The 64-bit sbitx application enables 60m band. Is LPF filter ready for that?
I noticed that the 64-bit version of the sBitx application added 60 m (5.3 MHz) band. However, is the LPF filter in a standard, preassembled sBitx v3 ready for transmitting in this band?
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73, Wojtek SP5DAA
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It is unfortunately very difficult to make conclusions; Evan is doing his best to help.? ?I'm still thinking the actual measurements are needing careful repeat and clarification; for example the sources of the final MOSFETS are solidly SOLDERED TO THE GROUND PLANE, so yes, they should always show a zero ohms to ground.? ? The DRAINS go to capacitors and the power supply so will show a transient response.??
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If a power mosfet smoke during RECEIVE, something is still very badly wrong with (a) the power switching mosfet system or (b) the receiver TX/RX switch or both.? ? My money is on the power switching system being bad in some way allowing the amplifiers to oscillate.? ? But very careful measurements that are utterly unassailable will help you out the most in logically figuring this out.
?
It may be simpler to buy a new board or a completed unit.? ? I know I have smoked some things while poking around in these radios and I did a LOT LESS poking around than you are having to do.? ?The chances of causing problems while trying to fix problems are very high with such a densely packaged radio and such elegant circuitry.? ??
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Good luck!
?
Gordon KX4Z
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Upgrading two V2's to 64-bit JJ code
Hooray!? ? I have finally managed to get both of my V2-versions upgraded with IRF520 mosfets, TVS protection diodes, a separate audio output to external sound card, resistor to drop the mic bias voltage, some protection resistors in various places to ward off my boo-boo's, aluminum nitride insulators, --?
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I'm more and more impressed with the 64-bit code, now that I'm trying it out.? ?LOTS of great features.? ?I really like the wide-screen LSB/USB display.? The Menu-items are great.? ??
?
My biggest issue is that my #141 V2 has a lot of ripple in the 40MHz crystal filter (which the #271 does NOT, huh?)? ?and so I have to have a bit of shaping in the FFT transmit response.? ?I noted that JJ had put in a placeholder for that, but my solution was a piecewise linear correction in two segments.? ?Finally, I got my older code next to his newer sbitx.c and put my stuff in and recompiled.? ?As usually, I made a few screwups like accidentally lopping off a zero from the end of the BFO frequency in the hw_settings.ini file (which made the receiver DEAF!!) -- but hooray, it works now on BOTH V2 machines, and just made an FT8 contact on 20 meters using the ancient linear and my sad EFHW antenna at the family retreat home in North Caroline to prove out everything.? SUCCESS!!!? ? Most of the rest of my personal coding was for high school student experiments, so not necessary.? With the #271 I have been checking in most mornings to the Florida Phone Traffic Net at sunrise on 80meters, getting 200W out of the linear and they could HEAR me 500 miles away on 75 meters.? ?Many of them are running a kilowatt....
?
Really nice radio!!!? ? One will stay here in the ancient retreat home in Black Mountain, and the #271 goes with me back to Florida.? ? These work SO WELL now that I think I may encourage others in the group to snap up V2's as they become available and we'll retrofit some of these upgrades for very useful emcomm portable radios.? ? While I was here, I use the -25dB high output electret cartridges to make 2 more sbitx microphones.? ? And also built 4 more "polarity protectors" using my remaining stock of 5 milli-ohm P-channel mosfets.? ?
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With all the CW improvements, and JJ's improvements -- this is really a fun radio!
Gordon KX4Z
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Hi Mike,
?
I am sorry to read of your troubles.? Here are some thoughts interspersed in our post:
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Evan?
? So I have had everything functional for a few days. I managed to get the bias set, spent a good deal of time calibrating the output, which I also have a question about that I will mention further down. No sooner than I was about to put it together and in service, I blew a final.
What were you doing when the final blew?
I replaced the 510, and as I was considering what caused the last 510 to die, all went dark.
