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About to start my uBitX radio build...
Hey Folks, About to start my uBitX build... have the radio now, and acquiring some parts as well as scouring my junkbox?(which has been accumulating rather than shrinking!) My goal is building a portable rig I can bring to do mountain-topping?on HF as well as a bunch of VHF bands. Adding transverters... I've mentioned the low-cost transverters?from Ukraine before (See eBay).? ?These units run from 20-30 bucks depending on the band, and will give you 5-8 watts output on each band (if you want to keep the spectrum clean.)? They can be driven with the drive before the uBitx?finals. I'm actually going to stuff 4 extra bands in the box -- 50,144, 222 and 432.? ? The four boards cost around $120 with shipping. Some of the challenges are switching all this.? ?Since we are talking 10m as the? i-f,? I think I'm going to use cheap DPDT relays typically found in those Chinese relay boards (I bought 100 of them for a song many years ago).? I have some nice 12v SMA low-power relays, but not going to waist them on 10m! In order to control transverter?I/O switching, I think I'll use a slave Nano via I2C.? I'll modify the KD8CEC sketches to have additional menu items to select the band; when 50, 144,222 or 432 is selected, I'll ensure the VFO displays the appropriate frequency (simply by adding the offset)? and, via the 2nd Nano, switch the UbitX finals off, and routes the low-level rf to the appropriate transverter.? Sequencing... With these transverters and the potential for external amplifiers, there is a need for proper sequencing.? ?I'd also like it at HF as well (it can also be used to eliminate the pop when T/R switching between the uBitX? I'll use the 2nd Nano to do this, using switching transistors and relays.? ?it will go something like this: -PTT Closure -Mute audio path via JFET switch -Close transverter?T/R relay contacts -Wait 20mS +/- -Close external amp relay contacts -Wait 20mS +/- -Close UBitX Original PTT When PTT opens, the process is done in reverse. Jacks and buffers, and RX/Mic processing... I want to use the UbitX for FT8 and other digital modes, probably with an external laptop. Rather than messing around with the mic input or speaker out, I think I'll add an emitter follower or OpAmp on both the mic audio channel and the receiver audio, before the audio pot.? This way, I'll have fixed level line-in and line-out (via RCA jacks) ?I plan on using my Yamaha CM-500 headsets with the rig.? Should be a good match since these use an electret mic.? They are a bit big for portable use, but very comfortable.? ? In addition, I ordered an SSM2167 mic preamp/compressor board for $6 on ebay.? ? Though my uBitX?has the new audio chip and is socketed, I'm going to replace the audio amp with the New England QRP Club's NESCAF project.? This is a switched capacitor filter-based CW filter board.??
The filter has two controls:
1. the center frequency control allows the user to raise or lower the received frequency (the CW note) in the
bandpass filter. The pitch can be set to a default value anywhere between 450-1000 Hz. range.
2. the bandwidth control will vary the width of the received CW pitch from about 90 Hz to about 1500 Hz.? ?It has a built-in audio amp.? ?It's a bit pricey at $39, but I thought I'd support a local club effort. The back panel will get pretty busy.? The new connector compliment will include the following additional items: 4 more BNCs for the four transverter?outputs. 5 more RCA jacks for HF/VHF/UHF amplifier keying This reflector has been an awesome place for ideas!? Keep em flowing. 73, Gerry W1VE |
No PTT
Hi all,
When I tuned up my uBITX everything was fine. I have since been correcting the front panel wiring and now it does not transmit. The relays do not go over, there is only 1 volt on the PTT line (Orange) Although there is 5 volts across the straight key, nothing happens on 'key down'. I have checked the wiring several times, using W4RJP's circuit of 21st March (FB RJP!), there seem to be no bad joints, or burned components.? Can anyone advise where to try next, please? Geoff G8BMI |
Re: KD8CEC 1.072 download
Jack,?
I think we are dealign with three types of users: 1) The "Give me a simple way to flash uBitx, and I don't care about version numbers, I don't care about changes, I just want to use?the latest and greatest features" user. For?them, a version number is not important,?because they very likely don't even want to keep more than one version around. They would very likely be happy with just using avrdude and flashing a hex file, which Ian provides.? 2) The "I want to experiment with the software and make my own changes, but always want a save way to get back to a working configuration" type of user. For them, just like learning?the syntax of C/C++ and how the library system in the Arduino IDE works, it may be a good idea to get a basic understanding of a version control system and use that to keep track of changes.?You want to make changes to the software? Then you are a software developer, and version control is part of that.? 3) The "I want to have access to different versions, but don't?want to learn how software development actually works" type. For them, your approach may be a good way to keep track of different versions. ? Especially if you fall into #2, and you want to make changes, you need a way to figure out what you've changed. When you hack away on a keyboard, mistakes happen and you may not even remember touching a file. A version control system always will tell you exactly what has changed, and then you can figure out how to get back to a working system. So, in m opinion if you?want to make changes, you either need to be very good with the Unix diff command, or have a VC system?that takes care of that for you.? -- Karl Heinz - K5KHK |
Re: KD8CEC 1.072 download
Gordon Gibby
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýWell I appreciate that, but this is not the only thing I do in life. I¡¯m involved in several other activities both in radio and elsewhere, and writing books left and right, and I don¡¯t have time to read tutorials on every little system. If you can¡¯t make it easy, you will lose people like me.
