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Re: Calling all Midwesterners.

 

I was hoping to see more people here since we are the other two quarters of the country. I know it's a small sampling right now, but this is what I hear on BITX QSO Night. We midwesterners must be pretty shy, or most of the BITX owners are coastal folks.

I am pretty casual when it comes to making contacts, and not competitive about it, but so far my only BITX40 contacts are W1LY Rhode Island, and WB0NPM Southern California. One on each coast and they heard me better than I could hear them.?

Seriously, let's find out if there's anymore Midwesterners out there, go ahead and call now.
Re: Struggling with tuning clicks and birdie sounds

Andy
 

Hello all,

My BITX40 have following modifications:

DDS (VFO+BFO) with QRP labs si5351, I2C display, RF RX attenuator 16dB, RF gain control, CW and AGC. Not so happy with AGC circuit (original with 2n7000) and will test VK3YE AGC in the future.

I use my own code without some (for me) not important functions.

My opinion is that software development of raduino is going in right direction but...

Now raduino use 95% of program storage space, so what is next¡­ we can add one more nano in our transceiver or?

Of course, I agree 100% with lz1dpn and I think that this is right way:

The QRP transceiver is just QRP transceiver - not need to make
coffee , and read news papper ¡­


This mailing list is good opportunity to make some list of software functions what we realy need, for example I vote for: CW keyer, CAT control, some channel memory function, lock button¡­


Two cents more... K3NG arduino keyer is very good example of arduino HAM software.



73 & cu on 40m cw,


9a3jh Andy
Re: Struggling with tuning clicks and birdie sounds

Pavel Milanes Costa
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý


El 08/06/17 a las 13:01, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io escribi¨®:
When you say you are going to publish a patch that cuts the firmware code size by 25% plus "a lot" of SRAM...

You save 25% of the firmware and about 7% of sram, not much in deed, but every byte counts: see the data below.

After the patch is applied (depending on Allard, it's his play) I will try to apply some optimizations learned on another projects; It can compplicate the code for non coders, but the important is that the code works and with many coments to explain what every piece of code does I think it's not a great problem.

I have other features such as CAT control (SRAM agressive), use of a second Si5351 output as BFO to generate pure CW with and put ALWAYS the VFO above the RF and get rid of a few birdies, amongs others.

All of these are part of other of my projects, one similar to the raduino ()

Raduino (allard 1.13):

Sketch uses 26886 bytes (87%) of program storage space. Maximum is 30720 bytes. Global variables use 1521 bytes (74%) of dynamic memory, leaving 527 bytes

Raduino (pavel's patch switch to onther si5351 Lib)

Sketch uses 19878 bytes (61%) of program storage space. Maximum is 32256 bytes.
Global variables use 1377 bytes (67%) of dynamic memory, leaving 671 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2048 bytes.
Re: Bitx connector pins

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý


The pins vary is cost how they come packaged.
These at Mouser seem to be the least costly.

Mike, WA6ISP
?
On 6/8/2017 10:47 AM, Michael Hagen wrote:

Mouser Crimp Term? 22-30 Ga. by Molex

# 538-08-50-0114


On 6/8/2017 10:24 AM, bwbangerter via Groups.Io wrote:
I would like to obtain a few female pins for the connector bodies used with the bitx40. ?But I do not recognize these connectors. ?It would be useful to make up shielded cables for some of the connections, and to make connections without splicing wires. ?Can anyone tell me what to order?


Re: Bitx connector pins

Vince Vielhaber
 

Is that the same as these? (note: they use the same pic for all of them)



Vince.

On 06/08/2017 01:47 PM, Michael Hagen wrote:
Mouser Crimp Term 22-30 Ga. by Molex

# 538-08-50-0114


On 6/8/2017 10:24 AM, bwbangerter via Groups.Io wrote:
I would like to obtain a few female pins for the connector bodies used
with the bitx40. But I do not recognize these connectors. It would
be useful to make up shielded cables for some of the connections, and
to make connections without splicing wires. Can anyone tell me what
to order?
--
Michigan VHF Corp.

Re: Struggling with tuning clicks and birdie sounds

Pavel Milanes Costa
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Jack, That's for Allard's code.