As there is variability between batches and manufacturers, it is best always to replace the IRF510s as a pair from the same order.
Sitting in steady state receive, I managed to get a short to ground.
Do you have any idea where the short may have occurred?? What were you doing when this happened?
I have pulled and checked Q9, Q101, and both IRF510s. All checked out, even though one of the 510s began to smoke.
If one of the IRF510s smoked, I would replace both after figuring out the reason for the overload.? Maybe the bias is set too high.
With these still removed, I have checked Q22 and Q29, both drains show continuity to ground as well as Q22 having continuity to source. I've been checking paths for shorts/opens, etc.?
?
?
It would be difficult to measure the resistance of Q22 and Q29 in the circuit as D32 and D33 are across the Q22 source to drain.? To verify, you can take out the diodes or remove the MOSFETs for testing.
?
You can verify that the resistance across the MOSFET source to drain is very high with no power.
?
?I found that checking the pads for the 510s source, that there is brief continuity to ground, milliseconds, before opening. Is this possibly the string of caps , C104,106,107,110 between the T7 primary and the +12v supply?
Do you mean the drains of the IRF510?? The source is connected to ground.
?Next question, this last attempt to set the bias resulted in no change when adjusting the pot. Current is ~.9A in receive and bounces around 1-1.3A ptt engaged, no drive, 40m, usb. Removed pot, checked okay.
Did you start with the PABIAS1 Pot fully counterclockwise, note the current, and then SLOWLY adjust the pot until the current starts to increase?? A .3A current variation seems high.? Without audio in USB mode, the current should not vary more than .1A.
?
Now, the calibration question. This supposed to be a scale adjustment as I understand, but relative to what? Which signal is being adjusted? Going from the default values, direction and amount of adjustment is very erratic from band to band. Some have had to be be adjusted by a factor of 10.
The scale value is used to set the gain of the signal inside the software.? The higher the value, the more audio IF is sent to the modulator.? This is the AUDIO-MOD signal.
So I am going to clean the board up the best I can and look at it again?tomorrow. Since I have quite a few of the components removed, I will leave them until I hear back from you, in case I need to pull anymore.?
?Don't feel to pressed to think about this right away, I know it's mouthful! I'm definitely learning a good deal with this project though, as frustrating as it may be. Thanks again.?
What software are you running?? The 64-bit upgrade from JJ (W9JES) has a toolbox app that helps adjust the scaling factor.? It is still a tedious task.? I start from the default settings in the hw_settings_v3.ini file and adjust by no more than 10% each time.? The power will not increase at some point, and going higher can decrease the output.??Note that the higher frequency bands cannot get to 25 watts.? The output starts to drop at 20 meters for some of my rigs.
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Others in the group may have suggestions as well.
?
I hope the above helps.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Sorry to interrupt the conversation.
I'm only interested in what power supply you use during operation and what you use to adjust the Bias.
Just so you know, I've had the sBitx v2 since April 2023 and only started using it in mid-November 2023.
Until then, I had a lot of external work and busyness.
At first, I had no output power because the D27 in the power measurement circuit was faulty and did not give good data for operation.
Then I managed to make several improvements in heat dissipation.
Since the device was initially powered by a battery, one of the output stage FETs smoked during a measurement.
I measured the FETs in advance for opening voltage and installed almost identical ones.
The Bias setting was 12.5V at 2.00 A I did it with current limitation.
I am currently using the v2 with a voltage of 12.5V and a current limit of 6.50A, and the FETs I replaced are working.
I am writing this as an encouragement that the device works well with proper use.
I am currently close to 10,000 QSOs and I use it on 3 bands (7-14-21MHz) with a vertical loop antenna mostly in digi modes.
I know that proper operation is in the details and I paid attention to where and what needs to be changed.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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Evan?
