Re: Ubitx V3/V4 Outboard Relay mod board
Mike -- sorry to be slow, but I can't figure your email.? And yes I'd love this board in my uBITX!!
Dontay155[@gmail.com]
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Ted ,? click on the green ncode button and a popup will show you a download link Dave? kc2ipx
On Sun, Jul 26, 2020 at 11:18 PM BevTed Stanier < bevtedstan@...> wrote:
Hi Vic
Back looking for more help. I have been playing with an Arduino Uno R3 kit and had an IDE on my laptop. I actually removed it and installed another Arduino IDE via amunters instructions. I added pinchangeinterupt to the library and could
include it in a sketch but can¡¯t seem to follow the instructions to download the actual software (sketch}.
I don¡¯t get the green button that says ¡°clone or download¡± when I go to ¡°Amunter/BITX40¡±. Can you help again?
Ted
?
Sent from for Windows 10
?
?
The BitX40 with the Raduino is a pretty neat rig and I still enjoy mine, particularly as a temporary mobile rig with a mag-mounted hamstick. The first thing you might do, Ted, is to install some upgraded software. Allard Munter. PE1NWL,
wrote a wonderful sketch that does not require any hardware changes and fixes some issues on its own. Little things like tuning "clicks" and stability are vastly improved. Additionally, he has a number of very simple and well-illustrated hardware changes that
add more and more functionality. You need only to install the free Arduino IDE software on your computer to compile and load the "sketch" to the Raduino, and it is fully reversable as the original sketch is also available n Github, but I doubt anyone ever
goes backward. You can find Allard's sketch and documentation here:
=Vic=
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I am not sure where you are having trouble, Ted. Do you get any error messages at the bottom of the IDE screen when compiling? Do you have the right USB port selected when connected to the Raduino? My previous programming had been with Fortran on punched cards, then some Basic compiling on an old TRS-80, so the Arduino and C++ was totally new. When I started messing with firmware I found the "Raduino Software for Geezers" very helpful: /g/BITX20/message/26522?p=,,,20,0,0,0::Created,,software+for+geezers,20,2,0,5045944Once I sorted that out I was able to load Allard's sketch and then start modifying it to allow displaying an S-meter and voltmeter, and Allard was very helpful when I got stuck in the software. =Vic=
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Re: Digital Interface - transformer seems to drastically weaken signal
Rob,
One question: Why do you need the AnyLink interface?? I have been using the EasyDigi (really just the transformers and capacitors for audio isolation) and CAT control over the uBITX USB connection.? Reduces parts count and complexity for WSJT-X and JS8Call.
Just curiosity on my part.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: Digital Interface - transformer seems to drastically weaken signal
Rob,
You can ignor my response.? There are caps on the input and output of the audio adapter board (I went back and found the schematics).
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: Digital Interface - transformer seems to drastically weaken signal
Rob,
As with Gordon, I cannot get to all of the links that you posted.? Regardless, my first thought is that you are possibly shorting out any DC bias with the transformer unless you have a capacitor on the input to your op-amp/Teensy.? There is a capacitor on the output of all of the uBITX versions, which may be why it works when directly connected.? I would try a 1 uF or higher cap for DC isolation.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: uBITX V6 weird modulation
Joshua,
I have seen this type of issue when using an RTL-SDR to monitor a rig.? This was with the RTL-SDR dongle in my basement shack and the antenna 2 floors up in the attic.? I am in agreement with Reed, I too believe that you have a BFO tuning issue.? ?The wierd modulation can also be present from a tuned rig when connected to an antenna and listening on the dongle.? This is because the RTL-SDR is being swamped by the close radio, even without an antenna on the dongle.? If you use a dummy load instead of the antenna on the uBITX, it should be a cleaner signal.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: uBITX V6 weird modulation
If you transmit into a dummy load, do you get the same problem? There were a number of folks who have reported issues with RF leaking into the mic cord. While SSB shouldn't technically have any output when there's no input, on my radio I know the mixers are slightly unbalanced, leading to output on the carrier even when I'm not talking.
I'm not sure if what I wrote above fully explains your specific noise case, but fixing the BFO cal will almost certainly get your sidebands fixed.
Reed
Reed
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Re: uBITX V6 Expanded System
Bob
The arduino or raduino is programmed using C and C++, so you are nearly there.? You will need the arduino IDE for the easiest way to work on an arduino nano.
Arduino code layout is in two sections, the setup part that runs once, and a loop that runs constantly.? This allows setting up fixed variables in startup and then dynamic operations in the loop section.? The IDE provides a library (arduino.h) for? various versions of arduino hardware.? The arduino/raduino uses an arduino nano.
