RF must be getting into tune voltage pot. I had such a problem when the ground wire of the antenna
connector was loose!
Raj
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Show quoted text
At 23/11/2017, you wrote: At the bitx40 we built, the BFO frequency varies in the voice signal.
I wonder if it is normal or if someone has ever faced this problem as he did it.
Thank you!
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Re: Filtering noise from Raduino
Awesome! I tried it as well with some parts that just arrived. I used 1000uF capacitors and 1W 15 ohm resistors in a second order RC filter, very similar to the video. All the noise from my power supply and the Raduino are totally gone. Woo!
After the holiday I might try to do a write up for the wiki. This stuff might be common knowledge for most builders, but it sure wasn¡¯t for me :)
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I just watched VK3YE's video and made up the small filter he suggested. I have been trying to reduce the noise on my custom Bitx20 for a while and this small circuit made a huge difference. I attached it between the power supply and the Arduino power input as he suggested and it works really well.
|
Re: Is my BitX output stable? (Volume change above 7.200)
Some of the USB cables are only meant for charging,
they don't support data transfer.17
Yes, si5351 drive current can make a difference in how well the signal is received.
But weird it is so different across just the 40m ham band.
Not really sure what firmware version this "factory reset" was getting used on,
but when using Farhan's original Raduino sketch (what comes in the unit when shipped from hfsigs)
the only value stored in EEPROM is the frequency calibration constant.?
Farhan's code leaves the `si5351 drive strength at its default level.
I believe the default drive strength for the etherkit library is 2 mA.?
Jerry, KE7ER
?
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Show quoted text
On Wed, Nov 22, 2017 at 05:32 pm, Gene Nitschke wrote:
OK while waiting for the Pixie, I finally got the USB port working again (bad USB cable, go figure!).??
?
So, I started trying different versions of SW to see if I could isolate?the volume issue (increasing significantly after about 7.200 Birdie).? ? Issue is?not there in version 1.04 but present in 1.05!? This is when the VFO drive current was changed to try and eliminate the Birdie!? Going back to 1.27.1 and changing the VFO driver current to 2, 6, or 8 mA eliminates the volume change but makes the overall volume lower,?the birdie is just as strong no matter where I set the current (I verified I was using?Etherkit Si5351 2.0.1).? Maybe I will try the RG174 from VFO to board (as I have lots of that).? ?As the original current was 2mA, I will probably set this unit at that level for now.???I would like to leave this one mainly stock?and start the build on the second unit to hack.
?
While?reading some of the old?threads on the Birdie, I see mention of a "factory reset".? I assume this is the Raduino?? ? Why would you do this and what would?it accomplish?
?
Gene N2IJF
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Re: Is my BitX output stable? (Volume change above 7.200)
Just reread my message and before anyone finds my error, I meant to say with versions 1.04 and 1.05 I ensured I was using??Etherkit
Si5351 2.0.1.? This is not needed in V 1.27.1.
Gene N2IJF
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
OK while waiting for the Pixie, I finally got the USB port working again (bad USB cable, go figure!).??
So, I started trying different versions of SW to see if I could isolate?the volume issue (increasing significantly after about 7.200 Birdie).? ? Issue is?not there in version 1.04 but present in 1.05!? This is when the VFO drive current was changed to try
and eliminate the Birdie!? Going back to 1.27.1 and changing the VFO driver current to 2, 6, or 8 mA eliminates the volume change but makes the overall volume lower,?the birdie is just as strong no matter where I set the current (I verified I was using?Etherkit
Si5351 2.0.1).? Maybe I will try the RG174 from VFO to board (as I have lots of that).? ?As the original current was 2mA, I will probably set this unit at that level for now.???I would like to leave this one mainly stock?and start the build on the second
unit to hack.
While?reading some of the old?threads on the Birdie, I see mention of a "factory reset".? I assume this is the Raduino?? ? Why would you do this and what would?it accomplish?
Gene N2IJF
Yup.