? So I have had everything functional for a few days. I managed to get the bias set, spent a good deal of time calibrating the output, which I also have a question about that I will mention further down. No sooner than I was about to put it
together and in service, I blew a final. I replaced the 510, and as I was considering what caused the last 510 to die, all went dark. Sitting in steady state receive, I managed to get a short to ground. I have pulled and checked Q9, Q101, and both IRF510s.
All checked out, even though one of the 510s began to smoke. With these still removed, I have checked Q22 and Q29, both drains show continuity to ground as well as Q22 having continuity to source. I've been checking paths for shorts/opens, etc.?
?I found that checking the pads for the 510s source, that there is brief continuity to ground, milliseconds, before opening. Is this possibly the string of caps , C104,106,107,110 between the T7 primary and the +12v supply?
?Next question, this last attempt to set the bias resulted in no change when adjusting the pot. Current is ~.9A in receive and bounces around 1-1.3A ptt engaged, no drive, 40m, usb. Removed pot, checked okay. Now, the calibration question. This
supposed to be a scale adjustment as I understand, but relative to what? Which signal is being adjusted? Going from the default values, direction and amount of adjustment is very erratic from band to band. Some have had to be be adjusted by a factor of 10.
So I am going to clean the board up the best I can and look at it again tomorrow. Since I have quite a few of the components removed, I will leave them until I hear back from you, in case I need to pull anymore.?
?Don't feel to pressed to think about this right away, I know it's mouthful! I'm definitely learning a good deal with this project though, as frustrating as it may be. Thanks again.?
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-------- Original message --------
From: "Evan Hand via groups.io" <elhandjr@...>
Date: 3/10/25 10:10 PM (GMT-05:00)
Subject: Re: [BITX20] reviving my sbitx v3
Michael,
?
The first step is to verify that the Q10 Drain goes to zero when TX goes to 3 volts (or higher).? If that happens, Q10 is OK.? If not, it is bad.
?
Once Q10 works, verify that the Q9 tab (Drain) goes to 12 volts when the TX signal drives the Q10 drain low.? If that does not happen, remove Q9 and check the operation of Q101.? Do this with Q9 removed to prevent damaging both devices again.
?
Q101 drain goes to zero when TX and Q10 are off.? When TX is low, the Q101 gate should go above 5 volts to make Q101 turn on.? When Q10 turns on with the TX signal, Q101 should turn off.? If Q9 is removed, you can verify that the Drain-to-source resistance
is very high with an Ohm meter.? Q101 Drain to Source resistance should be close to zero when TX and Q10 are on.
?
An alternative approach is to remove Q101 so there is no short on the 12V line during receive, Verify and replace bad parts, and then install a verified working Q101.? I built a test jig on a small copper-clad board with wires to insert into a component
tester.? I hold the device with tweezers to connect each lead to a separate pad.
?
?
73
Evan
AC9TU
-- Mike - K8MCB?
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Re: Homebrew satellite control system that can run on sBitx
OK, I have a 2nd Draft of a K3NG-type rotator minimalist controller based on the K3NG code (which will need some small adjustments).
?
Using Arduino Nano as the microcontroller
2 phono plug jacks to control external relay board to reverse direction of DC motor type rotators (like Yaesu G450DC or my homebrew elevation rotator)
2 photo plug jacks to provide potentially PWM 12V to motivate the DC motor in the rotator (don't need huge speed)
2 stereo 3.5mm jacks to allow input from angle-sensing potentiometers
1 two-line LCD display to show important data
4 manual buttons to allow manual azimuth or elevation control
LCD is mounted on the backside, along with the buttons; Arduino and other electronics on the "front" side that goes "down" in the box.
Power it with 13-13.8VDC; polarity protection via series diode.??
(I forgot to put in diode protection on the MOSFET outputs....I'll add that!)
?
This will get some review for a few days from me and then go to pcbway.com for first boards.? ? ?
Simultaneously I have a nascent elevation rotator coming about very inexpensively.
?
?
