Re: ND6T AGC S Meter Calibration
Hi Mark.
I cant help, but I am in the same boat. I have built 3 (1 diy, 2 kit) of these boards in 2 different uBitx, and I don't think mine are working... On local nets I still get blasted by close by stations and struggle to hear distant ones, without twiddling the VOL...
I will watch this thread for replies.
Good luck, 73 Nick VK4PLN
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ND6T AGC S Meter Calibration
I have Don's & Kees' AGC board in my uBitX and am trying to get the S meter function in Ian's firmware working. I've been using the S meter helper in the Manager to try to set some meaningful values but have not been terribly successful so far. It seems like only the strongest signals give a usable level, it shows either a very small value or about a 75 value with little variation in between, it's either S1 or S9+ with nothing in between.
I borrowed an Elecraft XG2 receiver test oscillator from a friend to try the calibration with known input levels (it puts out 1uV and 50uV signals on 80, 40, and 20M). Measuring the voltage on the AGC board at J1 I get the following (I hope this is readable):
Band No Sig 1uV 50uV
80 .4mV 1mV 1.6V
40 .3mV .5mV 1.7V
20 .3mV .7mV 1.6V
Are these values typical? I'm not 100% sure the board is working correctly anyway...it's my first attempt at surface mount assembly so I may have messed up something altho I don't see any obvious problems. The radio seems to work just fine otherwise and the receiver seems to have decent sensitivity, to my ear at least.
The S meter is certainly not essential but since it's there, I'd like to see if I can get it working.
Anyway, any advice/opinions/comments are appreciated.
Mark AA7TA
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Re: #ubitx #ubitx-help Not able to set up extension switches using CEC firmware
#ubitx
#ubitx-help
I have the same difficulty with the iambic paddle setup.? I am only getting readings of 4 and 6 in the ADC.? I used metal film resistors, could this cause this kind of problem?
Dan, W2DLC
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Re: uBITX No Power Output all of a sudden
#ubitx
Board fab shops give their design rules, perhaps something like:
? ?minimum 10 mil drill size
? ?minimum 5 mil annular ring of copper pad around each drill hole
? ?minimum 6 mil trace width, minimum 6 mil spacing?
That's the rules for OSH-Park, where a mil is 1/1000'th of an inch
The minimum bid shops might be a bit more sloppy than OSH-Park.
I've seen boards where the drill job wasn't centered on the pads, to where
the edge of the hole was well beyond the edge of the pad.
In that case, you won't get as good a connection between layers through that via,
though even so it's probably good enough for our purposes in most cases..
Or could be that the plating process was rushed, and they didn't get enough material in there.
Generally speaking, you're best off backing off 10 or 20% from what a fab shop claims
they can do on a good day.
The via that failed was being asked to take 2 or 3 amps into the IRF510 drains.
That's asking a lot for one via.
Might be better to make it a 40 mil hole, has greater circumference, greater current capacity.
Though as someone has already suggested, the wimpy via does serve as a sort-of poorly spec-d fuse.
Jerry, KE7ER
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On Mon, Jul 23, 2018 at 02:00 PM, Clark Martin wrote:
Vias are frequently smaller than most component holes. ?I suspect the small size tends to prevent the plating solution from getting in thoroughly due to surface tension.?
?
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uBITX HF transceiver and blue MBITX metal case.
At a recent Radio Rally in the UK I happened acrosss a unbuilt uBITX kit and matching metal case.
The case is punched for a tx/rx bi-colour led and thanks to this group I have found the wiring needed for this.
The case also comes with small pcb for the led,for the tuning encoder,for the power and fuse assembly and for the three jack plugs, mic/ptt,key and phones.
It also came with a Digital board that fixes to the rear of the case. There is no information on this board or its wiring, it contains 2 jack sockets, a USB and a 9pin D Sub.
Any help would be appreciated on the latter item.
Thankyou and 73 de Ian M0IDR
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Re: uBITX No Power Output all of a sudden
#ubitx
Vias are frequently smaller than most component holes. ?I suspect the small size tends to prevent the plating solution from getting in thoroughly due to surface tension.?
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On Jul 23, 2018, at 8:17 AM, ajparent1/KB1GMX < kb1gmx@...> wrote:
Vias are used to get from one side to another or as a top ground to bottom.
