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On Sun, Jul 16, 2017 at 9:16 AM, Herb <sailor422@...> wrote: So Echolink is for people with no internet? Just how do you connect??
It ONLY works on Dos/Windows??? Uh NO it is runs on Linux/Android/Ios/Windows
How is it everyone complaining at the very thought of using some other platform to discuss the BITXxx system can't be bothered to even Google Echolink so as to discuss it intelligently.
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So Echolink is for people with no internet? Just how do you connect??
It ONLY works on Dos/Windows??? Uh NO it is runs on Linux/Android/Ios/Windows
How is it everyone complaining at the very thought of using some other platform to discuss the BITXxx system can't be bothered to even Google Echolink so as to discuss it intelligently.
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Re: W8TEE TFT/ VFO DISPLAY BOARD BOARD
Hey, Art...not a problem. The file's only been there a day or two and it will take a while to know it's available. No doubt I'll be posting new versions later on. BTW, my TFT/VFO PCB doesn't have to be used to replace the VFO. It's also a good way to experiment with the Mega 2560 Pro Mini since all of the pins are brought out to header pins, making it easy to attach things for testing. Indeed, you could leave off the support components and use it "stand-alone". I've tried to price it reasonably to encourage you people to experiment with it, to all of our benefit.
Jack, W8TEE
From: Art Olson <olson339@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2017 6:56 AM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] W8TEE TFT/ VFO DISPLAY BOARD BOARD
Jack Thanks. Feel a bit foolish for missing the info in the manual
Art
Sent from my iPhone On Jul 15, 2017, at 10:37 PM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io < econjack@...> wrote: Art:
I'm sure the flicker is because the voltage pin is floating. The code is written so the display updates every 2 seconds, but only if there is a "real" swing in the voltage. You can see the code in loop(), around line 1515. The way to get this to work on the display is explained in the B40 Assembly Manual (Rev. 2) that is in the Files section. Look for "Determining the Displayed Voltage". If you don't want the voltage display activated, just comment out the code block that starts at 1515.
Al Peter helped me fix the "encoder noise" is was hearing. Turns out it was a flat forehead mistake on my part. In the process of separating the PA power source from the TFT power source, I managed to introduce a ground loop. Once that was determined it was fairly easy to fix.
I'm back onto the other features I want to add.
Jack, W8TEE
From: Art Olson via Groups.Io < olsonaj6927@...> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2017 5:11 PM Subject: Re: [BITX20] W8TEE TFT/ VFO DISPLAY BOARD BOARD Jack
I must have missed this in the build or setup. The voltage continues to change so it must be floating. I have the tft/vfo connected to the bitx40 power so don't think I have a ground problem. Could you resend the detail about the voltage divider?
"If you connect the display voltage pin to your voltage source, it will flash one or two times at power up, but will only update itself if there is a measurable change in the supply voltage. My guess is that you don't have yours tied to either ground or a voltage divider. As a result, the pin is floating which is read as a new voltage which triggers a screen update.I had mine running several hours last night and it never varied enough to update the field".?
art
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David? KF4WBJ
Benefit of the BITX group is that it serves as a common collection point for information
and ideas that may be useful to others.? Because email text messages are preserved
on the group it then serves as a reference library that can be searched for historical or
topical information.? Splitting the group into multiple factions and multiple communication
modes would seem to minimize this information sharing and archive function.? There
have been attempts in the past to dilute the group by starting additional BITX discussion
groups and on-line chat systems.?
Using email as access to the discussion group provides a deliberate time lag that allows
contributors to read what they are saying before they send it.? This conceptually leads
to better content and less confusion.?? Being able to type an email message and read
it over before sending may also be an advantage for those who do not use English as
a primary language.? It also benefits English speakers who want to translate messages
that may have been submitted in some language other than English.
For those who want optimum real-time response there is always the telephone and
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) for private point-to-point communications.? And of
course there is ham radio using our BITX transceivers as the communication link.