Good luck, and ask here if you get stuck on something.? There are some real experts on this forum.??
Arv _-_
On Sun, Jul 26, 2020, 5:06 PM Bob, N1KPR < rwbetts@...> wrote: Thanks Arv: I'm no stranger to SDR radios. I have built and serviced dozens of them. I have reloaded the operating systems and firmware, debugged problems with CAT systems, etc. But I have never played with arduino before...that's what I meant. Writing code for that would be a learning experience for me. I've dabbled with COBAL, Fortran, Basic and C++, but right now I really don't have the free time to become un-terrified of this new language...LOL.
But then, who knows what the future holds.
Thanks for your comments. Bob, N1KPR
NOTE Pls add backup address to your phone book: rwbetts@...? Engineering: Where Enigma meets Paradox
On Sunday, July 26, 2020, 4:45:17 PM EDT, Arv Evans < arvid.evans@...> wrote:
Bob N1KPR
In today's equipment much of what we used to do with hardware is now being done
with software.? This makes things more flexible because software is much easier to
change than hardware.? There are many on-line examples of good, and bad, software
that can be used as examples to learn from.
AGC sources for driving an S-Meter circuit might not be available in the BITX series,
but you can rectify some of the RF in IF circuits and use that to drive an S-Meter
circuit.? However, with the Arduino having analog inputs, which it converts to a digital
signal, you can use software to make various conversions and displays, including
very accurate S-meters.? Since the BITX designs use fixed-gain amplification your
software can be based on that to determine the actual RF level arriving at the antenna
input.? There is no built-in AGC to make the IF levels inaccurate.?
If an old geezer like me can do it, you definitely can.?
Arv? K7HKL _._
On Sun, Jul 26, 2020 at 12:57 PM Bob, N1KPR < rwbetts@...> wrote: Thank you for that information it is appreciated. I am really not a software person although I have spent 53 years in Hardware design. Maybe it's time I learn how to do some of this stuff. But as a hardware guy I'm always looking for an AGC voltage that I can convert for a logarithmic meter. I will look into this further.
Sent from my Sprint Phone.
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Re: uBITX V6 weird modulation
Is this also considering I don't have to talk to get that "modulation"?
I think there's something more than just being on the wrong side.
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Re: uBITX V6 weird modulation
Oh, and if you're using the stock software, your CW will end up offset from the displayed carrier by the tone frequency you set, which is why it's on the side band instead of at the displayed frequency. This is something I changed in my software.
Reed
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Re: uBITX V6 weird modulation
How Joshua,
This usually happens when the BFO is calibrated backwards. It can be tuned to pass either side band, so if it's calibrated to pass the USB when the software is set for LSB (or vice versa) you get this behavior.
Try recalibrating, and aim for somewhere around 11.055.300.
Reed
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Hi Vic
Back looking for more help. I have been playing with an Arduino Uno R3 kit and had an IDE on my laptop. I actually removed it and installed another Arduino IDE via amunters instructions. I added pinchangeinterupt to the library and could
include it in a sketch but can¡¯t seem to follow the instructions to download the actual software (sketch}.
I don¡¯t get the green button that says ¡°clone or download¡± when I go to ¡°Amunter/BITX40¡±. Can you help again?
Ted
?
Sent from for Windows 10
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: Vic WA4THR via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2020 2:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] BITX40 Pop Fix
?
The BitX40 with the Raduino is a pretty neat rig and I still enjoy mine, particularly as a temporary mobile rig with a mag-mounted hamstick. The first thing you might do, Ted, is to install some upgraded software. Allard Munter. PE1NWL,
wrote a wonderful sketch that does not require any hardware changes and fixes some issues on its own. Little things like tuning "clicks" and stability are vastly improved. Additionally, he has a number of very simple and well-illustrated hardware changes that
add more and more functionality. You need only to install the free Arduino IDE software on your computer to compile and load the "sketch" to the Raduino, and it is fully reversable as the original sketch is also available n Github, but I doubt anyone ever
goes backward. You can find Allard's sketch and documentation here:
=Vic=
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uBITX V6 weird modulation
That's lower sideband. As you can see it's mostly above where it should be.
USB looks just the opposite. CW shows up on the correct side though.
Also, and another biggie here, this is what it looks like when you key the mic, talking into it changes nothing.
Signal above received with an rtl-sdr, no antenna for attenuation (since the transmitting antenna is just out the window).
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I have not yet looked to see if the revision number is on the board. Will do soon.