They are just plated through and often solder masked.
Like leaded component holes they are just plated through and can be defective or?
marginal.? When a soldered lead is there it tends to mask that but a via being?
unfilled by solder can fail.??
Its east to test for such a failure, ohm from point A to point B and if the resistance?
is not very small (miilliohms typically) it is suspicious.?
Generally the via is sized to have at least the current carrying ability as the trace?
leading to it or more.? When the work I've done on the my board I've had traces?
vaporize but the vias were intact.
I chalk this one up to one of those odd failures that can happen in large board runs.
Unless its a more than .5% event its likely anomaly.
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On Jul 23, 2018, at 8:02 AM, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io < jgaffke@...> wrote:
I bought a couple off ebay.
Element was fine, but plastic shell needed a hole drilled into it over the element.
No hole for sound to get in would definitely make it sound muffled.
This is an oft reported issue with Baofeng speaker mics. It is supposed to be that way to make it water-resistant. ?But I think making it sound-resistant kind of defeats the purpose.
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If impedance, crosstalk, or voltage are not an issue and the spacing meets the criteria specified, no, I don¡¯t think it matters. ?Aesthetics (typically) isn¡¯t a design issue in PCBs, at least not for the traces. ?All engineering is a trade off. ?Routing a trace to be centered would mean (probably) a longer trace, which is a BAD THING albeit a very minor bad thing.
We all have our designing quirks and pet peeves, some are relevant and some are just ¡°because that¡¯s the way to do it¡±. ?
Put it this way, how much extra effort would you put in to ensure that EVERY trace is centered between every other trace and to what tolerance?
I¡¯ll keep an eye out for you at the next dinosaur fossil exhibit I go to. ?;)
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On Jul 23, 2018, at 12:20 PM, Paul Galburt - K2AYZ < galburt@...> wrote:
I just finished checking a fairly complex PCB layout (not Ham related) for a product I am developing. I notice that many places where a trace runs between two pads, it is NOT centered, and therefore the spacing is not optimized. The designers tell me if it passes the design rule distance checks (DRC) in the software (Altium in this case), it's good and no further work is done.
I guess I am an old dinosaur who did a lot of layout in the old days and made sure using eyeballs that every trace (most of which were not "impedance designed") was centered between adjacent non-connected pads.
I am about to be extinct, or does anyone worry about this kind of stuff?
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Funny thing,
I just finished checking a fairly complex PCB layout (not Ham related) for a product I am developing. I notice that many places where a trace runs between two pads, it is NOT centered, and therefore the spacing is not optimized. The designers tell me if it passes the design rule distance checks (DRC) in the software (Altium in this case), it's good and no further work is done.
I guess I am an old dinosaur who did a lot of layout in the old days and made sure using eyeballs that every trace (most of which were not "impedance designed") was centered between adjacent non-connected pads.
I am about to be extinct, or does anyone worry about this kind of stuff?
73,
Paul K2AYZ
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Re: Inexpensive eBay Amplifier Kits
I ordered the $12?tuner kit from the same supplier as these 70 watt/100 watt amps being discussed. I considered the $18?amp but took a pass because too many other chores to do. I am glad I did take a pass. I say this because indeed as commented elsewhere this company gives you absolutely no schematic for the build. Glad I bought just a tuner because that is simple to construct minus plans. The amp would have been a PIA without a schematic. On the other hand it did arrive fairly soon, about 2-3 weeks and the parts are pretty decent.
I ordered this PA and a low pass filter board three month ago. The items have not arrived. During several weeks I have now had email discussion throw ebay with this? trader to either send me a replacement or refund me. That has not worked out. The trader did NOT use any registred postal shipment which makes it impossible to trace the shipment. He did not even had my postal address when we discuss a replacement shipment. My advice. Do not buy anything from traders who do not use registred postal service. Do not use traders who has a US-warning on the PayPal service.
This PA will come without any schematics or essembly instruction something that is common for all DIY item from China. Don?t expect hem to send you any info after shipment. Luckely there are a number of instructions on the net which might help you to assembly this type of constructions. Many PA constructions from China seems to suffer from instability. Some of them use re-used outdated final transistors. They are cheap so you get what you pay for. Check on the net for people who has dealt with the DIY item you intend to buy before order.?
