Re: uBITX V6 heat sink temperature
I'd guess it does get to 125 C for some of those putting a big display on an old Raduino?
with no heat sink for the LM7805.
But probably won't destroy anything, just shut down when the LM7805 gets too hot.
Jerry, KE7ER
On Mon, Jan 6, 2020 at 10:32 AM, James Giercyk wrote:
"recommended operating temp is a junction temp of 125 C"
?
If your running at 125C, you've got bigger problems.? ;)
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Re: UBITX6 Will Not Select 17 Meters
@Steve, The "17m won't work" isn't that 17m doesn't work, it's that the quick select button for 17m doesn't work. If you don't want to update the software, you don't have to - just tune to 17m manually. Inconvenient, yes. Radio-breaking flaw, no. However, this particular issue is one that you can fix right now yourself. Ashhar said, "The changes have been pushed", so if you go to?, download the repo (green button on the right, choose download zip), and upload the revised code to your Arduino nano, the 17m button should work as expected. If you don't know how to program an Arduino, there are tons of tutorials online, and I'm sure you can find that information with a quick search for "how to program an Arduino nano". I (and I expect many others) bought the uBitx specifically because it can be reprogrammed and easily modified. It's a bit rough around the edges, but I fully expected that coming in. If I wanted a high quality radio that "Just Worked" out of the box, I'd buy from the big three - Yaseu, Icom, or Kenwood - since they have large teams of experts designing and testing their radios extensively, whereas HFSignals is tiny by comparison. It sounds like your expectations may have been different, which is unfortunate. The uBitx is designed to be a decent radio with a strong emphasis on cost and hack-ability, not a best quality or polished final product. To quote the "About" page?:
?With the BITX40, we hope to recover that ground and encourage more and more people to get on air, modify, experiment, build and learn. ...?The HF Signals kits are supplied as-is without any promise that they will work to any particular specification. That said, thousands of BITX transceivers supplied by HF Signals work across the world. There is an active and very informative forum for learning and getting help that is entirely driven by the builder community.
The BITX and uBITX lines both have had a number of issues - just scroll through this forum and you'll find lots of problems, but also lots of solutions. It's constantly improving because people donate their time, but that doesn't mean everything is perfect out of the box. In particular, the v6 is a brand new release, which means you're on the bleeding edge - the new software hasn't seen as much testing and improvement as the software for earlier version. I fully expect that by this time next year, most of these issues will be fully resolved or worked around, if you don't mind waiting. Reed
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I just tried this.? You will see "Unfollow this Topic" at the bottom of the email.? Click on it and you will be asked to confirm.? No more messages from that topic after that.
On Mon, Jan 6, 2020 at 12:29 PM Dale Hardin via Groups.Io <joe.dale.hardin= [email protected]> wrote: If you go to your Subscription, Email Delivery, go to Advanced Preferences at bottom of page, click Following Only, click First Message Also.? You will then get the first message of each new topic.? If you do not Follow the topic, you do not see any further messages on that topic.? Look at Muting and Following at the Help button at the top of the home page for detailed info.
--
Dale Hardin, KS4NS
Elberta, AL
--
--
Dale Hardin, KS4NS
Elberta, AL
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Re: UBITX6 Will Not Select 17 Meters
So how about the existing boards that we received at Christmas time, I believe that ALL should hear as to what will be for them.
Regards.
Steve
AB2ET/4
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Re: uBITX V6 heat sink temperature
"recommended operating temp is a junction temp of 125 C"
If your running at 125C, you've got bigger problems.? ;) Do or Do Not. There is no try.--- jgaffke@... wrote: From: "Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io" <jgaffke@...> To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [BITX20] uBITX V6 heat sink temperature Date: Mon, 06 Jan 2020 09:12:27 -0800 Evan,
>? The above is based on the input voltage staying below the maximum value of 18 volts.?
Where do you see 18 volts?
Yes, the LM7805 voltage regulator on the Raduino goes into thermal shutdown if it gets too hot.?
After awhile the regulator will cool off enough and the radio will start working again.
I don't see in the datasheet exactly what "too hot" is, but maximum
recommended operating temp is a junction temp of 125 C.
It can get up to 150 C before damage occurs if you accidentally
hit it with a propane torch (the "absolute maximum" temperature).
Maximum voltage into an LM7805 is 25v, but in our application anything
much above 12v?into the Raduino may cause the LM7805 to get too hot.
The hfsignals.com home page says:
"Any common 3 ampere 12 linear volts supply or a set of eight AA batteries will provide enough power for this transceiver."
Never does say what the maximum recommended voltage into a uBitx v6 is.
