¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Date

Re: Loss of CW Side tone When load N8ME Firmware.uBITX V6

 

Hi Chuck,

Two things come up to me as to loss in sidetone:

1 - The N8ME configuration
2 - The Nano has a hardware issue

To address problem 1, verify that CW is selected on the main page and that the Side Tone is set in the configuration menu.
Problem 2 could occur if you swapped Nanos in changing the two software programs.

NOTE: I am running the N8ME software with the VU3GAO mods available in the files section.

73
Evan
AC9TU


Loss of CW Side tone When load N8ME Firmware.uBITX V6

 

Just replaced the Arduino Board and Main Radio Board.
Figured I look in to the Firmware of N8ME try something different interface.
I been doing CW so this was suppose to make the uBITX more CW worthy.
But I lost my CW side tone. going from standard Firmware to N8me Firmware.
Any ideas of what may have happened. I reloaded the original Firmware CW side tone is back.
Chuck K3CWE


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

Mark Earnest
 

Pulled out the finals and only Q18 was bad, Q19 survived. Probably replace both just to be safe though.


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

Mark Earnest
 

This is good timing, I just let the magic smoke out of #077 (accidental high swr I believe)

Burnt the large traces near C11 and C85, I'm assuming I can replace Q18 and Q19 and resolder those traces. Oddly my RPI never went off so I'm assuming (I'll verify) my U2 buck converter didn't fail.?


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

 

The shipment? delay was to refit the existing orders with the switching regulators. So, yes. The new orders also have the spare IRFZ24Ns anyway.
- f

On Wed, Sep 7, 2022 at 9:33 AM kc5kwz <jrbritton@...> wrote:
Will all new orders include those parts too? ('cause I almost have enough penny's saved to make an order)

-------- Original message --------
From: Ashhar Farhan <farhanbox@...>
Date: 9/6/22 9:00 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [BITX20] #sbitx - an ugprade kit is on the way #sBitx

It is not really an upgrade kit. It is more a replacment kit.
It has a switching regulator as a replacement for the LM338 that heats up a lot. It also has spare IRFZ24Ns just in case.

On Wed, Sep 7, 2022, 6:58 AM kc5kwz <jrbritton@...> wrote:

Whats in the upgrade kit?

On 9/6/2022 7:46 PM, Gerald Sherman wrote:

I haven't seen mine in Winnipeg as of today (Sept. 6) for serial #64

Gerry Sherman

Sent by the Thunderbird

On 2022-09-03 01:27, Ashhar Farhan wrote:
The packs were posted about 5 days ago via USPS from? New York.

On Sat, Sep 3, 2022, 1:14 AM Anthony Good <anthony.good@...> wrote:
Haven¡¯t seen it yet here in 3 land.

On Sep 2, 2022, at 15:41, Shirley Dulcey KE1L <mark@...> wrote:

Have people received the sBitx regulator update yet? No sign of it here.

On Sun, Aug 28, 2022 at 11:44 PM John Terrell, N6LN <N6LN@...> wrote:
I received my package today and everything is up and running beautifully! Thanks Ashhar. I look forward to enjoying the development of this unique product.

Jack
N6LN




Virus-free.


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

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Will all new orders include those parts too? ('cause I almost have enough penny's saved to make an order)

-------- Original message --------
From: Ashhar Farhan <farhanbox@...>
Date: 9/6/22 9:00 PM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: [BITX20] #sbitx - an ugprade kit is on the way #sBitx

It is not really an upgrade kit. It is more a replacment kit.
It has a switching regulator as a replacement for the LM338 that heats up a lot. It also has spare IRFZ24Ns just in case.

On Wed, Sep 7, 2022, 6:58 AM kc5kwz <jrbritton@...> wrote:

Whats in the upgrade kit?

On 9/6/2022 7:46 PM, Gerald Sherman wrote:

I haven't seen mine in Winnipeg as of today (Sept. 6) for serial #64

Gerry Sherman

Sent by the Thunderbird

On 2022-09-03 01:27, Ashhar Farhan wrote:
The packs were posted about 5 days ago via USPS from? New York.

