¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Date

Re: 4.3 Nextion and CEC 1.095/ubitx redo

 

OK, looks like it is time to rev all the screens. The newer Nextion screens that you *buy right now* all require that the tft file be generated with the latest Nextion editor. The good thing is that "at least in the one test I did", the new files work on the old screens too.

Give me a few hours to collect the latest that have been properly sized for the screens. Screens that are 4.3 and below will be someone else's design (usually better :-) and i want to credit the authors properly.

Note to all:? If you buy a new Nextion screen, either buy the "enhanced" or the "intelligent" version. (the Intelligent version has more memory, faster processor and multi-media. It is also usually less expensive than the enhanced. The one issue I have not checked is whether the Intelligent version is more RF noisy than the basic and enhanced).

The BASIC is like the Nano used on the Raduino,, it has run out of gas and has become a bottleneck to doing anything new. (standby for more on KD8CEC running on newer Nanos ;-) ) To squeeze the current screens into the Basic, I am going to need to reduce the size of the QR code screen to save memory. Know this works on 4.3, but not sure that this is even a viable option on 3.5 and below.

73
Mark


Re: Sbitx finals replacement - update

 

Farhan, all
Ok some progress today. Verified that the 12v and 5v are present before, during and after the reboot. I do hear a relay click when I select CQ then the Sbitx stops working and reboots. I assume it is K9 although haven't looked at it yet. Any thoughts - maybe U3 or U4? Can anyone share their opinions on my approach?

Art
N2AJO?


Re: 4.3 Nextion and CEC 1.095/ubitx redo

 

Here are instructions for the 3" screens that would work for the 4.3" screen:


The screen files are here:



FYI, for a Nextion over 3.5", I recommend providing a separate 5volt source for the Nextion.
73
Evan
AC9TU


Re: Funtronics uBitx digi interface installation in V6

 

For digital modes on any of 6 uBitx, I use CAT control through the Nano USB port on the Raduino board.? For sound using desktops and laptops running Windows 10, as well as a Raspberry Pi running Buster, I use a cheap audio USB dongle:



Others work as well, including the Plugable brand.


The Plugable is for situations where you need stereo mic input.? The Sabrent are mono mic input.

73
Evan
AC9TU


Re: #sbitx mod #sBitx

 

Hi Jerry,

Thanks again for the instruction.? I've not had this scope for very long and I hadn't gotten to some of the math functions.? Pretty cool functionality.? It's not the presentation I'm used to, analyzing power profiles for data centers, but it's pretty cool.? The presentation shows the magnitude of the "noise" at various frequencies.? If I'm reading this right, the bandwidth of the noise is from about 100Hz to about 5MHz with the highest magnitude of around 60mVdc.? I'm going to install it in the radio and listen to the performance.? If it's quiet (or at least as quiet as the LM338), I'm going to call it a success and welcome the ability to mechanically clamp the PA transistors securely to the heat sink.

Now if my order from DigiKey would just arrive.

Cheers, Scott

P.S. I have followed Kevin's channel for some time now.? Interesting stuff.? I don't think I could be happy living in an RV but to each his own.? JSM


Re: #sbitx sn 0071 is alive! #sBitx

Mark Earnest
 

I'm going to work on getting pat/ardopc working for winlink support :)


Re: #sbitx - an ugprade kit is on the way #sBitx

 

Farhan,?

I can't say enough good things about the general idea and features of this radio (and potential features).? The first night I got it I was watching FT8 decodes and had my first QSO (SSB New York to Bulgaria).
My sBitx (#69) let loose the next morning during a local 80 M net.? I was running about 25 Watts into a 2.5 : 1 antenna, and having my friends help me tweak the audio levels.? I've been too busy to spend a lot of time with this until last night, but finally did a tear-down and took some pictures.? I wanted to post these shots of my main board to see if anyone thinks I need to address anything else.? I had added an extension cable onto my power cord, and that's what originally flamed out. I have since ordered the recommended power supply and some materials to make a new proper power cord.? It was the next morning when I applied power again, thinking that I had just blown the cable that most of the damage in these pictures may have occurred.? I really appreciate your support of this project and I'm looking forward to getting the upgrade kit. Thanks for any assistance!

--Neil, W2NDG


Daylight Again on the Sunrise Net -- Walter KA4KXX builds a PTO

 

Lots of good BITX mojo in Walter's PTO:?



73? Bill N2CQR


4.3 Nextion and CEC 1.095/ubitx redo

 

Hello Mark!! My first dreamy 4.3 Nextion worked like a dream till it went poof. Maybe too many hours on WSPR, so it died of boredom.

