Re: Careful with BNC-to-SO239 adapters
The characteristic impedance of any coaxial transmission line is highly dependent on the "ratio" of the diameter of the shielding conductor to the diameter of the inner conductor.
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Since the outer part of a BNC connector has fixed dimensions, it is only possible to change the characteristic impedance by varying the thickness of the inner conductor.
Dielectric properties ( the relative dielectric constant & the relative permeability ) matter more for the Velocity factor than for the impedance.
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/ Niels - OZ9NS
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Re: I half-broke transmit somehow
I made a backup a few weeks ago. I could try to boot off of it to see if that helps.
On Wed, Jan 22, 2025, at 11:43 AM, Evan Hand via groups.io wrote:
Hi ww6x,
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It is possible that the microSD card is corrupted. ?You could ask for another to be sent from HFSignals, or download a copy of the firmware from the group file section.?
To verify that the Raspberry Pi is working, try loading a stock Raspbian image from Raspberry Pi web pages.?
?
I am not on my PC with the links to add to the post. ?If you can not find the let us know and I will post when I get home later today.?
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: I half-broke transmit somehow
Hi ww6x,
?
It is possible that the microSD card is corrupted. ?You could ask for another to be sent from HFSignals, or download a copy of the firmware from the group file section.?
To verify that the Raspberry Pi is working, try loading a stock Raspbian image from Raspberry Pi web pages.?
?
I am not on my PC with the links to add to the post. ?If you can not find the let us know and I will post when I get home later today.?
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: I half-broke transmit somehow
Honestly, I have no idea what this means. "Build" implies compilation and installation of software, but none of that has occurred since the issue appeared. If you are referring to booting/startup/initialization not finishing, then the issue persists long after the radio has been running, so that can't be it. I don't ever click on anything to get the problem, just power it up and wait for sbitx to appear.
On Wed, Jan 22, 2025, at 9:54 AM, Jens/HB9JOI via groups.io wrote:
?
From: HA3HZ
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2025 10:50 AM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] I half-broke transmit
somehow
?
The RPi controls the radio. Sometimes we are impatient and do not wait for
Debian to build, so something does not work.
It happens that we click on an icon twice, which the system doesn't
particularly like, in which case only a restart helps.
So several incorrect operations can cause such an error.
The order in which certain applications are launched can also be
important.
You need to learn these at the very beginning and you will be
successful.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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As soon as the final version of the pcb arrives.
Excellent news.? I'm hoping that everything falls in place.
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Thank you for the update.?
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Doug, KI6DS?
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Re: I half-broke transmit somehow
From: HA3HZ
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2025 10:50 AM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] I half-broke transmit
somehow
?
The RPi controls the radio. Sometimes we are impatient and do not wait for
Debian to build, so something does not work.
It happens that we click on an icon twice, which the system doesn't
particularly like, in which case only a restart helps.
So several incorrect operations can cause such an error.
The order in which certain applications are launched can also be
important.
You need to learn these at the very beginning and you will be
successful.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Re: I half-broke transmit somehow
On Wed, Jan 22, 2025 at 05:08 PM, ww6x wrote:
A reboot does not fix the problem, though. Also, I didn't build anything between then and now.
You didn't build it, the computer did, and to make it work, you first need to load the Debian 12 OS, which you can't see on the screen, but the operating system hasn't been fully built yet. You can't start using it on your laptop or desktop computer right away, but you have to wait for it to load the necessary drivers.
The RPi is a slow computer, so you have to wait for it to load everything it needs to work.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Excellent news.? I'm hoping that everything falls in place.
?
Thank you for the update.?
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Doug, KI6DS?
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Re: I half-broke transmit somehow
A reboot does not fix the problem, though. Also, I didn't build anything between then and now.
My first urge is to swap to a backup SD card, but we are having a Santa Ana here and the humidity here is less than 10%. Opening the radio now would be the wrong kind of sparky.
On Wed, Jan 22, 2025, at 1:50 AM, HA3HZ wrote:
The RPi controls the radio. Sometimes we are impatient and do not wait for Debian to build, so something does not work.
It happens that we click on an icon twice, which the system doesn't particularly like, in which case only a restart helps.
So several incorrect operations can cause such an error.
The order in which certain applications are launched can also be important.
You need to learn these at the very beginning and you will be successful.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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I don't see the 64 bit listed on ur site. Was going to order a v3 but think I'll wait?
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Re: sBITX 64Bit Pi Image Available
#sBitx
Thanks for this! Best quick reference doc out there!
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Re: Using PI-5 with Sbitx-V3
Andi,
Joining Discord for the first time is not easy, but it is not impossible. I have to say that I tried several times before I succeeded.
At first I didn't understand what the tasks were asking me, then I got stuck somewhere else, but in the end it worked.
Patience breeds Discord :-)
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Re: Using PI-5 with Sbitx-V3
Hi Andi,
I'm also not on discord. But there is nothing to show apart of the swapped ethernet / usb and the new display cable that needs to be used. I sent some pics here in the list more than a year ago with the Pi 5 inside the sBitx. Changing the Pi4 and the Pi5 is mostly plug-and-play.
- Rafael
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 1/21/25 11:35 PM, OE4DNS, Andi via groups.io wrote:
Hello!
Pictures of my setup are on the sbit discord in the pi5 and touch display 2 sections. ?Details of the display installation are on the 64 bit wiki. I don't really want to reopen the discussion we had earlier this week in this very thread. But some people (me included) cannot join Discord because Discord, among other things, simply does not accept our phone numbers as valid.
