Re: Renewed attempt to hack together a workable PA
William, I'm not sure what you are talking about here. I'm mentioning about the 20Watt amp that I have and uBITx board I built and I am/was looking for advice on the predriver stages. This is not a kit and is my bespoke build. Maybe you are on the wrong thread? Have a lovely day and good weekend. Best 73, Ravi/M0RVI On Fri, 13 Sept 2024 at 13:53, K9HZ via groups.io <bill@...> wrote:
The learning for me was that I should never announce a product/ kit before I have them in hand and sell out what I have, re-stock and repeat. No more lists. I used the list to gauge part purchases in advance to negotiate the absolute best prices for the kits. The kits, as always, were sold at my cost so the savings by planning went to the buyers.
You know what they say. Learn. Never again.
Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ
Owner - Operator
Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC
Staunton, Illinois
Owner – Operator
Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ
Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I.
Rent it: www.VillaGrandPiton.com
Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO.
Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO.
email: bill@...
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Bill Maxwell via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2024 6:04 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Renewed attempt to hack together a workable PA
I suspect the nub of Andy's problem was the list of potential buyers that was run for many months before you understandably decided it was too much effort for too little gain to chase up the people on the list once you had stock available and opened purchase to all comers. I think quite a few on the list thought the list was still active and that you would get to them in time, so didn't respond to your "all comers" invitation, hence didn't actually lodge orders with you. I know I nearly fell into that category.
Bill, VK7MX
-- I'm here to add more value to the world than I'm using up.
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On Fri, Sep 13, 2024 at 04:25 PM, N1EDC wrote:
Okay, so out of the box it does not, but with your custom firmware it does?
N1EDC,
notice that there is the 32-bit original sBitx application, which you received with the device, and there is the 64-bit application, which is installed on a newer OS, Debian 12, if you flash the image to the uSD card. A team is working on its 64-bit development, so more changes are expected in the near future. Part of this is that you can find AM mode on 64-bit, on version 3.027 since mid-July.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Okay, so out of the box it does not, but with your custom firmware it does?
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Thanks!
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Re: Upgrade to "sBitx 64 bit v3.1 - BTS"
Shawn,
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Here are a few more reasons, in addition to what Gyula mentioned:
- I quickly grew tired of constantly providing scripts to fix issues in the 32-bit build.
- I did this early on with the 64-bit builds, but with mass kernel upgrades, new software installations, and system feature changes, things inevitably break. I’m no longer interested in fixing these issues, as people often end up either troubleshooting them on their own or asking me for help.
- I'm the one responsible for supporting these problems when they arise. Right now, the image process is what works best for me.
- I’m not endorsed or compensated by HF Signals. I do this in my spare time, balancing it with a full-time job and raising kids. I’m too young for retirement :)
?
Once someone installs the 64-bit image, whether it's an older version or the latest, the repository is there to pull in new features for the sbitx app. So, they just need to install the image once if they want to maintain it themselves and update the sbitx app with the ./update script.
?
I’m always open to help in improving this process. If you or anyone else is interested in contributing, feel free to contact me directly or through Discord.
?
?
?
-JJ
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Re: Renewed attempt to hack together a workable PA
The learning for me was that I should never announce a product/ kit before I have them in hand and sell out what I have, re-stock and repeat.? No more lists.? I used the list to gauge part purchases in advance to negotiate the absolute best prices for the kits.? The kits, as always, were sold at my cost so the savings by planning went to the buyers. ? You know what they say.?? Learn.? Never again. ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Bill Maxwell via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2024 6:04 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Renewed attempt to hack together a workable PA? I suspect the nub of Andy's problem was the list of potential buyers that was run for many months before you understandably decided it was too much effort for too little gain to chase up the people on the list once you had stock available and opened purchase to all comers. I think quite a few on the list thought the list was still active and that you would get to them in time, so didn't respond to your "all comers" invitation, hence didn't actually lodge orders with you. I know I nearly fell into that category.
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I would favour keeping (and providing as images on cards) a freezed stable 32bit version, and move on with the 64bit one.
(the former installed by default on the pi zero powered units, the latter on the pi 4 ones)
#zbitx
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Hi, thank you for the add.
Any chance of a production batch of the zBitx kit / assembled unit?
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Re: Upgrade to "sBitx 64 bit v3.1 - BTS"
The original sbitx is 32-bit, while this fork prefers 64-bit, for several reasons. If you have a 64-bit operating system, you can update the previous one with ./update without any further ado. Development is currently underway on several threads. I'm just writing this for your information if you don't know the history of this thread.
The installed applications are the available versions, which were included in the image file because most of the users are radio users rather than people who know Debian well, all of this can be read from the questions asked.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Btw, I was thinking in adding NBFM. Did anyone already implemented it?
- Rafael
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On 9/13/24 7:48 AM, JJ - W9JES wrote: The link contains information on downloading our version and/or image. It contains AM RX and TX.
Here is an example of RX in the AM broadcast band. It also works as TX/RX in the amateur bands.
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Hi JJ,
Which sbitx's fork are you using in your image?
Best regards,
Rafael PU2UIT
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On 9/13/24 7:48 AM, JJ - W9JES wrote: The link contains information on downloading our version and/or image. It contains AM RX and TX.
Here is an example of RX in the AM broadcast band. It also works as TX/RX in the amateur bands.
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Re: Upgrade to "sBitx 64 bit v3.1 - BTS"
On Sep 12, 2024, at 8:49?PM, Sam Hanie <SAMHANIE@...> wrote:
Any way to upgrade to "sBitx 64 bit v3.1 - BTS" without wiping out my Raspberry Pi configuration?
On Sep 13, 2024, at 8:57?AM, JJ - W9JES <w9jes@...> wrote:
You can also tryout 64Bit BTS using this method via a USB flash drive..
