Re: Antenna's (HamSticks), battery clips and tuners
I¡¯ve got good performance using two ham sticks per band in a dipole configuration. ?It takes a while to tune them but they both work fine. ?I work primarily digital modes on both 40 and 20 meters. ?My ATU barely adds any correction.
I built a ¡°hub¡± using an eight sided aluminum box. ?I could install two more pairs but I really don¡¯t think I¡¯ll use them. ?Besides, with the additional pairs, mounting in my attic would be problematic (HOA limitations).?
|
Re: Bitx40 issues, version 2
Or sold. I haven¡¯t been successful with any computer based anything.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Feb 22, 2024, at 03:10, Vic WA4THR via groups.io <vhklein@...> wrote:
?Fantastic! I hate it when things don't work, but it sure is satisfying when something gets fixed.
=Vic=
|
Re: Bitx40 issues, version 2
Fantastic! I hate it when things don't work, but it sure is satisfying when something gets fixed.
=Vic=
|
Re: Line input direct to WM8731 pin 19
I should work. Just set the correct ALSA levels and knobs.
- Rafael
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 2/22/24 07:31, ZL1SGS wrote: I have a mic and audio processor with line level output. Is there any reason I can't apply this directly to WM8731 pin 19 directly - bypassing the mic amp circuitry? I will use a 1:1 transformer to unbalance the output of the processor? I'd just try it, but am away from home at the moment, so I thought I'd check for any gotchas while I can!
73 de ZL1SGS
|
Re: KBD OFF really means off!!
Among the data on github, there is a schematic where you can find the keyboard connection. Check if this is ok.
The device is an RPi-controlled sdr radio, so the RPi must log in first, and then, depending on server access, it can take 1-2 minutes before the device adjusts the current time to NTP.
Otherwise, when you turn it on, it will always show the time of the last time it was turned off. It takes time to sync.
Then start sbitx.
If you installed the latest version (v3.02), it should work without problems. If it was not possible to spoil, e.g. with higher supply voltage or high current consumption. Because it is enough to put it in a bad state once, you can search for what went wrong!
It is recommended to use a power supply with a current limiter, so that the device will not accidentally draw more current (for me, the limit is 6.00 A and 12.5 V). The battery also needs some current limitation in the same way.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
|
Line input direct to WM8731 pin 19
I have a mic and audio processor with line level output. Is there any reason I can't apply this directly to WM8731 pin 19 directly - bypassing the mic amp circuitry? I will use a 1:1 transformer to unbalance the output of the processor? I'd just try it, but am away from home at the moment, so I thought I'd check for any gotchas while I can!
73 de ZL1SGS
|
Hi Dean,
It's a clever solution and you're making good progress.
If you have time, don't forget to update sbitx too, because sometimes the LOG save won't work. v3.02 can already be used quite well in ft8 mode, if you don't want to QSO with stations with complex callsigns (e.g. KH0/KC0W or PJ5/SP9FIH or HS60RAST or CT9/NZ1C and similar callsigns). Because it won't work as usual with these. v3.02 is the last version currently available for download from github.
If you read the discussions, you will find that few people share their construction experiences. There can be several reasons for this. They are tired of the construction procedure or they are interested in something else and don't have time for it. I can tell you from my own experience that I enthusiastically built and wrote to the Polish forum for a while when I started building the Husarek (currently HDSP) sdr radio.
Fortunately, the structure was completed, but now I still use sBitx :-)
I wish you good health and successful construction.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
|
Re: Bitx40 issues, version 2
and Vic wins the internet for the day! Thank you so much - check out video - transmitting and have power out now! 2-3 Watts with a whistle.
New capacitors came in today, so next to tackle the power hum.
|
Solid state is the way to go if you want full break-in,
especially with CW.? Don't know if you need the fast T/R
changeover for FT8.? I haven't actually had a chance to use mine
yet.? If you use relays, watch the specs on the relays you use.?
Some don't provide the best isolation between poles.? This was an
issue with some of the early uBITs - there was leakage around the
LPFs and poor harmonic suppression.
Gerry Sherman
Sent by the Windows 11 Thunderbird
On 2024-02-21 22:00, Dean Souleles
wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Latest update -?
I built a three stage PA - 2n3904, 2N2219A and RD06HHF
(patterened after the BITX40 schematic).? I plan to build an
RD16 push-pull final for ~20 watts across HF.? ?The next step
was to complete the T/R relay switching at the antenna and
around the IF.? I had a spare LPF for 40 that I had built for
another project so I put that in so I could get on the air.? FT8
CQ heard up and down the East Coast of the US (as reported by
Pskreporter).? ?Made one completed QSO before shutting down.?