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Re: KD8CEC 1.072 download
I did not say that it would not work for Windows, I said that I do not know what the corresponding commands are on Windows - changes are that they are?the same (or very close), but without any first hand experience, I would not want to spread any misinformation. Git is available for Windows, but you may want to read a Windows specific tutorial.?
-- Karl Heinz - K5KHK |
Re: KD8CEC 1.072 download
Jack Purdum
Karl:
I've used version control (VC) systems on everything from a PC to a full-blown mainframe running VMS. That said, most Arduino users probably see VC as an unnecessary layer to negotiate each time a new release comes out...they are not in a commercial software development environment. What I've done with Ian's releases is to create new subdirectories for each release: ??? C://IanLee/Version106/ubix_20.ino... ????????????? /Version1072/ubix_20.ino ????????????? /WorkingVersion/ubix_20/ubix_20.ino... and so on. I then have a "working directory" (i.e., the?WorkingVersion above) that holds the most recent version which is copied from the latest subdirectory. I can then traverse to this working directory from within the IDE, click on the INO file and off I go. This also allows me to return to the "original state" of the code should the need arise, but without a VC system. True, I lose the intermediate steps that got me from point 'A' to point 'M', but for most users, they don't care anyway as long as the original is preserved. Jack, W8TEE
On Tuesday, April 24, 2018, 8:24:10 AM EDT, Karl Heinz Kremer, K5KHK <khk@...> wrote:
This is why Ian is using a version control system. As long as there are labels attached to each version, you can always go back and forward between versions without having to resort to different file names or different folders. As Ian explained, using?different filenames actually breaks this mechanism.?You may want to look into a Git tutorial to see how easy it is to - with just three or four commands you can do all that. All you need is to have Git installed on your system.? To create a copy of the repository, you use this command (this assumes a Linux or other Unix type system - I don't know what the corresponding commands would be for Windows): git clone? You then go into the ubitx folder: cd ubitx From within this folder, you can list the tags that are?available: git tags If you want to use the latest version, you are usually already all set, to go back to a previous version, you would use?the checkout command: git checkout v1.06 The argument you use (in this case "v1.06" is one of the tags that were listed with the "tags" command above). You can always find out what's going on by using the "status" command: git status Especially if you?want to make your own changes, Git is a great system, because you will always know what you've changed and you can keep track of your changes by creating your own branches and tags.? This is how professional software development is done.? -- Karl Heinz - K5KHK |
Re: KD8CEC 1.072 download
Yes Git is a version control system, but not everyone is a software engineer! I try to accommodate the people who will be trying to use my software. rOn On April 24, 2018 at 8:24 AM "Karl Heinz Kremer, K5KHK" <khk@...> wrote: |
Re: KD8CEC 1.072 download
Gordon Gibby
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýBut if this doesn¡¯t work for windows users, the most common sort of us I suspect, exactly how does this benefit us?The only Linux that I have available to me is a raspberry. I have plenty of those. Am I able to run the integrated development environment on raspberry?
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Re: KD8CEC 1.072 download
Gordon Gibby
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Re: KD8CEC 1.072 download
This is why Ian is using a version control system. As long as there are labels attached to each version, you can always go back and forward between versions without having to resort to different file names or different folders. As Ian explained, using?different filenames actually breaks this mechanism.?You may want to look into a Git tutorial to see how easy it is to - with just three or four commands you can do all that. All you need is to have Git installed on your system.?
