Re: Writing the ICOM EMULATOR for the sBitx
1.? Tonight I did a quick wire up of the two UARTS that I got via Amazon, and as expected, they work well.? ?Just like the commandeered "ham programmer cables" I had been using.? ?Will make a cable between them soon.
2.? Learned how to make an "icon" on the desktop to start the program.? I now have that "up" on my DE screen and working!? ?Big learning moment for me, anyway...
3.? So far, this ONLY goes in one direction:? ?from the legacy program to the sBitx radio.? ??KK4DAS, Dean Souleles is WAY ahead, having written an entire emulation for the ICOM 746pro on the Arduino.? ? I've downloaded his code and will study it to see where I? might go from here!!
4.? Also need to work on a document to explain how to install and use this.
5.? WINLINK works well, can be downloaded for free here (ignore their pleas for a donation; it has always been FREE):??? Click on DOWNLOADS and go to client software.? ? I expect the SERVER side will work fine also.
6.? ION2G, the latest implementation of ALE, complains because I don't have "response" coded, so it sees no reaction from the radio -- BUT it DOES SCAN!!? ?I have all federal (non amateur) frequencies coded because this is used with a USA DHS vollunteer program, so I think the sBitx declines transmit upon seeing the frequencies, but it scanned and appeared to try to SOUND also.? ?This is a big success, bigger than expected, despite the limitations of my initial software....which is unidirectional.
You can download or study ION2G here:? ?
I'm back to teaching and won't really have time for a few days, but this will get written up for the Northern Florida Section newsletter and also presented at the WCF Section TECHCON at end of February -- as a tiny part all the impressive improvements over the last year!? ??
Slow, but some progress continues.
Gordon KX4Z
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Re: Nextiin screens - Alternatives to KD8CDC?
Ashhar and Mark,
Thank you for your kind observations.? My rig's a V5 and from what I gather from your notes, it wouldn't benefit this project to explore those angles.??
Really, guys, I probably recall incorrectly regarding other screen designs of the V3-V5 era.? I'm perfectly fine with it as it is.?
My appreciation to all.
K3RTA
On Wed, Feb 14, 2024 at 10:03, Ashhar Farhan <farhanbox@...> wrote: The nextion displays were needed as arduino with 2K RAM couldn't support graphics and GUI. With RPI Pico, that is all done away with. The regular TFT displays should be able to do a lot without needing the nextion support. On Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 8:30 PM Mark Hatch < mark2382@...> wrote: Ted,
Perhaps this is what you are referring to?
/g/BITX20/topic/progress_report_on_re_hosting/104320899
I have been working on KD8CEC V2 to add an option to use "regular old cheap tft screens with an SPI bus. And of course there is all the work being done on the T41 over on the?/g/SoftwareControlledHamRadio/topics
Mark
--
AJ6CU/7
KD8CEC 2.0, Nextion Screens,? and open source uBITX Raduino boards for Arduino IOT, BLE, RP2040, Teensy 4.0, and Raspberry Pi Pico
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Re: Bitx40 issues, version 2
Hi again Matt,
I watched your Youtube video and I noticed that you have the diagnostic firmware installed on your Raduino, not the regular firmware!
The diagnostic software is only for testing the touch sensors, tuning pot etc. It's not for normal operation of the BitX40!
Make sure you have the regular firmware installed, the latest version is v1.29 and it can be downloaded from Hithub here:
73, Allard PE1NWL
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Re: Writing the ICOM EMULATOR for the sBitx
I think I ended up incorporating some of these these tips that Ashhar used to put me on the right track.?
if there was a way to put my code on the windows machine & connect a virtual comport to that of these legacy software we could make it wireless to the raspberry
thanks, Ashhar! ?The telnet tip was very helpful
gordon?
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ps.: one more note. I upload to LotW with tqsl first, then to hrdlog.com and eqsl.cc.
