Some of us have more rigs and building opportunities than time, while other folk may rely on the ubitx as their primary rig. The designer is suggesting patience not despair over our passion to acquire at this time. I think we may be overreacting. So far we've managed to build HF rigs from the semiconductor devices available in each era. Hang in there and appreciate all the hands that make these opportunities happen.? Back to work thinking and doing technology, with what we can get or have.
BTW 15m was propagating wonderfully a couple days ago. Emit some RF from whatever you have.?
73 curt
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Re: Trouble ahead ... a possible fallback solution?
May be time to consider units that contain those "becoming rare" items for cannibalization. If a defunct board/unit had become defunct for another reason but the "rare" items are still good, may be a good time to consider scavenging them for emergency or backup purposes. Just a thought.
Bob ¡ª KK5R
On Saturday, March 20, 2021, 8:33:30 PM EDT, Jerry Gaffke via groups.io <jgaffke@...> wrote:
Regarding those STM32F processors in the LQFP48 package,
if I click "Normally in Stock", it shows 101 results.
If I then click "In Stock", it shows 8.
No easy answers here.
Jerry, KE7ER
On Sat, Mar 20, 2021 at 04:00 PM, Jerry Gaffke wrote:
For a processor, could go to an STM32F* in a popular package, placed directly on a new Raduino layout.
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Regarding those STM32F processors in the LQFP48 package,
if I click "Normally in Stock", it shows 101 results.
If I then click "In Stock", it shows 8.
No easy answers here.
Jerry, KE7ER
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On Sat, Mar 20, 2021 at 04:00 PM, Jerry Gaffke wrote:
For a processor, could go to an STM32F* in a popular package, placed directly on a new Raduino layout.
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I¡¯m in Texas, and a month ago we had a historic winter storm that shut down the whole state for a week.
One of the unexpected results was that many petrochemical manufacturers had their plants go offline. Now most of their products have extended lead times for new orders, and unpredictable lead times for existing orders.
One of my preferred suppliers of specialty molding compounds has already issued price hike and stock shortage warnings for their entire product line.
This event will ripple through the petro supply chain for months ¡ª anything made from, or containing, plastic or other products could be delayed indefinitely.
Like ... the tapes used for tape-and-reel SMD components. Vinyl covers for coaxial cable. Use your imagination.
73
Jim N6OTQ
Sent from my quenched-gap spark transmitter.
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For a processor, could go to an STM32F* in a popular package, placed directly on a new Raduino layout.
Lots of alternatives if a particular flavor dries up
? ?
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Arrow has 7500 parts of the si5351a-b02382-gtr, minimum order of 2500
? ??
Can't find a datasheet addendum, but again, our only needed change is likely a different i2c address.
I suspect there are a bunch of other distributors with oddball stock like this.
Having various i2c address is a pain, but less so than going out of business for a year.
If only used on a new Raduino that has a better processor, not much pain at all.
Jerry, KE7ER
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The good news is that Mouser has 30000 of the Si5351A-B ordered. Bad news:? They are scheduled to arrive Christmas week of 2021: ? ?? Digikey has 1123 in stock of the Si5351A-B04486-GT variant. ? ??https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/silicon-laboratories-inc/SI5351A-B04486-GT/5799560 The datasheet addendum says they have an i2c address of 0x62, the standard part is at 0x60. So change the firmware to try both, see which address responds. ? ?? file:///home/chronos/u-ba688dba5e13d507cb8c8d472169a2b5e212d72b/MyFiles/Downloads/Si5351A-B04486-GT_datasheet_addendum.pdfThese?power up with a specific set of frequencies already on the outputs, but that shouldn't matter. If anybody wants to ship product with an Si5351, they should buy a few hundred. The Nano? Excellent excuse to roll the Raduino for a better processor. We might even think about alternatives to the Si5351A-B. This year should be a good opportunity to sell the uBitx. All the other rigs with the fancy DSP chips will have a much harder time. Jerry, KE7ER
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Sounds like some ubitx should be available now. Don't? panic.?