I would not go above 13.0 volts without thoroughly investigating how hot all the parts are getting,
especially the driver transistors and emitter resistors in the transmit power amp.
I would add a 3 Amp fuse to that power supply, especially if it was capable of more than 3 Amps.
Otherwise a brief mistake may cause a smoking crater in the uBitx board somewhere.
Eight fresh AA alkaline batteries might be enough to operate the radio, but only for an hour or so.
There appears to be a connector in the v6 for an internal battery and a rudimentary battery charging scheme,
but no mention of what kind of rechargeable battery that should be.
I would go with a bank of four 18650 lithium ion cells, plus an LM2940T-12 low dropout regulator
between that battery bank and the main uBitx board (but not the Raduino, but see below).
When charging, the supply voltage into that battery bank should be limited to a max of 4.2v*4cells=16.8 volts.
The lithium ion cells should be "protected" from being shorted or overly charged or underly discharged.?
The IRF510's could be powered directly from the batteries (but through a power switch!)?
without going through the 12v regulator.
Since the Raduino draws so much power, it would be worth going to a switch mode buck converter
to replace the LM7805 out there.? Could be powered directly from the lithium ion cells along with the IRF510's.
Should be possible to build one that doesn't mess with reception, but a $1 switcher off ebay may be too noisy.
Jerry, KE7ER
On Mon, Jan 6, 2020 at 03:58 AM, Evan Hand wrote:
Failure of the device can be a concern, however in the Raduino the thermal shutdown should kick in before damage to the regulator.? This will cause erratic operation of the Raduino, rather than damage.??
The above is based on the input voltage staying below the maximum value of 18 volts.? Over voltage will damage the device and cause the potential short failure.? Of course more than just the Raduino would likely be damaged in that case.
My recommendation is to add a heatsink to the regulator, especially if your are going to supply more than 12 vdc to the main board (the power amp supply is not relevant).? It is low cost and will help in keeping it below thermal shutdown.
Above are my thoughts based on my experiences.? Yours can be different.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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If you go to your Subscription, Email Delivery, go to Advanced Preferences at bottom of page, click Following Only, click First Message Also.? You will then get the first message of each new topic.? If you do not Follow the topic, you do not see any further messages on that topic.? Look at Muting and Following at the Help button at the top of the home page for detailed info.
--
Dale Hardin, KS4NS
Elberta, AL
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my last dialup BBS was maybe 24Kb.
?but last BBS was on the internet.
?and forums work better for ham radio I think.
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Re: UBITX6 Will Not Select 17 Meters
Good Day Erwin,
I am beginning to believe that? my trust and belief in the UBITX? concept has been shaken and? was a bit? ahead of reality.
Yes the "V6" that I ordered is actually a V5 with a? touch screen display that was rushed? with "production" and shoddy packaging (I spent $209)? with discovering that the "Kit" was assembled in a rush with many missing items (yes I have a good junk box) that was able to compensate for missing and bent metal.
But the item that I was surprised and disappointed? me? that right out of the box was that the Firmware has a BUG with 17 meters? and will require a? new load is extremely troubling.
I have been trying to fallow the various routes to HOW to DO correct the BUG and unfortunately it has me totally confused I attempted to understand how to implement the "KD8CEC Memory Manager software" with total confusion.
It is my personal belief that? after spending the monies to? buy the product that the producer should provide a CLEAR and EASY SOLUTION that can be easily implemented by the average individual.
Yes I have a "assembled " V6? that at this point have put it on the shelf until the smoke clears .
Regards.
Steve
AB2ET/4
?
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?I wish I had not let mine expire also.
?however, I don't really need it now, just be nice to still have it.
That 2nd phone was tough, ATT kept us in KC for 3 weeks studying for it. I had 2 jokers I was having to mentor for it and were they Noobs, sorry I let that one expire. I was also repairing CB gear?
and that really pissed the hams in the labs. TI research labs
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Yes that would make things a little easier in the subject line
have the board model you are discussing (example [BITX20] [BITX40]
[BITXv?] [BITXv6] etc ) in the subject line then design a mail
sort filter and msg folder structure? (ie like Thunderbird)
transfer incoming emails for each separate board type to it's own
folder.
That way you wouldn't miss anything: general interest posts would
be in normal inbox and separate board model? folders with only the
emails applicable to the specific board under discussion. If you
have no interest in other boards just bulk mark them as read
periodically.
On 2020-01-06 11:50, Eric Cooper wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Another approach is to set your email preference to "email
each message separately", then use your mail reader
effectively:
1. create a filter to put all BITX20 email in its own
incoming folder
2. automatically remove the topics you're not interested in
as part of the filtering (or use a search / mark / delete all
sequence each time you check that folder)
Details will depend on your mail reader, but the above is
easy in gmail for example.