I do not upload to qrz.com. But I download it from LotW to the qrz Logbook together with the certificates there.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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The log2adif converter has a newer version than the one mentioned above. And this is v1.2 and can be found here:
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Re: sBitx no receive unless I restart the application
Hi Farhan
Thanks for your response.
The sBitx is already running V3 software. The fault is quite strange. Further testing suggest that it might be some sort of timing issue since it seems that if I wait a little while after the Pi boots, the receiver will start ok. If I start the application immediately after the Pi boots, then all I get is noise. I'll need to more testing to prove this and see how long I have to wait before starting the application to make sure it starts each time.
Something else I have observed is that sometimes during an FT8 exchange, it does not switch back to RX correctly. That is, all I get is noise. Then after the next FT8 transmission, it switches to RX ok again??? Its is as if there is something wrong with the Pi configuring the WM8731 maybe?
The power problem seems to be only giving around 20Watts on full drive on 40M into a 50Ohm dummy load current draw is about 4Amps. Could it be that there is a problem with the Pi not correctly configuring the LPFs? I should be taking delivery of a new Pi4 in the next few days so I will swap that out to eliminate it.
Dave - G4UFS
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Re: Sbitx rig control from laptop?
Gordon, I've been re-applying your fix for the clattering relays in the DE with every update. In the current version of sbitx.c I make the changes to line #1356 and #1358.
--
Mike KB2ML
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@JJ, I have a couple ideas. 1:? (This might be a me problem), every time I shutdown and restart, I loose all my buttons and have to build it again.? I would like an opt-out approach, have it start with all the buttons, and then turn off the ones you don't want. 2: One button ADIF file converter.? Expand on the work that Bob did here: /g/BITX20/message/106449.? I want a single button which would do (in order of ease, I think) a) convert the .db file to an adif file- I've just realized that Bob's code needs a small tweak so that the grids are in the right fields.? Easy fix. b) export ALL entries rather than just a range- I'm still pretty new, so maybe this isn't right, but do qrz, LotW, etc, allow you to upload the same file over and over and they will pull out just the new contacts?? Seems a bit easier than having to go look up which entry I left off on and which one is the newest c) email the file to myself- I mostly use my sBitx remotely (it's in the garage, I'm in the living room, it's cold in the garage).? So I use a laptop or tablet all the time to run mostly FT8.? When you push the button, it would be great to have the file emailed or somehow transferred to another source so I can upload the file to all the logbooks (qrz, eqsl, lotw, etc). d) bonus points if when you push the button it automatically uploads to all the logbooks (assuming you pay for that ability in qrz) so I don't need the extra step of having to do that myself.
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Re: Sbitx rig control from laptop?
What I wrote was very primitive but workable for simple needs.? ?My plans are:
1.? Create the UART cable (I have been using ham radio programming cables back to back) and test that simpler concept.??
2.? Add in some "acknowledgement" messages in the reverse directions and also the ability to respond to requests for frequency and mode (required for N3FJP logging for multi-station Field Day, Winter Field day etc)
3.? Create an entry in the "wiki" (I've never done that before)
4.? Find a way to add an ICON (never did that before,....either)
5.? Package it all up and make a 0.2 version availble on a server
6. Create at least somewhat of an "instructions" page
OF NOTE:? ?It has been a long long time since I wrote any WINDOWS code....but if this could be run on the WINDOWS computer, then it could avoid the need for the UART-UART cable...by simply handling communications to the radio via (wifi) TELNET.? ? That would be even slicker.? ?Someone else might get that done before I eventually figure out how to do it...........
Also, I note that the current V3 software has gone back to clattering the relays of my DE.? ?I re-found the fix for that and will handle that and put something up here on the groups.io as well.? ?
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Re: progress report on re-hosting KD8CEC to Pico & Teensy with standard tft style screens
Took a look at that image.? It looks real pretty.
Gerald Sherman
Sent by the Windows 11 Thunderbird
On 2024-02-14 09:56, Jack, W8TEE via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Gerald:
That's the resolution for the
the RA8875 display we used. It looks pretty good:
Jack, W8TEE
On Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at 10:44:28 AM EST,
Gerald Sherman <ve4gks@...> wrote:
This is just an observation:? I have a Xiegu X6100.?
