Re: A friendly suggestion for Farhan.
Something to do on cold winter nights, eh? tim ab0wr On Wed, 16 May 2018 21:55:25 -0500 "K9HZ" <bill@...> wrote: You know, I¡¯d love to see the uBITx as a kit.? In fact, I¡¯d take it
as just a bag of parts and a circuit board¡ skip the assembly and
testing.? I¡¯d do that myself.? What that would do is allow those of
us that want to take the challenge¡ to swap out some parts during the
build to customize the thing a little more without doing surgery on a
completed board.
?
Something to think about.
?
*?*
*Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ*?
*From:* [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of* Ken
Hansen *Sent:* Wednesday, May 16, 2018 9:36 PM
*To:* [email protected]
*Subject:* Re: [BITX20] A friendly suggestion for Farhan.
?
To be honest, the ubitx represents approx. $80-100 in parts, with
labor and shipping determining the final cost. A profit-motivated
manufacturer couldn't sell $80-100 worth of parts for $200 - it would
more likely sell for $300 or so, once retailers mark-up, profit,
support, etc are factored in.
Ken, N2VIP
On May 16, 2018, at 12:08 AM, Mvs Sarma < mvssarma@... > wrote:
Perhaps with graphic display and a brand sticker if sold at say at
$200/-
?people would still love it.
?
(
) Virus-free. www.avg.com
(
)
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Re: share your BITX success stories
My call is fire up on 40 and call CQ!? Someone is likely to answer.? ? If you don't?
you never know if the propagation has happend.? I find a lot of South Americans
on 10M during the day, but people keep telling me 10 is dead.
75ohm coax to a dipole is not a bad thing but you may need a simple tuner to match
it to the radio.?
Allison
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Re: A friendly suggestion for Farhan.
Have u thought about a magnetic loop?
Or an end fed dipole,? I use one but I'm only up about 10 ft. And with my lot I zip zag the wire. Also use a homemade vertical with tapped loading coil on bottom. The vertical is actually an extendo paint stick that extends up to 16 ft. Bought at home depot for 25 dollars. Had some scrap 12 gauge Romex wire and took the ground wire andvwrapped it around my wife's nesttea jar. About 20 times. I decided to space it about 1/4 inch from each winding. Put it in a wood box, mounted it on the vertical mounting pole. Used alligator clips to change inductance. I made a chart inside box to show which tap works best for which band. I use an mfj versa tuner fed with rg8 I was using rg6u until my son mowed over the cable rg6 u gives 75 ohms and is cheap. And for less than 100 watts it works for me. I also have 20 radials but some of them had to be zigzagged. I also have a modified cb whip on tripod with loading coil that I use from inside the house.
Hope this helps. All my antennas together less than 50 dollars. I picked up the tripod and cb stick for 5 dollars each at S yard sale. I just added a coil and some fitting I already had on hand.
Anyway hope this helps.
73s
David
Ka9koj
Sent from Yahoo Mail. Get the app
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On Wed, 5/16/18, John Smith via Groups.Io <johnlinux77@...> wrote: Subject: Re: [BITX20] A friendly suggestion for Farhan. To: [email protected] Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2018, 9:58 PM On Wed, May 16, 2018 at 08:30 am, ajparent1/KB1GMX wrote: My suggestion, likely the less expensive route: Build a better antenna.? Less expensive and you will hear stations better.? Use a full size dipole at least a half wave length high (or higher) for example 20M for the 40M band.? ?A wire beam for 20M?can be a considerable equalizer.? A bit of wood, wire and rope.? I happen to like the VE7CA tribander (20/15/10M).? ?A wire beam for 40m is not out of the question, the group I hang with does both of those for field day. I totally agree with the ideal antenna installation. But at this time where I live, 19 foot apex of an Inverted vee with the ends suspended at 8 feet is the best I can do. And with the BITX 40, I have made SSB contacts at the four corners of the United States from Oklahoma City when everything else happens to be in my favor at that time. I still have to polish my digital interface and try some simple digital modes. I found that too much audio volume into the radio overloads the mic circuit and produces weird chirp like issues. a volume knob on the interface would help better adjust the volume for optimum output without distortion. I have been distracted with other projects and haven't played with the BITX 40 in several months, but I still read what's happening in a few places. A good AMP project has always been of interest, but inexpensive kits also require the use of filters, and that requires some equipment more expensive than a BITX of some kind, a amp, and filtering combined. The fun factor doesn't twist my arm that much to do it anyway. I feel stuck between discovery, and buying commercial sometime.