Bob ¡ª KK5R
On Sunday, July 26, 2020, 8:07:13 PM EDT, Reed N <greenkid336600+groupsio@...> wrote:
Bob,
Did you look at your circuit board when you determined you had a v6.1, or did you look at the touch screen? Ashhar's stock software is currently at revision v6.1, and will display v6.1 on the screen. However, if you look near the antenna connector on the circuit board inside your radio, you should see a revision for the board.
Reed
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Re: uBITX V6 Expanded System
Reed:
I would say most of the development work done for the libraries is C++, but most of the sample programs and Open Source code are straight C. I think anyone who knows C will do just fine.
Jack, W8TEE
On Sunday, July 26, 2020, 8:04:25 PM EDT, Reed N <greenkid336600+groupsio@...> wrote:
Hi Bob,
The "Arduino Language" is really just C++ with a new "standard library" of sorts. If you're already familiar with C++, you should have no trouble with it :)
Reed
-- Jack, W8TEE
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Re: Digital Interface - transformer seems to drastically weaken signal
Couldn't quite find a real schematic in all that stuff which explained exactly?where the RX transformer feeds into the Teensy.? ?As such, cannot know the input impedance, or normal signal level expected of the input for the Teensy.? ?I see lots of mention of "line audio" --- far higher?voltage than the speaker output.... so you might have to dig more into exactly what input impedance you are trying to feed with that isolation transformer, and what signal level is required.
I can tell you that I have used those type 600:600 ohm transformers to feed normal $4.75 Adafruit 1475 USB sound dongles and there is PLENTY of audio....I always have to add a trim pot to cut it down, on one or the other sides of the transformer.? ?The USB sound dongles are apparently?set for a relatively LOW input voltage....
Gordon
On Sun, Jul 26, 2020 at 8:45 PM Rob French (KC4UPR) < kc4upr@...> wrote: Hey there,
I've prototyped myself a variant of KK5JY's AnyRig digital interface ( ).? The Teensy microcontroller piece of this is very straightforward to me, as I have previously embedded a Teensy in my uBITX as a DSP. In this case, I'm externally interfacing a uBITX to computer audio (trying to keep the uBITX relatively stock).?
Anyway, the issue I have is with the 1:1 isolation transformer for the RX audio.? It drops the RX signal level drastically!? If I drive the RX line out straight to the Teensy audio input, I get a solid signal level of ~0.5V peak-to-peak, based on observing the signal level on my computer using Audacity (I have an op-amp preamp driving the line-out).? If I put the isolation transformer inline, the signal level barely even registers!? I have to amplify it significantly in software to hear the signal, when using the transformer.
I tried it with two different transformers.? About the same on both.? The transformers are cheap Amazon ones ( ), but given that I really only needed them to cover ~300-3000 Hz, I figured they'd be sufficient... I wouldn't think they'd have that much loss!? What am I missing?? What should I look at?
(The RX line-out is driven by an op-amp pre-amp per this URL:? )
Thanks,
-Rob KC4UPR
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Digital Interface - transformer seems to drastically weaken signal
Hey there,
I've prototyped myself a variant of KK5JY's AnyRig digital interface ( ).? The Teensy microcontroller piece of this is very straightforward to me, as I have previously embedded a Teensy in my uBITX as a DSP. In this case, I'm externally interfacing a uBITX to computer audio (trying to keep the uBITX relatively stock).?
Anyway, the issue I have is with the 1:1 isolation transformer for the RX audio.? It drops the RX signal level drastically!? If I drive the RX line out straight to the Teensy audio input, I get a solid signal level of ~0.5V peak-to-peak, based on observing the signal level on my computer using Audacity (I have an op-amp preamp driving the line-out).? If I put the isolation transformer inline, the signal level barely even registers!? I have to amplify it significantly in software to hear the signal, when using the transformer.
I tried it with two different transformers.? About the same on both.? The transformers are cheap Amazon ones ( ), but given that I really only needed them to cover ~300-3000 Hz, I figured they'd be sufficient... I wouldn't think they'd have that much loss!? What am I missing?? What should I look at?
(The RX line-out is driven by an op-amp pre-amp per this URL:? )
Thanks,
-Rob KC4UPR
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Bob,
Did you look at your circuit board when you determined you had a v6.1, or did you look at the touch screen? Ashhar's stock software is currently at revision v6.1, and will display v6.1 on the screen. However, if you look near the antenna connector on the circuit board inside your radio, you should see a revision for the board.
Reed
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Re: uBITX V6 Expanded System
Hi Bob,
The "Arduino Language" is really just C++ with a new "standard library" of sorts. If you're already familiar with C++, you should have no trouble with it :)
Reed
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David Nelson
Vic WA4THR
Bob Lunsford