I went back to the venerable 16x2 as temp till I could source a replacement? Nextion. In house now, it sits on my bench for a year 'cause I can't figure out all the "load this, then that, stand on your left foot, put your finger in your ear sequence stuff", nor do I now have much of a clue for file locations/versions.? Sad situation to have a lovely I/o device sleeping in the box while being mocked by a two line display.

The fine print on my display says HST043050-A? 2-2, and the box says Nextion 4.3.? All basic, nothing enhanced around here. hahah.?

Could you point me in the right directions to get the 4.3 loaded up?? thanks so much for taking pity on a old slacker. hahahah.?

Don
km4udx


Re: sBitx antenna-first warning

 

Many of these ADCs are more expensive than a microcontroller board like the Raspberry Pico.
The challenge with Arduino/Pico is having to deal with yet another source of RF spurs.
- f

On Wed, Aug 17, 2022, 4:46 PM Niels Jalling <niels@...> wrote:
Another solution for sending analog signals to the pi is to use a four channel AD-converter such as an ADS1115.

I don't know how the tricky I2C interface likes the ADS1115. I have received mine this morning so I haven't tried yet.

de oz9ny, niels


Re: sBitx antenna-first warning

 

Another solution for sending analog signals to the pi is to use a four channel AD-converter such as an ADS1115.

I don't know how the tricky I2C interface likes the ADS1115. I have received mine this morning so I haven't tried yet.

de oz9ny, niels


Re: Funtronics uBitx digi interface installation in V6

 

Hi Justin,
How do you run CAT control and digital modes just using the Raduino? If this had been documented as an option in one of the places I had been reading I probably would have gone down this route.

The Funtronics digital interface board (thread title) is not a keyer.?
The digital interface board should provide audio I/O over USB, as well as CAT control.?

This is something I have been into the idea of since I have been struggling with using the computer's sound card, since all of my machines have a single combined mic/phones 3.5mm jack, and Win10 is not happy with enabling both at the same time.

73


Re: #v6 Day 3 #v6

 

I bought the "Discovery" model Nextion. Using these will involve loading the Nextion Editor and changing the screen setting, then correcting the error it generates to do with the newer Editor (the error reports what page it is on, and a number needs to be changed to 78 for it to compile).

I don't know if there is a benefit to the Discovery screen, so I would recommend sticking with the Basic or Enhanced.


Re: Funtronics uBitx digi interface installation in V6

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Guys,?

This is a hobby. ?Whatever brings satisfaction to your head and a warm glow to your heart (and lowers your blood pressure and helps you tolerate all the rest of the world) when you walk out of your shack is fine and OK in my book. ?Maybe for me it¡¯s just breathing in rosin core solder smoke that does it. But it has been working for 62 years¡­¡­?

Dave K8WPE since 1960 and even before as an SWL and AM broadcast listener¡­. Oh those were the days.

David J. Wilcox¡¯s iPad

On Aug 16, 2022, at 11:54 AM, david todd via groups.io <ac9xh@...> wrote:

?Justin ,i went to their website and it looks like a keyer.
K3NG CW Keyer

its something i wouldnt install in my ubitx v6 but to each their own.probably has a decoder for those who like to send way faster than they can copy cw.HI HI.
Im a purist. decoders for cw are an insult to the cw community as a whole if you operate cw.this is from their website:K3NG¡¯s arduino code, such as LCD display, USB keyboard, rotary encoder and CW decoder etc.

looks nice for shortwave listeners who like to tune in those secret signals, but just my opinion,? my decoder is my ears. you always know someone is using a decoder when there is a little bit of adjacent noise and the decoder cant tune it in. even though your signals and theirs are 599.

decoders for those who try to appear to copy way way faster than they are able to.sometimes they use the programmable keyrs to make canned contacts too.Sometimes "SOME" those who use decoders? are the ones who apply for fast code decoding awards from the ARRL w1aw bulletins.

73
David
ac9xh


Re: Funtronics uBitx digi interface installation in V6

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Your friend is happy with his ability to make thousands of contacts mechanically. I think that trying to improve him and his ability would be a waste of time. If a hobby is doing what a hobby is supposed to do for a person just leave them alone. ?I have a few friends that use their CW decoders all the time and they are happy collecting countries and wall paper¡­.. they just do it differently than I do. ?I found the same with RC airplanes¡­.. some buy their planes already built and others build and repair their planes themselves¡­. They both were happy with their hobby.