Gordon KX4Z
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Re: zBitx installed softwares
That sounds amazing! Like FSQ, a pager for HF . Keep repeating the message until it handshakes acknowledgement! I would love it! Thanks!
I am preparing a new messagijg system that works over ft8 protocol that is different from js8call. It is more like a messenger. It needs the radio to be on, 24x7 (and why not!). That will happen ay the FDIM.
- f
Mikel, I understand your concerns.
?
but in this age of piracy, people who have put blood sweat and tears into the development of advanced software have the right to keep it to themselves.? ? If they choose to make it available to others to use, either freely or by a cost, then they still have the right to ownership of property and the source code.? ?
?
Piracy abounds.? ? I think pragmatically we have to respect the rights of creators.? ?Some may choose to make it open source (e.g. Ashhar); others may not (e.g. Jose) .? ?That is their right.? ?You don't HAVE to use it.? ? I own multiple PACTOR modems, which were quite expensive, even used.? ?You too can purchase them, new (> $1000) or used -- but you can use VARA for far far less $$$ and have similar or in some cases, better performance.? ?The choice is yours!
?
Both vendors have rights to their property; the PACTOR people (who are friends of mine) and Jose, as well.? ? They do with their property what they wish, just as you do with the rooms in your house what you wish.? ? No one forces us to use VARA or PACTOR.? ? You can certainly use ARDOP -- and I still provide it on my RMS -- but clearly it is inferior!
?
I hope that makes sense!? ?
?
73
Gordon KX4Z
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Re: zBitx installed softwares
I am preparing a new messagijg system that works over ft8 protocol that is different from js8call. It is more like a messenger. It needs the radio to be on, 24x7 (and why not!). That will happen ay the FDIM.
- f
On Fri, Mar 21, 2025, 8:32 PM Gordon Gibby KX4Z via <docvacuumtubes= [email protected]> wrote: Mikel, I understand your concerns.
?
but in this age of piracy, people who have put blood sweat and tears into the development of advanced software have the right to keep it to themselves.? ? If they choose to make it available to others to use, either freely or by a cost, then they still have the right to ownership of property and the source code.? ?
?
Piracy abounds.? ? I think pragmatically we have to respect the rights of creators.? ?Some may choose to make it open source (e.g. Ashhar); others may not (e.g. Jose) .? ?That is their right.? ?You don't HAVE to use it.? ? I own multiple PACTOR modems, which were quite expensive, even used.? ?You too can purchase them, new (> $1000) or used -- but you can use VARA for far far less $$$ and have similar or in some cases, better performance.? ?The choice is yours!
?
Both vendors have rights to their property; the PACTOR people (who are friends of mine) and Jose, as well.? ? They do with their property what they wish, just as you do with the rooms in your house what you wish.? ? No one forces us to use VARA or PACTOR.? ? You can certainly use ARDOP -- and I still provide it on my RMS -- but clearly it is inferior!
?
I hope that makes sense!? ?
?
73
Gordon KX4Z
?
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Re: Adding external relay control to two V2/V3
I’m not normally a voice guy, but we have some local HF nets in our county in Florida. ?
so I’m up in North Carolina 500 miles away, and I have gotten the second (used) version two All modified up with new IRF 520 finals and several other mods as explained elsewhere. It drives an ancient SP – 200 vacuum tube amplifier and I can get past 200 W output that way. ?On 80 m this is very helpful to try to beat back the absorption from the D layer around sunrise or sunset when a lot of these nets happen
?
this is such a nice radio! ?A huge screen went in single side band and I can see panoramic display all up and down, and control the bandwidth so easily, and I just discovered it has equalization as well and it just works so very nicely! ??
I’m very used to using a 7300 and about the only improvement it’s got over this is a nice noise reduction, which could be helpful because I think I’ve got some powerline noise nearby but QRN isn’t very bad today and this is just really really really a nice sbitx radio with a much bigger display than the 7300 making it very easy to see signals everywhere. ??
