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My Ubitx pics

 

Here's a couple pics of my just finished Ubitx project...I call it my Drake TR8 QRP? built in a Drake MS7 speaker cabinet...Mike W4ZGI

IMG_3531.JPG
IMG_3528.JPG

Re: Instruction Manual needs revision #ubitx

[email protected]
 

I have attached my first pass at the "MBITX TUNEUP" instruction, and welcome your comments.? I have aimed for ease of understanding, particularly for newcomers to our interesting hobby.?
--
Jon Titus, KZ1G
Herriman, UT USA

uBITX T_R Switch.pdf
uBITX T_R Switch.pdf

Re: Variable Power Out

 

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Put a pot in between the audio from the computer and the mic input to the radio. Then you can adjust for the desired level. ?Alternatively check to see if you can control the output level, either from the software or the computer¡¯s volume control.



Clark Martin
KK6ISP

On Jun 2, 2018, at 8:34 AM, Dennis <dennis@...> wrote:

I have been operating FT8 with the uBITX and in some situations would like to use it to drive my linear. Problem is that It puts out more power than I want going into the linear. On 20m last night I fired up the linear and was putting out 100 watts. Way more than I need for this mode so I immediately went back to barefoot. The linear has only High and Low settings (I was using low of course). Is there a simple way to vary (lower) the output power? A new knob on the front panel would be ideal. HI
Re: Nextion Display

 

I have a 3.2 ordered and waiting for it to arrive. I am using the 1.08CEC firmware from Dr. Ian and like it a lot. I am adding 8 switches to it. I know the manager has options for 6 but I am adding one for FKEY and momentary toggle for PTT. I would appreciate any information I can get on the Nextion Display. I downloaded the software on the Nextion site but have not loaded it yet to check it out. Thanks Dr Ian for all your great work.
73's kn4ud
kn4ud@...
--
Allen ?Merrell
Re: LCD Interface Question: Parallel or I2C? #bitx20 #bitx40help #firmware

 

yes...it frees up 6 i/o lines


On Sat, Jun 2, 2018 at 3:04 PM, Allen Merrell via Groups.Io <kn4ud@...> wrote:
I2C frees up some pins. I2C only uses 2 pins plus power and ground. This was my reason to go to I2C.

73's kn4ud
--
Allen ?Merrell




--
Paul Mateer, AA9GG
Elan Engineering Corp.

NAQCC 3123, SKCC 4628
Re: Han's fabulous article on the QCX

 

I have a 20 meter OCX and enjoyed building it. No problem to build at all and it has all the necessary equiptment built in to align it with. I liked it enough to order another in 40 meter band.
kn4ud
--
Allen ?Merrell
Re: LCD Interface Question: Parallel or I2C? #bitx20 #bitx40help #firmware

 

I2C frees up some pins. I2C only uses 2 pins plus power and ground. This was my reason to go to I2C.

73's kn4ud
--
Allen ?Merrell
Re: Han's fabulous article on the QCX

 

Thanks for posting the link. Hans¡¯ writing is comfortable and pleasant to read. I THINK I¡¯m finally starting to understand how some common radio circuits work. Brilliant! :-)
Old Engineer. Young Ham. Very Happy Reader and Builder.
Re: ?BITX Disable TC (use for CW training)

 

Yes. The firmware is backwards compatible.
- f

On Sat, 2 Jun 2018, 19:12 Hans Stoll, <tool4fish@...> wrote:
On Sat, Jun? 2, 2018 at 06:41 am, Hans Stoll wrote:

>
> Where to find the stock firmware (for uBITX r3) source code?
>
Oh sorry, found it:

Runs with r3 as well?
Re: uBITX physical comm port - newbie question

Tom Francis
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Thanks for the quick reply - I really appreciate it.

I do some QRP building and experiment a little, but I've never gotten into the micro
controller scene much at all other than reading up on it.? 50 some years of playing
radio I'm still something of a Luddite.

I will do what you suggest - looks like fun.

Thanks again.

Best regards,

Tom, W1TEF

On 6/2/2018 1:55 PM, Ralph Mowery wrote:

Before playing too much with it, you can get just the Arduino processor and play with it.? They are only about $ 2.50 from China off ebay if you don't mind waiting 3 or so weeks.? This is what I bought a while back to do some playing.? There are 5 of them for about $ 12, but you can find single lots of them.



Notice the silver thing on the left.? That is the USB connector you are looking for.? They can be powered by just the usb connector plugged into the computer if you just want to play with the programming of them.? Same with the ubitx.? The display will light up and you can program it through that connector, but the rest of the ubitx will not be powered.??

de ku4pt.