Reminds me of RTTY. ?Let the machines do it all. ?To each his own. ?I left FT8 because it just made contacts, not true conversations.?

Dave K8WPE

David J. Wilcox¡¯s iPad

On Aug 16, 2022, at 7:16 PM, Richard Spohn <wb2gxm@...> wrote:

?
David, this is really, really sad. Your friend is missing out on so many things -- the thrill of learning and developing new skills, the joy of conversing in a new language, not to mention the brain-building and brain-health maintenance that CW provides to its practitioners. And one more loss -- I, for one, will NEVER have a meaningful QSO with him. -- Rich WB2GXM

------ Original message------
From: david todd via
Date: Tue, Aug 16, 2022 4:19 PM
Cc:
Subject:Re: [BITX20] Funtronics uBitx digi interface installation in V6

last point of my opinion, and i apologize if i come across as a hater,but im not.

Friend of mine is a no code ham. he learned the basics of the code and uses a decoder to decode the cw. he sends about 20 wpm with his paddle ,which doesnt make sense because he cant copy past 6 wpm with his ears. i proved this with on air copy. doing about 8 to 10 wpm. he said he couldnt copy it even though he sends really fast. he doesnt try to decode the cw in his head since the decoder is doing it for him. I told him if you can send 20wpm you should be able to receive faster than 8. no way. i had 3 other hams verify this. WEIRD,BUT TRUE.He stated"why learn to copy faster when i have my decoder. he uses software to do this on his not knocking him,but i did explain the reasonings of not using one.happy he is trying cw and using it,but the decoder gives him a false sense of accomplishment. he has been using this setup for several years and still cant copy faster than about 6 wpm. WEIRD ISNT IT. My friend is an engineer for 30 years, very very smart, but has been ruined by his decoder. HI HI.3 of us have been working with him with various,various methods, and we even paid for his classes,etc just to be friendly. he went,but the instructor stated "ive never seen anyone who can send 20wpm and not copy by ear at least over 6 wpm. He refuses to try to fill his head with the decode but can send 20 wpm with his paddle. foud out some of his secret. he uses precanned groups of statements. qth,radio,rst,etc. He goes thro the motions and then after his decoder decodes the other hams info he clicks the statements he wants sent next,it also includes the 73,etc. .very canned,very brief, using decoder and software on computer.? is he running cw? yes,but with an analog radio and no goodies attached to it,like a decoder,he is dead in the water without it.Ive praised him over and over for trying CW,but He stated "i can make 1000s of cw contacts and basically not even know CW"The computer and decoder will do it all for me.His words,not so his paddle is basically for looks. he uses computer control to do the sending 99% of the time.

please inform the other end u are using one if you cant decode the signals when adjacent qrn,qrm,qsb affects it or you are in a is leads to abrupt endings of qsos. or qsos that really seem robot operated.I ran into this when doing ft8. Someone calling cq forever and not responding to others who respond to their CQ.

just my own opinion of it.


73
David
ac9xh


Re: #sbitx - an ugprade kit is on the way #sBitx

 

tnx a lot for the service. After first attempt to transmit the sBitx went dead but after unmounting the RPI and the display I found out that just the 4A fuse was blown. I am sticking to 5W until the buck converter is installed.?

Vy73 de
Rolf, DL8BAG?


Re: DAYLIGHT RADIO - PLASTIC TOROID MASTER

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

?Learning things I never knew


On Aug 16, 2022, at 22:43, David McGaw <david.g.mcgaw@...> wrote:

? Indeed.? Like many things, true in the limit.? A toroid with just a few turns does have significant stray fields, but better than a solenoid coil.

D

On 8/16/22 7:39 PM, Ashhar Farhan via groups.io wrote:
David,
I did a bit of experimental work on this. The toroids need more than 15 turns or so for the self-shielding to work well.
At fewer turns, the shielding though better than that of a conventional inductor, wasn't good enough to be used in a bandpass filter. In the Daylight radio, I had to add shielding between the three sections.
- f

On Tue, Aug 16, 2022, 11:48 PM David McGaw <david.g.mcgaw@...> wrote:
Yes, understood.? Just thought I would let it be known that it is not the core that shields a toroid.? It is inherent in its shape.? Physics.? :-)

On 8/16/22 9:49 AM, Ashhar Farhan via wrote:
David,
Shielding is not the issue. Losses are. Lower Q leads to higher losses. The Q is determined by the material inside the toroid. Air/Vacuum is the best material with least losses for an inductor, whether a solenoid or a toroid.