I created a Si5351 lib a while ago that it's smaller (firware & SRAM) than the Jason one () and I was playing with Allard code and it can cut 25% of the used firmware (I really don't check how much SRAM but Allard got excited about the sram it can free)

The problem was that I haven't a real raduino hardware, I assembled all the hardware with a breadboard and an Arduino Pro and the guide of the Raduino schematics + a old version of a bitx20 board modded to 40m.

The patch works great here (homebre hardware) but don't works on Allard tests (real raduino).

Last night I borrowed a real raduino + bit40v3 SMD from a ham friend and beging testing it... first round result in no hardware discrepances but it doesn't work (just like Allard noted to me, the si5351 does not generate any freq.)

I have to go deeper, but it must wait a few days... this night I go on vacation with the family until next week. 8-)

73 from (almost) the sunny Santa Luc¨ªa Beach on the North Coast of Cuba.


El 08/06/17 a las 13:01, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io escribi¨®:

OK...I misunderstood when you said "no clicks". The statement "...the RF noise is almost gone" makes more sense. I was wondering how you could?completely removed it in code.

I have a battery voltage monitor and I only refresh its field when the battery voltage drops by 0.2V. This helps reduce the flicker by only doing updates when it's needed. When you say you are going to publish a patch that cuts the firmware code size by 25% plus "a lot" of SRAM, which firmware are you talking about...the original Raduino code, or Allard's code?

Jack, W8TEE


From: Pavel Milanes Costa <pavelmc@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:33 PM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Struggling with tuning clicks and birdie sounds

Simple:
Minimize the LCD writes and you will be fine.
I implemented a s-meter bar in a raduino like project () and oh boy... it was a mess in the RF spectrum INSIDE de receiver... I tracked the problem to LCD writes...
I have to minimize the lcd writes and make the code just update the bar in the space it needs to (writing or erasing simple bars, not just redraw it in full every time) and the RF noise is almost gone...
Confession: that's why I don't like the buffer concept of the LCD in the raduino code, it write the entire line EVERY time it needs to update a single digit. For RF quietiness it's better to split it in zones and only update the zone as it's needed. That also helps, but can turn into bigger code.
Don't worry abot used code, I'm about to push a patch to cut 25% of the used firmware and a lot of RAM in the raduino, I'm just valitating it.
73.

El 08/06/17 a las 09:12, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io escribi¨®:
Hi Dimitar:

I saw your comment:?

(many features - many clicks ..., simple code - no clicks).

and would like to you to explain how that works to me in greater detail. I know that many of us have experienced this problem and would like to know how you discovered that simplifying the code, while still maintaining the features set, was done and how you simplified the code.

Thanks!

Jack, W8TEE
From: Dimitar Pavlov via Groups.Io <lz1dpn@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, June 8, 2017 3:47 AM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Struggling with tuning clicks and birdie sounds

Hi all,

Before, I have the same problem with other transceivers, with various DDS, and with LED/OLED displays.
The tuning clicks, are the software problem, connected to refreshing frequency for display,
reading frequency for the rotary encoder and other refreshing frequencies in arduino code (update frequency to Si570/Si5351/AD9851 ...).
To resolve this problem need to optimize code, and implement some wait()/delay() functions.
(many features - many clicks ..., simple code - no clicks).
The QRP transceiver is just QRP transceiver - not need to make coffee , and read news papper ...
Good idea is to use separate power source (2 or 3 pcs LM7812 / 7805 / 7806 for DDS, receiver and other ...
(Birdie sounds are harmonics problem with DDS, and it is not resolving problem. Transceivers also have birdies in other frequencies,
but Your band plan includes only one/two of them.)

73!


On Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:42 AM, Dr Fred Hambrecht <AAR4MI@...> wrote:


I have braided both the tuning and volume control wires with good results,
plus it looks better.

v/r
Fred W4JLE

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Allard PE1NWL
Sent: Wednesday, June 7, 2017 07:39
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Struggling with tuning clicks and birdie sounds

It seems there is a huge variability between various BITX40 radios, and
there are various points where improvements may help.
In my particular case, I achieved the greatest tuning click reduction just
by using shielded wires to and from the volume potentiometer.

73 Allard PE1NWL
Re: Bitx connector pins

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Mouser Crimp Term? 22-30 Ga. by Molex

# 538-08-50-0114


On 6/8/2017 10:24 AM, bwbangerter via Groups.Io wrote:

I would like to obtain a few female pins for the connector bodies used with the bitx40. ?But I do not recognize these connectors. ?It would be useful to make up shielded cables for some of the connections, and to make connections without splicing wires. ?Can anyone tell me what to order?