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Re: Using IRF530 outputs and 2N3553 drivers in ubitx
You can across the bands but you need a deign impedance of a about 3-5 ohms and enough loading?
to keep it down there which means a heavier driver and a different driver output transformer
(something the 4:1 turns area).? From a system design standpoint its very doable as I make?
6M amps using MRF150? (400pf input C) and there are more than a few commercial amps
using them in push pull parallel for 2-30mhz.
Its just not an easy drop in.? But over 5W at 30mhz also says its far from horrific as is.
I'd suspect a 2:1 transformer using BN43-6802 with a tube and strap for the low
impedance side might be the winner. The driving transformer needs to have a lower?
leakage inductance and impedance on the MOSFET side.
All in all, if the higher bands are of less interest, then call success and move on
as the results at he low end are pretty decent.
Allison
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Re: uBitx diagnostic document from Facebook group
#ubitx
I believe there are some images missing from the document?
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Re: Using IRF530 outputs and 2N3553 drivers in ubitx
Wow 940pf. ?You can design for it to work at 30 MHz but thats not gonna work at 3.5 or 7.0 MHz without switching parts in and out. ?
?
Dr.?William J. Schmidt - K9HZ
On May 16, 2018, at 7:48 PM, ajparent1/KB1GMX < kb1gmx@...> wrote:
That is consistent with my testing.
The 2n3904s are marginal for power and FT. So it shows a higher FT device that can run at
more power helps, 2N3553 will do both.? Other choices would be 2n3866 and 2n5109
and along list of others.
The IRF530 is an odd choice as below 10 mhz its been used by many but over 10 its input
capacitance (940PF vs 135 for the IRF510) makes it a more difficult part to feed.
Did you change the predriver as well?
How is the power out at 28mhz?
Allison
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I haven't seen a lot of flames here regarding imprecise measurements.
If you have the Harbor Freight digital voltmeter (often free with any purchase), you are about as well armed
as most folks here in the forum.? If you have trouble troubleshooting, somebody may urge you to build a diode RF probe,
that's about it.
Some do have good lab gear and and decades of experience, can measure filter passbands or
intermodulation distortion or harmonic content, and they then report back telling us what they saw.?
But that sort of thing is definitely not required.
If anybody suggests you should spend more on test gear than you did on the radio,
that's your opportunity to go ahead and flame them good.
Jerry, KE7ER
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On Thu, May 17, 2018 at 10:07 am, kq2q2000 wrote:
I¡¯ve been Flamed in the past for not being Precise and well Documented. Opinionated Flamers are ready and armed?24/7.?
It is easier to remain Silent, Learn and Elmer the appreciative Experimenters Locally.?
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Re: Using IRF530 outputs and 2N3553 drivers in ubitx
Allison,
I tested at 10 meters and output was a dismal 5.47w.? I also changed the pre-driver to a 2N2219 and paralleled resistor R 88? 22 ohm with a 10 ohm.? There was no difference in performance so I didn't mention it originally.?
Regards,
Bob
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BITX QSO Afternoon/Evening, Sunday, May 20, 3PM & 7PM Local Time, 7277 kHz in North America, 7177 kHz elsewhere.
BITX QSO Afternoon/Evening, Sunday, May 20, 3PM & 7PM Local Time, 7277 kHz in North America, 7177 kHz elsewhere.
Join us as we make contacts from BITX40 to BITX40 on 7.277 MHz in 40 meters!
This is a worldwide event for BITX40 stations starting at 7pm in each time zone. To participate, call CQ BITX on Sunday, starting at?3PM and/or 7PM?your local time. The BITX QSO Night continues through the evening and conditions usually improve after sunset, so it is worthwhile to participate later in the evening.
Suggested Best Operating Practices:
Work at QRP power levels unless conditions require more power.
Call and listen for CQ BITX on the hour and every quarter hour.