Second to the last slide of your document shows the "Chinese Rendition", including the 7.023mhz crystal.
As low as $1.98 on ebay in that link I gave, most are way up there around $3 or so.
And you thought $59 was cheap.
On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 09:28 pm, Thomas Sharka wrote:
|
w1sye.org
Oscillator Frequency Control Filter The filter elements can be fixed or adjustable. A quartz crystal is ideal as a fixed element. ? Good frequency stability
|
This Pixie?
|
Re: Is my BitX output stable? (Volume change above 7.200)
OK while waiting for the Pixie, I finally got the USB port working again (bad USB cable, go figure!).??
So, I started trying different versions of SW to see if I could isolate?the volume issue (increasing significantly after about 7.200 Birdie).? ? Issue is?not there in version 1.04 but present in 1.05!? This is when the VFO drive current was changed to try
and eliminate the Birdie!? Going back to 1.27.1 and changing the VFO driver current to 2, 6, or 8 mA eliminates the volume change but makes the overall volume lower,?the birdie is just as strong no matter where I set the current (I verified I was using?Etherkit
Si5351 2.0.1).? Maybe I will try the RG174 from VFO to board (as I have lots of that).? ?As the original current was 2mA, I will probably set this unit at that level for now.???I would like to leave this one mainly stock?and start the build on the second
unit to hack.
While?reading some of the old?threads on the Birdie, I see mention of a "factory reset".? I assume this is the Raduino?? ? Why would you do this and what would?it accomplish?
Gene N2IJF
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Yup.
Second to the last slide of your document shows the "Chinese Rendition", including the 7.023mhz crystal.
As low as $1.98 on ebay in that link I gave, most are way up there around $3 or so.
And you thought $59 was cheap.
On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 09:28 pm, Thomas Sharka wrote:
|
w1sye.org
Oscillator Frequency Control Filter The filter elements can be fixed or adjustable. A quartz crystal is ideal as a fixed element. ? Good frequency stability
|
This Pixie?
|
Re: Emailing: RaduinoXPbo1B, RaduinoXPtopA, RaduinoXPtopB, RaduinoXPbo1A
"6 ft. 8 ft. Bunch, me
wana go home"
Something like that?
''Daylight come and
me wanna me Bitx''
Lol
--
Mike Hagen, WA6ISP
10917 Bryant Street
Yucaipa, Ca. 92399
(909) 918-0058
PayPal ID "MotDog@..."
Mike@...
|
Re: Emailing: RaduinoXPbo1B, RaduinoXPtopA, RaduinoXPtopB, RaduinoXPbo1A
''Daylight come and me wanna me Bitx''
Lol
|
I'm still experimenting, but I may reverse my "lead length shouldn't matter much". Let's just say it's a good thing I have spare IRF510's. Although Jerry if my initial experiment was successful, I may have solved the output issue at 14mhz. More testing needs to be done.? -- Ryan Flowers W7RLF
?
?<-- Learn how to go digital on the BITX40
|
Thanks to everyone for the pointers...much appreciated. Will pay close attention to all suggestions.??
73, Paul ZS2OE
|
Re: Two little circuit boards for my Bitx40 txcvrs
Haha, I pasted the wrong link in my post.? Sorry about that!
Can't wait to hear how this works out!
|
Re: Two little circuit boards for my Bitx40 txcvrs
The thread for this board is actually
here (there was another thread dealing with mic emphasis which
this module doesn't do):
/g/BITX20/topic/6374017#34387?
?
The board can be found here on Aliexpress:???
The SSM2167 datasheet can be found here:
Thanks everybody for the suggestions on how to remove the two
small SMD resistors.? I am not used to working with such tiny
components, but I will give it a go!
A few external components will be needed:
1.? The board runs on 3v-5v. The BITX40 operates at 12v.? I am
thinking a simple resistor divider will work given the chip draws
4mA according to the specs.?? A simple resistor to the 12v lines
should work (I will try something like 6.8K since resistance of
the circuit is around 3K) and then measure voltage.