I have instead bought a ready assembled PA fully linear within .5 dB for 1.0-30 MHz- Input 100 mV and output 30-40 class AB SSB from Russia. Check RV3YF WEB site for more info and order instructions. Fast delivery with schematics. You need to add your own heatzink. He also have some interesting? s-meter and SWR display which I intend to add to the uBITX.
Ulf/sm0cgl
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Ken
I already have a small bag of electret microphone cartridges that were
purchased from several on-line vendors way back when we were working
on the BITX20A and BITX17A design.? My interest in the Baofeng
microphones is because they could be cheap housings for BITX40 and
uBITX microphones.? Sounds like that could still be the case as long as
one realized that the original cartridge will possibly need to be replaced.
Arv
_._
On Mon, Jul 23, 2018 at 8:18 AM Ken Held KF7DUR via Groups.Io <kf7dur= [email protected]> wrote: Arv
The Baofeng spk/mics sound muffled on the Baofeng radio. They have plenty of gain for the Baofeng radio but are very weak on the uBitx. The -24dB element brought the level up nicely. Order a few to play with, you won't be disappointed.
Ken
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Re: uBITX No Power Output all of a sudden
#ubitx
Vias are used to get from one side to another or as a top ground to bottom.
They are just plated through and often solder masked.
Like leaded component holes they are just plated through and can be defective or?
marginal.? When a soldered lead is there it tends to mask that but a via being?
unfilled by solder can fail.??
Its east to test for such a failure, ohm from point A to point B and if the resistance
is not very small (miilliohms typically) it is suspicious.?
Generally the via is sized to have at least the current carrying ability as the trace
leading to it or more.? When the work I've done on the my board I've had traces
vaporize but the vias were intact.
I chalk this one up to one of those odd failures that can happen in large board runs.
Unless its a more than .5% event its likely anomaly.
Allison
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Stuff out there sold as a Baofeng mike can vary.
Perhaps Baofeng has several suppliers, I'd guess some are clones.
I bought a couple off ebay.
Element was fine, but plastic shell needed a hole drilled into it over the element.
No hole for sound to get in would definitely make it sound muffled.
Had no use for the speaker or transmit light, and didn't like the tug of the coiled cable.
So replaced the cable, put a 3.5mm stereo jack on the end, wired it up
to just have a mike element and PTT switch.??
Mike element and PPT switch seem fine.
Jerry, KE7ER
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On Mon, Jul 23, 2018 at 07:17 AM, Ken Held KF7DUR wrote:
The Baofeng spk/mics sound muffled on the Baofeng radio. They have plenty of gain for the Baofeng radio but are very weak on the uBitx. The -24dB element brought the level up nicely. Order a few to play with, you won't be disappointed.
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Re: NEXTION 4.3" Basic & Enhanced now Supported
Hi Bj?rn,
from where you got your Nextion display?
Rob PA0RBL
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Re: NEXTION 4.3" Basic & Enhanced now Supported
I would love to see a 3.2 inch version of this.
Joel
N6ALT
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Arv
The Baofeng spk/mics sound muffled on the Baofeng radio. They have plenty of gain for the Baofeng radio but are very weak on the uBitx. The -24dB element brought the level up nicely. Order a few to play with, you won't be disappointed.
Ken
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Re: [VK3 Event] Bring your Bitx/uBitx - Melbourne QRP by the Bay 28 July
Hi Peter and all,
I hope somebody videos it for the rest of the world. I would love to see what everybody did with their uBitx/Bitx. I will be receiving my second uBitx Thursday to go along with my Bitx60 and my Bitx40 using the ozqrp VFO.
Joel
N6ALT
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Re: Source for female connectors/pins/manual crimp tool?
@leonard : i don¡¯t grimp, i prefer solder (take care to jeep or small to get in the hole)?
@robert thank you for the hint/tip completing my Link to item (it¡¯s obvious but i ve not thinked to do it ;-)
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Re: uBITX No Power Output all of a sudden
#ubitx
Jim Sheldon : Get Real?? That was way out of line.
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Re: uBitx Prototype (PCB)
connections to copper islands. pads or areas where soldering is required that are not simple traces should be defined as a thermal (relief) pad.
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Nick VK4PP
Paul Galburt - K2AYZ
Joel Caulkins/N6ALT
Robert Ogburn