So whatever happens in Discord is hidden from the internet and many users. This is why I asked for pictures of the mechanical installation here.
Of course I already read all openly available information, including the Wiki. And there readers are also pointed towards Discord which I cannot join. You see the problem...
But if you say, you have pictures here in the groups.io pictures section - i will search for them. Thanks.
vy 73 de Andi, OE4DNS
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Re: I half-broke transmit somehow
The RPi controls the radio. Sometimes we are impatient and do not wait for Debian to build, so something does not work.
It happens that we click on an icon twice, which the system doesn't particularly like, in which case only a restart helps.
So several incorrect operations can cause such an error.
The order in which certain applications are launched can also be important.
You need to learn these at the very beginning and you will be successful.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Re: Ubitx version 6 encoder
Hello,
Tuning was one of the reason I have created my version of the firmware (working with original display - not NEXTION).
You can try it from:
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All features are described in readme file (please read first), there is also screenshot of menu, some schematics of rf-gain and s-meter and other info.
Mind I have removed detents from my encoder to have smooth operation. While in the car or other narrow environment I am using LCK button to lock tuning from encoder for session with one cor-responder.
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Regards
Tomasz
PS. By the way - currently I am installing self made SWR bridge to my ubitx v6 to work with 100uA meter.
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Re: Careful with BNC-to-SO239 adapters
Rafael,
I have found several over the years where the center pin was not wide enough to make a proper connection. This is regards to BNC connectors and their adapters.giving alot of intermittant problems. Most i have found was involving the teflon filled connectors. Mostly BNC connections and fittings on my own end ws the culprits.
You can look at them and if they have the dark hard body filling,which is?molded phenolic insulator they seem to consistantly have good connections. versus the ones with the plastic teflon filling, with my own experience..The larger wire cables seem to have a better success in preventing center pin twist too.? Just my take of it all.
?I throw the ones away with the plastic teflon so239 fittings.teflon fillings? ,likewise same for pl259 connectors. Hence the teflon disasters like to twist at the center conductor and if using smaller diameter feedline the pin twists, breaks the center conductor but still maintains connection to drive you nuts trying to find an intemittant. If in doubt i throw these teflon? out.?
As for BNC for rigs, nice for test equipment or micro watt powered rigs,but i prefer the old fashioned pl259 to so239 connection. Its the first piece that gets changed when buying a used or new radio. all my ubitx units have so239 connectors on the cabinets. ripped out the BNC. just my own preference.
73 David ac9xh
On Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 01:00:31 PM EST, Rafael Diniz <rafael@...> wrote:
May be SO239 connectors on the sBitx would solve the issue? I would
definitely buy the sBitx version with PL connector if it existed. I
already had problems with adapters and it was painful until finding the
issue.
- Rafael
On 1/21/25 4:50 PM, Gordon Gibby KX4Z via groups.io wrote:
> N0YWB:
> Are you very sure there is a standard for the difference in pin
> diameter between the 50 and 75 ohm versions?
> If you notice, there can be a difference in the dielectric as part of
> their efforts to hit 75 ohms, while the 50 ohm seems the one that
> works to 4GHz.? ?I examined multiple web sites and manufacturers all
> said their products were interchangeable mechanically between 50 and
> 75, but they tended NOT to have the technical spec on the pin diameter.
> I found ONE manufacturer who did have very detailed pin specifications
> -- and there is no mention that it differs between 50 and 75 ohm
> versions:? Look at dimensions N and D on page 68:
>
> There might be variation between manufacturers, perhaps more so than
> between different impedances, as the impedance change seems to be
> handled by the adjustments in dielectric.
> Perhaps you have found dimensions that show a difference?
> Gordon KX4Z
>
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Any chance to see a demo unit on a video.? ?
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Doug and peeps,
There has been inordinate delay in some components (40 MHZ crystals for one) arriving at assembly. We hope the smd pick and place will happen before 1st feb.
The inductors, et al are all in place. We should start shipping by 10th feb or so.
JJ is helping with bringing the 64 bit sbitx to life. We should have the software tested and ready by feb 1st week as well.
- f
Farhan can you give us a date when shipping of the zbitx will start?? I have my 18650 batteries fully charged and ready to go.
Doug, KI6DS?
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Farhan can you give us a date when shipping of the zbitx will start?? I have my 18650 batteries fully charged and ready to go.
Doug, KI6DS?
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Re: I half-broke transmit somehow
It does, but I didn't open the radio. Something inside would have had to spontaneously fry. I do know that transmit often uses one side of the stereo sound pair of the sound system, so some setting could have swapped which side?
On Tue, Jan 21, 2025, at 4:08 PM, Gordon Gibby KX4Z via groups.io wrote:
Sounds like a broken connection problem. A wire somewhere.
Gordon kx4z?
On Jan 21, 2025, at 18:38, ww6x via groups.io <ww6x@...> wrote:
?
Two days ago my sBitx (v3) worked fine, but today fldigi and wsjtx won't key the radio. The dit paddle on my iambic key does transmit, but the dah paddle does not. sBitx native FT8 transmits okay. I am assuming I did something stupid. Is there some setting somewhere that I unwittingly changed?
(I did run 'amixer' with no arguments to look at the sound settings.)
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Smeden
Jens/HB9JOI
HA3HZ
Charles Guerin
tomekdm sp7etd