Hi BITX20 Group, I just completed building the BITX40v3 transceiver and I have made some DX contacts within the U.S.. The power shows very weak on my MFJ 969 set to 30 watt scale however the current and voltage calculates at about 5-7 watts input power to the antenna. Probably after traveling through coax and connectors it is much lower. Can't complain however because it is getting a signal out and the receiver is surprisingly very sensitive. The lack of AVC is a downside to this rig, It does however, it keeps the cost down. A circuit could be developed to improve this if desired.? I do need help in one area of concern. I'm very weak on the Raduino end of this project. It came with the standard issue sketch already installed however I want to save it to a file in the event I screw it up or it just screws up. Bottom line how can I obtain a copy of this software and any other versions that may be updates? As a side note I downloaded GitHub and expected it to guide me to the BITX40 sketches only to see a blank you develop your own sketch screen. Like that could happen, at least right now. LOL Need your expertise and please keep it layman talk only,,,,Thanks For the help,,,,Dale, ?kg7ssb
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Re: Newbie here with PTT issue
Fred and Glen
After several years of experience it seems that many of us develop a
sort of 6th-sense for analyzing electronic problems.? But in this case
the voltage through the relay coil should be essentially the supply
voltage if there is no load, the PTT switch is not closed.? Thus that
7.5 volts on the PTT pin was a strong indicator of low supply voltage.?
Sometimes we get blinded by being too close to the problem.? 8-)
Arv? K7HKL
_._
On Sun, May 7, 2017 at 12:55 PM, Dr Fred Hambrecht <AAR4MI@...> wrote: Don¡¯t ask me how I knew to ask the question. Hi Hi? The only people that don¡¯t make mistakes are those that do nothing! ? v/r Fred W4JLE ? ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of gsilver33@...
Sent: Sunday, May 7, 2017 14:04
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Newbie here with PTT issue ? Now I feel real dumb :( ? ?The power supply was set on 7.5 volts. ? ?Thanks for the replies! ? Glenn
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Re: Newbie here with PTT issue
Don¡¯t ask me how I knew to ask the question. Hi Hi? The only people that don¡¯t make mistakes are those that do nothing! ? v/r Fred W4JLE ? ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of gsilver33@...
Sent: Sunday, May 7, 2017 14:04
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Newbie here with PTT issue ? Now I feel real dumb :( ? ?The power supply was set on 7.5 volts. ? ?Thanks for the replies! ? Glenn
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Re: Newbie here with PTT issue
Don't feel dumb, at least it was simple and not anything major!
73s
Marco - KG5PRT?
On May 7, 2017 1:04 PM, < gsilver33@...> wrote: Now I feel real dumb :( ? ?The power supply was set on 7.5 volts. ? ?Thanks for the replies!
Glenn
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Re: Newbie here with PTT issue
Now I feel real dumb :( ? ?The power supply was set on 7.5 volts. ? ?Thanks for the replies!
Glenn
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Re: Newbie here with PTT issue
What is your supply voltage? ? v/r Fred W4JLE ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of gsilver33@...
Sent: Sunday, May 7, 2017 12:32
To: [email protected]
Subject: [BITX20] Newbie here with PTT issue ? I finally got the Bitx40 wired up and the receiver is great. ?The frequency is off by .02 but that is not an issue right now. ?The PTT does not seem to be working. When using the supplied switch, an existing PTT switch wired to the connector or just touching the connector wires does not trip the PTT relay. ?I continue to hear the received signal in the headset and nothing on the watt meter. ?The voltage across the contacts is around 7.3. ?Any ideas?? ? Thanks, Glenn - WU3Z
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Re: Newbie here with PTT issue
Glenn,
Your power supply is not delivering 12V to the heart of the board, Check!
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At 07/05/2017, you wrote: I finally got the Bitx40 wired up and the receiver is great. The frequency is off by .02 but that is not an issue right now. The PTT does not seem to be working. When using the supplied switch, an existing PTT switch wired to the connector or just touching the connector wires does not trip the PTT relay. I continue to hear the received signal in the headset and nothing on the watt meter. The voltage across the contacts is around 7.3. Any ideas??
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Newbie here with PTT issue
I finally got the Bitx40 wired up and the receiver is great. ?The frequency is off by .02 but that is not an issue right now. ?The PTT does not seem to be working. When using the supplied switch, an existing PTT switch wired to the connector or just touching the connector wires does not trip the PTT relay. ?I continue to hear the received signal in the headset and nothing on the watt meter. ?The voltage across the contacts is around 7.3. ?Any ideas??
Thanks, Glenn - WU3Z
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Re: How to wire the PA-PWR1
M Garza, Raj, and Dr. Fred, thank you all very much. I will now connect the PA-PWR1. You have all ?been a big help.