Automobile factories are in dire straights, except in Korea where they have ample supply for their vehicles.??
Hang in there, we have bigger global concerns than supply of radio kits, well except for those employed in serving us.?
Curt
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Are the ubitx v6 kits in stock? I want to order a kit plus a extra chassis. I sent an emil to hfkits?
?
73 Mije N2MS
On 03/20/2021 2:49 PM Ashhar Farhan <farhanbox@...> wrote:
?
?
people,
I wanted you to hear it here first. there is a global shortage?of chips. they are saying it is a due to a double?whammy - covid shutdown hit the semiconductor fabs and a huge pressure on them to produce chips for computers?and phones that people are ordering as they work from homes, leaving out the less important lines line like the? RF ICs.
Many might have noticed that online stores are running out of other radios. This is the main reason. We are doing everything possible to keep the bitx radios rolling out. Luckily, our radio needs just two chips that are not generic : the si5351 and the arduino. We are securing these supplies for the next few months. there is a slight chance that we may be running low on the supplies.
Until now, HF Signals delivered the radios ex-stock, we plan to continue to do that but do expect some delays of a few days in the shipments in the future. At present, the stocks are fine.
- f
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Re: First stone of my "Cocorico Ubitx
How 'bout that! I was a serious stamp collector at one time and had a magnifying headset that I used for "fly-specking" stamps. Now I use it for SMD stuff!
Jack, W8TEE
On Saturday, March 20, 2021, 11:48:35 AM EDT, Gerard <kabupos@...> wrote:
Hello Jack,
Yeah, that¡¯s what I do.
First I weld a leg, then I can rotate.
For a start I am not dissatisfied with my learning
I placed 12 transistors in 1H15 or 1 every 6 mms.
That¡¯s the most difficult component, I think, because you have to align.
And every time he unpacks, he puts himself on his back!!
It will go faster for resistances and capacitors.
Well, a little rest for the eyes, because I work with a magnifying glass and a philatelist tool to check the alignment
cdt
-- Jack, W8TEE
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Every body seems to be suffering from this shortage it seems.
In regards to the si5351, there now exists a pin and software compatible chinese clone the ms5351.
Reportedly some nanovna clones now have ms5351 instead of si5351 due to sourcing and pricing problems.?
Maybe I should source a few of those and characterize their phase noise/jitter and frequency ranges to see if they'd be a viable 2nd source for radio projects.
-Ismo OH2FTG
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people, I wanted you to hear it here first. there is a global shortage?of chips. they are saying it is a due to a double?whammy - covid shutdown hit the semiconductor fabs and a huge pressure on them to produce chips for computers?and phones that people are ordering as they work from homes, leaving out the less important lines line like the? RF ICs. Many might have noticed that online stores are running out of other radios. This is the main reason. We are doing everything possible to keep the bitx radios rolling out. Luckily, our radio needs just two chips that are not generic : the si5351 and the arduino. We are securing these supplies for the next few months. there is a slight chance that we may be running low on the supplies. Until now, HF Signals delivered the radios ex-stock, we plan to continue to do that but do expect some delays of a few days in the shipments in the future. At present, the stocks are fine. - f
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Re: First stone of my "Cocorico Ubitx
Hello Jack,
Yeah, that¡¯s what I do.
First I weld a leg, then I can rotate.
For a start I am not dissatisfied with my learning
I placed 12 transistors in 1H15 or 1 every 6 mms.
That¡¯s the most difficult component, I think, because you have to align.
And every time he unpacks, he puts himself on his back!!
It will go faster for resistances and capacitors.
Well, a little rest for the eyes, because I work with a magnifying glass and a philatelist tool to check the alignment
cdt
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Re: 0.000000 on boot and no control
#ubitx
I think Evan and Gary are right, concentrate on figuring out why the Nano does not talk to the Nextion.
Gary's point about the CH340 chip's 3.3v regulator in particular, check that first.