On Sat, Sep 3, 2022, 1:14 AM Anthony Good <anthony.good@...> wrote:
Haven¡¯t seen it yet here in 3 land.

On Sep 2, 2022, at 15:41, Shirley Dulcey KE1L <mark@...> wrote:

Have people received the sBitx regulator update yet? No sign of it here.

On Sun, Aug 28, 2022 at 11:44 PM John Terrell, N6LN <N6LN@...> wrote:
I received my package today and everything is up and running beautifully! Thanks Ashhar. I look forward to enjoying the development of this unique product.

Jack
N6LN




Virus-free.


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

 

It is not really an upgrade kit. It is more a replacment kit.
It has a switching regulator as a replacement for the LM338 that heats up a lot. It also has spare IRFZ24Ns just in case.

On Wed, Sep 7, 2022, 6:58 AM kc5kwz <jrbritton@...> wrote:

Whats in the upgrade kit?

On 9/6/2022 7:46 PM, Gerald Sherman wrote:

I haven't seen mine in Winnipeg as of today (Sept. 6) for serial #64

Gerry Sherman

Sent by the Thunderbird

On 2022-09-03 01:27, Ashhar Farhan wrote:
The packs were posted about 5 days ago via USPS from? New York.

On Sat, Sep 3, 2022, 1:14 AM Anthony Good <anthony.good@...> wrote:
Haven¡¯t seen it yet here in 3 land.

On Sep 2, 2022, at 15:41, Shirley Dulcey KE1L <mark@...> wrote:

Have people received the sBitx regulator update yet? No sign of it here.

On Sun, Aug 28, 2022 at 11:44 PM John Terrell, N6LN <N6LN@...> wrote:
I received my package today and everything is up and running beautifully! Thanks Ashhar. I look forward to enjoying the development of this unique product.

Jack
N6LN




Virus-free.


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

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Whats in the upgrade kit?

On 9/6/2022 7:46 PM, Gerald Sherman wrote:

I haven't seen mine in Winnipeg as of today (Sept. 6) for serial #64

Gerry Sherman

Sent by the Thunderbird

On 2022-09-03 01:27, Ashhar Farhan wrote:
The packs were posted about 5 days ago via USPS from? New York.

On Sat, Sep 3, 2022, 1:14 AM Anthony Good <anthony.good@...> wrote:
Haven¡¯t seen it yet here in 3 land.

On Sep 2, 2022, at 15:41, Shirley Dulcey KE1L <mark@...> wrote:

Have people received the sBitx regulator update yet? No sign of it here.

On Sun, Aug 28, 2022 at 11:44 PM John Terrell, N6LN <N6LN@...> wrote:
I received my package today and everything is up and running beautifully! Thanks Ashhar. I look forward to enjoying the development of this unique product.

Jack
N6LN




Virus-free.


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

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I haven't seen mine in Winnipeg as of today (Sept. 6) for serial #64

Gerry Sherman

Sent by the Thunderbird

On 2022-09-03 01:27, Ashhar Farhan wrote:

The packs were posted about 5 days ago via USPS from? New York.

On Sat, Sep 3, 2022, 1:14 AM Anthony Good <anthony.good@...> wrote:
Haven¡¯t seen it yet here in 3 land.

On Sep 2, 2022, at 15:41, Shirley Dulcey KE1L <mark@...> wrote:

Have people received the sBitx regulator update yet? No sign of it here.

On Sun, Aug 28, 2022 at 11:44 PM John Terrell, N6LN <N6LN@...> wrote:
I received my package today and everything is up and running beautifully! Thanks Ashhar. I look forward to enjoying the development of this unique product.

Jack
N6LN




Re: Sbitx manual

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

They are tricky little critters! I had to put two in series for exactly that reason in a uninterruptible power supply/charger system that I designed.?




On Sep 6, 2022, at 15:25, Max via groups.io <kg4pid@...> wrote:

?
Thanks Jerry, since I know nothing about these devices I had to ask.

