As I mentioned in a previous email, there are issues with the documentation on hfsignals.com
They do check the boards before shipping, but it is still possible to have trouble bringing them up.
Most of these rigs work without much trouble.
If you do follow through and get it going somehow, you will undoubtedly learn
from the experience.? More so than buying an appliance elsewhere.
If you get stuck, we'll try to help here in the forum.
If you need more personal help or access to test gear,
perhaps there is a club nearby where you could ask.
And if you have better ways to spend your time,
you might try selling both rig and enclosure here in the forum.
Jerry
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On Tue, Sep 10, 2019 at 12:55 PM, Roger Tuffin wrote:
Thank you Jerry. ?I was very concerned about frying the Raduino because the board I received is quite different from the one on the site diagram. ?As I said, without the forum I would not have got that wired correctly.
?
The other wiring is so simple it would be difficult to get that wrong - EXCEPT for reverse polarity, for which I was very careful. It may be close to working, because I get the gentle hiss from the speaker per the instructions.?
?
I think you hit the nail on the head in your previous post. It appears this is TxRx that MAY need some sorting. ?ie it MAY not work when you receive it and it may need ¡°debugging¡± to get it working. ?This is not the way it is marketed. ?If I had known that I would not have purchased, or at least I would have known the score. ?I certainly would not have bought a decent case until it was working.
?
We live and learn.
?
Roger
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Hi Gwen and all:
Something about Americanisms (NZ English IS English, not quite so severely mangled):
"started noodling about for signals": I take it "noodling" is investigating, i.e. using one's head - one's NODDLE - the bit of you that nods? I hadn't encountered 'noodling' until SolderSmoke, and it jarred. After all, I don't think we have noodles atop our shoulders. :) Still, I suppose noodles are sort of descriptively squirmy-wormy ...
73
Dex ZL2DEX
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Thank you Jerry. ?I was very concerned about frying the Raduino because the board I received is quite different from the one on the site diagram. ?As I said, without the forum I would not have got that wired correctly.
The other wiring is so simple it would be difficult to get that wrong - EXCEPT for reverse polarity, for which I was very careful. It may be close to working, because I get the gentle hiss from the speaker per the instructions.?
I think you hit the nail on the head in your previous post. It appears this is TxRx that MAY need some sorting. ?ie it MAY not work when you receive it and it may need ¡°debugging¡± to get it working. ?This is not the way it is marketed. ?If I had known that I would not have purchased, or at least I would have known the score. ?I certainly would not have bought a decent case until it was working.
We live and learn.
Roger
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On 10 Sep 2019, at 7:04 pm, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io < jgaffke@...> wrote:
That video is dated Dec of 2016, right when they started shipping with the Raduino (and thus with L4 not installed). And at the very start of the video, Farhan states that the unit he is debuggingam. ? has the analog VFO (not the Raduino), and points points to L4 to demonstrate? how you can tell.? And states that his video also applies if your rig happens to have the (then) new Raduino for a VFO. Unless you fried it somehow by wiring it up incorrectly, I'd guess it is very close to working properly. Good luck, whatever you decide to do with it. Jerry, KE7ER On Tue, Sep 10, 2019 at 10:34 AM, Roger Tuffin wrote:
The video online reference that I was sent refers to those components being present. ?
?
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I thought I blew out the PA 12v trace trying to tune it on 160m, but I guess I didn't. I think the 12v power connection was slightly intermittent on the board, possibly from a slightly loose connection in the 3-pin socket. The clue was that it was drawing NO power at all when turned on. If I blew the PA line, the Raduino probably should have turned on, and I think I should have drawn SOME power. So there was the possibility I blew the Raduino...but then the PA section should have drawn some power, shouldn't it? So I checked to see if I was getting 12v on the red wire to the 12v connector on the board. Didn't get it at first...then pushed down on the metal connector inside the plastic plug body with my voltmeter probe, and suddenly it started working again! The Raduino powered up and I started getting sound. Woo hoo!
I buttoned it up and it kept working (though there's something not quite right in the BNC connector, need to open it back up and check that), so I put an antenna on it and started noodling about for signals. I compared it to my KX3 and the K3FEF SDR, and I see that a signal on 14.045 on K3FEF zero beats to 14.045.74 on the uBitX. I'm assuming I need to recalibrate it? Or am I mistaken?