As more of the V2‘s go on the used market, I may try to encourage folks in our local group to snap them up so we can change out the finals and make these other modifications and they’ll have really really nice radios for dirt cheap. I work with a lot of elderly people and price is important to several of them!
73?
Gordon Kx4z?
?
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Re: zBitx installed softwares
I have a stand that i can put the radio on and there are many small folding keyboards. ?
On Fri, Mar 21, 2025 at 10:53 AM, Ken N2VIP < ken@...> wrote:
Gerry,
?
That's fine, I was responding to this statement:
?
If I have to lug a laptop along, with all the complications (power, connectivity, bulk, etc. etc. etc.), then the radio becomes a USB dongle. And all my radios are USB dongles as is because I have to lug a laptop around. Free me from the laptop!
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There is little difference (to me) between "lugging a laptop" and carrying a keyboard/mouse, a tablet, or a smartphone.
?
(I thought the *benefit* of carrying a laptop is it includes power, display, keyboard, pointer, etc all in one case?)
?
Using a conversational digital mode on the tactile keyboard-less zBitx sounds like a real challenge to me.
?
Ken, N2VIP
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Re: zBitx installed softwares
Gerry,
?
That's fine, I was responding to this statement:
?
If I have to lug a laptop along, with all the complications (power, connectivity, bulk, etc. etc. etc.), then the radio becomes a USB dongle. And all my radios are USB dongles as is because I have to lug a laptop around. Free me from the laptop!
?
There is little difference (to me) between "lugging a laptop" and carrying a keyboard/mouse, a tablet, or a smartphone.
?
(I thought the *benefit* of carrying a laptop is it includes power, display, keyboard, pointer, etc all in one case?)
?
Using a conversational digital mode on the tactile keyboard-less zBitx sounds like a real challenge to me.
?
Ken, N2VIP
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Re: zBitx installed softwares
Mikel, I understand your concerns.
?
but in this age of piracy, people who have put blood sweat and tears into the development of advanced software have the right to keep it to themselves.? ? If they choose to make it available to others to use, either freely or by a cost, then they still have the right to ownership of property and the source code.? ?
?
Piracy abounds.? ? I think pragmatically we have to respect the rights of creators.? ?Some may choose to make it open source (e.g. Ashhar); others may not (e.g. Jose) .? ?That is their right.? ?You don't HAVE to use it.? ? I own multiple PACTOR modems, which were quite expensive, even used.? ?You too can purchase them, new (> $1000) or used -- but you can use VARA for far far less $$$ and have similar or in some cases, better performance.? ?The choice is yours!
?
Both vendors have rights to their property; the PACTOR people (who are friends of mine) and Jose, as well.? ? They do with their property what they wish, just as you do with the rooms in your house what you wish.? ? No one forces us to use VARA or PACTOR.? ? You can certainly use ARDOP -- and I still provide it on my RMS -- but clearly it is inferior!
?
I hope that makes sense!? ?
?
73
Gordon KX4Z
?
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Re: zBitx installed softwares
Dear all, dear Gordon: First of all, I stand corrected on bandwidth. My view was based on observed waterfall widths for ROS and VARA (2.4 kHz). Thanks for the correction, and for the information sent. I probably have to recheck the technical specs you mention, but, the last time I read through the available information, it was not enough to allow independent reimplementation by knowledgeable people (and, even if "degree'd" as past professor of Computer Engineering, I would have to commission someone to implement it). However, I think many would agree with me that the best way to document software is openly available, documented, well written code. I am not against property rights, but software authorship, author's rights, and licensing (what some call "intellectual property") do not work the same way as material (such as real estate) property rights — they are quite different! What I am against is ham radio communication that can only be encoded and decoded using proprietary, undisclosed protocols, and in favour of protocols that are documented in such a way that they can be reproduced by knowledgeable hams (the best way being through the release of reference implementations). On HF Signals keeping their Gerber files, I'm fine with that. But that clearly means that the zBitx is not completely free/open-source. I gather that many other hardware items aren't either (Raspberry). But we were talking about ROS and VARA... Sorry for the wordy off-topic discussion.