Max

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 12:05:13 PM CDT, Jerry Gaffke via groups.io <jgaffke@...> wrote:


You can't fully turn off the PFET in this application since the intrinsic body diode allows current to flow
from the battery to the rig.? You could add a second PFET in series with this one?
but this time have the source pin facing the battery, yank the gate down toward ground to turn it on
but be careful to avoid exceeding the Vgs spec..

On Tue, Sep 6, 2022 at 06:58 AM, Max wrote:
I'm curious if a switch could be added to this circuit to turn it on and off? Or better still, could it be controlled via 3.3v or 5v logic with a few extra parts?
?
I need an electronic switch and the added protection sure would be nice. Add in a 1.5KE15A 15-volt transient suppressor diode and a fuse and you have over voltage protection as well.?
?
Max KG4PID


Re: Sbitx manual

 

Thanks Jerry, since I know nothing about these devices I had to ask.

Max

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 12:05:13 PM CDT, Jerry Gaffke via groups.io <jgaffke@...> wrote:


You can't fully turn off the PFET in this application since the intrinsic body diode allows current to flow
from the battery to the rig.? You could add a second PFET in series with this one?
but this time have the source pin facing the battery, yank the gate down toward ground to turn it on
but be careful to avoid exceeding the Vgs spec..


On Tue, Sep 6, 2022 at 06:58 AM, Max wrote:
I'm curious if a switch could be added to this circuit to turn it on and off? Or better still, could it be controlled via 3.3v or 5v logic with a few extra parts?
?
I need an electronic switch and the added protection sure would be nice. Add in a 1.5KE15A 15-volt transient suppressor diode and a fuse and you have over voltage protection as well.?
?
Max KG4PID


Re: Sbitx manual

 

You can't fully turn off the PFET in this application since the intrinsic body diode allows current to flow
from the battery to the rig.? You could add a second PFET in series with this one?
but this time have the source pin facing the battery, yank the gate down toward ground to turn it on
but be careful to avoid exceeding the Vgs spec..


On Tue, Sep 6, 2022 at 06:58 AM, Max wrote:
I'm curious if a switch could be added to this circuit to turn it on and off? Or better still, could it be controlled via 3.3v or 5v logic with a few extra parts?
?
I need an electronic switch and the added protection sure would be nice. Add in a 1.5KE15A 15-volt transient suppressor diode and a fuse and you have over voltage protection as well.?
?
Max KG4PID


Re: Sbitx manual

 

The trick to searching on Mouser is to select large fields of values for the various parameters.
For example, I selected all values of Rds that were 5 mOhms or less by holding the Control key down
while dragging the mouse across the desired values.

Here's the same search, but I have removed the requirement that the drain current be at least 50 Amps continuous:
https://www.mouser.com/c/semiconductors/discrete-semiconductors/transistors/mosfet/?channel%20mode=Enhancement&rds%20on%20-%20drain-source%20resistance=1.25%20mOhms~~5%20mOhms&transistor%20polarity=P-Channel&instock=y&sort=rds%20on%20-%20drain-source%20resistance&rp=semiconductors%2Fdiscrete-semiconductors%2Ftransistors%2Fmosfet%7C~Rds%20On%20-%20Drain-Source%20Resistance

We now see several PFET's in an old style SOIC8 package with no heat tab,
easy to work with but they can't dissipate quite so much heat.
The most interesting of these is Mouser?512-FDS6681Z, which has an Rds of 3.8 mOhms and a Vds of 30v,?
they have 67000 in stock and another 123000 coming later this month.
I'd tend to skip over the 20v Vds parts if it might be getting used around significant voltage transients,
such as in an automobile.?

