E.BITX is easy bitx. Sunil
I am pretty comfortable with coding.
Thanks for pointing out the different IF frequencies
Are there any people around who have used E.Bitx with its stock firmware and got success?
Let me know
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All,
Attached pic is my 3D printer making a case for my tiny linear.
The case is a equal in size to the uBITX, and will have a touch screen just like the uBITX. Actually, the touch screen was left over after I
upgraded to the TSW Teensy raduino.
The case is clamshell style, because that's easiest to print. I'm doing it in black PLA, although it's tempting to do the front panel in
contrasting white. The front and rear panels will have all appropriate holes for input, output, power, controls and ventilation, all done by the 3d printer. Also text engraving where appropriate. Well, it's not actually "engraving", more like leaving out plastic where the text is.
The linear is a Chinese unit I got off Ebay. It's rated 70W at 12V. 100W if you up the supply to 16V. Or so they say. There is also a switched bank of lowpass band filters from the same vendor.
The screen shot is courtesy of an "octopi" computer, which is a raspberry pi running a specialized Linux distribution. It controls the printer, and gets me access to it over the local net.
It's a long print. This case will take something like 2 days.
- Jerry KF6VB
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Allard's Bitx40 sketch is closer than the AK2B sketch.
But the pin numbers are all wrong, and the Bitx40 has a pot instead of an encoder.
The Bitx40 IF is at 12mhz instead of 10mhz, assumes there is a function switch.
Would be an easy enough transition for somebody who knows what they are doing,
would be nearly impossible for somebody who doesn't.
The InKits manual says the code is open source.
Should be posted somewhere, perhaps it is but I haven't found it.
Jerry, KE7ER
On Tue, May 18, 2021 at 01:48 PM, Siegfried Jackstien wrote:
why not use sketch from Allard PE1NW
see details here
and download it from here (and find further info for wire up, hints and kinks, moddings)
it even has a capacitive touch sensor for cw added (on TWO pins so no problems with sending dit dah instead of dit)
and other useful things (example usb added on the 40m unit to be used with digi modes, a second vfo for "split", etc etc)
greetz sigi dg9bfc
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why not use sketch from Allard PE1NW
see details here
and download it from here (and find further info for wire up, hints and kinks, moddings)
it even has a capacitive touch sensor for cw added (on TWO pins so no problems with sending dit dah instead of dit)
and other useful things (example usb added on the 40m unit to be used with digi modes, a second vfo for "split", etc etc)
greetz sigi dg9bfc
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Sunil's Easy Bitx is not a bad choice.
A single band SSB rig for under half the price of a uBitx.
Simple, mostly through hole parts, a good project
for those wanting the complete kit building experience.
The build manual for the Easy Bitx says this:
>? 1. The Easy Bitx uses an open source sketch for VFO BFO.
>? The sketch we have used is of AK2B which can be found on.
>? ?
I believe the AK2B sketch is using the NT7S Etherkit library for the Si5351,
which should be quite solid.? But neither the InKits.com or the AK2B blog
mention exactly what Si5351 library is being used, or what version.
Would be best if the InKits website simply posted the correct firmware source.
Perhaps it's there, and I haven't found it.
Here's a few inconsistencies I see between the Easy Bitx and the AK2B sketch:
That AK2B sketch has an SPI display, the Easy Bitx uses a 16x2 LCD display.
The Easy Bitx has a 10mhz IF filter, can be used on 80m, 40m, or 20m.
The AK2B sketch starts out at 14.2mhz (20m), and assumes a 9mhz IF freq:
>? volatile uint32_t vfo = 1420000000ULL / SI5351_FREQ_MULT; //start freq - change to suit
>? volatile uint32_t LSB = 899950000ULL;
>? volatile uint32_t USB = 900150000ULL;
Jerry, KE7ER
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On Tue, May 18, 2021 at 11:43 AM, Jerry Gaffke wrote:
I'm guessing this is the Easy Bitx from InKits:
? ??
and that it uses the Si5351 PLL chip for VFO and BFO.
It would be very odd if the BFO moved around unexpectedly
when tuning the VFO.