It is helpful if you call CQ BITX with your callsign, name and location.?
Repeat your callsign a number of times during your CQ BITX and during QSO's.
Start a QSO by confirming the callsign, location, name and signal report of the other operator.
Say the callsign, name and location of the other operator so others can hear.
If the frequency is busy, avoid long conversations.
After your initial QSO is complete, ask if there are any other stations who would like to contact.
Report your QSO's, discuss propagation, noise, signal reports, audio reports, antenna type, etc. in this thread.
This is an undirected, scheduled event.? The BITX QSO Night relies on you to call CQ BITX to initiate contacts with other stations, so warm up that final and transmit a few calls on Sunday evening.? Talk to you then!
--
John - WA2FZW
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Roxie,
You forgot us who also like to play with the radio hardware.... ;-)
The idea of a split is usually bad as the hardware/software do not see the user issues
and maybe the user gets to see what improvements people are thinking of.
That said your wish list is not unreasonable.? However CAT is not required for most data modes
though its handy.? Can CAT be done yes.
As an owner/user you also have the option to do (make, copy, even suggest) these things.? Its
a builder/makers radio.? However as a group we are self directed and there may not be a
universal single answer.? We do have a lot of feedback as well for things that do or clearly
don't work.? Its up to you to read and sort through it.
Then again its exactly why I like it.? So many things to try and incorporate.? After all what is
my idea of perfect is likely to give others the shakes or be out of contention on price.? But
that for me is the fun of experimenting and building.??
Allison
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Here is a link to a Raduino replacement at easyeda.com
You can down load the Gerber files and possibly import to your CAD program. Or at least use a gerber viewer to print something you can get the dimensions off of. I have one I did up using a nano and a TFT display if you want. Only dimension that I worried about was the height from the bottom of the board to the right angle 16 pin header that plugs into the uBITX board. I made it a little longer to give mounting holes for the TFT board I used.
--
DuWayne? KV4QB
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Re: share your BITX success stories
I got the bitx40 as an interm radio while by ubitx was still over in India.?
Between the two I have made contacts with SSB in 40 US states as well as Ontario. A couple of weeks ago I put in the firmware for ft8 and have made numerous contacts in Eastern europe over 5000 miles distant.?
When on the air I get good audio reports including some 5-9+10 over 1000 miles away. God has to be with us on the atmospherics of course. These radios are my first HF rigs and I am told just wait till propagation gets decent again. ?My antennas are dipoles made from steel electric fence wire with weed eater nylon line tied to the ends for insulators. The lead in is RG6 75 ohm used cable TV coax that I have scrounged over the years. I am sure ?I've made many mistakes but it does work and has not cost me much.?
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Re: Newbie instructions for loading software in Raduino
#firmware
Rogier,
I just went though that with a box of Arduino Pro Minis I just got. It drove me nuts
until I tried programming it using the Demilove, finally the IDE recognized it and
the trivial blink the on board led program would work.? Then I had to sort out
examples as many canned ones out there were for the Uno?so the code was
wrong for the pins...? And this stuff is not new to me.? Once sorted it worked
and I moved on to doing what I'd intended.
If the various inputs are not working It suggests something like a missing ground
or that 4.7K resistor.? Reason I say that as all of them are very unlikely to be blown.
That is a suggestion to review your work.? Its easy to forget a wire,? put one end
or the other in the wrong place or forget a critical part.
Allison
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Re: uBitx diagnostic document from Facebook group
#ubitx
Very nice indeed. Thanks for posting.
Joel
N6ALT
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Re: Newbie instructions for loading software in Raduino
#firmware
Rogier
The Raduino uses an Arduino NANO as the processor.? This means that you can
use a suitable USB cable and all the Arduino NANO programming tools to write
and install firmware to the Raduino/Arduino.
There are lots of on-line tutorials for using the Arduino IDE and the NANO board.
There are other ways and other IDE's for writing Arduino code, but the above URL's
should get you started.
Arv? K7HKL
_._
On Thu, May 17, 2018 at 7:30 AM, kj6etl <pa1zz@...> wrote: I am finding instructions mentioning compiling etc. I visited the KD8CEC website and I am confused with the instructions given.