Its display is 4" at a resolution off 800*480, and I
find it quite readable.? If you can find a generic
with these values at a good price, you might want to
go for it.
Gerry Sherman
Sent by the Windows 11 Thunderbird
On
2024-02-14 09:26, Jack, W8TEE via groups.io wrote:
Hi Mark:
I'm at the same rock/hardplace as you with respect to
the T41. My biggest complaint with the Arduino IDE 2.3.0
is the lack of a symbolic debugger. That said, I not
going to change horses in the middle of the stream
(river?). I want to keep the IDE as I know many
inexperienced programmers who are comfortable with it.
Also, the 2.? version of the IDE is a real step forward
for that environment. Rehosting KD8CEC's software on the
Teensy 4.1 should not be too bad because the resource
depth is very good. While we're using a 5" RA8875
display, I'm sure a smaller, generic, TFT display will
likely work well and be less expensive.
--
Jack, W8TEE
--
Jack, W8TEE
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Re: progress report on re-hosting KD8CEC to Pico & Teensy with standard tft style screens
Gerald: That's the resolution for the the RA8875 display we used. It looks pretty good: Jack, W8TEE
On Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at 10:44:28 AM EST, Gerald Sherman <ve4gks@...> wrote:
This is just an observation:? I have a Xiegu X6100.? Its display
is 4" at a resolution off 800*480, and I find it quite readable.?
If you can find a generic with these values at a good price, you
might want to go for it.
Gerry Sherman
Sent by the Windows 11 Thunderbird
On 2024-02-14 09:26, Jack, W8TEE via
groups.io wrote:
Hi Mark:
I'm at the same rock/hardplace as you with respect to the T41. My
biggest complaint with the Arduino IDE 2.3.0 is the lack of a
symbolic debugger. That said, I not going to change horses in the
middle of the stream (river?). I want to keep the IDE as I know
many inexperienced programmers who are comfortable with it. Also,
the 2.? version of the IDE is a real step forward for that
environment. Rehosting KD8CEC's software on the Teensy 4.1 should
not be too bad because the resource depth is very good. While
we're using a 5" RA8875 display, I'm sure a smaller, generic, TFT
display will likely work well and be less expensive.
--
Jack, W8TEE
-- Jack, W8TEE
|
Re: progress report on re-hosting KD8CEC to Pico & Teensy with standard tft style screens
This is just an observation:? I have a Xiegu X6100.? Its display
is 4" at a resolution off 800*480, and I find it quite readable.?
If you can find a generic with these values at a good price, you
might want to go for it.
Gerry Sherman
Sent by the Windows 11 Thunderbird
On 2024-02-14 09:26, Jack, W8TEE via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Hi Mark:
I'm at the same rock/hardplace as you with respect to the T41. My
biggest complaint with the Arduino IDE 2.3.0 is the lack of a
symbolic debugger. That said, I not going to change horses in the
middle of the stream (river?). I want to keep the IDE as I know
many inexperienced programmers who are comfortable with it. Also,
the 2.? version of the IDE is a real step forward for that
environment. Rehosting KD8CEC's software on the Teensy 4.1 should
not be too bad because the resource depth is very good. While
we're using a 5" RA8875 display, I'm sure a smaller, generic, TFT
display will likely work well and be less expensive.
--
Jack, W8TEE
|
Re: progress report on re-hosting KD8CEC to Pico & Teensy with standard tft style screens
Hi Mark:
I'm at the same rock/hardplace as you with respect to the T41. My biggest complaint with the Arduino IDE 2.3.0 is the lack of a symbolic debugger. That said, I not going to change horses in the middle of the stream (river?). I want to keep the IDE as I know many inexperienced programmers who are comfortable with it. Also, the 2.? version of the IDE is a real step forward for that environment. Rehosting KD8CEC's software on the Teensy 4.1 should not be too bad because the resource depth is very good. While we're using a 5" RA8875 display, I'm sure a smaller, generic, TFT display will likely work well and be less expensive.