Jerry, KE7ER
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I'm guessing this is the Easy Bitx from InKits:
? ??
and that it uses the Si5351 PLL chip for VFO and BFO.
It would be very odd if the BFO moved around unexpectedly
when tuning the VFO.
Jerry, KE7ER
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On Tue, May 18, 2021 at 11:36 AM, Jerry Gaffke wrote:
I may be out of the loop on this one, exactly what is an E.Bitx??
Can you point to a manual?
What DDS chip?
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I may be out of the loop on this one, exactly what is an E.Bitx??
Can you point to a manual?
What DDS chip?
Do you have source code for the DDS?
There are several different kits coming out of India, it's a big place.
Not unexpected that you would start hearing noise when VFO is near the BFO.
Could be phase noise in those oscillators.
Could be some sort of non-linearity in the demodulator.
Could be that you are expecting more from this radio than it is capable of giving.
>? 3)? On putting CRO leads on BFO and VFO connected , changing either the BFO or VFO frequency
>? in DDS individually, I see both the frequencies incrementing and decrementing!
Sounds wrong, but then I don't know anything about the E.Bitx
Are you sure this measurement result is correct?
Slight changes in frequency would be hard to detect with a CRO (oscilloscope),?
how far are you changing these frequencies?? How are you measuring the frequencies?
Jerry, KE7ER
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On Tue, May 18, 2021 at 09:42 AM, <arorasimran@...> wrote:
I am building a E.Bitx purchased from India and here are the symptoms
1) VFO frequency =? BFO frequency? +-few Khz produces a strong radio like static when Q3 base is touched ie rx (side which connects to IF filter while going towards the Phase Detector)
2) With the VFO and BFO connected and BFO tuned to 9.96Mhz, Q3 does not have that kind of potential static noise. However If the BFO is tuned close to VFO frequency, a considerable amount of gain in the static noise and vice a versa.
3)On putting CRO leads on BFO and VFO connected , changing either the BFO or VFO frequency in DDS individually, I see both the frequencies incrementing and decrementing!
4)Step6 as Described in the manual of EBITX does not really do the job as expected. (this sounds very diecy)
---
Things tried so far,
1) replacing transistors ( BTW BC550C in the IF amp ie q3 and nearby RX transistor gives a lovely gain, the transistors are 500Hfe
2) tried voltage references, all seems correct.
3) Trifilars in PD section and one that accepts signal from vfo had 9 turns, got them 8. No scene
4)Porting the code for Raduino for pinouts of EasyBitx. Held the PTT switch on low to enable RX, Pot moves the VFO freq dial nicely. Did not put the other pot for BFO. Also is there a way to have Raduino ported for 20meters so that I can totally eliminate doubt for a buggy DDS firmware?
what should I do now?
Simran
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DC/RF voltage measurement ubitx v6
Hello friends ? Any place I can find DC/RF voltage measurement ubitx v6 summary. ? De VU2UPX
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Hello friends and gurus,
I am building a E.Bitx purchased from India and here are the symptoms
1) VFO frequency =? BFO frequency? +-few Khz produces a strong radio like static when Q3 base is touched ie rx (side which connects to IF filter while going towards the Phase Detector)
2) With the VFO and BFO connected and BFO tuned to 9.96Mhz, Q3 does not have that kind of potential static noise. However If the BFO is tuned close to VFO frequency, a considerable amount of gain in the static noise and vice a versa.
3)On putting CRO leads on BFO and VFO connected , changing either the BFO or VFO frequency in DDS individually, I see both the frequencies incrementing and decrementing!
4)Step6 as Described in the manual of EBITX does not really do the job as expected. (this sounds very diecy)
---
Things tried so far,
1) replacing transistors ( BTW BC550C in the IF amp ie q3 and nearby RX transistor gives a lovely gain, the transistors are 500Hfe
2) tried voltage references, all seems correct.
