Doug W wrote:
Kind of like asking
what car you should buy or shovel or rifle or whatever.? We can be
much more helpful if you know your goals.? Are you on a limited
budget and this is the only thing you plan to ever build and need
the cheapest way to just get this done or do you have so much
spare cash you light Cuban cigars with $100 bills and want the
best tools that will last for generations?
Personally my go to iron is a supposedly 60w adjustable pencil
type iron that I keep planning to upgrade but I like it and it
gets the job done.? I have this one ?
that was around $15.? It isn't available anymore but there are
tons of similar Chinese ones on Amazon.? While you're at it I
would suggest picking up one of the copper scrubby looking tip
cleaners.
--
Mike Hagen, WA6ISP
10917 Bryant Street
Yucaipa, Ca. 92399
(909) 918-0058
PayPal ID "MotDog@..."
Mike@...
|
Re: Officially done with my uBITX!
Nicely done !
I have been thinking about getting an Adel Nibbling tool to make this sort of thing easier.
Obviously the key to doing a good job, is not to be in a rush.
Thanks for the photos Joel.?
Cheers
Michael VE3WMB?
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Re: UBitX Transmit Problem Fixed
Interesting that you managed to blow Q90. Exactly how did you go about it? From post?? /g/BITX20/message/44372? Was it plugged into an antenna? ? If so, an electrical storm, or QRO ops on a nearby antenna could have blown Q90. ? Happened often enough on the Bitx40, but I don't recall any reports of this on the uBitx. Here's a post in an old discussion of whether the uBitx needs protection for Q90. ? ?? /g/BITX20/message/37380Conclusion was probably not.? May need to rethink that. Jerry, KE7ER
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 10:31 am, Guy N7BIR wrote:
I ended up replacing Q90 and R84 on my uBitX. I’m now lighting up my ?Elecraft SWR meter again!
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Re: Encoder details from various suppliers
And don’t depend on the picture to represent whether the mounting shaft is threaded or not.? Best to ask first but probably still no guarantee.? Ebay guarantee seems to work if parts are not as shown. Mike K5ESS ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: BITX20@groups.io [mailto:BITX20@groups.io] On Behalf Of Michael Shreeve
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 12:50 PM
To: BITX20@groups.io
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Encoder details from various suppliers ? Humm, cool, one detail I hadn't looked at. Narrows the choices a little more. And also is one more detail the Chinese don't offer. ? On Wed, Mar 14, 2018 at 5:24 PM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io <jjpurdum@...> wrote: Of all of those links, only the last one is any good. All of the others do not have a threaded shaft, which most people will want. I've probably purchased 50 KY-40 encoders and all have worked well. I haven't used them all, so there may be a bad one lurking in the pile, but so far, so good. These do have a detent, but another post here showed how to make it "detentless". Personally I like the detent as it stops on a dime and there is no coasting.
From: Michael Shreeve <shreevester@...>
To: BITX20@groups.io
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2018 8:14 PM
Subject: [BITX20] Encoder details from various suppliers ? I've looked at encoders which I believe are used in the uBITX .? Perhaps you need one, they can be blown up with incorrect hookups, or physically just bad. Or perhaps your doing a special project and need one.?
Of course, the encoder supplied with a uBITX is kind of a special animal.?
It has the following specs. or close to it. There are a couple of important details, one the Number of Detent, and the Important spec is "without" and? , a few do not have switches and a few details like that. The link for a table showing these specs is here.?
And here is the encoder I believe to be almost exactly what we use in the Raduino .?
Now, if you try to get encoders, its really tough on ebay. Most of the details are left out. And, my experience with some listings is that if they give the details, it will be a very expensive item.? Here for example.?
From England,? GPB 8.99 $12.67 US Dollars for ONE !?
Most of the ebay listings are like this one. Cheap, but no details.
And, you will be very disappointed because one of the most important details is the encoder is the "number of detents" which should say "without". Detents are the physical click you feel when you turn it, uBITX encoders are smooth, no detents, and Alps says "without" to describe this feature. Encoders with Detents are terrible for the uBITX.? And most likely the ones supplied by Ebay will have detents.?
?And Amazon doesn't give any details either.?
I am told these would be like the ones the uBITX uses.?
But, I'm not sure how the person who referred this to me knew that. Definitely not from the listing. Was he just? lucky ??
?
--
|
Re: Encoder details from various suppliers
Well, it seems my esteemed buddy, Don, might have a good recommendation from Amazon after all. And does seem to include a nut and washer for each . A good deal. Worth checking out.?
On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 10:56 AM, Doug W <dougwilner@...> wrote: Don't forget most of the Chinese KY-040 encoders do not include a nut to mount them.? M7x0.75 nuts are like unicorns around here.? I ended up ordering some from Jameco.
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Michael Shreeve