To create a copy of the repository, you use this command (this assumes a Linux or other Unix type system - I don't know what the corresponding commands would be for Windows): git clone? You then go into the ubitx folder: cd ubitx From within this folder, you can list the tags that are?available: git tags If you want to use the latest version, you are usually already all set, to go back to a previous version, you would use?the checkout command: git checkout v1.06 The argument you use (in this case "v1.06" is one of the tags that were listed with the "tags" command above). You can always find out what's going on by using the "status" command: git status Especially if you?want to make your own changes, Git is a great system, because you will always know what you've changed and you can keep track of your changes by creating your own branches and tags.? This is how professional software development is done.? -- Karl Heinz - K5KHK |
Re: KD8CEC 1.072 download
Jack Purdum
It would also make it easier to identify the version just by a glance at the directory that hold the code files. Because the INO file must have the same name as the directory its in for the IDE to compile the file, instead of all versions sitting in a directory name ubitx_20, it makes sense to have:
C://ubitx_20V1072/ubitx_20V1072.ino ????????????????? ubitx_factory_alignment.cpp ????????????????? //...and so on... ???????????????????????????? This way the "old" versions are preserved when the new one is released. I would still like to see only the source file containing the setup() and loop() functions be given the INO secondary file name and all the others given CPP secondary file names. Currently, using all INO file names causes the compiler to get sloppy on parameter type checking and that can be a nasty bug to isolate, especially when no symbolic debugger is available. True, the change will identify a host of warnings, but should uncover no bugs, since the code compiles correctly as is. I did that for Farhan's original code and while it took some time, it's really grunt work and not difficult to change. Jack, W8TEE
On Monday, April 23, 2018, 11:45:03 PM EDT, K9HZ <bill@...> wrote:
Im not sure you understand this completely, so ill put this more clearly. When the main sketch has the same name from version to version and you upload it to the Arduino IDE, it over-writes the previous version because it has the SAME NAME. ?Of you were to include the version number in the program name, they would not over-write.? Dr.?William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch ¨C K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner ¨C Operator Villa Grand Piton - J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: email:??bill@... ? On Apr 23, 2018, at 6:56 PM, Ian Lee <kd8cec@...> wrote:
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Re: Teensy 3.5/3.6 upgrade for uBITX
Jack Purdum
Not completely, as they still don't know what it can do. However, I did want to stir up some interest beforehand. Also, I don't want to take a total hit from people who ordered add-on boards (filters, keyers, AGC, etc.) point at me saying: "You should have told us!" For some reason, that prospect really bothers me. This way, at least I can say I tried to tell them that something is on the horizon.
Jack, W8TEE
On Monday, April 23, 2018, 11:50:36 PM EDT, K9HZ <bill@...> wrote:
Now that the cat is out of the bag... Dr.?William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch ¨C K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner ¨C Operator Villa Grand Piton - J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: email:??bill@... ? On Apr 23, 2018, at 8:18 PM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io <jjpurdum@...> wrote:
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uBITX top level PCB - status?
Jeroen Bastemeijer
Dear all,
A (very) short intro: My name is Jeroen, I'm a HAM since 1996, I like to build my own stuff. Getting on the air just occasionally. Now my question: What is the status of the AE7EU top-board? I saw some posts on the list in January, after that it seems very silent around the top-board. Is there any progress? News? For what it is worth: a bare PCB would suffice for me, soldering SMD is no problem. Best 73s Jeroen, PE1 RGE |
Re: Practical CW Operation?
#ubitxcw
David Wilcox
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýA great CW filter is the CALF sold by John, KC9ON, at? . ?You can use his stock set up or experiment with different variables if you are an audio nerd and the cost is very reasonable. ?I have 3 or 4 different filters but his is my GoTo filter most of the time. Dave K8WPE On Apr 23, 2018, at 12:36 PM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io <jjpurdum@...> wrote:
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Re: Teensy 3.5/3.6 upgrade for uBITX
David Wilcox
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýHey Guys, Got my bag packed for FDIM, car ready to travel, my ticket bought for FDIM and Xenia (The first time I saw Xenia was after the tornado of 1970 or there abouts. ?It sure looks better today.) ? Now if I can fake the calendar out so we can meet soon and learn about this new stuff. ?Thanks for all you do for us. ? Dave K8WPE On Apr 23, 2018, at 9:02 AM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io <jjpurdum@...> wrote:
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Re: UBITX Assemly Wiki Page
#ubitx
Bob, Overall wiring and? a Nice presentation.
all the best regfards sarma vu3zmv ? |
Re: Upgrade the software to Allard's version
#radiuno
#bitx40help
#nano
Many thanks Marco
downloaded!
I will do the appropriate checks,
Thanks again
Sergio IU2KOI |
Re: Teensy 3.5/3.6 upgrade for uBITX
The uBitx has a 12mhz BFO.
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We have trouble on the uBitx with either the 12mhz USB port oscillator or the third harmonic of the 16mhz processor oscillator wreaking havoc with the receiver.? Could be dealt with through shielding and bypass caps and beads. Alternately build a Raduino from scratch with an oddball processor clock and no USB port.? Can use 3.3v UART lines to an FTDI cable or similar when doing firmware downloads from the Arduino IDE.? All the USB chip on the Nano does is convert from USB to UART signalling.? ? The STM32F103 in the 64 pin flat pack would be a good choice. There are pin compatible parts throughout the ARM processor range,? including one with floating point hardware.?? The STM32F103 is used in the Blue Pill. Jerry, KE7ER On Mon, Apr 23, 2018 at 09:42 pm, Gary Anderson wrote: No way should anyone hate anything.? It may be an eye opener to some what can be done with a modern micro-controller.? I am glad Jack gave honorable mention to the Protoneer.? Before I ordered it last week, I came up with zero hits for Protoneer here. Thought I might be a little crazy since very sharp minds are active and voicing their opinions.? I hate to see great? software work by Ian and others be limited to choices based on the flash memory space of the Arduino Nano, which is also consumed by the boot loader.? The idea is this may help those that want a lower end "modern" 32 bit digital solution with a reasonable amount of SRAM for their uBITX with a small $ additional investment.? Even the Pi fans might find a need for a little more horsepower in the micro-controller.? Then again, I could be blown away by a pure Pi controller implementation. |