--
Jack, W8TEE
|
Re: Nextiin screens - Alternatives to KD8CDC?
The nextion displays were needed as arduino with 2K RAM couldn't support graphics and GUI. With RPI Pico, that is all done away with. The regular TFT displays should be able to do a lot without needing the nextion support.
On Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 8:30 PM Mark Hatch < mark2382@...> wrote: Ted,
Perhaps this is what you are referring to?
/g/BITX20/topic/progress_report_on_re_hosting/104320899
I have been working on KD8CEC V2 to add an option to use "regular old cheap tft screens with an SPI bus. And of course there is all the work being done on the T41 over on the?/g/SoftwareControlledHamRadio/topics
Mark
--
AJ6CU/7
KD8CEC 2.0, Nextion Screens,? and open source uBITX Raduino boards for Arduino IOT, BLE, RP2040, Teensy 4.0, and Raspberry Pi Pico
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Re: Nextiin screens - Alternatives to KD8CDC?
Ted, Perhaps this is what you are referring to? /g/BITX20/topic/progress_report_on_re_hosting/104320899I have been working on KD8CEC V2 to add an option to use "regular old cheap tft screens with an SPI bus. And of course there is all the work being done on the T41 over on the? /g/SoftwareControlledHamRadio/topicsMark -- AJ6CU/7 KD8CEC 2.0, Nextion Screens,? and open source uBITX Raduino boards for Arduino IOT, BLE, RP2040, Teensy 4.0, and Raspberry Pi Pico https://github.com/aj6cu
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Re: Nextiin screens - Alternatives to KD8CDC?
I have no interest in alternative projects for Nextion screens for the sake of a project that happens to use one.?
I'm looking for work that does what the KD8CDC files do for a Nextion screen while connected to a uBitx radio, but which are of different designs written by others. I seem to remember seeing some in the past.?
72
On Wed, Feb 14, 2024 at 1:47, Mark Hatch <mark2382@...> wrote: Ted
if yiu are looking for alternative ?projects that use Nextion there are a couple of Facebook groups.?
Nextion Display Group
Nextion ham radio screens
not very active. The latter one is for zumspot
type
devices ?
mark
--
AJ6CU/7
KD8CEC 2.0, Nextion Screens,? and open source uBITX Raduino boards for Arduino IOT, BLE, RP2040, Teensy 4.0, and Raspberry Pi Pico
https://github.com/aj6cu
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Re: Bitx40 issues, version 2
Sounds like progress, Matt! Check the wiring to the 10 turn pot...the center pin is not the wiper on those I've used and that being connected wrong could prevent the frequency from changing...if that is what you mean by "display of the turns".
The BitX40 audio amp can go into oscillation with high (max) setting of the volume control on mine. I just avoid that setting but it could probably be easily patched.
=Vic=
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Re: Bitx40 issues, version 2
Hi Matt, not sure what you mean by "the display of the turns on the 10 turn pot on the display". Have you already tried to reset all settings back to "factory" settings? (Keep the function button pressed during power ON) 73, Allard PE1NWL February 14, 2024 3:51 AM, "Matt KA2TVX via groups.io" < Penrod72@...> wrote: Thanks for the response, Vic. I believe I am using Allard's code.
Your response was quite logical and simple - so I tried it, despite the 2 things being shown - dit sensor and PTT on were only connected on 1 end, to the P1 plug in, I removed them from the plug altogether, and both disappeared from the display. That does not make sense to me, since the other ends were connected to nothing, but it worked, so great!
Last 2 issues - horrible ringing sound in the speaker (I have a few others I can try), and the display of the turns on the 10 turn pot on the display - did not see that on the original software, and not sure I want to - but I can fix that I assume in the code if everything else works.
73, Allard - PE1NWL
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Superb for me who doesn't know linux
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Ted
Allard PE1NWL
HA3HZ
Vic WA4THR