?Transceiver proof of concept is complete!? ? I still need to
align the PA - targeting 5 watts for now and then backing it off
to drive the new final.? I still have an odd frequency delta
problem to solve.? After putting in a calibration offset for the
SI5351 so that it is dead-on frequuency at 10 MHz - display and
tuned frequency match exactly - but the display frequency is not
the same as the tuned frequency at 7MHz or 14MHz - and the delta
betweeen tuned and display varies in a bell curve around where
it is perfectly aligned.? I've never had an issue like this with
any of my other SI-5351 LO/BFOs.? Still puzzling me - but not
stopping me from making forward progress on the rest of the rig.
Next - will be the microphone amp and also a homebrew electret
- I'm 3D printing the mic case right now.? Then on to the LPF
bank.? I'm still trying to decide if I want to use the SBITX
style diode / 74LS08 / MOSFET switching or a bank of relays.?
The SBITX switching looks quite elegant - so may be worth a try.
By the way - I haven't hooked up the encoders yet - so 100% of
my testing is using the touch screen - no physical controls at
all.??
Has anyone else built a homebrew SBITX to this stage?? Or I get
to take a victory lap as the first homebrew SBITX to achieve
transceive???
The board as of today...new PA is at the top-center.? And the
second picture is documentation of the contact.
73,
Dean
KK4DAS
 
|
Latest update -?
I built a three stage PA - 2n3904, 2N2219A and RD06HHF (patterened after the BITX40 schematic).? I plan to build an RD16 push-pull final for ~20 watts across HF.? ?The next step was to complete the T/R relay switching at the antenna and around the IF.? I had a spare LPF for 40 that I had built for another project so I put that in so I could get on the air.? FT8 CQ heard up and down the East Coast of the US (as reported by Pskreporter).? ?Made one completed QSO before shutting down.? ?Transceiver proof of concept is complete!? ? I still need to align the PA - targeting 5 watts for now and then backing it off to drive the new final.? I still have an odd frequency delta problem to solve.? After putting in a calibration offset for the SI5351 so that it is dead-on frequuency at 10 MHz - display and tuned frequency match exactly - but the display frequency is not the same as the tuned frequency at 7MHz or 14MHz - and the delta betweeen tuned and display varies in a bell curve around where it is perfectly aligned.? I've never had an issue like this with any of my other SI-5351 LO/BFOs.? Still puzzling me - but not stopping me from making forward progress on the rest of the rig.
Next - will be the microphone amp and also a homebrew electret - I'm 3D printing the mic case right now.? Then on to the LPF bank.? I'm still trying to decide if I want to use the SBITX style diode / 74LS08 / MOSFET switching or a bank of relays.? The SBITX switching looks quite elegant - so may be worth a try.
By the way - I haven't hooked up the encoders yet - so 100% of my testing is using the touch screen - no physical controls at all.??
Has anyone else built a homebrew SBITX to this stage?? Or I get to take a victory lap as the first homebrew SBITX to achieve transceive???
The board as of today...new PA is at the top-center.? And the second picture is documentation of the contact.
73,
Dean
KK4DAS
 
|
Attached Sbitx to my regular antenna and nothing
Just curious if it's a Pi problem, but I attached my 30 foot OCF dipole that works great with my yaesu Dx10. I cant even receive with this radio. Im curious if there's something I missed as far as a button that is like a "click here to work just one time."
Thanks in advance for your help
|
Re: KBD OFF really means off!!
Well, that didn¡¯t work. My keyboard just doesn¡¯t work
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Feb 20, 2024, at 6:53 AM, tony hanni <Toekneepony@...> wrote:
Thank you so much. Put it to a dummy load and it¡¯s a really good layout.
On Feb 19, 2024, at 23:38, HA3HZ <gyula@...> wrote:
?Tony,
bring headphones with you, because the speaker goes silent under 10V battery voltage. The headphones will still work.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
|
Re: Homebrew SBITX - no audio from codex
Thanks Dean for your reply.?
Vu2spf
|
Re: Sbitx SSB audio quality.
Gordon, I hope you find? the source of this. I have scoped various points and think it has something to do with the CODEC.? I have not been able to pin point the source at these low levels of amplitude. I see more scope probe noise pick then actual signals. Barry K3bo ? Sent from for Windows ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: PaulSent: Wednesday, February 21, 2024 2:07 PM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [BITX20] Sbitx SSB audio quality. ? Sounds good Gordon. My focus now is the RX audio to reduce the high level of noise that exists even without a signal as well as addressing the low level of audio output on receive. ? Paul ? ? ? ? ?
|
Re: Sbitx SSB audio quality.
Sounds good Gordon.
My focus now is the RX audio to reduce the high level of noise that exists even without a signal as well as addressing the low level of audio output on receive.
Paul
|
Re: Sbitx SSB audio quality.
Does compressor (just add a simple fast AGC to the mic input) make sbitx sounds better? I was thinking and adding it to my sbitx software.
- Rafael
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 2/21/24 16:38, Gordon Gibby wrote: On Wed, Feb 21, 2024 at 04:54 AM, Paul wrote:
It certainly made a difference for me, with the new insert I have
mic gain set at 27 now which seemed about right for my voice which
is quite bassey to start with. Probably need to find a way to
adjust frequency reaponse to really get the best out of it but
happy it is working now :-)
Next adjustment is receive audio now as there is a high level of
noise even without an antenna connected as well as quite low audio
gain as rx volume setting needs to be in the 90-100 setting to be
usable.