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Why don’t you set up a repo for some custom Debian packages so that apt-get upgrade is enough? ?Reimaging and starting over has been unnecessary for a long time now on most Linux distros.
Of course the fact that sbitx is open-source is the reason I got one, and it needs to stay open source. ?Having the source there in the home directory for easy inspection and experimental builds is awesome too. ?But now you are changing other things in your pi images, not just the sbitx program, right? ?It’s good that is all open-source too; but on a Debian-based system, you might as well follow Debian practices IMO. I guess you already gave up on having users upgrade everything from source, right? ?(Since it isn’t Gentoo or some other distro that normalizes it)
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Re: Renewed attempt to hack together a workable PA
Hi William,
Yes, I did. Learned Eagle and Kicad along the way. Fingers crossed, I hope it all works. I did make a OP2674 board, but I think I used incorrect input/output transformers. I will put it down to a learning experience.?
Best 73,
Ravi/M0RVI
You had boards made?? And to think, I sell them for $1. ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ? ? ? ?I've also been slowly working on replacing the uBITX PA chain, and have been looking at options. ? ?I had boards made for the subject 20 W amp, and have procured the recommended heat sink. Both are unfortunately large if one wants to stuff them into a uBITX case. ? ?The PCB is 2" x 5.5" (about 5 x 14 cm).? The heatsink is 6.9 cm wide, 15 cm long, and 3.6 cm deep. ? ?Attached photos show it in comparison to the QRP Labs 10W amp (capable of 20 with more drive and DC input, apparently). ? ?Separately, I have purchased a 50 W linear from a Ukrainian ham that has had a 10 and 20 W amp on the streets for some time - they look like they might be the origin of the subject 20 W amp. The 50 W amp has been bulletproof. On Wed, Sep 11, 2024 at 11:20 AM, Robert Dale wrote: What is the 20W PCB size? Can’t seem to find it anywhere…. Also, is there still stock on the semi-kits?
-- I'm here to add more value to the world than I'm using up.
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Re: Renewed attempt to hack together a workable PA
Hi Allison Thank you for that information, I'll experiment on higher voltages, I have a PS that will go upto 30V, yes replacing the electrolytic beforehand seems like a good idea. In the meantime, I've done some simulations on LTSPice for a BFR93 + BFU590 pushpull. I will share that shortly. I will put the bitx on the air once I get past the hurdle. The first part looks promising, working on the next stage later today, in between meetings. Best 73, Ravi On Wed, 11 Sept 2024 at 21:33, ajparent1/kb1gmx via groups.io <kb1gmx@...> wrote:
If you can do 20-24V the QRPL amp (10W at 13.8V) can do more.
to do higher 20V or 24V with about 20dbm drive should easily
hit 20+W based on testing. Note to run at 24V some of the
electrolytic caps need to be replaced with higher voltage parts.
Those are C204 and C210, C210, C212. at that power level
use a bigger heatsink.
At 26db ggain you still need two stages of gain to hit the minimum
drive (about 15dbm) two 2n3904s can do that at limited gain.
Everyone will try to squeeze 20db of gain out of what ever
and at below 20M it might work...maybe.
--
Allison
------------------
Please use the forum, offline and private will go to bit bucket.
-- I'm here to add more value to the world than I'm using up.
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Re: Renewed attempt to hack together a workable PA
I read almost all the information, but because of the many advertisements, useful data can be lost.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Re: Upgrade to "sBitx 64 bit v3.1 - BTS"
I forgot to mention the wiki because I got lost in entering the correct routes... ;-)? tnx JJ
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Re: Upgrade to "sBitx 64 bit v3.1 - BTS"
You can also tryout 64Bit BTS using this method via a USB flash drive..
?
?
?
?
-JJ
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The link contains information on downloading our version and/or image. It contains AM RX and TX.
Here is an example of RX in the AM broadcast band. It also works as TX/RX in the amateur bands.
?
?
?
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Re: Upgrade to "sBitx 64 bit v3.1 - BTS"
Sam, the smartest thing to do is to buy some uSD cards as backups. Since it is small, you can write a number or a letter on it to distinguish it. It leaves the original card in its original state. Copy the new image (sb64p2) to the next one, because it has the necessary applications and you don't have to worry about installing it. Once you have the new image, and you previously had a connection on the old card, you must copy the variables to an intermediate USB stick. Of course, you have to start the old system and select it with the File Manager and copy it or use the sBitx-ToolBox.
What you might need: /home/pi/sbitx/data folder
if there was a qso, depending on the application used, the log file must be found: /home/pi/.local/share/JTDX/wsjtx_log.adi or
/home/pi/.local/share/WSJT-X/wsjtx_log.adi (all files with the same name in another folder!)
/home/pi/.local/share/JS8Call/js8call_log.adi
The folders are hidden, so you have to make them visible in the File Manager, if this is not the case.
I'm attaching a pdf of what you need to set up.?
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Re: Renewed attempt to hack together a workable PA
I suspect the nub of Andy's problem was the list of potential buyers that was run for many months before you understandably decided it was too much effort for too little gain to chase up the people on the list once you had stock available and opened purchase to all comers. I think quite a few on the list thought the list was still active and that you would get to them in time, so didn't respond to your "all comers" invitation, hence didn't actually lodge orders with you. I know I nearly fell into that category.
?
Bill, VK7MX
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Re: Upgrade to "sBitx 64 bit v3.1 - BTS"
Can you not just write the image to a different card. Copy over your settings over to ensure the calibrations remain etc..??
I don't have mine yet but being rpi based I'm sure you can keep the original safe and just use a different sd card
Forgive me if I'm not correct?
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HA3HZ
K9HZ