The Si5351 draws maybe 50ma from 3.3v, we'd be better off with a separate $0.10 regulator for it.?
But swapping the Nano will most likely cure the regulator issue or memory issues, as Evan has said.
The Si5351 is used as a write only device, the Nano never bothers to read it back.
So a display showing 0hz does not suggest that the Si5351 is failing.
Jerry, KE7ER
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On Sat, Mar 20, 2021 at 01:09 AM, Gyula Molnar wrote:
According to the schematic, the only oscillator is the Si5351, the three outputs of which are used by the device.
?Since this is a working structure so far, I would first look at the connectors, then the hanging wires, bad soldering.
Possible contact fault, which according to the drawing is at the 16-pin oscillator connector.
If this does not work, take the meter out and see if there is a signal at the output.
Try not to measure directly on the Si5351 because you can easily make a short circuit.
Follow the outgoing wire and measure it there.
At Image4.jpg you can see that a signal needs to be found at CLK # 0, # 1, and # 2.
73, Gyula HA3HZ
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Re: 0.000000 on boot and no control
#ubitx
Check that you have 3.3V on the Nano output pin with everything installed as it is. (simple first thing to do)
Also check the voltage level on the reset pin of the Nano.
Last time(s) this failure signature came up, it was traced to a faulty 3.3V circuit supplying the SI5351.
(shorted decoupling cap found in one case, if I am correctly aligning the posts)
The 3.3V supplied by the CH340 USB/TTL serial chip is not specified to drive a load.?
It's pinned out for a decoupling cap that is required when supplying 5V to the CH340.
Rgds,
Gary
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Re: First stone of my "Cocorico Ubitx
Gerard:
FWIW: I find it a lot easier to tin the pads first. Then use a "hook tweeser":
to hold it in place (much like the inset picture with the quarter) while I touch one end with the iron. This will hold it in place while I touch up the other end. I usually tin the pads all at once, but that's a personal preference.
Jack, W8TEE
On Saturday, March 20, 2021, 10:10:10 AM EDT, Gerard <kabupos@...> wrote:
Hello to all,?
As I wait for parts to repair my spectrum analyzer, I start something else.
This day I just welded my first surface component on my PCB that I imagined.
It¡¯s not easy, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve gotten into this. It¡¯s only a few millimetres. I have a little less than 400 left to weld.
Well, I¡¯ll get better with time.
The difficulty is not to weld, but to place it well.
See you in 6 months. LOL
cdt
-- Jack, W8TEE
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First stone of my "Cocorico Ubitx
Hello to all,?
As I wait for parts to repair my spectrum analyzer, I start something else.
This day I just welded my first surface component on my PCB that I imagined.
It¡¯s not easy, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve gotten into this. It¡¯s only a few millimetres. I have a little less than 400 left to weld.
Well, I¡¯ll get better with time.
The difficulty is not to weld, but to place it well.
See you in 6 months. LOL
cdt
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Re: Adding my Bitx to my 100 watt / 50 watt station
Chris, Read through this thread: /g/BITX20/message/83186What I have done is installed the back-to-back 1n4148 diodes on the K1 relay per the picture. 73 Evan AC9TU
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Re: 0.000000 on boot and no control
#ubitx
Try replacing the Nano. My guess is that the EEPROM has worn out. While the original (Italian) Nano's would handle hundreds of thousands of writes, some of the clone Nano's will fail after only 10000 or so.
73,
Mark
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Re: 0.000000 on boot and no control
#ubitx
Don,
From the symptoms that you describe the Nextion has stopped communicating with the Nano on the Raduino board.? The most likely problem is that the connection has come loose.? I would inspect the 4 wires that connect the Nextion to the Raduino board.
The next most likely is that the Nano has failed.? I would pull the Nano and verify that it will connect with your PC.? If not, then that is the issue and you will need to replace and reload the program and settings.
Give the above a try and let us know what happens.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Bob Lunsford
Ismo V??n?nen OH2FTG
Gerard
Mark Erbaugh