Is the Raduino the same as the Arduino so I can use the help recourses available for that platform?
Where can I find help for dummies showing step by step where exactly what to do without assuming one knows the fist steps?
Thank you!
Rogier
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Re: Newbie instructions for loading software in Raduino
#firmware
Thanks, meantime I figured out that I needed a special USB driver for the Mac in order to connect to the arduino and now its showing.
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Mr David Todd,Yes, I agree 100% with you and I can add to that. I operate 80% CW and 20% otherwise.?I do a U turn regarding Bickering.?I enjoy the educational aspect regarding a few Forums here at?.?I enjoy Technical and Construction topics - which does include SMD and through hole techniques. Muppet Tech for Boards!!!I have pretty much designed, built/repaired Gear on a weekly basis since 1960. That¡¯s a few years of Solder Smoke! ?Well it¡¯s nice to be well retired now.?I typically refrain from commenting on the Forums due to the fact that my test gear is Ancient BUT accurate enough of empirical work. Having cutting edge test gear is certainly an asset; but not a substitute for Experience.?My point is that I can¡¯t Measure to one tenth of a Hz or quantify/report results like others.?I¡¯ve been Flamed in the past for not being Precise and well Documented. Opinionated Flamers are ready and armed?24/7.?It is easier to remain Silent, Learn and Elmer the appreciative Experimenters Locally.?This is a Great Hobby - and a Hobby it is.?Not A Profession.?Peace Out,-Bob. kQ2Q
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Ludo
It is done.
Arv? K7HKL
_._
On Thu, May 17, 2018 at 8:17 AM, ludo schoofs <ludoschoofs@...> wrote: Hi, ? Can You remove this email adres: ludoschoofs@... ? With the transition to from Yahoo to Groups.io I changed an adres. This, the old one, ?kept receiving mails. ? Thanks, ? Regards ? Ludo ON7JW ? Van: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Namens Richie Chambless
Verzonden: donderdag 17 mei 2018 15:47
Aan: [email protected]
Onderwerp: Re: [BITX20] Using IRF530 outputs and 2N3553 drivers in ubitx ? I have used the Minipa 70 in my scratch built BitX. While I can get 70 Watts out (13.8v supply), it is short lived as a final will blow within a few seconds and short closed. 50 Watts will work for short QSOs, but taking for more than four or five seconds will destroy the IRF530s. My heat sink is 6¡±x4¡± with 2¡± fins, so I don¡¯t think heat dissipation is the issue. 25 Watts gives me no issues, however.?
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Re: Newbie instructions for loading software in Raduino
#firmware
Easiest to just clip all the pins to remove the old nano, then extract the pins one by one
using a soldering iron and needle nose pliers.
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On Thu, May 17, 2018 at 09:40 am, Ralph Mowery wrote:
The Arduino board is soldered to the other board.? I used? a hot air gun on the pins connected to the other board.? Then one of the solder sucking guns out clean out the holes.If you get an Arduino board make sure you install the pins on the correct side or the board will not fit.
?
As mentioned before you should be able to connect to the nano board and download programs into it with the power off the ubitx.
?
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Re: A friendly suggestion for Farhan.
You know, I¡¯d love to see the uBITx as a kit.? In fact, I¡¯d take it as just a bag of parts and a circuit board¡ skip the assembly and testing.? I¡¯d do that myself.? What that would do is allow those of us that want to take the challenge¡ to swap out some parts during the build to customize the thing a little more without doing surgery on a completed board.
?
Something to think about.
?
?
Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ ?
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ken Hansen
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2018 9:36 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] A friendly suggestion for Farhan.
?
To be honest, the ubitx represents approx. $80-100 in parts, with labor and shipping determining the final cost. A profit-motivated manufacturer couldn't sell $80-100 worth of parts for $200 - it would more likely sell for $300 or so, once retailers mark-up, profit, support, etc are factored in.
On May 16, 2018, at 12:08 AM, Mvs Sarma <mvssarma@...> wrote:
Perhaps with graphic display and a brand sticker if sold at say at $200/-
?people would still love it.
?
|
K9HZ
DuWayne Schmidlkofer
_Dave_ AD0B
Joel Caulkins/N6ALT
kj6etl