Cheers!
Missatge de Gordon Gibby KX4Z via <docvacuumtubes= [email protected]> del dia dv., 21 de mar? 2025 a les 14:01:
Mikel, are you sure your claims are even correct?
?
If you have ever operated modes such as AX.25, MT63, you will recognize that VARA is far far more "bandwidth-efficient" measured by rate of speed per Hz of bandwidth (the meaning of bandwidth efficiency).? ?Further, on HF there is even a 500Hz mode that would blow out the performance of WINMOR or Pactor II.
?
ARe you opposed to all property rights?? ?Without property rights, no one can even own their own home, right?? ?VARA is technically documented to the necessary amount for at least the FCC and has been in use for YEARS now.? ?I am attaching one such technical document for your review.? There are 3 other additional files, including a power point, which you can easily download from the author's site.? ? That is quite sufficient it would appear.? ?You are free to attempt to write a compatible source code, right?
?
We heard similar complaints about WINLINK compression -- people calling it "encryption" -- until I found the Japanese original algorithm information, and wrote? version in C on a raspberry pi and then was happily reading WINLINK messages from hundreds of miles away, which degree-d people had said was virtually impossible.? ?
?
Although I might prefer open source items such as the sBitx code, their factory wisely keeps the Gerbers for their PCB's as their own intellectual property.? ?Without property rights, people are significantly harmed.? ?
?
Sincerely,
?
Gordon L. Gibby KX4Z
?
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Re: zBitx installed softwares
I am very interested in what software is installed on the radio and what that software enables. ? I am just learning about some of the options in low power digital modes (yes my CW stinks but it is getting better.). Can the computer help me, that would be cool.
?
The idea of sort of messaging system that works both in real time and with delayed responses is also interesting. ?
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I do not understand what FT8 does for me and I am interested in the more interactive JS8Call stuff.
?
The fact that we have a “full” digital station built into the radio is the magic of this radio. ?
?
I have not looked at the wiki to see if we have documentation in there for what is in the radio and what use cases are provided for. ?
?
The ability to extend the software in the radio next generation stuff in my coat pocket!
?
73 all KE9A
?
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Re: zBitx installed softwares
Mikel, are you sure your claims are even correct?
?
If you have ever operated modes such as AX.25, MT63, you will recognize that VARA is far far more "bandwidth-efficient" measured by rate of speed per Hz of bandwidth (the meaning of bandwidth efficiency).? ?Further, on HF there is even a 500Hz mode that would blow out the performance of WINMOR or Pactor II.
?
ARe you opposed to all property rights?? ?Without property rights, no one can even own their own home, right?? ?VARA is technically documented to the necessary amount for at least the FCC and has been in use for YEARS now.? ?I am attaching one such technical document for your review.? There are 3 other additional files, including a power point, which you can easily download from the author's site.? ? That is quite sufficient it would appear.? ?You are free to attempt to write a compatible source code, right?
?
We heard similar complaints about WINLINK compression -- people calling it "encryption" -- until I found the Japanese original algorithm information, and wrote? version in C on a raspberry pi and then was happily reading WINLINK messages from hundreds of miles away, which degree-d people had said was virtually impossible.? ?
?
Although I might prefer open source items such as the sBitx code, their factory wisely keeps the Gerbers for their PCB's as their own intellectual property.? ?Without property rights, people are significantly harmed.? ?
?
Sincerely,
?
Gordon L. Gibby KX4Z
?
?
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Re: zBitx installed softwares
Remember what Craig Fugate, famous administrator of FEMA and also a Ham radio operator in our local Alachua county group KK4INZ, once said about disasters:
“ I’ll take help from anywhere!”
VARA-C isn’t particularly my cup of tea, but Vara has been a wonderful thing for WINLINK
73,
Gordon kx4z?