Where something like Echo-Link or any of the radio focused chat systems might be interesting
is for areas where there is no Internet access.? To make this of maximum value though
would probably require implementation of a gateway between that system and the BITX
group.? Disadvantage of using EchoLink is that it locks out any non-ham licensed person
from participating in its use.? Since EchoLink is DOS/Windows software it also becomes
problematic for those who use UNIX-derived computer operating systems (OS-X, Android,
Linux, etc.).
Arv? K7HKL
_._
On Sat, Jul 15, 2017 at 3:56 PM, David Woodward <kf4wbj2@...> wrote: While this is a great group with many capable people, it is way too slow in response time.
?Wouldn't an echolink node strictly for bitx related things be more convenient??
?What are your thoughts?
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OK let me get this right. ?This is radio RIGHT! ?All this echolink stuff what are you guys a bunch of 2 Meter Techs. ?Sure some people want an 800 # they can call in and have some tech on the line walk them through programming their remote, but wanting people to download install and figure out how to get on echolink, IMO you will have people running in circles. ?Lets face it if you can't read and understand how to put a few plugs on a board and make a few connections to power, how in the world do you expect people to figure out how to install and use echolink. ?A chat room is a simple link and there is a way to send a private msg if someone wanted to exchange phone # or go on and connect on a video chat. ?I'm just putting in my 2 Cents I bought the same $59 dollar radio, I have 3 of them, I read the wire up page and had no issues putting my boards together. ?I didn't expect the first one to work but to my surprise it was great. ?I didn't expect to have my hand held, I knew I would have to READ to get some answers. ?I never used?arduino before receiving my BITX. ?I had to RTFM. ?I never build anything prior, I'm a fairly new ham only a little over a year. ?I don't know maybe I am just being harsh, but for pete sake!!!
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Maybe when you post your question you could include a voice mode where someone might contact you for a detailed discussion. Which D-Star/DMR/Fusion--Reflector/Talk Group/Room (or whatever Echolink uses) to find you on.
?
I use notifications to my phone to get my attention. APRS was working on a ham messaging system. Here is Twitter to DMR.?
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Re: W8TEE TFT/ VFO DISPLAY BOARD BOARD
Jack Thanks. Feel a bit foolish for missing the info in the manual
Art
Sent from my iPhone
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Show quoted text
On Jul 15, 2017, at 10:37 PM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io < econjack@...> wrote: Art:
I'm sure the flicker is because the voltage pin is floating. The code is written so the display updates every 2 seconds, but only if there is a "real" swing in the voltage. You can see the code in loop(), around line 1515. The way to get this to work on the display is explained in the B40 Assembly Manual (Rev. 2) that is in the Files section. Look for "Determining the Displayed Voltage". If you don't want the voltage display activated, just comment out the code block that starts at 1515.
Al Peter helped me fix the "encoder noise" is was hearing. Turns out it was a flat forehead mistake on my part. In the process of separating the PA power source from the TFT power source, I managed to introduce a ground loop. Once that was determined it was fairly easy to fix.
I'm back onto the other features I want to add.
Jack, W8TEE
From: Art Olson via Groups.Io <olsonaj6927@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2017 5:11 PM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] W8TEE TFT/ VFO DISPLAY BOARD BOARD
Jack
I must have missed this in the build or setup. The voltage continues to change so it must be floating. I have the tft/vfo connected to the bitx40 power so don't think I have a ground problem. Could you resend the detail about the voltage divider?
"If you connect the display voltage pin to your voltage source, it will flash one or two times at power up, but will only update itself if there is a measurable change in the supply voltage. My guess is that you don't have yours tied to either ground or a voltage divider. As a result, the pin is floating which is read as a new voltage which triggers a screen update.I had mine running several hours last night and it never varied enough to update the field".?
art
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Re: W8TEE TFT/ VFO DISPLAY BOARD BOARD
Jack and Art
The flicker is definitely due to the display 3.3v floating, if you look at the circuit there's a connector between the display supply and the Arduino 3.3v, I had the same problem, fitting a jumper cures it. ?It's the jumper right by Jack's callsign, the two end pins nearest the edge of the PCB., See the the arrow in attached photo of the board.