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Re: How to wire the PA-PWR1
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Daniel Acevedo
Sent: Sunday, May 7, 2017 00:21
To: [email protected]
Subject: [BITX20] How to wire the PA-PWR1 ? Okay, I have tried on multiple occasions and situations to make my first contact. I don't get a response. The thing is I do not have the PA-PWR1 connector connected. I guess I was never sure if I was to connect it.? Question: Do I connect the the POS(+) and NEG(-) of PA-PWR1 to the power source (in my case a battery)? Yes or another source if you want a higher voltage for more power. Question #2: Is this the reason why I don't make a contact? Is my signal getting out? Without a connection she no talkey. Question #3: I have the black mic cable to side of the mic that has the "little legs". The brown is connected to the other side. Is this correct?? Yes ? Thanks a lot guys!
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Re: Yet Another set of BitX40 Project Enclosure Template CAD files
The latest sketches are located here:
73s
Marco - KG5PRT?
On May 7, 2017 3:53 AM, "Dale Brooks KG7SSB" < kg7ssb@...> wrote: Where can I go to get the BITX40 sketches to down load and load to other controllers or keep as backup?
Thanks for the information::::Dale kg7ssb
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Re: Yet Another set of BitX40 Project Enclosure Template CAD files
Thanks Dave... ? I had thought about using 2 jacks.....thought you had used a pre-made piece...NICE JOB....walt K2CXP
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On May 3, 2017, at 1:39 PM, f1pfc < f1pfc@...> wrote:
Hello Dave,
I have not found the Kenwood-style connector, do you have an "address" ?
Thanks
On 30/04/2017 00:14, David Fannin wrote:
For making my ?BitX40 enclosure, I created a set of templates that were inspired by VU2XE's CAD templates.?
Since I was experimenting with a number of different options, including the box size and different style of openings, I created a python program that would generate the DXF CAD files, based on my desired configuration settings, with more or less
automatic resizing if the dimensions changed. ? ? The DXF files can be opened by any suitable CAD program (I used LibreCAD on Ubuntu), and can be modified and exported as needed. ?
I've uploaded the python program and created files to a github repository
( ) so others can download and create their own. ?There is also as generated set of DXF and PDF files from the
current program settings. ? The python program uses the dxfwrite library, which can be installed using pip. ?
I used the Kenwood-style 2 pin Mic/PTT/Speaker connector, which works very well for a compact design. ?Just remember to make sure the 3.5mm jack is not grounded to the case, as this would active the PTT switch. ?I also used the anderson polepower
connectors on the back. ?The enclosure is made from two 12"x12" sheets of ?5052 aluminum 0.040" thickness.?
Dave KK6DF
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Re: Yet Another set of BitX40 Project Enclosure Template CAD files
Where can I go to get the BITX40 sketches to down load and load to other controllers or keep as backup?
Thanks for the information::::Dale kg7ssb
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Re: Yet Another set of BitX40 Project Enclosure Template CAD files
the kenwood style connectors are the 2 pin connectors that are found on Kenwood, Baofeng and other radios.?
For the jack, I have not found a source that makes something like this: However, you can easily make them.? They are made from a 3.5mm stereo jack, and a 2.5mm stereo jack. ? Just place them 11.5mm apart (center to center). ? You'll have to mount them on a plastic sheet, like I did, so that you don't ground the sleeve - this will cause it to trigger the PTT.?
hope that helps,
Dave KK6DF
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Re: How to wire the PA-PWR1
Yes, that is why you are not making any contacts. You HAVE to supply power to the PA.
Plug in the provided wire and the Black is -ve (you need not connect this if you use the same power source) and the brown wire is +ve.
The electret MIC has two solder points, one is connected to the outer can - that is ground, connect black wire
and connect brown wire to the other contact.
Raj
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At 07/05/2017, you wrote: Okay, I have tried on multiple occasions and situations to make my first contact. I don't get a response. The thing is I do not have the PA-PWR1 connector connected. I guess I was never sure if I was to connect it.
Question: Do I connect the the POS(+) and NEG(-) of PA-PWR1 to the power source (in my case a battery)?
Question #2: Is this the reason why I don't make a contact? Is my signal getting out?
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Re: How to wire the PA-PWR1
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Okay, I have tried on multiple occasions and situations to make my first contact. I don't get a response. The thing is I do not have the PA-PWR1 connector connected. I guess I was never sure if I was to connect it.? Question: Do I connect the the POS(+) and NEG(-) of PA-PWR1 to the power source (in my case a battery)? Question #2: Is this the reason why I don't make a contact? Is my signal getting out? Question #3: I have the black mic cable to side of the mic that has the "little legs". The brown is connected to the other side. Is this correct??
Thanks a lot guys!
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Finished putting the bitx in the waterproof box. I'm terrible at cutting holes and fabricating stuff but at least it works.
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Raj vu2zap
Dave F