On Tue, Aug 16, 2022, 6:23 PM David McGaw <david.g.mcgaw@...> wrote:
Toriodal inductors are inherently shielded by their geometry, no matter what the core material is, air, ferrite or other.

73,

David N1HAC

On 8/15/22 8:24 PM, Ashhar Farhan via wrote:
David,
The inside of the toroid should be hollow and it not hollow it should have as little in-fill as possible. This is the key to high performance 3D printed toroids. PLA or ABS are lossy and they can lead to lossy filters.
- f

On Tue, Aug 16, 2022, 4:16 AM Siegfried Jackstien <siegfried.jackstien@...> wrote:

would not a simple tubing do the same?? .. the "shielding" of a coil wound on a ferrite core comes from the core material ... so i guess a normal pastic tubing will work equally well if not better (fewer loss cause fewer plastic inside the coil)

so ... what is the reason to print plastic toroids??

dg9bfc sigi

Am 15.08.2022 um 23:50 schrieb David R. Hassall WA5DJJ:

Dear group,

I asked a friend of mine to build a master toroid stl file that we can put in our 3D printer software and come up with the plastic toroids almost any size we want.?? The Master was built on the basic size of 1 inch in diameter with a height of 1/2 inch and a thickness of? 0.2 inches.?? I use the CURA program to build my 3D printer files and it will allow me to scale all three axes once the basic 25mm toroid.stl file is loaded into the software.? It also allows you to print almost any number of a basic design in one printing.?? Here are some examples that I printed this morning:

toroid pic

I just used the scaling values of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% to get the different sized plastic toroids pictured above.? So with the master stl file anyone with a 3D printer should be able to print almost any size plastic toroid form that you would need.?? I have attached the master stl file to this Message and it should enable anyone with a 3D printer to make the plastic Toroids that they need for the Daylight Radio Project.

Take care and have fun.

73 Dave WA5DJJ
SUPER QRSS GRABBER






Re: File /3.2 & 3.5 for Nextion and CEC 1.095/ubitx_35D7.HMI uploaded #file-notice

 

Vince?

you want the 5¡± enhanced? I have that.?


73
Mark


Re: #sbitx sn 0071 is alive! #sBitx

 

I want to be able to receive js8call messages relayed to my email or siganl. This is in the skunkworks.


On Wed, Aug 17, 2022, 7:45 AM Steve Beckman <ssteven3sb@...> wrote:
Farhan - Yes, I do see the console activity on port 7000 - yet another cool thing that this amazing radio does. The text interface capability would make possible remote digital modes QSOs and control through simple devices - maybe an ESP32 based handheld device or a simple smartphone app.

So many possibilities for experimentation and hacking have been made possible with the sBitx. I'm doing something right now that I would have never thought possible with a ham radio - I'm responding to your email using a browser running on my sBitx!

73; Steve, N3SB


On Tue, Aug 16, 2022 at 7:50 PM Ashhar Farhan <farhanbox@...> wrote:
Steve,
You might want to telnet to port 7000 of the rpi while sbitx is running. This an easter egg yet, I am not sure if I should produce a telnet remote or a web/http based remote facility.?
It only shows the console output yet. The source code is at?

On Wed, Aug 17, 2022, 5:03 AM Ashhar Farhan via <farhanbox=[email protected]> wrote:
Thanks Steve!

On Wed, Aug 17, 2022, 4:47 AM Steve Beckman <ssteven3sb@...> wrote:

Farhan;

You have created an amazing radio. I love that the radio has the ability to recompile it's own software. I love that the code is open-source, so that changes can easily be made to add features, and tailor the radio to behave exactly the way I want it to.

I've enabled SSH so that I can remotely log into my radio from a laptop and do things from the command line, while sitting on my sofa in another room watching the news. I've installed XRDP so that I can remotely log into the desktop from my laptop and run the sBitx software remotely. I haven't gotten sound working via RDP yet; that's a bit more complex from a linux host. For now I¡¯m using a bluetooth transmitter plugged into the headphone jack. The Rpi has bluetooth built-in, but the sbitx app is not set up to route audio to the BT device. Will have to investigate that option....

The sBitx should really appeal to those who are comfortable with computers, and like to experiment with software vs solder and wire. This radio has really been a blast - and is also a great way to learn more about DSP algorithms and linux in general.

73; Steve, N3SB




Re: Funtronics uBitx digi interface installation in V6

 

I personally refuse to be an ARRL member, but ft8 is completely different than CW ,.That we all know.I wouldnt recognize ft8 for cw awards, but thats me.

anyway jack,
73
hpe to get my paws on your new t41 soon.

David
ac9xh