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On Mar 21, 2025, at 07:26, Mikel EA5IYL via groups.io <mikel.forcada@...> wrote:
? I find it particularly unacceptable that a proprietary, undocumented mode is used for emergencies.
Missatge de eb3am via <eb3am= [email protected]> del dia dv., 21 de mar? 2025 a les 9:03:
It's a shame that the ROS / VaraC software hasn't been ported to Linux.
Surely the fact that the licenses have a price is, in large part, the reason.
At one time, its use was limited/banned in the USA, for more than debatable technical reasons, but it seems that this is already overcome when it is used as a de facto standard in emergency communications, precisely due to its excellent operability.
Using it on wine can be done, I do it on my PC, but it is still annoying, and each new version requires a lot of work. It may be that in a closed environment like zBitx/sBitx it is easier to port it.
In fact, what really complicates life is the ROS modem, I think that VaraC would be less complicated to move to Linux, but as long as the modem is not rewritten we will have to live with wine.
--
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Re: zBitx installed softwares
I find it particularly unacceptable that a proprietary, undocumented mode is used for emergencies.
Missatge de eb3am via <eb3am= [email protected]> del dia dv., 21 de mar? 2025 a les 9:03:
It's a shame that the ROS / VaraC software hasn't been ported to Linux.
Surely the fact that the licenses have a price is, in large part, the reason.
At one time, its use was limited/banned in the USA, for more than debatable technical reasons, but it seems that this is already overcome when it is used as a de facto standard in emergency communications, precisely due to its excellent operability.
Using it on wine can be done, I do it on my PC, but it is still annoying, and each new version requires a lot of work. It may be that in a closed environment like zBitx/sBitx it is easier to port it.
In fact, what really complicates life is the ROS modem, I think that VaraC would be less complicated to move to Linux, but as long as the modem is not rewritten we will have to live with wine.
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Re: zBitx installed softwares
I'm all in for banning all of ROS/VARA, etc. from our airwaves. It's still amazes me that these closed-source/proprietary, bandwidth-inefficient modes created by EA5HVK (Jose Alberto Nieto Ros) are allowed at al.
Yes: all the DVSI/AMBE based digital modes are proprietary; it's true that (a) there's commercially available equipment and (b) there are reasonably well reverse-engineered (patent-infringing?) codecs (mbelib), but they are not completely documented.
Missatge de Shirley Dulcey KE1L via <mark= [email protected]> del dia dv., 21 de mar? 2025 a les 9:43:
If the details of the mode are not publicly available, that actually is a violation of amateur radio regulations, at least here in the US.? ?Either a protocol spec or an open source implementation will satisfy?that requirement.
You could argue that all of the modes that use digital voice codecs from DVSI (which include DMR, D-STAR, System Fusion, P25, and more, but not M17 and FreeDV which use an open source codec) should also not be used on ham radio by the same logic. Though they are not quite as undocumented because they are patented, which means that the details that are disclosed in the patent applications are available. Perhaps more important, the wide availability of commercial equipment that implements the DVSI codecs means that the FCC has no difficulty monitoring transmissions so long as the optional encryption (which is NOT allowed on ham radio) is not used.
On Fri, Mar 21, 2025 at 2:00?AM Mikel EA5IYL via <mikel.forcada= [email protected]> wrote: VarAC (unlike FT8, JS8Call, Olivia, etc.) is a privative, closed-source mode (which in my opinion should not be allowed on air, precisely because of that). Unless the author(s) decide to port it to the new architecture, there's little chance.?
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Re: SBITx with Heil headset?
Hi Jens,
Brilliant idea, will try this over weekend.?
Thank you?
On Friday, March 21, 2025, 9:57 am, Jens / DH1AKY via groups.io <jens.wagner767@...> wrote: perhaps my article may help you:
?
?
It's in German, please use a translator of your choice.
?
?
73s,
?
Jens/DH1AKY?
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HA3HZ
Robert Fairbairn