Page 4 of the datasheet suggests a temperature rise of somewhere between 50 and 125 degrees C per Watt dissipated,
depending on how big the copper land areas are near the part in the PC board design.
A reasonable figure might be 10 Amps per part if you just solder it to a board, 20 Amps if you have a good strategy to get heat away from it.
For more than 20 Amps, you need more than one part.
At 10 Amps, that would be 10*10*0.0038 = 0.38 Watts of power dissipation, and a temperature rise of 125*0.38 = 47.5 degrees C
assuming not much attention is given to heat dissipation in the PC board design.
This being a simple PFET, the junction temperature is rated for a max of 150 C before it fails (though odds of failure
are rather high if kept anywhere near 150 C for very long).? So ambient temperature (the temperature of the PC board near the part)
should be kept to under 150C - 47.5C = 102.5 C.? So long as the part doesn't get so hot that it sizzles spit, we should be fine.

These PFET's only protect against connecting a battery or power supply with reverse polarity.
For protecting all but the high power parts of the circuitry against too high of a voltage,
I like using a low dropout linear regulator such as the LM2940CT-12, good for up to 1 Amp.
That particular part also protects against reverse polarity, the older LM7812 parts do not.

Jerry, KE7ER


On Tue, Sep 6, 2022 at 01:37 AM, Gordon Gibby wrote:
That's FANTASTIC of you, Jerry.? ?Much slicker with the online stores than I had been.? ?
I ordered 8 of the IPP80 version just to have a few more around the house since there are hundreds of them -- BUT THEY WONT LAST LONG FOLKS!!
I also updated the Construction Manual with the availability information, giving the link to the available part.??
See:??? ?(now updated with a through-hole? part from your list)?
?
Using the lowest possible Rds-on just makes this so so much easier on the builder.? ?The losses in our existing units through the MOSFETS are actually lower than through the crimped connectors etc in our powerpath.? ?I actually measured losses in fuses, fuse connectors etc that were larger than the losses in the MOSFETS!? ?
?
That was very nice of you to do that search and point people to better choices!
Thanks,
Gordon Gibby KX4Z


Re: More Updates #sBitx #sbitx-k3ng

 

Bill,
The code is already integrated. Bob, Goody and I are changing the plumbing a bit before we add more modes.
FreeDV, js8call and FT4 are at the top of the list. I would also love to do NBFM and AM

On Tue, Sep 6, 2022, 8:59 PM bill steffey NY9H <Ny9h@...> wrote:
Has there been conversation or mention of FT4 inclusion into Sbitx.

So much faster and probably cooler on the finals .....


bill NY9H







Re: More Updates #sBitx #sbitx-k3ng

bill steffey NY9H
 

Has there been conversation or mention of FT4 inclusion into Sbitx.

So much faster and probably cooler on the finals .....


bill NY9H


Re: Sbitx manual

 

I'm curious if a switch could be added to this circuit to turn it on and off? Or better still, could it be controlled via 3.3v or 5v logic with a few extra parts?

I need an electronic switch and the added protection sure would be nice. Add in a 1.5KE15A 15-volt transient suppressor diode and a fuse and you have over voltage protection as well.?

Max KG4PID

On Sunday, September 4, 2022, 04:45:54 PM CDT, Gordon Gibby <docvacuumtubes@...> wrote:


In our neck of the words, if a radio is important to us we build a polarity protector that connects directly to it. ?No battery or anything is allowed to connect direct again, must go through our polarity protector







On Sep 4, 2022, at 17:24, otalado <s53c.lado@...> wrote:

?You are doing a great job with the manual!!

btw: I am afraid this is a little bit off-topic: I saw your warning on the power supply plug polarity. Wouldn't it be a good idea, to place a Schottky diode into the rig itself? Ever since I lent one piece of relatively expensive equipment that returned to me burnt beyond repair, I am always making supply cables with such protection. This is until some 'clever' guy will try to use his own wrongly wired cable. So the protection in the box itself will make better sense.
Now in this 'prerelease' period dangers are perhaps low, but as less routined hams will come that will change, I'm afraid ...


Re: Sbitx manual

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

One of the simplest ONE component protection is a Polarized Relay.

All the rigs I tinkered with in the 80-90s had a polarized relay on the TX final board.