3) Trifilars in PD section and one that accepts signal from vfo had 9 turns, got them 8. No scene
4)Porting the code for Raduino for pinouts of EasyBitx. Held the PTT switch on low to enable RX, Pot moves the VFO freq dial nicely. Did not put the other pot for BFO. Also is there a way to have Raduino ported for 20meters so that I can totally eliminate doubt for a buggy DDS firmware?
what should I do now?
Simran
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Re: #ubitxv6-help Adding the W2AEW AGC to the uBitx v6
#ubitxv6-help
Here's an earlier version of the circuit:
? ??
It is designed to be used with no mods to the radio, just connect the headphone output to INS,
and send the output signal UTS into an outboard amplifier (perhaps the aux input of a stereo,
or perhaps one of the many LM386 modules available on the web).? The V+ up arrows are
connected together on the PC board (and to 12V), so the only other connection is to a 12v supply,
and the three ground wires for to audio input, audio output, and 12v power supply.
The output signal is very low level, having gone through a 10k resistor, and then clipped by two
back-to-back 1n34a diodes.? You will definitely need that outboard audio amplifier.
The audio amp on the uBitx may want to see more of a load than this circuit gives it, I'm not sure.
Try putting a 20 ohm resistor (anything from 8 to 50 ohms should do) from INS to ING, see if results are any better.
I'm guessing the LM386 on your uBitx will do fine without that resistor.
According to Hackaday, he spec's 1n34a germanium diodes.?
Those are hard to get and relatively expensive.?
If you find some cheap ones on ebay, they are usually Schottky diodes.??
Some 1n5711 Schottky diodes might work well enough instead of 1n34a's.
Let us know how well this works for you on the uBitx.
And tell use what diodes you are using.
Jerry, KE7ER
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On Tue, May 18, 2021 at 08:54 AM, Michael wrote:
yesterday I received, built and already oeprated a brand new uBitx v6. It is a great radio and I instantly had a few QSOs with stations in Denmark, Bosnia, Austria, Poland and Wales on 40m. Very happy so far!
Now I'd like to add an AGC and it seems that the W2AEW audio leveler is a good fit. I ordered the PCB and will order the components the next days. My problem: I can't figure out where in the uBitx it needs to be integrated. Here is the circuit:
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Hello, yesterday I received, built and already oeprated a brand new uBitx v6. It is a great radio and I instantly had a few QSOs with stations in Denmark, Bosnia, Austria, Poland and Wales on 40m. Very happy so far! Now I'd like to add an AGC and it seems that the W2AEW audio leveler is a good fit. I ordered the PCB and will order the components the next days. My problem: I can't figure out where in the uBitx it needs to be integrated. Here is the circuit:  Would you please help me locating the right location in the uBitx circuit where it needs to be injected? 73 Michael
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If you don't have a spectrum analyzer, buying a TinySA will give you ample of instrumentation to improve your Ubitx. Just make sure you are buying an original not a clone, the clones are not worth even a buck spend on them. Go to?https://www.tinysa.org/wiki/ if you have any questions about it. I only buy from?http://www.randl.com/shop/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=75243&osCsid=ha9cd162ojp4v041la6a18bv47 they are selling originals. They might be out of stock but check often, its well worth the wait.
John
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Hello,
As previously said I have a noise in the audio (Tic tac style) at each SDA pulse.I did a lot of testing and I came to the conclusion, that in fact there must be some interference (Style resynchronization of clock0) that creates a very weak but audible signal after amplification.?This signal lasts 75?s.
I found similar elements in this post. (See response from Jerry)
Re: How to connect ubitx microphone jack to soundcard output; now unsuppressed carrier in SSB or digital modes. (groups.io)
I also wonder if simply passing C50 to 220 or 470?f instead of 1? would solve this problem. I would do a test this afternoon
Jerry, you’re also talking about changing the winding.
Other solutions?
cdt
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HEY NEW PERSON, yeah you, go check out bitxmap.com and mark your spot in the world
If you are new here you probably have no idea what I am shouting about.? In addition to this list, we have a map at? where you can mark your location and see the worldwide span of the community you are now part of as one of us.? Go check it out at
--
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Re: Capacitance of the master crystal of the Arduino
Sorry, I forgot to mention the load capacitance for those $0.10 crystals from Tayda.? They are spec'd on the website at 16 pF.