Re: Bitx40 Transmit Problem

 

Hi Raj. ?Thanks for the reply. ?I've already tried adjusting the bias pot with no change. ?If I wanted to check the final, how would I do that? ?Can it be fixed? ?Thanks!
Bitx connector pins

 

I would like to obtain a few female pins for the connector bodies used with the bitx40. ?But I do not recognize these connectors. ?It would be useful to make up shielded cables for some of the connections, and to make connections without splicing wires. ?Can anyone tell me what to order?
Re: Struggling with tuning clicks and birdie sounds

 

On Thu, Jun 8, 2017 at 07:21 am, Allard PE1NWL wrote:
Last night I found out that in my latest version raduino_v1.14 there is a small bug that the display is unneccessarily updated even when the frequency hasn't changed. This may cause a slight ticking noise.

?I have just uploaded a corrected version v.1.14.1 to Github at
The only difference with the previous version 1.14 is that the display is now only updated when there actually is a change.
This is the same behaviour as in all earlier versions, only in v1.14 there was a small bug that it was updated every 50 ms even when there wasn't any change. This caused some slight ticking even when you don't turn the tuning pot.
This has now been corrected.

73 Allard PE1NWL
Re: Quality speaker mic with minimal modding

philip yates
 

PTT connection straight onto the PTT as normal, and the mic element is an electret, have tried the supplied Bitx element and can tell no difference.
am using a standard 8 pin plug/socket so may decide to connect the up/don to the tuning ? but not sure yet.

Phil - G7BZD

On Thu, Jun 8, 2017 at 7:55 AM, Cesar <Cesarleon@...> wrote:
But this is a dinamic microfono right? I guess it will get too much power as the board is designed to put volts on a electret mic...
nice mic for the price anyway?


Re: Struggling with tuning clicks and birdie sounds

Jack Purdum
 

OK...I misunderstood when you said "no clicks". The statement "...the RF noise is almost gone" makes more sense. I was wondering how you could?completely removed it in code.

I have a battery voltage monitor and I only refresh its field when the battery voltage drops by 0.2V. This helps reduce the flicker by only doing updates when it's needed. When you say you are going to publish a patch that cuts the firmware code size by 25% plus "a lot" of SRAM, which firmware are you talking about...the original Raduino code, or Allard's code?

Jack, W8TEE


From: Pavel Milanes Costa <pavelmc@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:33 PM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Struggling with tuning clicks and birdie sounds

Simple:
Minimize the LCD writes and you will be fine.
I implemented a s-meter bar in a raduino like project () and oh boy... it was a mess in the RF spectrum INSIDE de receiver... I tracked the problem to LCD writes...
I have to minimize the lcd writes and make the code just update the bar in the space it needs to (writing or erasing simple bars, not just redraw it in full every time) and the RF noise is almost gone...
Confession: that's why I don't like the buffer concept of the LCD in the raduino code, it write the entire line EVERY time it needs to update a single digit. For RF quietiness it's better to split it in zones and only update the zone as it's needed. That also helps, but can turn into bigger code.
Don't worry abot used code, I'm about to push a patch to cut 25% of the used firmware and a lot of RAM in the raduino, I'm just valitating it.
73.

El 08/06/17 a las 09:12, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io escribi¨®:
Hi Dimitar:

I saw your comment:?

(many features - many clicks ..., simple code - no clicks).

and would like to you to explain how that works to me in greater detail. I know that many of us have experienced this problem and would like to know how you discovered that simplifying the code, while still maintaining the features set, was done and how you simplified the code.

Thanks!

Jack, W8TEE
From: Dimitar Pavlov via Groups.Io <lz1dpn@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, June 8, 2017 3:47 AM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Struggling with tuning clicks and birdie sounds

Hi all,

Before, I have the same problem with other transceivers, with various DDS, and with LED/OLED displays.
The tuning clicks, are the software problem, connected to refreshing frequency for display,
reading frequency for the rotary encoder and other refreshing frequencies in arduino code (update frequency to Si570/Si5351/AD9851 ...).
To resolve this problem need to optimize code, and implement some wait()/delay() functions.
(many features - many clicks ..., simple code - no clicks).
The QRP transceiver is just QRP transceiver - not need to make coffee , and read news papper ...
Good idea is to use separate power source (2 or 3 pcs LM7812 / 7805 / 7806 for DDS, receiver and other ...
(Birdie sounds are harmonics problem with DDS, and it is not resolving problem. Transceivers also have birdies in other frequencies,
but Your band plan includes only one/two of them.)