Raj

On 06/09/2022 2:07 PM, Gordon Gibby wrote:

That's FANTASTIC of you, Jerry.? ?Much slicker with the online stores than I had been.? ?
I ordered 8 of the IPP80 version just to have a few more around the house since there are hundreds of them -- BUT THEY WONT LAST LONG FOLKS!!
I also updated the Construction Manual with the availability information, giving the link to the available part.??
See:??? ?(now updated with a through-hole? part from your list)?

Using the lowest possible Rds-on just makes this so so much easier on the builder.? ?The losses in our existing units through the MOSFETS are actually lower than through the crimped connectors etc in our powerpath.? ?I actually measured losses in fuses, fuse connectors etc that were larger than the losses in the MOSFETS!? ?

That was very nice of you to do that search and point people to better choices!
Thanks,
Gordon Gibby KX4Z


On Mon, Sep 5, 2022 at 9:31 PM Jerry Gaffke via <jgaffke=[email protected]> wrote:

Here's a quick search on Mouser for an enhancement mode PFET with an Rds of 5 mOhms or less and a continuous drain current of 50 Amps, must be in stock:


A couple TO-220 parts, either would work:



A bunch of surface mount parts with a big heat dissipation pad on the bottom.
Those are usable for the hobbyist with a heat gun and some solder paste.
Or could dead bug them, run a strip of copper over the top for heat dissipation.

Jerry, KE7ER



On Mon, Sep 5, 2022 at 05:31 PM, Gordon Gibby wrote:

Irf4905 @ .020 ohms ¡ª. Put two of those in parallel and you¡¯ll get .010 ohms which means you can run 10 A through it and have a dissipation of only one watt. ?
?
Hopefully once people start returning our economies to normal, better and better MOSFETs will become once again available. ??
?
Right now it¡¯s a bit difficult.? I¡¯m sure Ashhar had to deal with a lot of these problems!!


Re: Sbitx manual

 

That's FANTASTIC of you, Jerry.? ?Much slicker with the online stores than I had been.? ?
I ordered 8 of the IPP80 version just to have a few more around the house since there are hundreds of them -- BUT THEY WONT LAST LONG FOLKS!!
I also updated the Construction Manual with the availability information, giving the link to the available part.??
See:??? ?(now updated with a through-hole? part from your list)?

Using the lowest possible Rds-on just makes this so so much easier on the builder.? ?The losses in our existing units through the MOSFETS are actually lower than through the crimped connectors etc in our powerpath.? ?I actually measured losses in fuses, fuse connectors etc that were larger than the losses in the MOSFETS!? ?

That was very nice of you to do that search and point people to better choices!
Thanks,
Gordon Gibby KX4Z


On Mon, Sep 5, 2022 at 9:31 PM Jerry Gaffke via <jgaffke=[email protected]> wrote:

Here's a quick search on Mouser for an enhancement mode PFET with an Rds of 5 mOhms or less and a continuous drain current of 50 Amps, must be in stock:


A couple TO-220 parts, either would work:



A bunch of surface mount parts with a big heat dissipation pad on the bottom.
Those are usable for the hobbyist with a heat gun and some solder paste.
Or could dead bug them, run a strip of copper over the top for heat dissipation.

Jerry, KE7ER



On Mon, Sep 5, 2022 at 05:31 PM, Gordon Gibby wrote:

Irf4905 @ .020 ohms ¡ª. Put two of those in parallel and you¡¯ll get .010 ohms which means you can run 10 A through it and have a dissipation of only one watt. ?
?
Hopefully once people start returning our economies to normal, better and better MOSFETs will become once again available. ??
?
Right now it¡¯s a bit difficult.? I¡¯m sure Ashhar had to deal with a lot of these problems!!
?


Re: DAYLIGHT ANALOG RADIO - 5MHZ WWV INTERFERENCE

 

Dave,
Congratulations on the build! You can also move the IF to 4.915 MHz. It makes the frequency display a little more complicated but it is always a good idea to have an IF unlit by any of the standard frequencies.