I looked in the "tune up" section in the docs. Is this the zero-beating to an AM broadcast station part? When it talks about the actual carrier frequency, if I'm tuning it to a station on 1060AM, would that be the carrier frequency, or is there some magic offset I'd need to calculate (hopefully no integration...I never took calculus)?
I'm very glad to have this radio functioning again, but I can't take it into the field with the tuning so far out. I'd appreciate some advice.
73
Gwen, NG3P
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Re: Project : Ubitx go box with batteries (topic will be updated upon works done)
Hi ! My project is on the way and I should receive my ubitx maybe tomorrow. Anyway, I've built the battery pack :  It's finally a 3S4P battery pack, from lithium 18650 cells. I didn't receive yet the BMS so the bare wires are "normal" for now. All has been soldered with my DIY soldering unit for batteries. You can find more informations about that here :? -- 73's Adrien F4IJA
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That video is dated Dec of 2016, right when they started shipping with the Raduino
(and thus with L4 not installed).
And at the very start of the video, Farhan states that the unit he is debugging
has the analog VFO (not the Raduino), and points points to L4 to demonstrate?
how you can tell.? And states that his video also applies if your rig happens
to have the (then) new Raduino for a VFO.
Unless you fried it somehow by wiring it up incorrectly,
I'd guess it is very close to working properly.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do with it.
Jerry, KE7ER
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On Tue, Sep 10, 2019 at 10:34 AM, Roger Tuffin wrote:
The video online reference that I was sent refers to those components being present. ?
?
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Roger, have they supplied you the board with raduino? If so i humbly feel , no point in seekin alternate components. All the best
Regards. Sarma vu3zmv
Jerry
You are entitled to your opinion, I just don¡¯t happen to agree with you.? The video online reference that I was sent refers to those components being present. ?
There are minimal connections to hook up the board, but I was unable to sort the connections to the Raduino from the details supplied.? It was only with the excellent assistance of this forum that I managed to get it connected.
If you market a device as tested and working, it should arrive in that condition.? Mine arrived intact.? If it was likely to arrive damaged, I would rather pay another 10 bucks for better packing.? But that is my opinion.
Finally, irrespective of price, if you are likely to need debugging expertise, then the seller should say so on their web site.? In which case, I would not have bought it.? As it is, I have paid the same money for a case which I now can¡¯t use.
Roger On 10 Sep 2019, at 6:04 pm, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io < jgaffke@...> wrote:
Roger,
L4 has not been stuffed on the Bitx40 since late 2016, when it first started shipping with the Raduino
to replace the rather unstable analog VFO.? (If L4 were stuffed, the analog oscillator would be
operating in addition to the VFO coming in from the Raduino, which would be a bad thing.)
Far as I know, C93 has never been stuffed, and certainly has no utility if using the Raduino VFO.
At $59 for a kit SSB transceiver, most of us are happy to do a bit of debug if necessary,
we might even learn something.? I'm confident that all Bitx40 boards go out after verifying
that they work, but there are occasional cold solder joints, and broken wires on inductors
due to rough handling in transport.? International post is tough on packages.? Some arrive
with tire tracks over the package, there are videos of workers walking over the top of?
packages to push more into voids in the container.
If you can't deal with some debug, you may not be a part of the intended audience for
most any electronics kit out there.??
Good luck seeking refund or replacement, I generally would not expect that on?
a low end kit such as this.? You are doing a significant part of the build, hfsignals
could not sell them at $59 if all the Bitx40's getting built had to work perfectly well
for builders of all possible skill levels.? But give it a try if so inclined.
Their email address is? ?"hfsignals at gmail dot com".
A better option might be to post it for sale in this forum.
I would like to see hfsignals provide schematics that exactly match what is shipped.
And assembly instructions that show the newer uBitx style Raduino connector.
Glib statements about how easy it is to make it work can discourage
those for whom this is not the case.
But at this price, most of us are quite happy with the Bitx40.
Jerry, KE7ER
|
Jerry
You are entitled to your opinion, I just don¡¯t happen to agree with you. ?The video online reference that I was sent refers to those components being present. ?
There are minimal connections to hook up the board, but I was unable to sort the connections to the Raduino from the details supplied. ?It was only with the excellent assistance of this forum that I managed to get it connected.
If you market a device as tested and working, it should arrive in that condition. ?Mine arrived intact. ?If it was likely to arrive damaged, I would rather pay another 10 bucks for better packing. ?But that is my opinion.