Jack
Thanks for all your effort's, I think (hope) everyone appreciates your work. ?I had one of your first batch of boards and just got around to assembling it, there,s nothing connected, the DDS and Mimic are yet to be fitted. ?I need to run a few things past you. ?I have two 3.5" displays, an ebay purchase from the same vendor, they have slightly different boards, both return the ID as 0x7796 and result in a shrunken sized display, see the attached pictures. ?If I use 0x9486 the picture size is the same but the colours are wrong, using 0x9488 gives a grey scale full sized screen with a "dot" font similar to a 16 x 2 LCD. ?If I run the Mcufriend examples they seems OK, their test card is small but it's only 240 x 320 pixels so I would not expect a full screen, I can also load your AA program, without any means to test correctly it appears to run correctly. Do you have any ideas.
The Arduino regulator is also running hot, not too hot to touch but very warm, it's drawing 300ma, on one of your earlier iterations of the circuit you had the Arduino 5v supply connected directly to the buck regulator, that would be one way of reducing the heat, any reason why that change was made. ?I think most of the current is due the the screen backlight, I can't see anywhere in the software where you control the backlight, plus there's no indication of which pin on the display board is the backlight, I'll have to trawl the internet. ?Any help very much appreciated.
Regards David G8DJM
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Re: On the subject of fake IRF510
Just a tip.... Remember when mounting the IRF510, check that the tab is isolated/insulated from the heatsink and all other metalwork by its top hat washer and mica pad, by checking with a OHM meter, if its zero you have a short, DO NOT power up, It should be open circuit.
We do the same at work with a pair of regulators, if there is a short to ground they fry the components on the PCB.
Phil - G7BZD
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Re: On the subject of fake IRF510
Thanks for posting it! Looks like the post has come full circle ;-) I posted this from my blog last week (My blog is the source of the HAD article). Rich has it spot on, though.? -- Ryan Flowers W7RLF
?
?<-- Learn how to go digital on the BITX40
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Or you could use a silver mica capacitor rated 500WV. About $1.50-$2.50 each from KitsandParts.com
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Re: On the subject of fake IRF510
i agree with Richard;s view point. While making fake devices, the seller also need to spend time and energy.
?IMHO, Fakes are made generally for costly devices like R16HHF1 and 2sc1971 etc . one might offer irf5xx? re-printing as RD16HHF1.
?I too got some fake RDs and as I paid far less, I use them as if IRF5xx. Thus I feel , cost alone doesn't make an item genuine. ? I saw ebay ads wherein the item description, BRAND is mentioned as unknown, or Generic, or Unbranded.? these things are generally not? to be taken for granted. Some sellers,? I saw,? clearly mention the real brand name. They are little costlier .? Once that brand is filled correctly, perhaps one can believe.
A? nice discussion as how NOT to get cheated.
Regards
?sarma
?vu3zmv
On Sun, Jul 16, 2017 at 2:00 AM, Richard Andrew Knack via Groups.Io <ihc73scout2@...> wrote: One thing to keep in mind is. IRF-510's are actually power MOSFETs, and NOT originally designed for RF amplification. Tolerances that might be acceptable for the original intended purpose, might not be sufficient for use as RF devices, so if you get MOSFETs that are at the extremes of the tolerance levels, they might blow when used as RF devices even though they may have worked just fine in power applications. So cut-rate IRF-510's might not be "counterfeits" per se, but they may have been near the edges of their tolerances (or even somewhat out of tolerance).
Rich KC8MWG
On Saturday, July 15, 2017, 3:05:40 PM EDT, Ken Hansen < ken@...> wrote:
No, see comment below
In the discussion on Hackaday they talk about obtaining the counterfeits from
reputable dealers like Digikey and Mouser.? This is interesting because other
similar discussions claim that we should be purchasing from Digikey and
Mouser to avoid counterfeit components from Chinese Ebay vendors.?