I did notice when I was working on USB headset connectivity that I
can reduce the background level of noise as part of the command
line approach I tried but not enough audio gain for that approach
yet, still work in progress :-)
Regards
Paul
Paul -- the "bassey" problem is EXACTLY what I have three high school students (AP PreCalculus) working on as a Science Fair project.? ?I have added command line code to allow simple changes to treble and bass of the transmitted signal -- it WORKS -- and we are trying to do a scientific study of improvement in readability versus White Gaussian Noise.? ?We have a way to go, but I may be able to release alpha level of software which might be helpful to you.? ?We are able to quash bass below a chosen level (e.g. 300 Hz) and boost treble above a chosen point (e.g. 2kHz) by a desired amount.? ? That part works.? ?We are using the innovative IONOS test gear from the Winlink people, which is designed to simulate just about every thing "bad" that the Ionosphere and HF comms can do.? ?It works with a Teensy, reading in audio on a 1/8" plug, adding in the desired "badness" and outputing on a 1/8" plug. Amazing technology that I picked up from them.
73
Gordon KX4Z
|
Re: Sbitx SSB audio quality.
On Wed, Feb 21, 2024 at 04:54 AM, Paul wrote:
It certainly made a difference for me, with the new insert I have mic gain set at 27 now which seemed about right for my voice which is quite bassey to start with. Probably need to find a way to adjust frequency reaponse to really get the best out of it but happy it is working now :-)
Next adjustment is receive audio now as there is a high level of noise even without an antenna connected as well as quite low audio gain as rx volume setting needs to be in the 90-100 setting to be usable.
I did notice when I was working on USB headset connectivity that I can reduce the background level of noise as part of the command line approach I tried but not enough audio gain for that approach yet, still work in progress :-)
Regards
Paul
Paul -- the "bassey" problem is EXACTLY what I have three high school students (AP PreCalculus) working on as a Science Fair project.? ?I have added command line code to allow simple changes to treble and bass of the transmitted signal -- it WORKS -- and we are trying to do a scientific study of improvement in readability versus White Gaussian Noise.? ?We have a way to go, but I may be able to release alpha level of software which might be helpful to you.? ?We are able to quash bass below a chosen level (e.g. 300 Hz) and boost treble above a chosen point (e.g. 2kHz) by a desired amount.? ? That part works.? ?We are using the innovative IONOS test gear from the Winlink people, which is designed to simulate just about every thing "bad" that the Ionosphere and HF comms can do.? ?It works with a Teensy, reading in audio on a 1/8" plug, adding in the desired "badness" and outputing on a 1/8" plug.? Amazing technology that I picked up from them. 73 Gordon KX4Z
|
The LICW Refrigerator Magnet
The LICW Refrigerator Magnet is printed on flat magnetic material, the very same magnetic sheet stock that is used for all those useful calendar magnets sent by your favorite insurance companies.? The LICW Magnet is a generous 3-2/3¡± in diameter and can easily hold a logbook page or two in place.? The Club callsign, W2LCW, is proudly displayed on the magnet face; for an extra charge, your callsign -- and LICW number, if desired -- can be inserted in place of the club callsign.? The W2LCW callsign has no member number listed underneath.
?
The magnet is available in three styles: a white background (looks best on dark surfaces), a grey background, or a black background (looks best on white or light-colored surfaces).
?
To get your LICW Magnet, send your order via Paypal to wb2gxm<at>gmail<dot>com. BE SURE to include a note with your name, call, and full mailing address including zipcode and country. All money sent without a full mailing/shipping address or without complete ordering instructions will be refunded.
?
- Send $6 for each standard Club magnet with callsign W2LCW. Indicate the number of white, grey and/or black magnets in your note;
- Send $11 for each magnet customized with your callsign (and member number, if desired). Indicate the number of white, grey and/or black magnets in your note. Please supply your member number, we will not look it up for you;
- Add $1 to your order for shipping outside the US. Postage is included in the magnet price for mailing within the US only.
When ordering via Paypal, please use the "send money to family and friends" option.
Wishing all of you the best on your CW journeys!? 73 - WB2GXM
|
Re: Sbitx SSB audio quality.
I have created a new WIKI page with the schematic, parts information and article? See the MODS page:? ? /g/BITX20/wiki/30734Gordon KX4Z
|
Hello kg8jk, The KD8CEC software has a separate BFO (carrier) setting accessible through the Memory Manager software.? The original KD8CEC manager software only runs on Windows.? It is here:  Mark AJ6CU has written a version that runs on most platforms.? It is available here under uBiTx Settins-Editor: 73 Evan AC9TU
|
Vic WA4THR
HA3HZ
ZL1SGS
Matt KA2TVX
SP Bhatnagar