On
Mon, Jan 6, 2020 at 07:49 AM, <dgclifford@...> wrote:
but wading through v 6 infois a waste of time
Skipping that this is a 15-1/2 year old list originally
started to discuss Farhan's BITX20 design and has evolved into
a home for all his BITX designs, you might be happier doing
what I suggested below and usually paste as a response every
time this topic comes up when there is a new version of
Farhan's classic.
Go to?/g/BITX20/editsub
and set email to a level you can live with. I like just the
daily summary but many prefer none.? Then use the topic view /g/BITX20/topics
on the website and read what you are interested in and the
list reads almost like a forum.? The search could use some
work but at least this converts the fire hose to a drinkable
level.
?
--
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toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Jan 6, 2020, at 1:17 PM, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io <jgaffke@...> wrote:
?Go for it. Create? uBitx-v5-KD8CEC-Nextion-phone-only or whatever on groups.io or facebook or a 2400 baud dialup BBS. I'll be staying right here. Jerry, KE7ER On Mon, Jan 6, 2020 at 05:49 AM, <dgclifford@...> wrote:
is it not time to split this group into? v1to 4 , v5? and version 6?? i have no interest yet i v6 but wading through v 6 infois a waste of time
--
¡_. _._
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Another approach is to set your email preference to "email each message separately", then use your mail reader effectively: 1. create a filter to put all BITX20 email in its own incoming folder 2. automatically remove the topics you're not interested in as part of the filtering (or use a search / mark / delete all sequence each time you check that folder) Details will depend on your mail reader, but the above is easy in gmail for example.
On Mon, Jan 6, 2020 at 07:49 AM, <dgclifford@...> wrote:
but wading through v 6 infois a waste of time
Skipping that this is a 15-1/2 year old list originally started to discuss Farhan's BITX20 design and has evolved into a home for all his BITX designs, you might be happier doing what I suggested below and usually paste as a response every time this topic comes up when there is a new version of Farhan's classic.
Go to?/g/BITX20/editsub and set email to a level you can live with. I like just the daily summary but many prefer none.? Then use the topic view /g/BITX20/topics on the website and read what you are interested in and the list reads almost like a forum.? The search could use some work but at least this converts the fire hose to a drinkable level.
?
--
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Re: uBITX V6 heat sink temperature
I miss read the data sheet.? The actual input max is 35.? I had looked in the wrong column
I apologize for the error.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
On Mon, Jan 6, 2020 at 07:49 AM, <dgclifford@...> wrote:
but wading through v 6 infois a waste of time
Skipping that this is a 15-1/2 year old list originally started to discuss Farhan's BITX20 design and has evolved into a home for all his BITX designs, you might be happier doing what I suggested below and usually paste as a response every time this topic comes up when there is a new version of Farhan's classic. Go to? /g/BITX20/editsub and set email to a level you can live with. I like just the daily summary but many prefer none.? Then use the topic view /g/BITX20/topics on the website and read what you are interested in and the list reads almost like a forum.? The search could use some work but at least this converts the fire hose to a drinkable level. ? --
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Go for it.
Create? uBitx-v5-KD8CEC-Nextion-phone-only
or whatever on groups.io or facebook or a 2400 baud dialup BBS.
I'll be staying right here.
Jerry, KE7ER
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Mon, Jan 6, 2020 at 05:49 AM, <dgclifford@...> wrote:
is it not time to split this group into? v1to 4 , v5? and version 6?? i have no interest yet i v6 but wading through v 6 infois a waste of time
|
Re: uBITX V6 heat sink temperature
Evan,
>? The above is based on the input voltage staying below the maximum value of 18 volts.?
Where do you see 18 volts?
Yes, the LM7805 voltage regulator on the Raduino goes into thermal shutdown if it gets too hot.?
After awhile the regulator will cool off enough and the radio will start working again.
I don't see in the datasheet exactly what "too hot" is, but maximum
recommended operating temp is a junction temp of 125 C.
It can get up to 150 C before damage occurs if you accidentally
hit it with a propane torch (the "absolute maximum" temperature).
Maximum voltage into an LM7805 is 25v, but in our application anything
much above 12v?into the Raduino may cause the LM7805 to get too hot.
The hfsignals.com home page says:
"Any common 3 ampere 12 linear volts supply or a set of eight AA batteries will provide enough power for this transceiver."
Never does say what the maximum recommended voltage into a uBitx v6 is.