73!


On Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:42 AM, Dr Fred Hambrecht <AAR4MI@...> wrote:


I have braided both the tuning and volume control wires with good results,
plus it looks better.

v/r
Fred W4JLE

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Allard PE1NWL
Sent: Wednesday, June 7, 2017 07:39
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Struggling with tuning clicks and birdie sounds

It seems there is a huge variability between various BITX40 radios, and
there are various points where improvements may help.
In my particular case, I achieved the greatest tuning click reduction just
by using shielded wires to and from the volume potentiometer.

73 Allard PE1NWL
Re: Can't upload to Raduino / warranty issue

[email protected]
 

Well, I finally received a reply from hfsigs yesterday. They recommended I join this group and seek answers. Haha. I had told them in the original email I'd joined the BITX20 group on groups.io and the consensus was bad Nano board. I asked them to please read the entire email and let me know if they had a process for dealing with defective product sent out. I've not run across any threads in this forum discussing success or failure with warranty claims, but I've only been here for a few weeks. I'll update this thread if I hear from hfsigs. I don't mind picking up another Nano and making the fix, but it would be nice to have available on the hfsigs website a complete bill of materials for the Bitx40 plus tech data sheets for the components. For instance, if a SMC capacitor or diode or a toroidal inductor is bad, exactly what part should be ordered to replace it? Ditto for the DDS parts. That information is hugely valuable to someone who will have to procure and replace defective components. Just saying...

Mark
W4MAP
Re: BITX40 - convert to 20 meters

 

I will have a blog post up by the end of the week detailing how I turned my bitx40 into a dual bander. Right now it's 40/80 using only a second BPF, but the next mod will be to add a second LPF and make it so that any secondary band can be used by switching out the filters.

--
Ryan Flowers W7RLF

?

?<-- Learn how to go digital on the BITX40
Re: Struggling with tuning clicks and birdie sounds

Pavel Milanes Costa
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Simple:

Minimize the LCD writes and you will be fine.

I implemented a s-meter bar in a raduino like project () and oh boy... it was a mess in the RF spectrum INSIDE de receiver... I tracked the problem to LCD writes...

I have to minimize the lcd writes and make the code just update the bar in the space it needs to (writing or erasing simple bars, not just redraw it in full every time) and the RF noise is almost gone...

Confession: that's why I don't like the buffer concept of the LCD in the raduino code, it write the entire line EVERY time it needs to update a single digit. For RF quietiness it's better to split it in zones and only update the zone as it's needed. That also helps, but can turn into bigger code.

Don't worry abot used code, I'm about to push a patch to cut 25% of the used firmware and a lot of RAM in the raduino, I'm just valitating it.

73.


El 08/06/17 a las 09:12, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io escribi¨®:

Hi Dimitar:

I saw your comment:?

(many features - many clicks ..., simple code - no clicks).

and would like to you to explain how that works to me in greater detail. I know that many of us have experienced this problem and would like to know how you discovered that simplifying the code, while still maintaining the features set, was done and how you simplified the code.

Thanks!

Jack, W8TEE
From: Dimitar Pavlov via Groups.Io <lz1dpn@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, June 8, 2017 3:47 AM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Struggling with tuning clicks and birdie sounds

Hi all,

Before, I have the same problem with other transceivers, with various DDS, and with LED/OLED displays.
The tuning clicks, are the software problem, connected to refreshing frequency for display,
reading frequency for the rotary encoder and other refreshing frequencies in arduino code (update frequency to Si570/Si5351/AD9851 ...).
To resolve this problem need to optimize code, and implement some wait()/delay() functions.
(many features - many clicks ..., simple code - no clicks).
The QRP transceiver is just QRP transceiver - not need to make coffee , and read news papper ...
Good idea is to use separate power source (2 or 3 pcs LM7812 / 7805 / 7806 for DDS, receiver and other ...
(Birdie sounds are harmonics problem with DDS, and it is not resolving problem. Transceivers also have birdies in other frequencies,
but Your band plan includes only one/two of them.)

73!


On Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:42 AM, Dr Fred Hambrecht <AAR4MI@...> wrote:


I have braided both the tuning and volume control wires with good results,
plus it looks better.

v/r
Fred W4JLE

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Allard PE1NWL
Sent: Wednesday, June 7, 2017 07:39
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Struggling with tuning clicks and birdie sounds

It seems there is a huge variability between various BITX40 radios, and
there are various points where improvements may help.
In my particular case, I achieved the greatest tuning click reduction just
by using shielded wires to and from the volume potentiometer.

73 Allard PE1NWL
Re: Calling all Midwesterners.

Jack Purdum
 

W8TEE, Jack, Cincinnati, apx 270 miles S of Detroit ?:>)


From: Vince Vielhaber <vev@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:17 PM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Calling all Midwesterners.

KA8CSH, Vince, S.E Michigan (apx 30-40 mi N of Detroit)


On 06/08/2017 01:59 AM, John Smith via Groups.Io wrote:
> Everyone else is getting called out and so should we. We make up the
> heartland of this country. So let's hear from ya.
> de KG5KYJ, John, Oklahoma city, Central time zone. 18' NVIS Dipole. 24
> Volt BITX40.
>

--
? Michigan VHF Corp.? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?





Re: Calling all Midwesterners.

Vince Vielhaber
 

KA8CSH, Vince, S.E Michigan (apx 30-40 mi N of Detroit)

On 06/08/2017 01:59 AM, John Smith via Groups.Io wrote:
Everyone else is getting called out and so should we. We make up the
heartland of this country. So let's hear from ya.
de KG5KYJ, John, Oklahoma city, Central time zone. 18' NVIS Dipole. 24
Volt BITX40.
--
Michigan VHF Corp.

Re: Calling all Midwesterners.

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

W0OIC, Ed, Dubuque Iowa

On 6/8/2017 12:59 AM, John Smith via Groups.Io wrote:

Everyone else is getting called out and so should we. We make up the heartland of this country. So let's hear from ya.
de KG5KYJ, John, Oklahoma city, Central time zone. 18' NVIS Dipole. 24 Volt BITX40.

BITX40 - convert to 20 meters

[email protected]
 

Are there any designs out for modifying (replacing) the LPF and Bandpass Filters on the BITX40 so that it will work on 20 meters?
Somewhere I saw something that said 20 Meter mods were on the way.
Other than the filters and modifying the Radiuno sketch for different VFO frequencies, ?is there any other thing to be done?
It would be great if the filter changes only required changing the toroids since that is fairly easy to do.?

I know there are designs for BITX20 but I want to start with the BITX40 since it works already and I am not up to building a BITX20 ?or a uBITX ?from scratch.?

BTW... the BITX40 is awesome... received over 300 JT65 stations on 40M in a 24 hour period. ?

The BITX40, a laptop (or even just Raspberry Pi) , and dipole is all you need to work the world. ?Makes a great portable rig.


Thanks
Greg
KD4VV
Re: Bitx40 Transmit Problem

 

You will become a guru in not time!

I presume that you are reading 0.9 amps not milliamps.
900mA is too much by itself without shouting into the mic.
Possible final blown, assuming you are getting 0.9A when you press PTT without modulation.

Before you put a new final Tr. turn the bias pot RV1 fully clockwise.

Raj

At 08-06-2017, you wrote:

I received my Bitx40 v3 kit a couple of months ago and I've never been able to get it on the air.? I've done a lot of troubleshooting, tried updating the sketch in the Arduino twice, watched several YouTube vids (including AF's troubleshooting video), and gotten assistance from a couple of people on the Bitx40 v3 Facebook page.? I am very confident the wiring is correct and the radio will tune and receive stations fine.? The problem is that the radio does not appear to be transmitting.? I used my digital ammeter today and testing it shows that in receive and/or transmit, it is drawing 0.9 mA.? I have tried to realign the board per the instructions, but that didn't change the 0.9 mA reading.? I also checked the power to various components and it's reading 12v.? Related to this, I installed a switch to incorporate the function button feature, but it does not work either and I have gotten confirmation that it is the correct type of switch and has been wired in correctly.? I also did the PTT sense mod and I do get a TX indication on the display when I transmit, but again, I don't see the types of readings on the ammeter that have been described by AF's instructions.? I am concerned there is something wrong with the board.

I am a novice with electronics, so I am at a total loss at this point.? Can anyone assist?? Thanks!
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