I have absolutely no idea (or any way to measure) the actual load capacitance presented to the crystal from the circuit in the T4.1 Raduino so please don't take me to task on that one - LOL.
Jim - W0EB
------ Original Message ------
Sent: 5/17/2021 6:12:00 PM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Capacitance of the master crystal of the Arduino
My measurements have been more like 4 kHz off, 150 kHz off is a major major error. On May 17, 2021, at 18:34, Jerry Gaffke via groups.io <jgaffke@...> wrote:
?You're right, 10pf is the max value, not 8pf. Probably best to set it to 10pf. My understanding is that the load capacitance setting has nothing much to do with startup drift. Only with the final parallel resonant frequency when the crystal is placed in a circuit. These crystals are intended for a circuit with more parallel capacitance than we have, so in our circuit it operates at about 25.150mhz instead of 25.000mhz. But that's ok, it gets calibrated out. Setting it for the minimum capacitance value of 5pF would cause it to operate at an even? higher frequency.?? I would like to know if I am wrong about this startup drift thing. Jerry, KE7ER On Mon, May 17, 2021 at 02:54 PM, Jim Sheldon wrote:
Thanks Jerry,
You beat me to the explanation. ?The OP mentioned a menu routine we (TSW) had in some of our early firmware but we removed it after we discovered it essentially made no difference. ?We just set it to a compromise 10pF and left it there. ?
?
Start up drift is so minimal it isn’t even worth spending time messing with it.
?
Jim, W0EB
TSW Project Coordinator
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Re: Capacitance of the master crystal of the Arduino
Guys, I'm getting more like 1-2 KHz high on the TSW Teensy 4.1 Raduino the way the circuit is laid out.? The one in my test system reads 25.0017 MHz using my counter which has it's time base locked to a 10 MHz GPS disciplined oscillator that I use as a freq standard for all frequency dependent test equipment.??
We use super cheap (10 cents US each) 25 MHz crystals from Tayda Electroniccs out of Thailand and they all check out no more than 2 KHz off (mostlyi high) in the Si5351 circuit of the Raduino.? Not enough to worry about.
I have no idea what part the load capacitance plays on the warm up or even long-term drift of these crystals, but I don't see more than a few Hz from startup to over an hour after turn-on.? Precision enough to suit me.
Considering the price of the uBITX and even with the more expensive add on's, that is MORE than adequate precision for ham radio use so I don't see a problem here.
Jim, W0EB
------ Original Message ------
Sent: 5/17/2021 6:12:00 PM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Capacitance of the master crystal of the Arduino
My measurements have been more like 4 kHz off, 150 kHz off is a major major error. On May 17, 2021, at 18:34, Jerry Gaffke via groups.io <jgaffke@...> wrote:
?You're right, 10pf is the max value, not 8pf. Probably best to set it to 10pf. My understanding is that the load capacitance setting has nothing much to do with startup drift. Only with the final parallel resonant frequency when the crystal is placed in a circuit. These crystals are intended for a circuit with more parallel capacitance than we have, so in our circuit it operates at about 25.150mhz instead of 25.000mhz. But that's ok, it gets calibrated out. Setting it for the minimum capacitance value of 5pF would cause it to operate at an even? higher frequency.?? I would like to know if I am wrong about this startup drift thing. Jerry, KE7ER On Mon, May 17, 2021 at 02:54 PM, Jim Sheldon wrote:
Thanks Jerry,
You beat me to the explanation. ?The OP mentioned a menu routine we (TSW) had in some of our early firmware but we removed it after we discovered it essentially made no difference. ?We just set it to a compromise 10pF and left it there. ?
?
Start up drift is so minimal it isn’t even worth spending time messing with it.
?
Jim, W0EB
TSW Project Coordinator
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Re: Capacitance of the master crystal of the Arduino
what about using a 25megs tcxo??? )finetune with a trimmer or
with an analog voltage from arduino??)
way way lower drift then ... as an example i use 0.2ppm tcxo when
modding lnb for qo100 ... similar could be used on raduino ...
not??
not 50ppm ... not 20ppm ... 0.2ppm
greetz sigi dg9bfc
Am 17.05.2021 um 22:34 schrieb Jerry
Gaffke via groups.io:
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You're right, 10pf is the max value, not 8pf.