The individual bought the parts on eBay, he didn't want to pay Mouser or Digikey shipping prices for such an inexpensive part:
"Instead, [Ryan] found a supplier for five of these MOSFETs for $6 shipped. This was a good deal and a bad move because those new parts were fakes. Now we have an opportunity?"
The fakes were 5 for $6 shipped.
Ken, N2VIP
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It looks like by default only an administrator can add a chat to a Groups.io group. ?I haven't used them either so I don't really know how?
they work.?
Michael VE3WMB?
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I love the idea of a dedicated bitx echolink node, would be helpful to coordinate qso nights and such.
On Sat, Jul 15, 2017 at 11:19 PM, Herb <sailor422@...> wrote: I for one am not looking for support. I want to have conversations between peers.
Texts, email and chat are all well and good but I guess I am old fashioned enough that I enjoy discussing whats here already and new projects by voice sometimes.
I'm not sure why the suggestion of echolink would be equated with support.
-- ¡°Macs for productivity, Linux for development, Windows for solitaire.¡±
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I for one am not looking for support. I want to have conversations between peers.
Texts, email and chat are all well and good but I guess I am old fashioned enough that I enjoy discussing whats here already and new projects by voice sometimes.
I'm not sure why the suggestion of echolink would be equated with support.
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Ok so I see people wanting faster support to Keep the progress moving forward. I have started a chat room that is accessible without any software to install. ?
Create a username and the chat room name is Bitx_Support. ?This can be the new big thing for support so Everyone who likes to help Feel Free to join the chatroom. ?Admins Are Needed. ?This is a group effort so let's give it a try.
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and talking someone through... say ...uploading a sketch would be a lot less confusing using voice vs. texting...oh well just a thought
On Jul 15, 2017 10:02 PM, "N8DAH" < Dherron@...> wrote: I will reinstall echolink now also just reinstalled IRC had no idea people (hams) still used it but they do!
?
?
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Re: W8TEE TFT/ VFO DISPLAY BOARD BOARD
Art:
I'm sure the flicker is because the voltage pin is floating. The code is written so the display updates every 2 seconds, but only if there is a "real" swing in the voltage. You can see the code in loop(), around line 1515. The way to get this to work on the display is explained in the B40 Assembly Manual (Rev. 2) that is in the Files section. Look for "Determining the Displayed Voltage". If you don't want the voltage display activated, just comment out the code block that starts at 1515.
Al Peter helped me fix the "encoder noise" is was hearing. Turns out it was a flat forehead mistake on my part. In the process of separating the PA power source from the TFT power source, I managed to introduce a ground loop. Once that was determined it was fairly easy to fix.
I'm back onto the other features I want to add.
Jack, W8TEE
From: Art Olson via Groups.Io <olsonaj6927@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2017 5:11 PM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] W8TEE TFT/ VFO DISPLAY BOARD BOARD
Jack
I must have missed this in the build or setup. The voltage continues to change so it must be floating. I have the tft/vfo connected to the bitx40 power so don't think I have a ground problem. Could you resend the detail about the voltage divider?
"If you connect the display voltage pin to your voltage source, it will flash one or two times at power up, but will only update itself if there is a measurable change in the supply voltage. My guess is that you don't have yours tied to either ground or a voltage divider. As a result, the pin is floating which is read as a new voltage which triggers a screen update.I had mine running several hours last night and it never varied enough to update the field".?
art
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Oh yes echolink is alive and well...there is a qrp net I check into every Sunday and Wednesday...?
On Jul 15, 2017 10:02 PM, "N8DAH" < Dherron@...> wrote: I will reinstall echolink now also just reinstalled IRC had no idea people (hams) still used it but they do!
?
?
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If you go to the home page? /g/BITX20? It is the seventh item down in the menu list on the left. I don't know how it works but its there. Jeff N9ARZ
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Herb
Jeff