2.? As noted in one of the comments, bias for the electret mic
will be required. I am assuming I can use another resistor to
lower the 12v line (copying the circuit in the BITX40 mic
connector).
3.? Because of the 20dB (or thereabouts) gain of this chip (it
appears the module manufacturer has simply copied the datasheet
values) I will need a variable pot on the output (i.e. mic gain
control).? I plan to bring this to the back panel of my enclosure.
4.? I will definitely also want a variable pot to control
compression on my back panel.? Not sure I need it for the noise
gate control.? I will use a trimpot.
I plan to mount the module on a small section of prototype board
where I can install off-module components.? Little multi-turn
trimpots can be mounted directly on the module for controlling
compression (200k) and noise gate (5k).? However, I know amateur
ops always want to fiddle with the compression ratio!
I suspect that the junction of pin 6 (with capacitor C3) which is
an averaged RMS value of input level could be used to connect (via
a resistor) to an arduino analogue input to become a VOX control.?
I would like to have a play with this as well to ensure there is
enough voltage to be read by the arduino!?? This will need a
further mod to my mic (I am using one of those cheap Aliexpress
Baofeng mics) as the RX/TX switch is in series with the mic input
at present.
73 Mike ZL1AXG
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Re: Strange tuning problem on BitX-40
I purchased some discount pots... They came unravelled internally omg. More important than anything is the learning experience. I will buy that which you feel is a waste of your time ...gladly pay for radio and postage. kc7ttt
On Nov 20, 2017 7:04 PM, "Raj vu2zap" < rajendrakumargg@...> wrote:
10T pots are not made for heavy usage. I am using 10t in analog VFO and
regular pot in Raduino.
If they show misbehavior then the wire inside started
"unwinding"!
Raj
At 21/11/2017, you wrote:
OK I will check it out they came
from amazon made in China rubbish?
On 20 Nov 2017 19:45, "Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io"
<jgaffke=[email protected]
> wrote:
- Put a voltmeter between the wiper pin of the pot and the ground
pin.
- See if the voltage jumps around erratically as you turn the
knob
- Easy to imagine it might be failing.
- Especially if you found it on ebay for less than a dollar.
- Jerry
- On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 11:26 am, chris gress wrote:
- Talking of strange tuning my 60m bitx is playing up I have loads of
places on my 10turn pot where the frq jumps around anyone think the multi
turn pot is at fault chris
|
At the bitx40 we built, the BFO frequency varies in the voice signal.
I wonder if it is normal or if someone has ever faced this problem as he did it.
Thank you!
|
Re: Emailing: RaduinoXPbo1B, RaduinoXPtopA, RaduinoXPtopB, RaduinoXPbo1A
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Wed, Nov 22, 2017 at 8:27 AM, Michael Hagen <motdog@...> wrote:
The board is stuffed
with connectors.
That was the
challenge, to get all those Arduino Mega lines to connectors.
I had to keep moving
and flipping them to keep close to the Mega.
The 50 port pins and
256K of memory should really be nice.
But, the size has to
go up.
I have used the I2C
for a serial 20x4 LCD.?? Don't even use the LCD connector.
Mike, WA6ISP
On 11/21/2017 3:49 PM, Mike Woods
wrote:
I am sure many will be interested in your new
board Mike!
Three questions:
1) dimensions?? It looks like it could be around
75mm deep and 85mm wide which may challenge existing
enclosures.
2) is there an i2c connector?? It would be
helpful to be able to expand to use other i2c devices (e.g.
temperature sensors, digital pots, etc.)
3) cost?
4) is there room topside to mount a dupont
display connector if you dont want to attach directly to the
1602 or 2004 display (ie cable connect).? This would enable
the card to be mounted alongside the Bitx40 or on top of the
Bitx40 board using standoffs.
It looks like something I would be interested in
acquiring!