Finally, irrespective of price, if you are likely to need debugging expertise, then the seller should say so on their web site. ?In which case, I would not have bought it. ?As it is, I have paid the same money for a case which I now can¡¯t use.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 10 Sep 2019, at 6:04 pm, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io < jgaffke@...> wrote:
Roger,
L4 has not been stuffed on the Bitx40 since late 2016, when it first started shipping with the Raduino
to replace the rather unstable analog VFO.? (If L4 were stuffed, the analog oscillator would be
operating in addition to the VFO coming in from the Raduino, which would be a bad thing.)
Far as I know, C93 has never been stuffed, and certainly has no utility if using the Raduino VFO.
At $59 for a kit SSB transceiver, most of us are happy to do a bit of debug if necessary,
we might even learn something.? I'm confident that all Bitx40 boards go out after verifying
that they work, but there are occasional cold solder joints, and broken wires on inductors
due to rough handling in transport.? International post is tough on packages.? Some arrive
with tire tracks over the package, there are videos of workers walking over the top of?
packages to push more into voids in the container.
If you can't deal with some debug, you may not be a part of the intended audience for
most any electronics kit out there.??
Good luck seeking refund or replacement, I generally would not expect that on?
a low end kit such as this.? You are doing a significant part of the build, hfsignals
could not sell them at $59 if all the Bitx40's getting built had to work perfectly well
for builders of all possible skill levels.? But give it a try if so inclined.
Their email address is? ?"hfsignals at gmail dot com".
A better option might be to post it for sale in this forum.
I would like to see hfsignals provide schematics that exactly match what is shipped.
And assembly instructions that show the newer uBitx style Raduino connector.
Glib statements about how easy it is to make it work can discourage
those for whom this is not the case.
But at this price, most of us are quite happy with the Bitx40.
Jerry, KE7ER
|
Roger,
L4 has not been stuffed on the Bitx40 since late 2016, when it first started shipping with the Raduino
to replace the rather unstable analog VFO.? (If L4 were stuffed, the analog oscillator would be
operating in addition to the VFO coming in from the Raduino, which would be a bad thing.)
Far as I know, C93 has never been stuffed, and certainly has no utility if using the Raduino VFO.
At $59 for a kit SSB transceiver, most of us are happy to do a bit of debug if necessary,
we might even learn something.? I'm confident that all Bitx40 boards go out after verifying
that they work, but there are occasional cold solder joints, and broken wires on inductors
due to rough handling in transport.? International post is tough on packages.? Some arrive
with tire tracks over the package, there are videos of workers walking over the top of?
packages to push more into voids in the container.
If you can't deal with some debug, you may not be a part of the intended audience for
most any electronics kit out there.??
Good luck seeking refund or replacement, I generally would not expect that on?
a low end kit such as this.? You are doing a significant part of the build, hfsignals
could not sell them at $59 if all the Bitx40's getting built had to work perfectly well
for builders of all possible skill levels.? But give it a try if so inclined.
Their email address is? ?"hfsignals at gmail dot com".
A better option might be to post it for sale in this forum.
I would like to see hfsignals provide schematics that exactly match what is shipped.
And assembly instructions that show the newer uBitx style Raduino connector.
Glib statements about how easy it is to make it work can discourage
those for whom this is not the case.
But at this price, most of us are quite happy with the Bitx40.
Jerry, KE7ER
|
As raduino has taken over vfo , perhaps they stopped mounting those 2 parts .
Hi Vic
The video has helped a lot as I only needed the first minute to work out that the VFO is never going to oscillate as C93 and L4 are missing, per the picture below!? I put the scope on Q7 and unsurprisingly there is no signal.? They say they test all the boards before despatch, but this one can¡¯t have been tested.? Going to refer it back to HFS for either a replacement board or a refund.
Roger
Thanks Vic.? The wiring is correct, but I was intending to sort the bird's nest after checking the unit was working okay.? After the initial issue with the outdated instructions on how to connect the Raduino (as I didn¡¯t want to put 12v in the wrong place), I had fully expected the unit to work, based on the advertised text that said that they tested the units as working before they were despatched.? If I had known that it was a might or might not work I would not have purchased.
I don¡¯t have much time at the moment but I¡¯ll watch the video.
Roger On 9 Sep 2019, at 9:11 am, Vic WA4THR via Groups.Io < vhklein@...> wrote:
Ashar has a nice video on troubleshooting the BitX40 receiver that might prove useful. See it at:
I am wondering if there might be a bad solder connection on one of the toroids, as that has been reported before. You might take a close look.