On Tue, Sep 6, 2022, 10:20 AM David R. Hassall WA5DJJ <dhassall@...> wrote:

Dear Members,

I just finished wiring up my receiver modules and taking care of this and that? when you first light of any home brew project.? Us Amateurs on this side of the earth have the US National Bureau of Standards Radio stations on 2.5MHz, 5MHz, 10MHz, and 20MHz blasting out time and information signals 24/7.?? When I lit off my DAYLIGHT ANALOG radio and was tuning around I had a beat note in my receive audio.? Sure enough the 5MHz WWV time signals were sneaking through my 7MHz Band Pass filter, through the first mixer, crystal filter and beating against the BFO oscillators signal in the 2nd Mixer.?? The Cure is simple.? A 5MHz trap made from a T50-2 core with 32turns of #26 wire and put in series with a 250pf of capacitance. (I used an old compression trimmer from my junk box but the needed capacitance is somewhere between 220pf and 250pf to suck the 5MHz signal out.?? Now my DAYLIGHT ANALOG receiver can listen to 40M SSB DX from Central and South America, FT8 tones, and some really good clear CW.?? The only think to note is that Experimental Methods in RF Design on page 5-12 recommends that the PTO and the BFO signals be about 5V Pk to PK.? My PTO was much lower than that and I have changed the 78L05 voltage regulator to a 78L09 and my PTO signal is not quite 5V PK to PK but the received signals have improved.? So, I believe that is worthwhile doing.

For those who are curious what the 5MHz trap looks like in reality, Here is a picture of mine.? (It is not the gold standard, but it did work very well)

Keep at it.?? This radio is well worth the effort to collect all the parts and build it.?? It will teach you many things and not just the stuff that comes out of a book (but the book helps....hi hi)

Take care and have fun.?

73 Dave WA5DJJ
SUPER QRSS/WSPR GRABBER:


-- 
73 Dave WA5DJJ
SUPER GRABBER 
WEBSITE: 
EMAIL: dhassall@...


DAYLIGHT ANALOG RADIO - 5MHZ WWV INTERFERENCE

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Dear Members,

I just finished wiring up my receiver modules and taking care of this and that? when you first light of any home brew project.? Us Amateurs on this side of the earth have the US National Bureau of Standards Radio stations on 2.5MHz, 5MHz, 10MHz, and 20MHz blasting out time and information signals 24/7.?? When I lit off my DAYLIGHT ANALOG radio and was tuning around I had a beat note in my receive audio.? Sure enough the 5MHz WWV time signals were sneaking through my 7MHz Band Pass filter, through the first mixer, crystal filter and beating against the BFO oscillators signal in the 2nd Mixer.?? The Cure is simple.? A 5MHz trap made from a T50-2 core with 32turns of #26 wire and put in series with a 250pf of capacitance. (I used an old compression trimmer from my junk box but the needed capacitance is somewhere between 220pf and 250pf to suck the 5MHz signal out.?? Now my DAYLIGHT ANALOG receiver can listen to 40M SSB DX from Central and South America, FT8 tones, and some really good clear CW.?? The only think to note is that Experimental Methods in RF Design on page 5-12 recommends that the PTO and the BFO signals be about 5V Pk to PK.? My PTO was much lower than that and I have changed the 78L05 voltage regulator to a 78L09 and my PTO signal is not quite 5V PK to PK but the received signals have improved.? So, I believe that is worthwhile doing.

For those who are curious what the 5MHz trap looks like in reality, Here is a picture of mine.? (It is not the gold standard, but it did work very well)

trap

Keep at it.?? This radio is well worth the effort to collect all the parts and build it.?? It will teach you many things and not just the stuff that comes out of a book (but the book helps....hi hi)

Take care and have fun.?

73 Dave WA5DJJ
SUPER QRSS/WSPR GRABBER:


-- 
73 Dave WA5DJJ
SUPER GRABBER 
WEBSITE: 
EMAIL: dhassall@...