On Sat, Jun 2, 2018 at 1:19 PM, <ubitx@...> wrote:
First, thanks for letting me join - appreciate it.? The question I'm asking is pretty simple, but I have no experience with this at all.? I've put my uBITX together and it works - really cool too I might add. I looked around, but I can't find any installation instruction or guides with respect to putting the physical USB Comm port connector into the uBITX. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.? Thanks for you patience with a newbie.? Tom, W1TEF


LCD Interface Question: Parallel or I2C? #bitx20 #bitx40help #firmware

[email protected]
 

As hams have hacked or modified their uBITX transceivers, some have moved to a 4-line LCD controlled via an I2C connection.? The electrical connections with a 2x16 or a 4x20 LCD look the same, so why the need for the I2C interface?? It would seem easier to simply change the display addresses and use the standard interface.? Could someone explain to this newcomer why I2C offers advantages or if some incompatibility exists between the display types.? Thanks.?
--
Jon Titus, KZ1G
Herriman, UT USA
Re: uBITX physical comm port - newbie question

[email protected]
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Thank you very much.? Appreciate it.

Best regards,

Tom - W1TEF

On 6/2/2018 1:47 PM, Ralph Mowery wrote:

With the display facing you, turn it so you cal look into the right side of the display between it and the board behind it.? You will see a small USB connector facing you . .? Forgot what it is called , maybe a mini USB.? Any of the usb cables that fit will work if you are sure you have a data cable.? Some cable are just for charging the batteries of a cell phone and only use 2 of the 4 wires in the USB cable.

You will need a program to see anything out of this port on the computer.? Go here:


for free software .? Arduino 1.8.5 seems to be the latest Windows software for it.

This is the home page for lots of info on the Arduino processor.



73 de ku4pt


On Sat, Jun 2, 2018 at 1:19 PM, <ubitx@...> wrote:
First, thanks for letting me join - appreciate it.? The question I'm asking is pretty simple, but I have no experience with this at all.? I've put my uBITX together and it works - really cool too I might add. I looked around, but I can't find any installation instruction or guides with respect to putting the physical USB Comm port connector into the uBITX. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.? Thanks for you patience with a newbie.? Tom, W1TEF


Re: Nextion Display

Stephanus K6NG
 

Ian,
?? I can't wait for this. Keep up the good work. wish I could help testing but I am working away from home.

Stephanus
K6NG
Re: RF power chain mods and improvements..

 

On Sat, Jun 2, 2018 at 09:48 am, Arv Evans wrote:
It seems that a common thread in all this discussion of spurs and their taming is that
if you don't over-drive the mixer by turning the modulation too high, the spurs are usually
within tolerance.? I wonder if that is the reason that Farhan did not provide a gain control
for the transmit audio path???
Yep and everyone we to adding a preamp or compressor.? What they are trying to fix
is the output of the 45mhz mixer is very low and even at 80m the power amp if run
that way puts out about 10W.? Move up to 40M or 20M where the power amp has
less gain and people drive the audio harder and you get 7W.? NOt a problem
yet as the low pass filters are adequate. At 21mhz the game is worse, less
gain and less power and more audio gets used and now the filters are wide open....

FYI the output of that mixer is clean at -19dbm after the 30mhz filter.? That means
to hit 10W you need 59DB of gain.? The base amp on 80M maybe does 62db
wide open. at 40M that drops under 55....? and at 10M your stock
amp chain gain is maybe at 45db or about 50 (maybe 100) milliwatts so if your
seeing more its audio push to make up for it.? How much push at -11dbm?
the spur is less than 30db down (V bad!) and your getting 1.7 to 2W.??

With a highly modded TX we get to 3w, turn up the mic gain and 10W
and that spur at 16mhz is now about 20-50mW!? That is the problem!??

Also audio gain controls would be turned up anyway, its just one more mis-adjustment.
Of ten radios built by me and on the air only one has a mic gain, its there because the
hole was there first in a reused box. Once set it has never moved.??

Allison
Re: Power supply question

 

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The LM1085-12 has a dropout voltage of 1.3v typ; 1.5v max.?? The lm1117ADJ likewise has a low dropout voltage but would require a couple more parts since that part doesn¡¯t come in a fixed 12v version.

Mike

K5ESS

?

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bo Barry
Sent: Saturday, June 2, 2018 12:16 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Power supply question

?

If I recall correctly the 3 terminal regulators definitely need a minimum of 3 volts difference between input and output.
Bo W4GHV?

Re: uBITX physical comm port - newbie question

 

Before playing too much with it, you can get just the Arduino processor and play with it.? They are only about $ 2.50 from China off ebay if you don't mind waiting 3 or so weeks.? This is what I bought a while back to do some playing.? There are 5 of them for about $ 12, but you can find single lots of them.



Notice the silver thing on the left.? That is the USB connector you are looking for.? They can be powered by just the usb connector plugged into the computer if you just want to play with the programming of them.? Same with the ubitx.? The display will light up and you can program it through that connector, but the rest of the ubitx will not be powered.??

de ku4pt.