73 Mike ZL1AXG
On Wed, 22 Nov 2017 at 6:50 AM, Michael Hagen < motdog@...>
wrote:
A New Baby
(and Banana) have been Hatched!
RaduinoXP
Been working on this Big Boy for a month now.? Completely
compatible
with BitX.? Has the one connector (5Pin) that has +12, Gnd,
and Clock
for BitX.
Uses Mega 2560 Pro Embed Arduino.
Just like RaduinoX, just connect that one 5 pin Molex to get
BitX going.
Full of connectors!!? 14 of them.? 50 Digital Pins and 16
Analog.
12 Pin Molex have 10 pins for I/O and +5 and Ground.
Like RaduinoX, I2C are level shifted to 3.3 to the SI5351.
Heat Sink on the +5V regulator with diode and filtering.
Double Sided and well laid out with lots of ground plane on
bottom.
Mounts standard LCD or 4x20 as shown in the pictures.
It is a compact as I could get it, but may still not fit
enclosures
already built.
This is Debug board.? A new order of PCBs will arrive next
week.
Yes, I am tossing out the first order of PCBs (I screwed up
4 lines).
73s
Mike, WA6ISP
--
Mike Hagen, WA6ISP
Yucaipa, Ca. 92399
(909) 918-0058
PayPal ID? "MotDog@..."
Mike@...
--
Mike Hagen, WA6ISP
10917 Bryant Street
Yucaipa, Ca. 92399
(909) 918-0058
PayPal ID "MotDog@..."
Mike@...
|
Re: Two little circuit boards for my Bitx40 txcvrs
Here's what the EQ should roughly look like:
|
Re: Two little circuit boards for my Bitx40 txcvrs
|
Re: Two little circuit boards for my Bitx40 txcvrs
Just turn your
soldering tip parallel to the length of the SMD.? One iron tip
will heat both pads, flip the part off.
Adding solder helps.??
The crappy "earth friendly solder" flows a lot better when you
add in old fashioned 60/40.
It usually sticks to
the iron, I tap the iron on the bench to get it off.
73's
Mike, WA6ISP
On 11/22/2017 7:14 AM, Arv Evans wrote:
Removing
SMD resistors can be done with two soldering irons or with one
soldering
iron that has a wide enough tip to bridge both ends of the
resistor.
A
heat gun can also be used but it is difficult to contain the
heat to just one
small
component.
_._
--
Mike Hagen, WA6ISP
10917 Bryant Street
Yucaipa, Ca. 92399
(909) 918-0058
PayPal ID "MotDog@..."
Mike@...
|
Re: Two little circuit boards for my Bitx40 txcvrs
Or the brute force approach:? Cut the Rs in half with a pair of small diagonal cutters.? Desolder if you must.
|
Re: Two little circuit boards for my Bitx40 txcvrs
Removing SMD resistors can be done with two soldering irons or with one
soldering iron that has a wide enough tip to bridge both ends of the resistor.
A heat gun can also be used but it is difficult to contain the heat to just one
small component.
_._
On Tue, Nov 21, 2017 at 11:21 PM, Mike Woods <mhwoods@...> wrote: A week or two back somebody was commenting on a chip that does voice compression.? A quick search on AliExpress found a module that uses said chip for a few dollars, so I bought a couple for my Bitx40s.
I figured these boards were a bit bigger!? The coin is about the size of an American quarter.
Any ideas for how to remove the tiny resistors R1 and R2 (about 1mm in length and .5mm wide) so that I can use potentiometers instead? ?
These modules are very tiny indeed!? There will be no trouble finding room for them in any enclosure.? I will report on how they work in a few days time!
|
Re: Filtering noise from Raduino
I just watched VK3YE's video and made up the small filter he suggested. I have been trying to reduce the noise on my custom Bitx20 for a while and this small circuit made a huge difference. I attached it between the power supply and the Arduino power input as he suggested and it works really well.
|
Raj vu2zap
Arvo W0VRA
lee hyde