I would not go above 13.0 volts without thoroughly investigating how hot all the parts are getting,
especially the driver transistors and emitter resistors in the transmit power amp.
I would add a 3 Amp fuse to that power supply, especially if it was capable of more than 3 Amps.
Otherwise a brief mistake may cause a smoking crater in the uBitx board somewhere.
Eight fresh AA alkaline batteries might be enough to operate the radio, but only for an hour or so.
There appears to be a connector in the v6 for an internal battery and a rudimentary battery charging scheme,
but no mention of what kind of rechargeable battery that should be.
I would go with a bank of four 18650 lithium ion cells, plus an LM2940T-12 low dropout regulator
between that battery bank and the main uBitx board (but not the Raduino, but see below).
When charging, the supply voltage into that battery bank should be limited to a max of 4.2v*4cells=16.8 volts.
The lithium ion cells should be "protected" from being shorted or overly charged or underly discharged.?
The IRF510's could be powered directly from the batteries (but through a power switch!)?
without going through the 12v regulator.
Since the Raduino draws so much power, it would be worth going to a switch mode buck converter
to replace the LM7805 out there.? Could be powered directly from the lithium ion cells along with the IRF510's.
Should be possible to build one that doesn't mess with reception, but a $1 switcher off ebay may be too noisy.
Jerry, KE7ER
On Mon, Jan 6, 2020 at 03:58 AM, Evan Hand wrote:
Failure of the device can be a concern, however in the Raduino the thermal shutdown should kick in before damage to the regulator.? This will cause erratic operation of the Raduino, rather than damage.??
The above is based on the input voltage staying below the maximum value of 18 volts.? Over voltage will damage the device and cause the potential short failure.? Of course more than just the Raduino would likely be damaged in that case.
My recommendation is to add a heatsink to the regulator, especially if your are going to supply more than 12 vdc to the main board (the power amp supply is not relevant).? It is low cost and will help in keeping it below thermal shutdown.
Above are my thoughts based on my experiences.? Yours can be different.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: General Si5351 Question - Pi?
Has this progressed any further?
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Re: UBITX6 Will Not Select 17 Meters
The changes have been pushed. The new boards will have the fixes.
- f
On Mon 6 Jan, 2020, 7:43 PM Jim Sheldon, < w0eb@...> wrote: Erwin Serle, Did you not read my posts all the way.? I thought that was what I said the person should do.? Besides, KD8CEC and Nextions don't work with the V6 Raduino which uses an ILI9341 TFT Touch screen display, NOT a NEXTION as it comes from the factory.
Jim Sheldon
------ Original Message ------
Sent: 1/6/2020 6:02:37 AM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] UBITX6 Will Not Select 17 Meters
@Jim Sheldon, in this case it would be advisable to read and note the original calibration settings before doing the actual install of a new firmware.
Also as far as I understood the findings of KD8CEC a new firmware does not change the stored calibration values.
The KD8CEC Memory Manager software could be used to read the original values before doing any changes.
--
PE3ES - F4VTQ - Erwin
73
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That 2nd phone was tough, ATT kept us in KC for 3 weeks studying for it. I had 2 jokers I was having to mentor for it and were they Noobs, sorry I let that one expire. I was also repairing CB gear?
and that really pissed the hams in the labs. TI research labs
|
?Don't forget that this group also includes all versions, including the BITX 20, BITX40, and offshoots of al of them. ?I'm mainly into the BITX40, I have 2 of them, and the BITX20. ?The latter I am building, when I can using a 2 bare board version. ?I have learned a lot about SSB TR units from them. Far more about how they basically work,than I did in years of repairing CB radios. I was one of the few dong so that actually had the Commercial Phone, last being General Phone. ?And man, the test I took at the FCC office in Buffalo NY was harder, IMO, than the Exta test. I had to take the 2nd Phone 3 time to pass the test. Al I had for studying was the book back then. ?Anyways, any and all posts regarding any aspect of the BITX series should be fine here. ?You might get some FLAK if you asked about putting one on 11 meters. ?6 meters would be okay, but I shave a 6 all mode, plus an ICOM 706 MK II G, so that is of passing interest to me. ?However, many would be interested in a 2 meter SSB unit. ?Wayne WA2YNE
Andy -- my uBITX did for me exactly what you want the uBITX to do for your class. So push on.
This is a unbelievable resource. There are more kind folks here with more smarts and experience than you could possibly shake a stick at.
So, keep a thick skin, and post away.? If you want help on any training or class material related to the uBITX, you have come to the right place.
Don
km4udx
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Dale Hardin KS4NS
MadRadioModder
g8tdu
Tominaz