On Sat, Jun 2, 2018 at 1:19 PM, <ubitx@...> wrote:
First, thanks for letting me join - appreciate it.? The question I'm asking is pretty simple, but I have no experience with this at all.? I've put my uBITX together and it works - really cool too I might add. I looked around, but I can't find any installation instruction or guides with respect to putting the physical USB Comm port connector into the uBITX. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.? Thanks for you patience with a newbie.? Tom, W1TEF


Re: uBITX physical comm port - newbie question

 

With the display facing you, turn it so you cal look into the right side of the display between it and the board behind it.? You will see a small USB connector facing you . .? Forgot what it is called , maybe a mini USB.? Any of the usb cables that fit will work if you are sure you have a data cable.? Some cable are just for charging the batteries of a cell phone and only use 2 of the 4 wires in the USB cable.

You will need a program to see anything out of this port on the computer.? Go here:


for free software .? Arduino 1.8.5 seems to be the latest Windows software for it.

This is the home page for lots of info on the Arduino processor.



73 de ku4pt


On Sat, Jun 2, 2018 at 1:19 PM, <ubitx@...> wrote:
First, thanks for letting me join - appreciate it.? The question I'm asking is pretty simple, but I have no experience with this at all.? I've put my uBITX together and it works - really cool too I might add. I looked around, but I can't find any installation instruction or guides with respect to putting the physical USB Comm port connector into the uBITX. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.? Thanks for you patience with a newbie.? Tom, W1TEF


Re: Han's fabulous article on the QCX

 

While I've not used the QCX I know its progenitor the KK7B MiniR2, R2pro, MicroR2
very well and yes?the direct conversion image rejecting RX sounds very very good.
I've useed that for SSB TX too.

The need for quadrature LO has always been an issue with those and generally a
pain of done analog.

A decade back I did a design using miniR2/T2 as an upconverting 6M radio.

The uR2 works as well at 1mhz as 200 same performance.? So why not use it??
at higher?? ?No reason not to.? While its full analog its not hard to get I/Q?
LO right when its fixed.? Sideband selection is at audio.? Narrow filters,
do it at audio.

In process is a HF upconverting radio using the microR2/MicroT2
?as the IF (basically half the uBITX) with one mod rather than running
them with a VFO at 40M I moved them to?36mhz(fixed) and upconvert
to that.? As a wide tuning RX its simpler than uBitx as only two
oscillators are needed and one can be a crystal as its a common
frequency.? The other is one conversion.? For TX I did not go wide
band as I only wanted to TX on the standard bands (80,40,20,15,10)
so band pass after conversion and lowpass on TX.

How this is relevant.? My experience with 36mhz down converting TX showed
the image and spur issue and filters were planned anyway so it was a not a
lock out.? However moving the micrR2 and T2 to 64mhz or higher is fairly
trivial as its a fixed frequency and 64mhz crystals (for the LO) are common
or the Si5351.? ?With that in place and some simplification a wide 1.8-30mhz
tuning upconverting TRX is now a known thing.? No crystal filters and a whole
lot less RF hardware.? Its superhet but bridges the usual issues of mushy filters
and tuning the IQ LO.? The 5351 solves the issue of a lo from 64mhz to 94mhz.

While those radios were specifcally for SSB based work CW can be done the
same way as the ubitx, inject DC into the TX mod and carrier out. Add sidetone
and move the TX frequency (down converting LO) for the correct offset and go.

The QCX is an example of how non-superhet radios can make inroads when?
the quadrature LO or any LO solution is as simple as a Arduino and 5351.
Some would argue code is complex but once done its always reusable.

Rick Campbell and Dan Tayloe and others gave us a better set of tools to
solve the issue.

Allison
how find wiring ssm2167 on ubitx

 

good evening
have you a schematic to wiring ssm2167 module on ubitx
thanks for? ?your response 73 jo f6cht
Re: PTT Question

Lawrence Macionski
 

Not to start an "oil thread" = motorcycle & aircraft? bloggers go on for months each time someone says "what about oil?"
4th pin----- 2nd GROUND or +5/12 ?? THAT IS THE QUESTION....

Perhaps the answer is the 8 pin version of this popular mic jack/plug connector.?

Reason I say that -
#1 .You want to disconnect the mic if running digital.? Simple wiring ,leaves the mic hot to pick up room noise..
#2. I picked up a $9.95 (a month ago) mic. It actually came in an ICOM box and has up-down buttons: URL:https://www.banggood.com/Hand-Microphone-8Pin-for-ICOM-HM36-HM-3628-IC-718-IC-775-IC-72007600I-with-Track-p-985820.html?rmmds=myorder&cur_warehouse=CN
#3. extra pins allow for audio level to be exported. Giving a single remove the mic, attach the digital interface port. even providing power out to interfaces even power a Raspberry PI - display and Keyboard.
#4. invoking modified addage- "measure twice, cut once" to "Think it out,? then build it once"

Larry W8LM
ARRL Life member- Licensed 368 Dog years...
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