Probably best to set it to 10pf.
My understanding is that the load capacitance setting has nothing
much to do with startup drift.
Only with the final parallel resonant frequency when the crystal
is placed in a circuit.
These crystals are intended for a circuit with more parallel
capacitance than we have,
so in our circuit it operates at about 25.150mhz instead of
25.000mhz.
But that's ok, it gets calibrated out.
Setting it for the minimum capacitance value of 5pF would cause it
to operate at an even?
higher frequency.??
I would like to know if I am wrong about this startup drift thing.
Jerry, KE7ER
On Mon, May 17, 2021 at 02:54 PM, Jim Sheldon wrote:
Thanks Jerry,
You beat me to the explanation. ?The OP mentioned a menu
routine we (TSW) had in some of our early firmware but we
removed it after we discovered it essentially made no
difference. ?We just set it to a compromise 10pF and left it
there. ?
?
Start up drift is so minimal it isn’t even worth spending
time messing with it.
?
Jim, W0EB
TSW Project Coordinator
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Re: Capacitance of the master crystal of the Arduino
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On May 17, 2021, at 19:45, Jerry Gaffke via groups.io <jgaffke@...> wrote:
?Gordon, You're right, thanks for the correction. Like my mistake on the 8pf vs 10pf value, the 150khz was off the top of my head. Who know's what else might be up there. 150khz/25mhz * 1million = 6000ppm Maybe I was vaguely remembering 150ppm? 150ppm/1million * 25mhz = 3750hz With proper capacitive loading, those quartz crystals are typically within 50ppm. (ppm means "parts per million") Jerry, KE7ER On Mon, May 17, 2021 at 04:12 PM, Gordon Gibby wrote:
My measurements have been more like 4 kHz off, 150 kHz off is a major major error.
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Re: Capacitance of the master crystal of the Arduino
Gordon,
You're right, thanks for the correction.
Like my mistake on the 8pf vs 10pf value, the 150khz was off the top of my head.
Who know's what else might be up there.
150khz/25mhz * 1million = 6000ppm
Maybe I was vaguely remembering 150ppm?
150ppm/1million * 25mhz = 3750hz
With proper capacitive loading, those quartz crystals are typically within 50ppm.
(ppm means "parts per million")
Jerry, KE7ER
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On Mon, May 17, 2021 at 04:12 PM, Gordon Gibby wrote:
My measurements have been more like 4 kHz off, 150 kHz off is a major major error.
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Re: Capacitance of the master crystal of the Arduino
My measurements have been more like 4 kHz off, 150 kHz off is a major major error.
toggle quoted message
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On May 17, 2021, at 18:34, Jerry Gaffke via groups.io <jgaffke@...> wrote:
?You're right, 10pf is the max value, not 8pf. Probably best to set it to 10pf. My understanding is that the load capacitance setting has nothing much to do with startup drift. Only with the final parallel resonant frequency when the crystal is placed in a circuit. These crystals are intended for a circuit with more parallel capacitance than we have, so in our circuit it operates at about 25.150mhz instead of 25.000mhz. But that's ok, it gets calibrated out. Setting it for the minimum capacitance value of 5pF would cause it to operate at an even? higher frequency.?? I would like to know if I am wrong about this startup drift thing. Jerry, KE7ER On Mon, May 17, 2021 at 02:54 PM, Jim Sheldon wrote:
Thanks Jerry,
You beat me to the explanation. ?The OP mentioned a menu routine we (TSW) had in some of our early firmware but we removed it after we discovered it essentially made no difference. ?We just set it to a compromise 10pF and left it there. ?
?
Start up drift is so minimal it isn’t even worth spending time messing with it.
?
Jim, W0EB
TSW Project Coordinator
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Michael DK1MI/N1BSD
Gerard
Jim Sheldon