Also, you may get better results shortening all the wiring. It is a bit hard to follow with the several bundles of loose wire.
=Vic=
|
Hi Vic
The video has helped a lot as I only needed the first minute to work out that the VFO is never going to oscillate as C93 and L4 are missing, per the picture below! ?I put the scope on Q7 and unsurprisingly there is no signal. ?They say they test all the boards before despatch, but this one can¡¯t have been tested. ?Going to refer it back to HFS for either a replacement board or a refund.
Roger
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Thanks Vic. ?The wiring is correct, but I was intending to sort the bird's nest after checking the unit was working okay. ?After the initial issue with the outdated instructions on how to connect the Raduino (as I didn¡¯t want to put 12v in the wrong place), I had fully expected the unit to work, based on the advertised text that said that they tested the units as working before they were despatched. ?If I had known that it was a might or might not work I would not have purchased.
I don¡¯t have much time at the moment but I¡¯ll watch the video.
Roger On 9 Sep 2019, at 9:11 am, Vic WA4THR via Groups.Io < vhklein@...> wrote:
Ashar has a nice video on troubleshooting the BitX40 receiver that might prove useful. See it at:
I am wondering if there might be a bad solder connection on one of the toroids, as that has been reported before. You might take a close look.
Also, you may get better results shortening all the wiring. It is a bit hard to follow with the several bundles of loose wire.
=Vic=
|
+1 for Dean's (KK4DAS)? approach.
(1) CAT control? USB cable drives both freq and TX/RX (PTT).??
(2) Audio patch cables drive the audio between laptop audio i/o and uBITX i/o.
The simplicity and reliability? of this approach wins the day.
Don
Km4udx
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As I recall, there have been reports of some of the small toroid leads being broken from rough shipping...seems like those reports were from the UK, too. These are great little radios and I have enjoyed mine a lot. I even had one running mobile check in to my session on the ECARS 40m net recently, from almost 700 miles away.
=Vic=
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Werner,
I reread your post.? Since the RX audio is perfect, the hum could be coming from either the mic input or the power supply due to higher current draw on transmit.
Do you get the hum with the mic input shorted?
I would also check the ground/shield connections of the mic connector and wiring to the audio connector on the main board.
FWIW
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Hi Werner,
It sounds to me like the problem could be the opposite, a ground loop where there shouldn't be one; maybe caused by the enclosure or standoffs touching something it shouldn't. Try to remove the screws holding the main board down and place a magazine or similar under it and test.
Best Regards, Jonas
The issue started when finnishing the enclosure. I did test the board on arrival and can¡¯t recall this issue.?
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Thanks Curt!
--
73! de KJ7EZN? ?Jim
|
Jim
I had an old kenwood mic, using what I had. I cut the cord after I identified the stock wiring. Let's see you need 3 pins, audio, ptt and return. If you are doing homebrew case, consider what you have in hand. Note Sunil supplies a 4 pin connector pair like tentec used to use.
Curt
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Thank you to all that have relied! Neil
On Monday, September 9, 2019, 4:30:24 PM EDT, Doug W <dougwilner@...> wrote:
We have a wiki page on this topic you might find helpful. ? /g/BITX20/wiki/Digital-Setup? Like all wikis, if you have helpful information to add or find errors that need correcting it will help those that follow.? Also of interest, if you access this list from the website at /g/BITX20/topics there is a search function. --
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Thanks Vic. ?The wiring is correct, but I was intending to sort the bird's nest after checking the unit was working okay. ?After the initial issue with the outdated instructions on how to connect the Raduino (as I didn¡¯t want to put 12v in the wrong place), I had fully expected the unit to work, based on the advertised text that said that they tested the units as working before they were despatched. ?If I had known that it was a might or might not work I would not have purchased.
I don¡¯t have much time at the moment but I¡¯ll watch the video.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 9 Sep 2019, at 9:11 am, Vic WA4THR via Groups.Io < vhklein@...> wrote:
Ashar has a nice video on troubleshooting the BitX40 receiver that might prove useful. See it at:
I am wondering if there might be a bad solder connection on one of the toroids, as that has been reported before. You might take a close look.
Also, you may get better results shortening all the wiring. It is a bit hard to follow with the several bundles of loose wire.
=Vic=
|
Re: Antuino update parts kit
Speaking of - I got my Antuino parts kit in the mail today.
Many interesting stamps on the envelope too.
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Gwen Patton
Vic WA4THR
Bob Benedict, KD8CGH