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Re: No TX
#ubitx
The bias controls do make the expected adjustments in current for the finals.
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Interestingly enough, I was repeating some voltage readings yesterday and when I put my VOM lead into Pin 1 of Q90, the bottom of my hand - which was touching the IRF510 heat sinks- started to get warm.? A glance toward the wattmeter told me there was RF out! The TX output quit when I removed the lead and returned more or less when touching the Q90 pin again. After touching the side points for 2cm around in all directions with nothing to show for it, I went and threw in, a 2N2222 as an upgrade, taking care to bend the gate backward betwixt the other two leads so that the E., B., and C. were on the circuit board pads they need to be on.? In firing the rig on, the '2222 gets nice and toasty, as does the pre driver pair (as they did before). So, did that fix the problem? Actually, no. Still no RF out, now.? I put a 2N3904 back in and still nothing, though, being as the pre drivers are warm as well, I'd suspect the problem comes after them. An RF "sniffer" loop shows that RF fields diminish quickly, downstream of Q90 toward the rest of the transmitter power stages.? I spent the time believing in a Q90 stage solution because of the sporadic full-strength output while taking measurements. It defies explanation how simply making metallic contact can restore seemingly full output, in a way that a re-solder and/or Q90 replacement didn't fix. I'm sure that reading this report makes no sense. Well, neither did it make sense being there at the time so we're in the same place on that count. Diving back in after the day job is done with. -Ted K3RTA
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TSW BITeensio Card - new Firmware published
#ubitx
All, |
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Re: TSW's Raduino "Clone" and BITeensio Kits
Dave (and All),
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Right now I haven't had the opportunity to do any more than get the cards (and with the immense help of Ron, W2CTX, TSW's master programmer) evaluated with the system to make sure they work and that software can be written. We didn't bother writing the software for the Raduino Clones as we supply them already containing the HF Signals/Ashhar Farhan factory versions. We used Ashhar Farhan's V5.1 posted on GitHub to check things with the V5 board and it works just fine - RX sensitivity is really good (better than claimed for the V4 (.2 microvolt signal is readable claimed for V4). Once I had my first V5 board calibrated (using the original Raduino that came with it) I was able to copy CW signals down on the noise with a very poor antenna I use for evaluation. I did NOT measure the sensitivity yet. Power output was 10 watts on 40 meters (the only band transmitted on so far) and I'm waiting on a brand new Siglent Spectrum analyzer my wife ordered for me as an early birthday present to get here (not shipped yet, hopefully today) before I do any real deep testing for harmonics, spurs and the like. At present (took time out to write this) I'm re-writing the software operating manual for TSW's BITeensio board and then I'll post our latest beta software to the TSW website. As of this morning, we have only one version of software for the BITeensio but that version will allow use of both the 2.8" and 3.2" ILI9341 color TFT touch screen displays (sorry this is the largest screens we will support right now and they are NOT repeat NOT Nextions. Here's the nice part. This software will allow the use of a mouse and keyboard for control as well as full CAT control (we have a remote control program available on the website). The programmer's reference manual is on the website. We use a partial version of the Kenwood protocol for basic control with many uBITX unique commands/responses (listed in the programmer's reference) that the user will have to interface to their own software. I've tested this with the N3FJP logging programs (which I use exclusively) and it will grab the frequency and mode from the radio into the logged QSO's. The mouse and keyboard can be either wired or wireless. Due to USB host library problems from the Teensy USBHost_t3 library, it doesn't like some USB hubs so you can only hook either a mouse OR a keyboard up as of right now. Logitech wireless KB's with the self contained touchpad mouse do work giving both KB/touchpad capability. OH, I forgot to mention, the new BITeensio software has built in support for BOTH "Legacy" (what we call V3 & V4 boards) and Versioin 5 (V5) boards, selectable through the SETUP/Calibration menu. Calibration constants are saved in different locations so once you have it calibrated for both versions, you can swap the board between either version (as long as you use the same Legacy or V5 rigs you originally calibrated it for. If you move it to a different card, you may have to touch up the calibration again due to internal differences on the uBITX board(s). Now, back to finishing the manual so I can post the latest (beta) version of the software and documentation on the website this morning. Jim - W0EB ------ Original Message ------
From: "d balfour" <davesters@...> To: [email protected] Sent: 2/18/2019 8:07:13 AM Subject: Re: [BITX20] TSW's Raduino "Clone" and BITeensio Kits Knowing that the radiuinos are compatible is good news Jim. Thanks for posting that. |
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Re: 7.177 qso
Yeah nothing heard I did call cq bitx quite a bit. Did have 4 qsos with the bitx curious. Talked to one guy in Baltimore who gave me a solid 59 and couldn't believe that I was running a qrp power level. Last week talked to a ham in Green Bay, he asks, "you running power or just a 100 watts?" .... ah 10 watts. He didn't believe me. I hear stuff like that a lot.
My good antenna has been on the ground for a week now from ice. |
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TSW's Raduino "Clone" and BITeensio Kits
The TSW (www.w0eb.com/Page2.html) group has confirmed that both our "Raduino Clone" board and the BITeensio board kits will work fine with the new uBITX Version 5 rigs.
The Factory V5.1 Raduino firmware from GitHub works in the NANO on our "Clone" board installed in a V5 uBITX just like it does in a factory supplied Raduino and we are very close to releasing firmware for the BITeensio that will run on both the legacy (V3/V4) uBITX and the new V5 uBITX boards as well simply by selecting VL (legacy) or V5 in the calibration menu. The default will be V5 but to use it in one of the "Legacy" rigs, select VL and calibrate it. The VL calibration info is saved separately from the V5 info and once you have the BITeensio calibrated for both versions you can swap it between the two uBITX types simply by selecting VL or V5 in the Calibration menu. (If you install the BITeensio in a different V5 or VL uBITX than it was originally calibrated in, you may have to touch up the calibration.) Beta source code usable with both the 2.8" and 3.2" color displays will be posted in the TSW website's file directories sometime in the next several days as soon as the operating instruction manuals are revised. The same version will work for both displays with the addition of one wire on the 2.8" display only. On the 2.8' the T_IRQ pin needs to connect to D17 on the Teensy 3.6. Jim, W0EB |
Ted
Jim Sheldon
_Dave_ AD0B
Nick VK4PP
N8DAH